Slit-Valve Discharge Cap for Controlled Liquid Cutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional discharge caps require excessive external force to dispense high-viscosity liquids, leading to thick discharge and inadequate liquid cutoff.
Innovation Solution
A discharge cap with a nozzle flow path smaller than the container opening, featuring a slit valve made of a softer elastic material, which includes a deformable slit part that opens and closes with pressure changes, facilitating controlled discharge and improved cutoff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If slits in the valve are elongated to reduce external force required for discharge, then the external force magnitude is reduced, but the discharged content liquid becomes too thick
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with different local properties: the slit part has smaller thickness to enable easy opening with minimal force, while the outer circumferential part has larger thickness to maintain structural integrity and control liquid flow thickness. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reducing opening force and controlling discharge liquid thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of different valve parts: the slit part thickness is set to 0.1-0.3mm for easy deformation, while the outer circumferential part thickness is 0.4-0.8mm for structural stability. This parameter variation allows the valve to open easily while maintaining proper liquid discharge thickness.
2Force
If slits are elongated to suppress external force applied to container, then discharge becomes easier, but content liquid is not well cut off after discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The valve structure differentiates between the slit part and outer circumferential part in terms of thickness and deformation characteristics. The thinner slit part opens easily, while the thicker outer circumferential part provides restoring force for proper liquid cutoff, preventing adhesion to the cap surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve dynamically changes its state based on pressure conditions: it deforms open during discharge and returns to closed state after discharge. The differential thickness design ensures proper dynamic behavior for both opening and closing phases, achieving good liquid cutoff.
3Ease of operation
If the valve material is made softer to facilitate opening, then the valve opens more easily, but the structural integrity and cutoff performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve exhibits local quality differences in material softness: the slit part uses softer material (smaller thickness) for easy opening, while the outer circumferential part uses harder material (larger thickness) for structural integrity and effective liquid cutoff.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve functions as a composite structure with different effective material properties in different regions. The combination of soft slit part and hard outer circumferential part creates a composite effect that achieves both easy opening and maintained structural integrity.
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 cap allows for appropriate external force application, preventing thick discharge and ensuring effective liquid cutoff.
Implementation Method 1
a container having an elasticity and that discharges a content liquid associated with a pressure increase in an interior space of the container due to an external force applied to the container
Implementation Method 2
a valve that is provided on the nozzle and that is made of an elastic material softer than the nozzle, wherein the valve includes a valve part through which the content liquid in the nozzle flow path is discharged, and the slit part more easily deforms with a pressure change in the interior space than the outer circumferential part
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention has an object to suppress an external force applied to a container to discharge a content liquid CLq to an appropriate magnitude, to prevent the content liquid CLq discharged from a discharge nozzle 29 from becoming too thick, and to enable the content liquid CLq after discharge to be cut off in an improved manner. A valve part 49 included in a slit valve 7A includes a slit part 49b including slits 55, and an outer circumferential part 49a coupled to a thin-walled tube part 51 (a connecting part). The slit part 49b more easily deforms with a pressure change in the interior space of the container than the outer circumferential part 49a. The slit part 49b deforms in a discharge direction of the content liquid CLq at the time of discharge of the content liquid CLq, and deforms toward a nozzle flow path 29a after the content liquid CLq is discharged.