Spout Collar Slanted Inner Surface Backflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spouts for sealed packages with pourable food products experience backflow issues after pouring, disrupting the flow of the product back into the package.
Innovation Solution
The spout design incorporates a collar with a slanted inner surface that guides the pourable product back into the package, reducing backflow by ensuring a smooth flow channel and minimizing disturbances during the return of the product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If inner protrusions are arranged in the collar to facilitate separation membrane removal, then the separation membrane can be easily removed, but the backflow of the pourable product is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the inner protrusions from the collar that were causing backflow disturbance, extracting the harmful geometric feature while preserving the collar's other functions for membrane removal and structural support
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the local geometry of the collar's inner surface by providing a slanted portion that specifically addresses the backflow issue without affecting other regions of the collar that perform membrane removal functions
2Reliability
If a smooth flow channel is provided in the collar, then the backflow of the pourable product is improved, but the separation membrane removal capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two functional regions in the collar: a smooth flow channel region for optimal backflow and a distinct membrane engagement region with protrusions or edges that facilitate separation membrane removal, combining both functions in a single collar structure
Solution Approach 2:
The collar's inner surface is segmented into different functional zones: a slanted smooth portion for backflow and other portions with structural features for membrane removal, allowing each zone to optimize its specific function without interfering with the other
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 spout effectively eliminates backflow, ensuring that all pourable product returns to the package without disturbance, enhancing the usability and efficiency of the packaging system.
Implementation Method 1
The spout design incorporates a collar with a slanted inner surface that guides the pourable product back into the package, reducing backflow by ensuring a smooth flow channel and minimizing disturbances during the return of the product
Data Source
AI summary
A spout comprises a collar carrying a pouring outlet and an inlet opening for the pourable product and delimiting a flow channel. The collar comprises an inner surface delimiting the flow channel. The inner surface comprises at least a main surface portion and a slanted surface portion. The main and slanted surface portions are such that a first intersection of a first intersection plane with the inner surface results in at least one first one-dimensional curve, a second intersection of a second intersection plane with the inner surface results in at least one second one-dimensional curve. The first and second one-dimensional curves each comprise respective first and second portions lying on respectively the slanted surface portion and the main surface portion. The first one-dimensional curve is superimposable on the second one-dimensional curve such that at least the respective first portions and the respective second portions are superposed.