Tube Head Insert with Dome-Shaped Positioning Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible tube head structures are complex and expensive to produce, with inserts like metal or EVOH layers being difficult to properly position, leading to potential corrosion, leakage, and plastic deformation, which compromises the barrier properties and product integrity.
Innovation Solution
A tube head design featuring a multilayer insert with a dome-shaped central portion that serves as a positioning means, ensuring correct alignment and protection of the shoulder and peripheral end, thereby preventing plastic deformation and maintaining barrier properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an insert is placed in the tube head to form a protective barrier, then the barrier properties and product protection are improved, but the positioning difficulty and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is pre-formed with a deformation (concave, dome-shaped, or conical) during the insert manufacturing process itself, before assembly into the tube head. This preliminary shaping serves as built-in positioning means that guides the insert into correct alignment with the neck during assembly, eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms or manual adjustment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert incorporates an asymmetric deformation (concave, dome-shaped, or conical) that creates a unique geometric feature. This asymmetric shape complements the corresponding asymmetric feature in the neck (protrusion, recess, or shoulder), enabling precise positioning through geometric interlocking. The asymmetric deformation ensures the insert can only be positioned correctly in one orientation, preventing misalignment and rotation.
2Reliability
If a metal insert is used to improve barrier properties, then the infiltration and leakage protection are improved, but the corrosion risk and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is constructed as a multilayer composite structure combining a metal layer (aluminum, steel, or other metal) with plastic layers (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymers). The metal layer provides the necessary barrier properties against infiltration and leakage, while the plastic layers serve as protective coatings that isolate the metal from corrosive products and environments, preventing corrosion. This composite structure achieves both protection functions simultaneously.
3Ease of manufacture
If the insert is poorly positioned, then the production complexity is reduced, but the plastic deformation and barrier property degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning deformation is pre-formed on the insert during manufacturing, creating built-in alignment features before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that during assembly, the insert naturally guides itself into the correct position through the interaction between the deformation and the corresponding neck features, maintaining high positioning accuracy without requiring complex assembly procedures or specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation is designed with curved surfaces (dome-shaped or conical) that facilitate smooth guidance and self-centering during assembly. The curved geometry allows the insert to be easily guided into the neck while maintaining precise alignment, reducing friction and preventing binding. The spherical or conical shape provides stable positioning through geometric constraints, ensuring the insert remains correctly positioned during subsequent handling and storage.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Tube head (1) adapted to be associated with a skirt (4) so as to form an internal volume of the tube, said tube head (1) comprising a body (11), said body comprising a neck (3) and a shoulder (2) connected to the neck (3), said tube head (1) further comprising an insert (6) disposed in contact with said shoulder (2), so as to form a barrier between the body (11) and the product contained in the internal volume, said insert (6) closing the neck (3), characterized in that said insert (6) comprises a positioning means in the tube head (1).