Contamination-Free Flexible Closure System for Disposable Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current profiled closure systems with separate sliders for disposable containers face issues such as manual opening risks, contamination risks due to hooked profiles, and material contact with products during transfer, leading to potential cross-contamination and validation challenges in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Innovation Solution
A closure system with two profiled strips per container, where one wide strip folds over a narrow strip to engage with the opposing container's strip, forming a sealed connection without hooks, allowing for easy and contamination-free docking and undocking, and eliminating material contact with the product during transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If profiled closures with hooked profiles are used for docking containers, then the closures can be securely connected, but finely powdered material can enter the hooked profile grooves and compromise subsequent functioning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the hooked profile design from the closure system. By eliminating the hooks that created grooves, the system prevents powdered material from entering and compromising functionality, while maintaining docking security through alternative engagement mechanisms between containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system is segmented into separate components with distinct functions: the closure body provides sealing, while the container walls provide structural engagement. This segmentation allows the closure to be simple and contamination-free, while docking security is achieved through the interaction of container structures rather than complex closure profiles.
2Strength
If the tubular film of the container is attached below the hooking profile, then the closure can be structurally supported, but the profile material comes into contact with the product requiring additional validation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hooking profile from the closure design, eliminating the source of material contact with the product. Structural support is instead provided by the container walls and the closure's interaction with the container opening, allowing the tubular film to be attached directly to the closure without contamination risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The container wall acts as an intermediary between the closure and the external environment, providing structural support and positioning without requiring the closure material to contact the product. This mediator approach allows the closure to focus on sealing while maintaining product integrity.
3Extent of automation
If separate sliders are used to dock complementary closures, then the docking process is automated, but the closures are initially closed and require additional manual opening steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the docking and opening functions into a single automated slider operation. The slider simultaneously docks the containers and opens the closures by applying force to the closure elements, eliminating the need for separate manual opening steps and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure elements are pre-configured in the slider to be opened during the docking process itself. This preliminary action ensures that the closures are automatically opened as part of the docking sequence, preparing the system for immediate product transfer without additional manual intervention.
4Reliability
If the closure elements are designed to prevent tearing, then the functional risk is reduced, but the docking mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The closure elements are designed with inherent strength and proper attachment to the tubular film before docking occurs. This beforehand reinforcement ensures that the closures can withstand the docking forces and subsequent operations without tearing, reducing functional risk while maintaining a relatively simple docking mechanism.
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 solution provides a safe, contamination-free, and efficient transfer mechanism that prevents cross-contamination and reduces the need for material validation, enhancing the operational safety and flexibility of disposable container systems.
Implementation Method 1
one wide profiled strip extends beyond the respective container (1, 2) in the direction of flow beyond the narrow profiled strip, and is folded 180° over the narrow profiled strip by a hinge (15, 25)
Implementation Method 2
is folded 180° over the narrow profiled strip by a hinge (15, 25), such that the two closure elements engage with one another
Implementation Method 3
The two closure elements can engage with one another to seal the at least partially flexible container closed
Data Source
AI summary
A closure (10, 20) has two profiled strips (11, 12; 21, 22) for an at least panially flexible container (1, 2) for connecting a first container (1) to a second container (2) in an environmentally sealed manner and in a closed docking position, and for conducting a flow in a flow direction (D) through the closure (10, 20) from the first container (1) into the second container (2) in an environmentally sealed manner and in an open docking position. The second container (2) has an identical closure (10, 20) facing the first container (1), and, in the open docking position, is in engagement with the closure (10, 20) of the first container (1). Together with the closure (10, 20) of the first container (1), a flow channel (3) is defined for the through flow in the flow direction (D). The closures (10, 20) can be docked to each other and opened jointly in a single step by a separate slider. Due to the dual functional nature of all the closure elements, no closure element (13, 14; 23, 24) is exposed in the channel-upward direction to the material to be transferred. A slider (30) connects and separates the closures (10, 20), and has an insenion side (31), on which the closures (10, 20) can be insened into the slider (30) in insertion directions (A, B), which form an acute angle, and an output side (32) opposite the insenion side (31), on which the closures (10, 20), which are connected to each other and are open, can be led out from the slider (30) in a common slide direction (C).