Filter Sampling Bag Visual Closure Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter sampling bags face issues with capillary rise and leakage during mixing, leading to potential contamination and spillage of the medium, especially when the closure is not properly secured, and they often require hermetic sealing which complicates repetitive use and gas evacuation.
Innovation Solution
A filter sampling bag with a visual indicator to determine the correct folding position for closure, preventing capillary action and spillage, and a sampling bag clamping line to ensure secure closure without hermetic sealing, allowing for easy opening and closure, and gas evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bag is kept closed at a predetermined height to prevent capillary rise and leakage, then contamination and spillage are prevented, but the bag requires hermetic sealing which complicates repetitive use and gas evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into a visual indicator portion and a clamping line portion, allowing the bag to be closed at the correct height without complex hermetic sealing mechanisms. The visual indicator guides folding to the predetermined height while the clamping line provides simple mechanical closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator on the bag wall serves itself by providing self-evident guidance for correct closure height. The indicator automatically shows the user where to fold and clamp the bag, eliminating the need for complex external guidance systems or hermetic sealing mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the bag is closed securely to prevent leakage during mixing, then spillage is prevented, but repetitive opening and closure becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system separates the sealing function (clamping line) from the indication function (visual indicator), allowing simple mechanical closure that can be easily opened and closed repeatedly while maintaining reliable leakage prevention during mixing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag utilizes flexible plastic material that allows easy folding and clamping at the clamping line. The flexibility enables repetitive opening and closure operations while the clamping mechanism maintains secure closure during mixing to prevent leakage.
3Reliability
If the closure is positioned too low to prevent spillage, then capillary rise is prevented, but gas evacuation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator acts as an intermediary that identifies the optimal closure position. This position is carefully chosen to be high enough to prevent capillary rise and spillage during mixing, yet low enough to allow gas evacuation, thus mediating between these two conflicting requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure height parameter is optimized to a specific position indicated by the visual indicator. This parameter change positions the closure at the critical height that simultaneously prevents capillary rise while maintaining gas evacuation capability, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The visual indicator and clamping line system effectively prevent contamination and spillage while maintaining the bag's usability for repetitive sampling and gas evacuation, enhancing the safety and efficiency of microbiological analyses.
Implementation Method 1
To prevent capillary rise and leakage from the top of the bag during mixing
Data Source
AI summary
A filter sampling bag for use in a mixer for the preparation of samples for carrying out analyses and/or microbiological tests, the sampling bag formed from a plastic and having a bottom, side walls, and a mouth opening. The sampling bag is compartmentalized by a filtering partition delimiting a receiving chamber for a sample and a sampling chamber to permit a taking of samples. The sampling bag is marked with a visual indicator of a correct, predetermined closing position of the sampling bag after mixing. A combination or kit for the preparation of samples comprises a mixer and a filter sampling bag. Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing such a filter sampling bag for use in a mixer for the preparation of samples to permit analyses and/or microbiological tests.