Reusable Mixing Head for Precise Dilution and Foil-Free Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container closures and mixing devices suffer from high manufacturing costs, difficulty in recycling, and potential contamination from foil residues, while failing to achieve precise dilution ratios.
Innovation Solution
A reusable mixing head with an elongate body, flange, and integral cutter, allowing for controlled dispensing of supplemental components into a container to achieve predetermined dilution ratios, using a non-corrosive plastic material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a piercing tip or cutter is used to remove foil seal, then one component is released into the supplemental component, but foil fragments may fall into the mixed components causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful foil seal and cutting mechanism from the system by using a pre-opened tube format. The supplemental component is provided in a tube that is already opened at the end, eliminating the need for a piercing tip or cutter to remove a foil seal. This prevents foil fragments from contaminating the mixed components while still achieving the same functional result of releasing the supplemental component.
2Ease of operation
If a piercing tip is used to perforate foil seal, then components are released for mixing, but the foil seal cannot be reused increasing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle to the tube containing the supplemental component. The tube is designed to be used once and then discarded, eliminating the need for expensive, reusable sealing mechanisms. The tube is provided pre-opened at the end, allowing the supplemental component to be dispensed into the mixing head. After use, the entire tube is disposed of, simplifying the system and reducing manufacturing costs compared to reusable sealing systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex sealing and piercing mechanisms are used, then components can be separated and mixed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into three distinct components: a container for the base component, a mixing head with multiple openings for controlled dispensing, and a separate tube for the supplemental component. The tube is provided pre-opened at the end, eliminating the need for integrated sealing and piercing mechanisms. This segmentation simplifies each individual component while maintaining the overall separation and mixing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing head serves as an intermediary device between the container and the tube. It receives the supplemental component from the pre-opened tube and controls its dispensing into the base component through multiple openings. This intermediary approach allows for controlled mixing without requiring complex integrated sealing and piercing mechanisms in a single device.
4Measurement precision
If reusable mixing head with multiple openings is used, then precise dilution ratio is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves precise dilution ratio control by varying the parameters of the openings in the mixing head - specifically the number of openings, their size, and their distribution pattern. By adjusting these parameters during manufacturing, precise dilution ratios can be achieved without requiring extremely high positioning accuracy. The system leverages parameter variation rather than precise positioning to control the dilution ratio.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mixing head (10) and more particularly to a mixing head receivable within a container (30) opening to facilitate dispensing of a supplemental component into a container to achieve a predetermined dilution ratio.