Packaging Device Cover with Clearance Compensation Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packaging and dispensing devices for liquid or semi-liquid products suffer from inaccuracy in cap positioning relative to the bottle's upper wall, leading to significant clearance and potential foreign body penetration.

Innovation Solution

A two-part cap design with a rack and pinion mechanism allows for adjustable clearance between the cap and the bottle's upper wall during initial assembly, ensuring precise alignment and minimizing play.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a conventional single-part cap is used with interlocking on the neck and pump body, then the cap can be easily manufactured and assembled, but the positioning accuracy of the cap relative to the bottle's upper wall is poor resulting in significant clearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecap positioning accuracyVSAvoidcap structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is divided into two separate parts: an inner cap portion that interlocks with the neck and pump body, and an outer cap portion that provides the final sealing surface. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the inner part for easy assembly and the outer part for precise positioning against the upper wall, thereby improving cap positioning accuracy while maintaining reasonable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A play-taking-up means is introduced as an intermediary element between the inner and outer cap portions. This intermediary mechanism automatically adjusts and eliminates the clearance between the cap and the bottle's upper wall during assembly, achieving high positioning precision without requiring complex adjustment procedures or additional fastening operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the cap position is determined by interlocking on the neck and pump body, then the assembly process is simple, but the clearance between the cap and upper wall allows foreign body penetration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against foreign body penetrationVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the cap into inner and outer portions, the system creates a two-stage assembly process where the inner part provides structural support and the outer part with the play-taking-up means ensures tight sealing against foreign bodies, thereby improving reliability without significantly complicating the assembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The play-taking-up means acts as an intermediary mechanism that automatically compensates for positioning tolerances and eliminates gaps between the cap and upper wall, preventing foreign body penetration while maintaining ease of assembly through automatic adjustment during the normal assembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If a rigid cap structure is used for precise positioning, then the cap position is accurate, but the cap cannot accommodate variations in pump body position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecap to upper wall alignmentVSAvoidaccommodation of pump position variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cap structure incorporates dynamic elements through the play-taking-up means that can automatically adjust to accommodate variations in pump body position. The mechanism allows for controlled movement and adjustment during assembly, enabling the cap to adapt to different pump positions while still achieving precise alignment with the upper wall, thus maintaining both precision and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution effectively reduces clearance between the cap and the bottle's upper wall, enhancing aesthetic appeal and preventing foreign body intrusion while ensuring accurate cap positioning.

Implementation Method 1

a second bearing surface (36) comprising a series of teeth (38) spaced axially according to the determined pitch and which are complementary to the teeth (32) of the first bearing surface (30) and which are capable of deforming to allow the lower internal section (34) of the second element (26) to descend onto the upper tubular section (28) of the first element (24) and the reciprocal engagement of the teeth (32, 38)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2865453B1Packaging and distribution device comprising a cover with clearance compensation
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 MAITRISE & INNOVATION
  • EP2865453B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2865453B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B

AI summary

The invention provides a packaging and dispensing device (10) for a liquid or semi-liquid product, comprising a substantially axial reservoir (12) having a transverse upper wall (14) with a neck (16) receiving a product release member (18) and an actuating member (20) for said member (18), said device comprising a cover (22) received on the neck (16) and covering the release member (18) and the upper wall (14), characterized in that the cover (22) comprises at least a first internal element (24) which is capable of being removably received axially on the neck (16) in a predetermined axial position, and a second external element (26) comprising a peripheral wall (58) which is fitted onto said first element (24) by means of a backlash-compensating fastening means (27) to allow adjustment of the cover (22) with the transverse face (14) of the reservoir (12) according to a reduced game (J).