Winged Capsule Wing Protector for Dairy Cattle Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Winged capsules used for controlled release formulations in lactating dairy cattle are prone to damage during packaging and transportation, leading to bent or broken wings that lose their functional shape and must be discarded, resulting in waste and increased disposal costs.

Innovation Solution

A wing protector device that includes a slot system to receive and removably attach the wings of the capsule, made from flexible material with a dome cage and wing retainers, which allows for insertion and expansion while preventing damage by providing lateral support and maintaining the wings' shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If winged capsules are packaged in bags without protection, then packaging simplicity is maintained, but wings bend past material yield point and break during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewing structural integrityVSAvoidpackaging structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A wing protector acts as an intermediary device between the wings and the external environment during packaging and transportation. The protector includes a body with a slot that receives the wings, preventing them from bending past the material yield point while maintaining packaging simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The wing protector is attached to the wings before packaging, performing preliminary protection against damage during subsequent handling and transportation. The slot is pre-configured to receive the wings in their folded state, preventing damage before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If wings are made flexible for insertion, then ease of administration is improved, but wings become prone to bending and losing functional shape during packaging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion flexibilityVSAvoidwing shape retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wing protector provides beforehand cushioning by enclosing the flexible wings in a protective structure during packaging and transportation. The slot receives and supports the wings, preventing them from bending past the material yield point while allowing them to remain flexible for insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If multiple winged capsules are placed in bags for transport, then packaging efficiency is improved, but wings may break and separate from the bolus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging efficiencyVSAvoidwing attachment integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wing protector serves multiple functions: it protects the wings from bending and breaking, maintains wing attachment integrity, and enables efficient packaging by providing a standardized protective structure that can be uniformly applied to multiple capsules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4013348B1New wing protector for winged capsule and method of using same
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 ELANCO TIERGESUNDHEIT AG
  • EP4013348B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4013348B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4013348B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6

AI summary

An arrangement for delivery of a substance to an animal and a method of protection of a winged capsule. The arrangement may include a winged capsule including a capsule and wings, the capsule being adapted to deliver the substance to the animal, and the wings affixed to the capsule and operable to fold for insertion into the animal and to expand after insertion. The arrangement may include a wing protector including a slot sized and configured to receive at least a portion of each of the wings and removably attach the winged capsule to the wing protector. The method may include removably attaching the winged capsule to the wing protector to form a protected winged capsule; inserting a plurality of the protected winged capsule into a bag; removing one of the protected winged capsule from the bag; and removing the wing protector from the protected winged capsule.