Parallel Container Filling With Automatic Elastic Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for filling inflatable containers, such as balloons, are time-consuming and inefficient, often requiring manual inflation and leading to inconsistent filling volumes and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a housing with hollow tubes and elastic fasteners that allows simultaneous filling of multiple containers, where the fasteners automatically seal the containers upon detachment from the tubes, facilitating efficient and consistent filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sequential manual filling is used, then each container can be filled individually, but the process is time-consuming and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the filling process into multiple independent parallel channels, each with its own tube and container. Multiple containers are filled simultaneously through separate openings in the housing, transforming a sequential single-channel process into a parallel multi-channel process, thereby dramatically increasing productivity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple filling operations are merged into a single unified system. The housing integrates multiple openings and tubes, allowing simultaneous filling of multiple containers through one coordinated apparatus rather than requiring separate manual operations for each container
2Productivity
If compressed air or helium tanks are used for inflation, then filling speed improves, but the containers must be tied manually which adds time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic fastener performs dual functions automatically: it seals the container opening during filling and then detaches when the container is full. The system serves itself by using the filled container's own weight and the elastic fastener's recoil to accomplish both sealing and release functions without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic fastener acts as an intermediary between the tube and container. It provides a mechanical coupling that allows fluid transfer while maintaining a seal, and automatically releases when the container is full, mediating the interaction between the filling system and the container without requiring manual tying
3Manufacturing precision
If manual filling is used, then control over each container is possible, but filling consistency and volume uniformity are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic fastener provides automatic feedback control for filling volume. As the container fills and expands, it exerts increasing force on the fastener. When the container reaches its maximum capacity, the force causes the fastener to detach, automatically stopping the filling process at the optimal volume without requiring manual measurement or control
4Productivity
If containers are filled rapidly, then productivity increases, but the containers may be damaged or filled to different volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the filling process to each container's state. The elastic fastener continuously monitors container expansion and automatically adjusts by maintaining the seal during filling and then releasing when full. This dynamic response ensures each container is filled to its optimal volume without overfilling or damage, even at high speeds
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
Enables rapid and uniform filling of multiple containers with fluids, reducing manual effort and minimizing damage, while ensuring each container is sealed effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic fasteners being elastic rings, each elastic fastener clamping a respective one of the plurality of containers to a corresponding hollow tube
Implementation Method 2
each elastic fastener configured to automatically seal its respective one of the plurality of containers upon detaching the container from its corresponding hollow tube
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An invention is disclosed that includes a housing with an opening at a first end and a plurality of holes at a second end, a plurality of hollow tubes attached to the plurality of holes, a plurality of containers removably attached to the hollow tubes, and a plurality of elastic fasteners, each elastic fastener clamping each container to a corresponding hollow tube, such that when the containers are filled with fluid and detached from the corresponding hollow tubes, each elastic fastener seals each container with the fluid inside.