Integrated Tip Flexible Container for Food Dispensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current flexible plastic containers for food icings and toppings require a separate dispensing tip, leading to increased inventory and management costs, processing complexity, and inefficiencies due to the need for additional components and manufacturing steps.
Innovation Solution
A flexible container with a tip portion integrally formed by folding and bonding multiple layers of material, where the tip portion is created by folding and sealing the edges of a sheet of material to increase thickness and rigidity, eliminating the need for a separate tip component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a separate tip component is used for the flexible container, then the dispensing function is achieved, but the inventory management costs and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the container body and dispensing tip into a single integrated structure. The tip is formed by folding and bonding the flexible container material itself, eliminating the need for separate tip components. This merging of functions reduces inventory management complexity and manufacturing steps while maintaining effective dispensing capability.
2Device complexity
If the flexible walls are used as the dispensing tip, then the structure is simplified, but the rigidity and proper functioning as a dispensing tip is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by creating a multi-layer folded structure specifically at the tip portion of the container. While the overall container remains simple and flexible, the tip area is locally reinforced through multiple folds and bonding, providing the necessary rigidity for proper dispensing function without compromising the simplicity of the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-layer flexible wall to a multi-layer folded structure at the tip. By folding the material multiple times and bonding layers together, the tip gains dimensional complexity and structural rigidity while the rest of the container maintains its simple single-layer flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If a separate tip is secured to the bottom of the flexible container, then the dispensing control is improved, but the processing time and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the tip formation into the container manufacturing process itself, the patent eliminates separate tip attachment steps. The tip is created during the same forming and bonding operations used to create the container body, reducing processing time while maintaining dispensing control functionality.
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 reduces production costs and complexity by integrating the dispensing tip within the container, allowing for efficient dispensing of food products without additional components, thereby simplifying manufacturing and inventory management.
Implementation Method 1
the first layer of the material and the second layer of the material are bonded together across the folded portion of the first layer of the material and the folded portion of the second layer of the material to form a tip portion
Data Source
AI summary
A container and method of making the same is provided herein. The container may be configured to hold a dispensable material. The container can include a first sheet of a material and a second sheet of the material. The first sheet of material includes a folded portion across a first end of the first sheet. The second sheet of material includes a folded portion across a first end of the second sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet are bonded together across the folded portion of the first sheet and the folded portion of the second sheet to form a tip portion. The tip portion includes a passage between the folded portion of the first sheet of material and the folded portion of the second sheet of material.