Portable Mixing Container With Reciprocating Piston Mixer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging systems for health and beauty products face challenges in ensuring consistent and complete mixing of ingredients with varying rheological properties, particularly high viscosity or solid components, while maintaining contamination prevention and regulatory compliance.
Innovation Solution
A retail package with an integrated mixing system that includes a mixing container with a reciprocating and rotating mixer, allowing for in-situ mixing within the container, which eliminates the need for pre-mixing and enables customizable formulations by using a slidable piston and mixing plate with apertures for efficient fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If pre-mixing of ingredients is performed before packaging, then mixing consistency is improved, but contamination risk and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Ingredients are pre-filled in separate compartments within the packaging before consumer use. This preliminary action allows precise dosing and prevents contamination during storage, while the mixing function is activated only when needed by the consumer through a simple mechanical actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing function is extracted from the manufacturing process and transferred to the consumer end-use environment. By providing separate ingredient compartments that the consumer activates themselves, the system eliminates the need for complex industrial mixing equipment and reduces contamination risks associated with large-scale pre-mixing operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical mixing aids are used for high viscosity ingredients, then mixing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging incorporates a flexible barrier layer that dynamically responds to user activation. When the user presses the actuation mechanism, the flexible barrier deforms to allow controlled interaction between ingredient compartments, enabling mixing without requiring complex mechanical mixing devices. The flexibility of the barrier itself provides the necessary mixing action for high viscosity ingredients.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the consumer to perform the mixing function themselves through a simple pressing motion. The flexible barrier and compartment design automatically facilitate the mixing process without requiring the consumer to operate complex mechanical mixing aids, making the system accessible and simple to use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If individualized filling is performed for each container, then customization capability is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is segmented into separate ingredient compartments that can be independently filled. This segmentation allows different ingredient combinations to be pre-filled in separate containers during manufacturing, then quickly assembled into final personalized products. The segmented design enables parallel processing and reduces the time required for individualized formulation assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Ingredients are pre-filled into separate compartments or containers during manufacturing using automated systems. This preliminary action allows the time-consuming individualized filling to occur during initial production rather than at the point of customization, enabling rapid assembly of personalized formulations when consumers place orders.
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
This solution ensures thorough and efficient mixing of products, reducing waste and contamination risks, while allowing for unit-by-unit customization and scalable production of personalized products, including those with high viscosity or solid components, and facilitates compliance with regulatory tracking requirements.
Implementation Method 1
Movement of the upper mixing plate within the mixing container may provide mixing of the container's contents by forcing fluid flow through one or more mixing apertures formed about a flange of the mixing plate
Implementation Method 2
Movement of the slidable bottom portion upward into the mixing container may seal the contents therein
Data Source
AI summary
A capped retail dispenser package encloses and retains a mixing container into which a product mixture is filled using an automated manufacturing system in an individualized manner, such that each individual product container may be charged with a customized or unique formulation different than a previous or subsequent container passing through the system. Mixing is not done prior to filling, but with a mixer received in a slidable bottom portion that functions as a piston. The rod terminates at its upper end with a mixing plate. Movement of the rod through the central opening provides mixing of the product through a reciprocating motion, and preferably with a simultaneous rotation. Movement of the upper mixing plate within the mixing container provides mixing of the container's contents by forcing fluid flow through one or more mixing apertures formed about a flange of the mixing plate.