Single-Piece Tap Plug with Tamper Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing taps for 'bag in box' liquid vessels lack tamper-proof seals and have multiple parts, increasing costs and aesthetic issues due to visible injection spots, while also experiencing plastic shrinkage problems.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece plug tap with tamper-preventing seals and improved cam geometry, manufactured using an innovative injection molding process that reduces parts, costs, and enhances aesthetics by minimizing visible injection spots and optimizing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the plug is made of two parts (52, 54), then the manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the number of pieces and end product cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate plug parts (52 and 54) into a single integrated plug component. This is achieved through design modifications that allow the plug to be manufactured as one piece using injection molding, eliminating the need for assembly of multiple parts while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through the molding process itself
2Device complexity
If part 54 is not placed on part 52 to reduce pieces, then the number of pieces decreases, but aesthetic problems occur due to visible injection spot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes part 54 from the plug assembly, leaving only part 52. The design is modified so that the injection spot becomes acceptable or invisible through geometric modifications of the single-piece plug, such as positioning the injection spot in a less visible area or designing the plug geometry to conceal it
3Device complexity
If the tap thickness is reduced, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but plastic shrinkage problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the tap body, particularly the thickness distribution and wall geometry. By optimizing these parameters, the design achieves reduced overall thickness while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to control plastic shrinkage during injection molding, possibly through varying thickness in different regions or adding reinforcement features
4Reliability
If warranty seals are added to the tap, then the security and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the warranty seal function into existing components of the tap assembly rather than adding separate dedicated seal components. The design allows the plug or body to serve multiple functions including both the primary delivery function and the tamper-evident sealing function, thereby avoiding additional complexity
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 solution provides a cost-effective, tamper-proof, and aesthetically improved tap with enhanced liquid tightness and reduced manufacturing complexity, ensuring the authenticity of the delivered liquid and minimizing plastic shrinkage issues.
Implementation Method 1
manufactured using an innovative injection molding process
Data Source
AI summary
A delivering tap for a liquid vessel of the “bag in box” type, and a process for making the delivering tap, where the delivering tap has a substantially-cylindrical elongated body equipped with an end cam and a plane abutting member against the vessel; and further has a plug with a cylindrical end and an operating knob operatively connected to the body where the plug is made in a single piece, where the plug has a tamper-preventing warranty seal adapted to signal a possible tampering of the tap when opening; and where the body has a housing adapted to contain the tamper-preventing warranty seal.