Tube Body Electronic Device Integration via Outer Shell Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tube manufacturing methods face challenges in integrating electronic devices, such as RFID circuits, in a protected and efficient manner, due to high temperatures and pressures during production, which can damage components, and limited space for information on the tube body, leading to complex and costly processes.
Innovation Solution
A tube body design where electronic devices, like RFID labels with a transponder and antenna, are fixed on the outside of the inner tube and encapsulated between the inner and outer tubes, allowing for protected integration and easy data transmission, with the option to embed these devices at defined points along the tube length, using a seamless thermoplastic jacket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If electronic devices are integrated into the tube body during manufacturing, then data storage and transmission capabilities are improved, but the high temperatures and pressures during production can damage the electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device is attached to the tube body after the tube has been formed, but before final assembly. The tube body is prepared with a reception surface and adhesive layer in advance, allowing the electronic device to be securely mounted without exposing it to the harsh conditions of tube formation. This preliminary preparation enables subsequent attachment under gentler conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube system is divided into separate components: the tube body, the electronic device, and the closure. The electronic device is attached to the tube body as a separate component rather than being integrated into the tube wall itself, avoiding exposure to high temperatures and pressures during tube formation while still achieving functional integration in the final assembly.
2Area of stationary object
If information is printed or embossed on the tube surface, then space utilization is improved, but the amount of information that can be stored is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical printing or embossing system on the tube surface is replaced with an electronic information storage system. The electronic device contains a memory chip that can store significantly more information than physical printing, and this information can be retrieved electronically rather than visually, effectively substituting a mechanical display system with an electronic one.
Solution Approach 2:
Information storage transitions from two-dimensional surface printing on the tube to three-dimensional electronic memory within the electronic device. This dimensional shift allows for exponentially increased information capacity while using minimal surface area on the tube itself.
3Reliability
If RFID circuits are integrated into the flat material before tube formation, then protection is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The tube body is prepared with adhesive surfaces and reception areas in advance, allowing the electronic device to be attached in a subsequent, simpler step. This preliminary preparation of the tube body separates the complex tube formation process from the electronic device attachment, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while ensuring proper protection and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic device is extracted from the tube wall structure itself and attached as a separate component on the tube's outer surface. This extraction simplifies the tube formation process by removing the need to integrate electronics during high-temperature molding, while the electronic device retains its protection through the adhesive bonding and positioning on the tube surface.
4Device complexity
If the tube shoulder is used to attach electronic devices, then integration is improved, but the limited space and central outlet opening hinder or prevent integration
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting location for the electronic device shifts from the constrained two-dimensional surface of the tube shoulder to the larger cylindrical surface of the tube body. This dimensional relocation provides ample space for attaching the electronic device without interfering with the central outlet opening or tube shoulder geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the electronic device to the tube shoulder as previously attempted, the invention inverts the approach by attaching it to the tube body's outer surface. This reversal of the mounting location eliminates space constraints and allows for simpler integration while maintaining functional connectivity.
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 method simplifies the integration and protection of electronic devices within the tube body, enabling reliable data transmission and storage of critical information, such as identification codes and expiration dates, while minimizing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The barrier layer prevents or minimizes the diffusion or passage of oxygen and water vapor through the flat material
Implementation Method 2
Since energy transfer in such circuits with passive transponders occurs via their antennas, there is a risk that small antennas will not transmit enough energy to operate the circuits
Implementation Method 3
The tube shoulder is produced as a molded part using injection molding technology
Implementation Method 4
The abutting or overlapping longitudinal edges are joined together, for example by welding or gluing, to create a tight seal
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The tube (1) comprises a multilayer tube body (3), wherein an inner tube body (1) is encased by a seamless outer tube shell (21). An electronic device (17) with an energy storage device for providing the operating voltage required for operation is protected and not visible from the outside between the inner tube body (19) and the outer tube shell (21).