Cardboard/Plastic Pouring Element With Anti-Opening Closure Cam
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cardboard/plastic composite packages are prone to premature opening during transportation or handling due to unintentional turning of the screw cap, leading to product leakage and compromised sterility.
Innovation Solution
The pouring element design incorporates a recess in the thread element of the pouring tube or screw cap, with a closure cam that engages in the recess when the screw cap is closed, preventing accidental activation of the cutting element until a specific rotational angle is reached, ensuring the closing layer is not damaged until intentional opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the screw cap is designed to be easily unscrewed for pouring, then the ease of operation is improved, but the package becomes prone to premature opening during transportation or handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a cam mechanism that preemptively prevents unintended rotation. The cam profile is designed to engage with a lever arm and block rotational movement until a specific intentional activation point is reached, thereby counteracting any accidental turning forces applied during transportation or handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by creating a rotational barrier mechanism where the cam and lever arm form a dynamic locking system. As the cap rotates during the opening process, the cam profile transitions from a blocked position to an engaged position, dynamically controlling the transition from locked to unlocked state and preventing premature opening while allowing intentional opening.
2Ease of operation
If the cutting element is directly connected to the screw cap for opening the closing layer, then the ease of operation is improved, but the closing layer may be damaged during unintended rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the cutting element and closing layer such that they are not yet in contact when the cap begins to rotate. The cam mechanism is designed to delay the activation of the cutting element until the cap has rotated to a specific angle, ensuring that the closing layer is only engaged after the barrier mechanism has been intentionally activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the cam and lever arm system) between the screw cap rotation and the cutting element activation. This intermediary controls the transmission of rotational force, ensuring that the cutting element is only activated when the cam profile allows it, thereby preventing accidental damage to the closing layer.
3Reliability
If a barrier mechanism is introduced to prevent premature opening, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the barrier mechanism with the existing cap structure by integrating the cam profile directly into the cap body or its attachment to the spout. The lever arm is positioned to interact with the existing cutting element assembly, combining multiple functions (locking, opening, and cutting activation) into a unified structure that minimizes additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism serves multiple functions: it acts as a rotational barrier to prevent premature opening, controls the timing of cutting element activation, and guides the opening process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a pouring element (1,40) for cardboard/plastic composite packages (33) comprising a spout body (2,49), a cutting element (14,53) and a screw cap (3,41), wherein the spout body (2,49) has a circumferential fastening flange (4,50) for fastening the spout body (2,49) to the composite package (33) and a pouring tube (13,48), wherein the pouring tube (13,48) comprises at least one outer thread element (28,54) and at least one inner guiding element (18), wherein the cutting element (14,53) is designed for cutting open a closing layer (25) and comprises at least one outer guiding element (17) interacting with the at least one inner guiding element (18) of the pouring tube (13,48) and comprises at least one drive element (20), wherein the screw cap (3,41) comprises at least one inner thread element (27) screwed onto the at least one outer thread element (28,54) of the pouring tube (13,48) and at least one driving cam (23) for engaging with the at least one drive element to move the cutting element (14,53) towards the closing layer (25) when initially unscrewing the screw cap (3,41) from the pouring tube (13,48). To avoid premature opening of the packages by unintentionally turning the screw cap, it is provided that, the at least one outer thread element (28,54) of the pouring tube (13,48) comprises a recess (31,55) close to an end of the at least one thread element (28,54) and the screw cap (3,41) comprises at least one closure cam (30,56) engaging in the recess (31,55) when the screw cap (3,41) is in a screwed-on position and/or that the at least one inner thread element (27) of the screw cap (3,41) comprises a recess (31,55) close to an end of the at least one thread element (27) (28,54) and the pouring tube (13,48) comprises at least one closure cam (30,56) engaging in the recess (31,55) when the screw cap (3,41) is in a screwed-on position.