Inverted Bottle Holder Structure for Fast Draining and Safe Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling of empty beer bottles is a tedious, time-consuming, and potentially hazardous task, especially at peak times, due to the need to empty liquid from bottles and properly dispose of them, often resulting in broken glass and liquid spills, which complicates storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A holding device with multiple elements designed to engage the neck and shoulder of bottles, allowing them to be held upside down, accompanied by a drip tray for liquid drainage, facilitating efficient collection, storage, and transportation by mimicking the bottle arrangement in delivery containers, thus reducing handling time and risk of breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bottles are handled manually at a fast pace during peak times, then productivity increases, but the risk of broken glass and liquid spills increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the bottle handling process into distinct functional zones: pouring spouts for liquid drainage, holding elements for secure bottle positioning, and structured compartments for organized storage. This segmentation allows simultaneous drainage and handling without interference, enabling fast-paced operation while preventing spills through dedicated drainage pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces an intermediary structure between the bottles and the handler - a framed device with controlled pouring spouts and holding elements. This intermediary mediates the liquid drainage process through designated spouts and the bottle handling process through structured holding elements, preventing direct contact with spilled liquid and reducing broken glass risks while maintaining high handling speed.
2Loss of time
If liquid remaining in bottles is not properly emptied, then handling time is reduced, but liquid spills into cardboard boxes weakening them and posing rupture risk
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary liquid drainage action through dedicated pouring spouts positioned at the bottom of each compartment. Bottles are inverted in the device to allow gravity-driven liquid flow through the spouts before the bottles are transferred to cardboard boxes. This preliminary drainage action ensures bottles are substantially emptied before box placement, preventing liquid spills that would weaken box integrity, while the structured design enables this to occur efficiently as part of the handling process.
3Ease of operation
If bottles are collected in traditional cardboard boxes, then storage is simplified, but handling becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs multiple functions within a single integrated structure: it drains liquid through pouring spouts, holds bottles securely during handling, organizes bottles in structured compartments, and facilitates efficient transfer to cardboard boxes. This multi-functionality consolidates previously separate operations (drainage, handling, organization) into one device, making the collection process easier and faster while maintaining compatibility with existing cardboard box storage systems.
4Reliability
If bottles are handled individually, then proper drainage and disposal can be ensured, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple bottle handling operations into a single integrated structure. Multiple pouring spouts, holding elements, and compartments work simultaneously to drain and organize multiple bottles in parallel. This combining of functions allows proper drainage and disposal control for each bottle while processing multiple bottles concurrently, thereby maintaining reliability while significantly improving productivity compared to individual handling.
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 holding device significantly reduces the time and risk associated with handling empty bottles by allowing for efficient drainage and secure storage, enabling faster and safer collection, storage, and transportation while maintaining the bottle arrangement for easy stacking and container filling.
Implementation Method 1
each holding element having an interacting surface capable of engaging at least one of a neck and a shoulder of a respective bottle of the plurality of bottles for holding the bottle upside down
Implementation Method 2
A holding device with multiple elements designed to engage the neck and shoulder of bottles, allowing them to be held upside down, accompanied by a drip tray for liquid drainage
Data Source
AI summary
A holding device for holding a plurality of bottles. The holding device has a plurality of holding elements, each holding element having an interacting surface capable of engaging at least one of a neck and a shoulder of a respective bottle for holding the bottle upside down.