Sliding Closure Container Coding to Prevent Wrong Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dispensing systems lack a mechanism to prevent incorrect containers from being inserted, leading to potential contamination and leakage, as they rely solely on matching guide elements which do not ensure the correct contents are used.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of recesses and projections on the closure and depot elements of the container, which engage specifically to prevent incorrect insertion by requiring a precise alignment and locking mechanism, ensuring only compatible containers can be used.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If only guide elements are used for container insertion, then the container can be easily inserted and removed, but incorrect containers can be inserted leading to contamination and leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of insertionVSAvoidprevention of incorrect insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by providing the closure with specific asymmetric recesses and the depot with corresponding asymmetric projections. This asymmetric configuration ensures that only the correct container closure can engage with the depot, preventing incorrect containers from being inserted while maintaining ease of operation for the correct container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary coding mechanism consisting of recesses in the closure and projections on the depot. This intermediary element acts as a mediator between the container and dispenser, verifying compatibility before allowing insertion to proceed, thus preventing incorrect container insertion while maintaining operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If recesses and projections are added to prevent incorrect insertion, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of incorrect insertionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing the coding feature (recesses and projections) only in specific localized areas of the closure and depot, rather than throughout the entire structure. This allows the system to gain reliability through prevention of incorrect insertion while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by keeping the additional features localized and limited in scope.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3083440B1Container
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 HAGLEITNER HANS GEORG
  • EP3083440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3083440B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3083440B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a container having an opening lying in a plane (3), wherein said opening is provided on a connecting piece (2) of the container. A closure (10) of said container can be removed by displacement in the plane. At least one guide element (4) is provided on the connecting piece (2), on or in which the closure (10) can be displaced relative to the container (1). The closure (10) comprises at least one recess (16) on at least one of its outer surfaces (17, 18, 19).