Invertible Unit With Escape Recesses for Smooth Liquid Introduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing units for upright and inverted attitudes face issues with the second switching valve being pressed against the inverted-attitude valve seat due to decompression during the upright attitude, and the first switching valve being pressed against the upright-attitude valve seat during the inverted attitude, hindering smooth introduction of content liquid into the cylinder part.

Innovation Solution

The unit includes an escape recess and prevention parts to separate the switching valves from the liquid flow paths, and a channel forming member with a topped tubular portion to minimize structural complexity, ensuring smooth liquid introduction by preventing valve contact with the valve seats during different attitudes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the second switching valve is positioned to cut off communication between the upright-attitude inlet and the relay port during inverted attitude, then the sealing function is improved, but the valve is pressed against the valve seat by decompression during upright attitude, preventing smooth liquid introduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidsmooth liquid introduction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a liquid flow path as an intermediary element that guides the liquid flow away from the second switching valve. The liquid flow path includes a first path from the upright-attitude inlet toward the relay port, and the second switching valve is positioned to be separated from this path, preventing direct contact between the liquid flow and the valve, thereby eliminating the pressing force while maintaining sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the first switching valve is positioned to cut off communication between the inverted-attitude inlet and the relay port during upright attitude, then the sealing function is improved, but the valve is pressed against the valve seat by decompression during inverted attitude, preventing smooth liquid introduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidsmooth liquid introduction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a liquid flow path as an intermediary element that guides the liquid flow away from the first switching valve. The liquid flow path includes a second path from the inverted-attitude inlet toward the relay port, and the first switching valve is positioned to be separated from this path, preventing direct contact between the liquid flow and the valve, thereby eliminating the pressing force while maintaining sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If switching valves are positioned directly in the liquid flow paths to ensure sealing, then the sealing function is improved, but the valves contact the liquid flow and are pressed against valve seats by decompression, causing operational problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidvalve positioning structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the contradiction by changing the spatial dimension of valve positioning. Instead of positioning the switching valves directly in the liquid flow paths (one-dimensional contact), the valves are positioned in three-dimensional space away from the flow paths, with the liquid flow passing through defined channels that bypass the valves. This dimensional separation eliminates contact while maintaining sealing through the valve seats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4628222A1Invertible unit
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO LTD
  • EP4628222A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4628222A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4628222A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is an invertible unit (1) that comprises an upright-posture introduction port (63a), an inverted-posture introduction port (65a), a relay port (64c), a first switching valve (61), a second switching valve (62), and at least one escape recess (69) from among: an escape recess that, when a discharger (10) is in an upright posture, allows the second switching valve (62) to advance and releases the second switching valve (62) on the opposite side from an inverted-posture valve seat and in a direction that intersects the opening direction of the upright-posture introduction port (63a) onto a first path (L1) through which liquid contents go from the upright-posture introduction port (63a) toward the relay port (64c); and an escape recess (69) that, when the discharger (10) is in an inverted posture, allows the first switching valve (61) to advance and releases the first switching valve (61) on the opposite side from an upright-posture valve seat and in a direction that intersects the opening direction of the inverted-posture introduction port (65a) onto a second path (L2) through which liquid contents go from the inverted-posture introduction port (65a) toward the relay port (64c).