Disposable PET Beverage Tap with Tamper-Evident Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Cornelius kegs are costly, have no tamper-evident systems, result in high environmental impact due to re-use and transportation, and lack efficient recycling capabilities, leading to increased operational and management costs.
Innovation Solution
A plastic tap with two parallel inlets for gas and liquid, made of recyclable PET, featuring tamper-evident systems and a pre-formed neck with a tamper-evident system, designed for one-way use, compatible with existing dispensing systems, and made using injection molding to reduce production costs and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If Cornelius kegs are made of metal and designed for re-use, then durability and reusability are improved, but cost, environmental impact, and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by designing a single-use plastic keg system that eliminates the need for cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance associated with reusable metal kegs. The plastic keg is designed to be used once and then discarded, significantly reducing operational complexity and costs while maintaining adequate functionality for its intended purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, and the usage parameter from reusable to single-use. This fundamental parameter change transforms the entire operational model, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and sterilization processes while reducing costs and environmental impact associated with repeated use cycles.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If Cornelius kegs are designed for re-use and washing, then container longevity is improved, but water consumption, energy use, and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable plastic keg eliminates the need for washing and sterilization cycles, directly reducing water consumption and energy use associated with cleaning reusable containers. The single-use nature of the plastic keg means no water or energy is spent on cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cleaning and sterilization functions from the system entirely by using a disposable container. Instead of maintaining a reusable container that requires cleaning, the system uses a new container for each use, removing the energy-intensive cleaning process from the operational cycle.
3Ease of operation
If Cornelius kegs lack tamper-evident systems, then ease of refilling is improved, but product integrity and consumer safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating tamper-evident features into the keg design before use. The breakable seal is pre-installed and provides immediate evidence of tampering, preventing unauthorized refilling while maintaining the integrity of the beverage without requiring complex monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable seal converts the potential harm of unauthorized refilling into a beneficial security feature. The seal's inability to be reopened without breaking provides automatic tamper detection, transforming a simple closure mechanism into an effective security system that protects product integrity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If Cornelius kegs use multiple replaceable parts, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (body, lid, spigot, seal) into a single integrated plastic keg structure. This consolidation simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of parts that need to be produced and assembled, while maintaining all necessary functions through the integrated design of the single-use container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter to plastic, which enables complex integrated shapes to be manufactured more easily and cheaply than metal components. Injection molding of plastic allows for the integration of multiple functions into a single piece, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to assembling multiple metal parts.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container for liquids of the keg type is described, made of plastic material, preferably PET, comprising: at least one delivering tap (1) with double turret (9.3) composed of a main body (7); a covering device (9) equipped with two turrets (9.3) for entering gas and for exiting liquid from the body (7); two pistons (8); a bottom (10) operatively coupled to the pistons (8) for driving their operation; and a tamper-evident seal (11) placed on the covering device (9) in order to prevent an undesired external access to said turrets (9.3); and a neck (12.2) of the container of the keg type adapted to be operatively connected to the delivering tap (1) and equipped with internal (12.3) and internal (12.1) tamper-evident means of the tap (1).