Fluted Dispensing Probe for Consistent Bag-in-Box Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional probes and valve assemblies often fail to provide consistent flow when dispensing products from flexible packaging as the packaging empties, leading to incorrect dispensing volumes, residual product, and increased time and cost due to blockages.
Innovation Solution
A probe with a hollow body featuring a plurality of flutes on its exterior surface, creating a non-planar edge geometry at the lead-in end, which securely engages with packaging and includes an angled nozzle end, check valve, and lock bead to ensure consistent and unimpeded product flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional probes are used with flexible packaging, then the packaging can be securely accessed, but the flexible bag folds-in or crush-in toward the interior and impedes or blocks the flow of product being dispensed as the packaging empties
Solution Approach 1:
The probe incorporates a non-planar edge geometry with curved or rounded features at the lead-in end, which prevents the flexible packaging from folding or crushing inward toward the probe opening, thereby maintaining consistent product flow throughout dispensing
2Quantity of substance
If conventional probes are used, then the structure is simple, but the product yield is reduced due to blockages and residual volume
Solution Approach 1:
The non-planar edge geometry with curved surfaces prevents packaging material from collapsing into the probe, eliminating blockages and residual product while adding minimal structural complexity to the probe design
3Loss of time
If conventional probes are used, then the design is straightforward, but time is spent accessing and removing material blocking the access to the product
Solution Approach 1:
The curved non-planar edge geometry prevents packaging material from blocking the probe opening, eliminating the need for user intervention to remove blockages and reducing overall access time
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides methods and probes used to dispense flowable materials from a packaged source, such as a bag in box container. The probes are adapted to engage with one or more dispensing components, for example, spouts, faucets, caps, bags, boxes, or other dispensing components. The disclosure also provides methods of using the probe, including connecting the probe to one or more dispensing components, for example flip caps, and methods of dispensing the packaged flowable material.