Container with Scraping Bottom for Pigment Waste Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for storing concentrated liquid colour pigment result in significant pigment adhesion to the walls, lid, and bottom, leading to substantial waste (3-8%) when pouring, as existing methods to remove the adhered pigment are laborious and often neglected.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a tubular wall, a lid with a disc-shaped bottom and a detachable pouring spout with a pointed outer end, along with a scraping element on the bottom, allows for complete emptying without spillage, utilizing a snapping mechanism for the spout and a cavity at the bottom to accommodate the spout's pointed end, ensuring minimal residual pigment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional container design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but significant pigment adhesion (3-8%) occurs on walls, lid, and bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into functionally optimized zones: the wall features an inclined lower section that segments the pigment flow path to prevent adhesion, while the bottom incorporates a central cavity and scraping element that segment the residual pigment collection area. This segmentation allows each zone to address specific adhesion problems independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent adhesion on the bottom surface directly, the invention inverts the approach by creating a central cavity that collects adhesion-prone areas and uses a scraping element that actively removes adhered pigment from the wall and bottom surfaces, turning the adhesion problem into a collectable and removable feature.
2Ease of operation
If conventional container design is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but laborious scraping is required to remove adhered pigment
Solution Approach 1:
The container design performs preliminary actions to facilitate emptying: the inclined wall section pre-directs pigment flow toward the center, the scraping element pre-removes adhered pigment during the pouring motion, and the central cavity pre-collects residual pigment. These preliminary actions eliminate the need for separate scraping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure itself performs the emptying function through its geometric features. The inclined wall and scraping element work together during the normal pouring operation to self-remove adhered pigment without requiring additional manual scraping tools or actions, making the system self-servicing.
3Reliability
If conventional container design is used, then simple structure is maintained, but complete emptying without spillage is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The container applies local quality optimization at critical locations: the wall has a specific inclination angle in its lower section where pigment adhesion occurs, the bottom has a central cavity positioned exactly where residual pigment accumulates, and the scraping element is positioned to contact the wall at the optimal point for pigment removal. These localized features ensure reliable complete emptying.
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 design effectively reduces residual pigment to about 1%, facilitating efficient emptying and reuse of the container while preventing spillage and laborious scraping.
Implementation Method 1
The outlet pipe is preferably provided with a pointed outer end with which the seal of the opening can be pierced.
Implementation Method 2
The mounting means preferably comprise releasable snap connecting means.
Implementation Method 3
A container design featuring a tubular wall, a lid with a disc-shaped bottom and a detachable pouring spout with a pointed outer end, along with a scraping element on the bottom, allows for complete emptying without spillage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
Container (1) for storing a liquid, particularly concentrated liquid colour pigment for paint, which container is provided with a closable opening and which container comprises a tubular wall (2), a lid (3) and a bottom (4) axially movable in the tube, which bottom is substantially formed by a disc, such that liquid present in the container can be pressed out of the container via the opened opening by moving the bottom toward the lid.