Hopper-Sealed Bulk Refill Container for Low-Dust Powder Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee powder refill containers result in significant powder loss, dusting, contamination, and aroma loss due to air exposure, and can lead to incorrect coffee quality when refilling machines, necessitating a solution for clean, efficient, and adaptable refilling with minimal atmospheric contact.
Innovation Solution
A container with a vessel and internal hopper that tapers to a discharge outlet, sealed by a tearable membrane, allowing for easy unloading and minimizing contact with air, made from lightweight, humidity-barrier materials like laminated paper and polyethylene, facilitating refilling without powder loss or contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If powder is transferred from a refilling bag to a tank using conventional methods, then the refilling operation can be performed, but significant powder loss and dusting occur during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a refilling device as an intermediary system between the refilling bag and the tank. This device includes a receiving chamber that captures powder during transfer, preventing dusting and loss. The device acts as a controlled intermediary environment that facilitates transfer while minimizing harmful effects to the surrounding environment.
2Ease of operation
If powder flows from one container to another in conventional refilling, then transfer can be performed, but contamination with outside environment and aroma loss occur due to air mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The refilling device creates a controlled environment within the receiving chamber that minimizes contact with external air. The chamber design and sealing mechanisms establish a protected space during powder transfer, reducing oxidation and aroma loss that would occur with direct exposure to ambient air during conventional open refilling operations.
3Ease of operation
If disposable refilling containers are used, then convenient shopping and portability are improved, but incorrect coffee powder type can be refilled leading to reduced beverage quality
Solution Approach 1:
The refilling device incorporates an asymmetric or non-universal interface design that is specifically adapted to match certain types of tanks or machines. This asymmetric design prevents incompatible refilling containers from being used, ensuring that only the correct coffee powder type can be refilled into compatible machines, thereby maintaining beverage quality while preserving the convenience of disposable containers.
4Ease of operation
If a tearable membrane closes the hopper and vessel, then easy unloading is achieved, but the membrane structure adds complexity to the container design
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into distinct functional components: the vessel for storage, the hopper for controlled discharge, and the tearable membrane as a separate closing element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the membrane providing simple tear-based opening mechanics that are easier to implement than complex mechanical opening systems.
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 container effectively reduces powder loss and contamination, ensures correct powder type usage, maintains aroma, and provides easy handling and storage, optimizing bulk material transfer to machines while being lightweight and environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
a hopper placed inside the vessel and tapering to a discharge outlet in direction of the vessel opened end
Implementation Method 2
a tearable membrane closing the hopper and the vessel
Implementation Method 3
The vessel can be made of at least a material chosen between : plastic, cardboard paper, aluminium or a combination and/or laminate of such materials
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2e
Figure 3a~4b
AI summary
The present invention relates to container (1) for storing and unloading bulk material comprising : - a vessel (2) presenting a closed end (3) and an opened end (4), - a hopper (5) placed inside the vessel (2) and tapering to a discharge outlet in direction of the vessel opened end (4), - a tearable membrane (7) closing the hopper (5) and the vessel (2). The invention relates also to a tank to be refilled by said container and a method for refilling the tank with the container.