Pressurized Dispenser Pouch Refill System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressurized dispensers face challenges in efficient refilling and sustainability, as they often require re-pressurizing and refilling both the cleaning composition and propellant, leading to environmental impact, safety concerns, and waste generation.
Innovation Solution
A pressurized dispenser system with a pouch-on-valve design that separates the cleaning composition from the pressurizing gas, allowing for refilling of only the composition while maintaining the gas for multiple uses, using environmentally friendly gases like nitrogen or compressed air, and incorporating a refill system that reads machine-readable indicia for precise fluid dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional pressurized dispensers are refilled, then both cleaning composition and propellant must be replaced, but this generates waste and environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pressurized dispenser into separate components: a reusable pressurized container and a replaceable pouch containing the cleaning composition. This segmentation allows the container to be refilled multiple times while only the pouch needs replacement, reducing waste generation from the container material.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and reuses the pressurized container after dispensing, while only discarding the depleted pouch. The container is refilled with fresh cleaning composition at a refill station, enabling multiple reuse cycles and reducing overall waste compared to replacing entire aerosol cans.
2Manufacturing precision
If machine-readable indicia are read for precise fluid dispensing, then refilling accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refill station incorporates an information sensor that reads machine-readable indicia on the container or pouch to obtain information about the cleaning composition type, required amount, and concentration. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust dispensing parameters and achieve precise refilling without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automated identification and dispensing mechanisms that read indicia and self-regulate the refilling process, reducing the need for complex manual control systems and minimizing human error in the refilling operation.
3Reliability
If pressurized dispensers use conventional propellants, then dispensing performance is achieved, but safety concerns and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces conventional flammable propellants with inert gases such as nitrogen or compressed air. This substitution eliminates fire hazards and reduces environmental impact while maintaining the pressurized dispensing function through the reusable container and pouch system.
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 enables multiple uses of the pressurized dispenser, reduces waste and environmental impact, enhances user safety, and meets sustainability guidelines by recycling the pressurizing gas and refilling only the necessary cleaning composition, thus improving the product's lifecycle and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
reading, with the information sensor, the machine-readable indicia on the container to obtain information related to the pressurized dispenser
Implementation Method 2
a pressurizing gas between the container and the pouch
Implementation Method 3
such that the at least one reservoir is in fluid communication with an interior of the pouch
Data Source
AI summary
A method for refilling a pressurized fluid dispenser having a container, a pouch mounted within the container for storing a fluid and fluidly coupled with a valved opening of the container for dispensing the contents of the pouch. A pressurized gas can be provided between the pouch and the container for pressurizing the contents of the pouch. A fluid refill station includes at least one reservoir having a fluid therein and is adapted to dispense the fluid from the at least one reservoir into the pouch based on information obtained from machine-readable indicia on the container.