Oval-Base Irrigation Container Geometry for Infusion-Line Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing irrigation and infusion containers require separate production lines due to their differing shapes, leading to increased space and maintenance costs, and modifying one line to produce both types disrupts production.

Innovation Solution

A container design with an oval-shaped base area and specific transition parts that prevent collapsing during emptying, allowing production on infusion application lines while maintaining collapsibility for irrigation use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If containers for irrigation application use a cylindrical shape with circular base area to prevent collapsing, then handling and emptying become easier, but they cannot be produced on production lines designed for infusion containers with oval-shaped base areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling and emptyingVSAvoidcompatibility with production line
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The container applies different geometric properties to different parts: the base area has an oval shape with specific axis ratios to enable production line compatibility, while the body maintains sufficient rigidity through dimensional proportions (height to base diagonal ratio between 0.6-1.2) to prevent collapsing during handling and emptying. This local differentiation of geometric qualities resolves the contradiction between production compatibility and handling ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If two separate production lines are provided for irrigation and infusion containers, then each container type can be optimized for its specific requirements, but space requirements and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer shape optimizationVSAvoidproduction line space
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The irrigation container is designed with an oval-shaped base area having a major axis to minor axis ratio between 1.1-1.5, which matches the mold geometry of infusion container production lines. This universal base geometry allows a single production line to manufacture both irrigation and infusion containers, eliminating the need for separate dedicated lines and reducing space requirements while maintaining optimized shapes for each application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the production line is modified to produce irrigation containers, then a single line can produce both types, but the container for infusion application cannot be produced anymore and major parts must be changed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle production line for both typesVSAvoidproduction line modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the irrigation container base area (oval shape with specific axis ratios between 1.1-1.5) to match the mold parameters of infusion production lines. This parameter alignment allows the existing production line infrastructure to manufacture both container types without major modifications, as the mold geometry already accommodates oval-shaped bases used in infusion containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4609892A1Container for irrigation application producible on a production line for producing infusion containers
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 B BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG
  • EP4609892A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4609892A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4609892A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A container for irrigation application comprising a bottom part, a cylindrical or conical lower body part comprising a lower bottom area and a lower top area, a first transition part, a cylindrical or conical middle body part comprising a middle bottom area and middle top area, a second transition part, and a cylindrical or conical upper body part comprising an upper bottom area, wherein the bottom part is fluidly connected with the lower body part via the lower bottom area, the first transition part is fluidly connected with the lower body part via the lower top area, the first transition part is fluidly connected with the middle body part via the middle bottom area, the second transition part is fluidly connected with the middle body part via the middle top area, and the second transition part is fluidly connected with the upper body part via the upper bottom area, wherein the lower bottom area, the lower top area, the middle bottom area, the middle top area, and the upper bottom area have an oval shape, and wherein the surface area of the middle bottom area is lower than the surface area of the lower top area and wherein the surface area of the middle top area is lower than the surface area of the upper bottom area.