Tube Head Perforating Cap with Spacer Ring Stops
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for sealing flexible tubes with a cap and perforating plug are impractical, industrially restrictive, and prone to premature perforation during storage and use, requiring precise positioning and multiple parts.
Innovation Solution
A tube assembly with a cap and punch where the punch is inserted inside the neck when screwed on, and a removable spacer ring made from a single piece of material with internal stops to prevent premature perforation, allowing controlled cutting during first use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the punch is arranged in the stopper to perforate the lid when the stopper is screwed onto the tube head, then the lid can be preserved prior to first use, but the punch may prematurely perforate the lid during storage or positioning
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the stopper and the tube head shoulder. This spacer ring prevents the punch from contacting the lid during storage and positioning, while still allowing the stopper to be properly positioned on the tube head. The spacer ring acts as a protective mediator that eliminates the harmful premature perforation effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer ring is designed with an internal diameter slightly larger than the stopper outer diameter, creating preliminary clearance that prevents the punch from reaching the lid. This preliminary geometric arrangement ensures that even if the stopper is tightly fitted, the punch remains blocked from perforating the lid during storage and positioning operations.
2Reliability
If a spacer ring is placed between the stopper and the shoulder of the tube head to keep the punch away from the lid, then the lid is protected, but the solution requires positioning of several parts and is very restrictive industrially
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer ring and stopper are combined into a single integrated component made from one material. The spacer ring forms the head portion of the stopper assembly, eliminating the need for separate positioning of multiple parts. This merging reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the protective function during industrial manufacturing and positioning operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the stopper and ring are produced in a single piece made from one material, then manufacturing is simplified, but positioning the cap on the tube head by machine requires extreme precision to avoid breaking the bridges of material
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated stopper-spacer ring component is designed with a segmentation feature: the internal diameter of the spacer ring head is made slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stopper body. This creates a clearance segment that allows the stopper to slide through the spacer ring during positioning without requiring extreme precision, while still maintaining structural integrity as a single piece.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an assembly comprising - a tube head (1) including a solid insert (13) forming a seal closing the neck (11), - a cap (2) including a punch (22), - a removable spacer ring (3) disposed to rest on the shoulder (12) around the neck (11), the ring (3) and the cap (2) being formed from a single piece of material and are connected by material bridges and configured so as to allow the cap (2) to slide through the ring (3) after breaking said material bridges, characterized in that the ring (3) includes internal stops (33) adapted to limit the movement of said cap (2) through the ring (3), so as to keep the punch (22) away from the seal when the cap (2) is screwed onto the neck (11) and abutted against the ring (3).