Stopper Retaining Strip Segmentation for Neck Cleaning
Solution Overview
Problem
Current stoppers with retaining strips hinder effective cleaning of container necks due to poor circulation of cleaning liquids, as the liquid is blocked by the strip's design, leading to potential biological contamination from residue.
Innovation Solution
The stopper features axial recesses in the retaining strip's inner face and free spaces between insertion tongues, allowing pressurized cleaning fluid to circulate and reach the outer face, ensuring thorough cleaning without compromising the strip's mechanical retention function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retaining strip is used to mechanically maintain the stopper around the container neck, then the retention reliability is improved, but the cleaning liquid circulation is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining strip is segmented into multiple insertion tongues spaced around its perimeter rather than forming a continuous barrier. This segmentation allows cleaning liquid to pass through the gaps between tongues while each tongue individually maintains mechanical retention function against the container neck
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the retaining strip are designed with different properties: the insertion tongues provide localized mechanical engagement with the container neck for retention, while the gaps between tongues provide localized fluid passage for cleaning liquid circulation. This spatial differentiation of function resolves the contradiction between retention and cleaning
2Strength
If the retaining strip is made continuous to ensure proper operation, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the cleaning liquid flow is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous retaining strip is divided into discrete insertion tongues separated by gaps. Each tongue maintains structural integrity for mechanical strength, while the collective arrangement of spaced tongues allows substantial cleaning liquid flow through the gaps, resolving the contradiction between strength and fluid quantity
3Reliability
If the retaining strip abuts against the container neck bulge for retention, then the retention function is improved, but the cleaning liquid distribution is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining strip uses spaced insertion tongues that abut against the container neck bulge at discrete locations. This segmented abutment provides sufficient mechanical retention while allowing cleaning liquid to distribute freely through the gaps between tongues, resolving the contradiction between retention function and liquid distribution
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
This design enables efficient cleaning of the container neck by allowing large quantities of cleaning liquid to flow around the neck, effectively removing residue and preventing biological contamination while maintaining the strip's retention capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
cleaning fluid, in particular sent pressurized to the base of the stopper placed on the neck, easily supplies the lower end of those recesses and effectively rises in those recesses
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Stopper (1) including a tubular skirt (12) including, on either side of a weakening line, a removable skirt portion (12.1), inwardly provided with means (16) for removable fastening to the neck, and a non-removable skirt portion (12.2), inwardly provided with a retaining strip (22). This strip comprises an annular main body (24) whereof a first end is turned opposite the removable skirt portion and integral with the non-removable skirt portion, while its second end is provided to axially abut against a bulge of the container neck and to be radially inserted between said bulge and the skirt. To allow effective cleaning of the neck by a cleaning liquid, after the stopper is placed, while guaranteeing reliability and effectiveness for the retaining strip, the invention provides that the second end of the main body: - delimits abutment surfaces (28) that are distributed along the inner periphery of the main body, while being separated in pairs by a recess (30) that is formed in the inner face of the main body of the retaining strip (22), without emerging transversely in the outer face (24B) of the main body, and by which the cleaning liquid circulates between the first end of the main body and the abutment surfaces; - bears tongues (32) that are distributed along the outer periphery of the main body, while being separated in pairs by a free space (34) through which the cleaning liquid circulates between the abutment surfaces and the outer face of the retaining strip.