Controlled Detachment of Inner Pouch in Container Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing containers with thermoplastic outer and inner pouches fail to detach the inner pouch from the outer container in a controlled and uniform manner, often leading to air entrapment and increased risk of leakage due to high negative pressure, which can render the container inoperable.

Innovation Solution

A method involving controlled pressure introduction through a drill or piercing needle, with pressure sensors to set and maintain specific threshold values, ensuring uniform detachment and reattachment of the inner pouch without air inclusion, using a device with adjustable drilling stations and quality control measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If negative pressure is applied to detach the inner pouch from the outer container, then the inner pouch can be removed, but air becomes entrapped in the transition area and the detachment becomes uncontrolled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetachment of inner pouchVSAvoiduniformity of detachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detachment process is divided into two distinct phases: first, a piercing needle creates a controlled opening in the outer container wall; second, a drill removes material to form a proper opening. This segmentation allows controlled detachment while preventing air entrapment through systematic removal of the separating barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing needle creates an initial opening in the outer container wall before the drill removes material. This preliminary action establishes a controlled pathway for the detachment process, ensuring that the inner pouch can be removed uniformly without sudden vacuum formation or air entrapment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the inner pouch is detached suddenly due to high negative pressure, then detachment is achieved, but the container may fold and the pump becomes inoperable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge of contentsVSAvoidoperability of pump
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The piercing needle creates an initial opening in the outer container wall before the drill removes material. This preliminary action establishes a controlled pathway for the detachment process, ensuring that the inner pouch can be removed uniformly without sudden vacuum formation or air entrapment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controlled opening created by the piercing needle allows monitoring and regulation of the detachment process. The systematic removal of material by the drill provides feedback control, preventing sudden vacuum formation that would cause container folding or pump failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If pressure medium is introduced to reattach the inner pouch, then the pouch is placed against the outer container, but air inclusion occurs in the transition area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereattachment of inner pouchVSAvoidabsence of air inclusion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The piercing needle creates an initial opening in the outer container wall before the drill removes material. This preliminary action establishes a controlled pathway for the detachment process, ensuring that the inner pouch can be removed uniformly without sudden vacuum formation or air entrapment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The drill removes material from the outer container wall to create a proper opening, extracting the barrier that would otherwise trap air. This extraction allows the inner pouch to be reattached without air inclusion in the transition area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables controlled and uniform detachment of the inner pouch from the outer container, reducing the risk of air entrapment and leakage, ensuring the container can be filled and emptied effectively without damage.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure medium, in general compressed air, is introduced through the container opening into the inner pouch to bring said pouch again into contact with the outer container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas compression and expansion: Compression

Implementation Method 2

The parison is then inflated by a pressure medium, in general compressed air, for contact with the wall of the blow mold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

pressure is compensated in the space between the inner pouch and the outer container when the inner pouch contracts due to the discharge of its contents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS7959430B2Device for producing a container
Publication Date: 2011.06.14 GAPLAST GMBH

AI summary

The method comprises the following steps: a) the container opening is sealed, b) at least one wall opening is created by drilling through or piercing the wall of the outer container using a drill, graver or needle, a pressurized medium being introduced into the gap between the outer container and the inner tube, once the wall of the outer container has been fully penetrated, c) the advance of the drill or needle is halted as soon as a predetermined first pressure threshold has been reached in the inner tube, d) the introduction of the pressurized medium into the gap between the outer container and the inner tube is halted as soon as a predetermined second pressure threshold has been reached in the inner tube, e) once the pressure in the gap between the outer container and the inner tube has been relieved, a pressurized medium is introduced into the inner tube through the container opening, in order to place the inner tube against the container wall again after it has been detached from the latter. The method allows the inner tube to be detached in a controlled manner with a high degree of uniformity from the outer container and to be placed against said outer container again without a significant inclusion of air.