Multi-Port Nozzle for Hermetic Refill and Additive Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cosmetics and personal care industry has been slow to adopt environmentally friendly packaging due to its packaging-driven commercial success, leading to significant waste and increased costs, necessitating a solution for reducing packaging waste while maintaining product quality and customer customization.
Innovation Solution
A refill station system that uses a multi-port nozzle with an elastic O-ring fitting for airtight product transfer, allowing for customization with additives like fragrances and conditioners, and a mixing chamber with a one-way check valve to ensure aseptic and automated fluid exchange, reducing waste and contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional disposable packaging is used, then product distribution is simple, but packaging waste increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the packaging container from the product refill process. The durable container remains with the consumer while the product is refilled at a station, dividing the waste-generating packaging function from the product distribution function. This eliminates the need for disposable containers while maintaining simple product access for consumers.
Solution Approach 2:
The refill station serves multiple functions: it refills various types of containers, allows product customization with different additives and fragrances, and enables automated mixing. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single universal refill infrastructure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hermetically sealed transfer is implemented, then product contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-port nozzle acts as an intermediary sealed connection between the refill station's product reservoir and the consumer's container. It provides hermetic sealing through precision engineering and sealing mechanisms, preventing contamination during transfer while keeping the overall system relatively simple by using a single centralized refill point rather than requiring sealed containers throughout the distribution chain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If product customization with additives is enabled, then customer satisfaction increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-prepares base products and additives separately in controlled environments, then combines them at the refill station based on customer preferences. This preliminary separation of product components allows for simple individual storage and transportation, with customization occurring only at the point of use, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling extensive product variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing system is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing different additives and fragrances to be mixed with base products based on real-time customer selections. The system can adapt its mixing ratios and ingredient combinations on-the-fly without requiring complex pre-manufacturing of every possible product variation, maintaining simplicity through programmable flexibility.
4Productivity
If automated refill process is used, then labor costs decrease, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refill station is designed to be largely self-operating, with automated mechanisms for container positioning, sealing, product transfer, and sealing. The system performs these functions automatically once a customer initiates the refill process, minimizing the need for manual labor while keeping the automation relatively simple through the use of standardized container interfaces and straightforward mechanical transfer mechanisms.
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 system effectively reduces packaging waste, lowers costs, and allows for customer-specific product customization without exposing products to the atmosphere, ensuring product quality and hygiene, while eliminating the need for frequent inventory restocking and minimizing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
The connector may be fitted with an elastic O-ring fitting to ensure a hermetic connection
Implementation Method 2
A first line of material from the station enters the nozzle through a second, peripheral orifice or 'injection port' 18, where a second connector 22 receives the second line coupler, engagement piece, or an 'injection needle' 27
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The present invention provides a nozzle to be used in a refillable fluid exchange between a refill station and a refillable container under hermetic conditions. The use of a secondary port for providing an additive allows customization of the product to the customer's specifications, without long wait times and without otherwise contamination the process. The use of a mixing chamber downstream of the secondary line, preceded by a one way check valve, promotes thorough mixing of two or more constituents as selected by the customer.