Pourer Design with Projecting Rods for Refilling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-refillable pourers for containers face issues with hindered pouring due to partial 'barrier effects' caused by hole arrangements and complex construction, particularly in preventing refilling and maintaining the original product quality in high-quality food and beverage supplies.
Innovation Solution
A pourer design featuring a conduit with axially symmetric shape, transverse walls with evenly spaced holes, and projecting rods that bend to create a liquid-impervious barrier during refilling attempts, while allowing smooth pouring, and a simpler molding process for manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holes are arranged in prior art pourers to create a barrier effect, then refilling is prevented, but pouring efficiency is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The top surface is divided into different zones with different hole arrangements: a first area with holes arranged to create a barrier effect for preventing refilling, and a second area with holes arranged to facilitate smooth pouring. This local differentiation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
2Reliability
If converging hole axes are used in prior art pourers, then barrier effect is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holes are arranged with asymmetric patterns where the axes are not converging but rather distributed in a specific asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric arrangement maintains the barrier effect while being more compatible with standard molding processes, as it does not require the complex tooling needed for converging hole axes.
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 enhances pouring efficiency by minimizing 'barrier effects' during normal use and effectively prevents refilling by creating a surface tension barrier, while simplifying the manufacturing process and ensuring the integrity of the original product.
Implementation Method 1
As liquid is poured on the grille, it interacts with the slits and creates a meniscus due to surface tension, which can prevent the fluid from flowing past the grille.
Implementation Method 2
a fluid poured from a greater height can overcome the barrier created by grille-fluid interaction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 3a
AI summary
A pourer (1) for a container comprises a conduit (2) for the passage of liquid, which is adapted to be fixed to a neck (3) of a container, the conduit (2) has an inlet opening (4) and an outlet opening (5) opposite to each other, the inlet opening (4) is adapted to face an interior compartment of the container, the conduit (2) extends in a flow direction (B) for the liquid from the inlet opening (4) to the outlet opening (5), a transverse wall (9) arranged within the conduit (2) and transverse to the flow direction (B), the transverse wall (9) has a plurality of holes (10) through which the liquid can flow; the pourer (1) comprises a plurality of rods (13) projecting out of the transverse wall (9) toward the outlet opening (5).