Rotating Lid Dispensing Device for Accurate Solid Material Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring and dispensing devices for solid, flowable human consumable materials often result in spills and contamination, and fail to provide accurate and repeatable measurements, especially when dealing with medications or dietary supplements.
Innovation Solution
A measuring and dispensing device that includes a rotatably movable cup plate and lid assembly, with a latch mechanism to control the opening and closing of a cup closure, allowing for precise filling and dispensing of materials by gravity, minimizing spillage and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users tip the container to pour material into a measuring cup, then material can be removed from the container, but spills and contamination occur and measurement accuracy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces an intermediary mechanism (the controlled pouring system with cup and lid assembly) between the container and the user. The cup receives material through a controlled opening, and the lid with its specific aperture regulates the flow, preventing spills and contamination while maintaining measurement accuracy. This intermediary system eliminates the need for manual tipping and direct pouring.
2Measurement precision
If users manually reach into the container with a measuring scoop, then material can be measured, but contamination is introduced and the process is messy
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces the manual scoop with an intermediary pouring system. Material flows through a controlled path from the container through the lid aperture into the cup, eliminating direct contact between the user's hand/scoop and the container interior. This intermediary flow path prevents contamination while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device segments the material transfer process into distinct controlled stages: (1) material flows through the lid aperture into the cup, (2) the lid can be positioned to control flow, and (3) the cup can be sealed. This segmentation allows precise control over when and how material is transferred, preventing contamination and mess.
3Ease of operation
If a simple open cup design is used, then the device is easy to manufacture and operate, but material cannot be held securely for dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to be rotatably movable between different positions: a first position where the aperture allows filling, and a second position where the aperture prevents dispensing. This dynamic repositioning allows the same component to serve dual functions - enabling filling when needed and preventing dispensing when the cup should retain material, thus maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.
4Productivity
If the cup outlet remains open for filling, then material can flow freely into the cup, but material cannot be held for controlled dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable lid provides dynamic control over the cup outlet state. When the lid is in the first rotational position, the aperture is aligned to allow free flow for efficient filling. When rotated to the second position, the aperture is repositioned to close the outlet, enabling material retention for controlled dispensing. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction between open flow and sealed retention.
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 device enables accurate and repeatable dispensing of measured volumes of materials, reducing waste and contamination risks, while ensuring easy operation and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The cup closure is movable between a cup closed position in which the cup outlet is closed and a cup dispense position in which the cup outlet is open
Implementation Method 2
the cup interior can be filled with material by tipping the container so that material flows by gravity into the cup interior
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring and dispensing device (10) is used to selectively dispense a selected fixed volume of a solid, flowable human consumable material. The device may be in releasable connection with a container (12) that is operable to deliver the material therefrom to the device by gravity. The device includes a lid (20) which is in rotatable connection with a cup plate (24). The cup plate includes a cup (26) having an interior volume. The cup has a cup outlet (80) that is closable by a relatively movable cup closure (28). The lid includes a lid plate opening (52) and the cup plate includes a cup plate opening (84) that are positionable in overlapping relation to enable the interior volume of the cup to be filled with material from the container. Relatively rotating the lid and cup plate to a cup fill prevented/release orientation that is angularly disposed from the cup fill enabled orientation, is operative to cause a latch (32) to automatically open the cup closure and enable the dispense of the material in the cup interior volume from the cup outlet.