Movable Pouring Spout for Pouch Packaging Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bag packaging for viscous products faces challenges in material efficiency and user-friendliness, as larger channel cross-sections require more material and separate closure elements, while smaller ones hinder easy dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A movable pouring spout that changes positions to control flow, eliminating the need for a separate closure element and allowing for adjustable flow resistance, with a captively connected design and non-round channel cross-sections to accommodate various product viscosities without increasing packaging size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a larger channel cross-section is used to enable easy dispensing of viscous products, then dispensing ease is improved, but material usage and packaging size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pouring spout is made movable relative to the sealing part, allowing it to transition between a closed position (preventing flow) and an open position (allowing flow). This dynamic configuration enables the channel cross-section to effectively change size without physical modification, resolving the contradiction between easy dispensing and material usage by providing both large effective opening and compact closed state
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the flow resistance parameter dynamically through the movable pouring spout. By moving the pouring spout between closed and open positions, the effective flow cross-section and flow resistance are adjusted without changing the physical channel dimensions, thus enabling easy dispensing of viscous products while maintaining compact packaging
2Reliability
If a separate closure element is added to close the pouring spout, then product containment is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pouring spout is integrated as part of the pouring element assembly that is welded to the bag walls, merging the closure function into the existing structure. The pouring spout itself serves dual purposes: as the flow control element and as the closure mechanism when positioned in the closed state, eliminating the need for separate closure elements like screw caps
Solution Approach 2:
The movable pouring spout serves itself as the closure element. When moved to the closed position, it automatically seals the channel without requiring any additional closure component. The pouring spout's own movement and positioning provide the containment function, simplifying the overall device structure
3Ease of operation
If the pouring spout is made movable to control flow, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pouring spout is designed to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the channel, transitioning between closed and open positions. This simple linear movement provides effective flow control without complex mechanisms, resolving the contradiction by implementing minimal necessary motion for maximum functional benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The pouring spout's movement is constrained to one dimension (along the longitudinal axis of the channel) rather than allowing free movement in all directions. This asymmetric constraint simplifies the mechanism while maintaining effective flow control capability, as the spout only needs to move in the direction that opens or closes the channel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a pouch packaging (1), preferably in the form of a stand-up pouch packaging, comprising a pouch (10) having at least two pouch walls (11, 13) enclosing an interior space for receiving a free-flowing or pourable product, and a pouring element (20) having a pouring spout (22) for pouring the product from the interior space and a welded-in section (21) arranged between the two pouch walls (11, 13) and sealed to them, wherein the welded-in section (21) has a channel (23) through which the product can pass from the interior space into the pouring spout (22). The invention is characterized in that the pouring spout (22) is movably arranged relative to the welded-in section (21), and in a closed position of the pouring spout (22), the passage of the product through the channel (23) is prevented.