Container for storing moisture level-sensitive products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers fail to maintain a consistent optimal humidity level for products sensitive to humidity, leading to degradation and loss of flavor, taste, and texture, especially in the food and beverage sector, as they are often influenced by external atmospheric conditions and exhibit local humidity gradients.
Innovation Solution
A container with a transparent, cubic or cylindrical design featuring interconnected inner spaces and atmosphere connection elements, such as bridges, to create a unified humidity environment, utilizing a humidity regulation system with odourless stainless steel and precious metal coatings, and adjustable atmosphere exchange channels to maintain constant humidity levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple enclosed container is used, then manufacturing is easy and structure is simple, but humidity consistency cannot be maintained and local humidity gradients occur
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple inner spaces (first inner space for products, second inner space for humidity regulation means) separated by separating walls. This segmentation allows independent control of humidity regulation while maintaining product storage, resolving the contradiction between humidity consistency and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Atmosphere connection elements (bridges, channels, orifices) act as intermediaries between the first and second inner spaces, allowing controlled humidity exchange. These intermediaries enable humidity consistency without requiring direct contact between products and humidity regulation means, maintaining structural clarity while achieving reliability.
2Reliability
If the container is sealed tight against outside atmosphere, then external humidity influences are blocked, but internal humidity uniformity cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed container is segmented into functional zones: the first inner space for product storage and the second inner space for humidity regulation. The separating walls with atmosphere connection elements create controlled pathways that enable internal humidity uniformity while maintaining overall sealing against external atmospheric influences.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the container have specialized functions: the second inner space contains humidity regulation means with specific material properties (odourless stainless steel, precious metal coating), while the first inner space is optimized for product storage. This local quality differentiation achieves humidity uniformity without compromising external isolation.
3Reliability
If atmosphere connection elements are added to connect inner spaces, then humidity uniformity is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separating walls serve multiple functions: they physically divide the inner spaces, provide structural support, and incorporate atmosphere connection elements (channels, orifices, bridges) for humidity exchange. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, achieving atmosphere unity without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The atmosphere connection elements are merged into the separating walls rather than being separate components. The bridges, channels, or orifices are integrated structures that connect inner spaces while maintaining wall integrity, reducing component count while achieving reliable atmosphere unity.
4Reliability
If odourless materials with precious metal coating are used, then product quality preservation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The precious metal coating is applied selectively to specific surfaces (separating walls, atmosphere connection elements) that directly contact the atmosphere or products, rather than the entire container. This localized application maintains product quality preservation while reducing manufacturing cost compared to full-surface coating.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a container (100) for the storage of products sensitive to the degree of humidity (5), in which are arranged at least two adjacent inner spaces (2, 3) having atmospheres (20, 30) in them that are connected via a plurality of atmosphere connection and exchange elements, particularly bridges, in order to have a unified overall atmosphere (230), having only a defined degree of humidity without local humidity gradients, and that cannot be influenced by the outside atmosphere (Aa), whereby one (2) of the two inner spaces (2, 3), namely that provided for the long term reception and storage of the products sensitive to the degree of humidity (5) whose quality is to be preserved in full, preferably has a substantially cubic shape with flat inner walls (201 to 204) or with a substantially cylindrical concave shape in order to form a substantially self-contained complete wall (200), against the outside atmosphere and having a substantially higher volume, than the at least one other flat inner space (3) with a relatively smaller volume, which can also be sealed tight against the outside atmosphere (Aa), and which is intended to receive and store a humidity regulation means (4).