Material dispensing apparatus, system, control method and control device
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure CN2025075986_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
MATERIAL DISPENSING APPARATUS, SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICETECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of material dispensing, and in particular, to a material dispensing apparatus, a system, a control method and a control device.BACKGROUND
[0002] A material dispensing apparatus, such as dispensing apparatuses for adhesive, sealant, coating, foam, or the like, which involve single-component or multi-component materials, usually utilizes a piston pump to achieve the introduction and discharge of the materials. A piston partitions a pump chamber into an upstream space and a downstream space, which are distributed axially. In a material loading cycle, the piston moves upstream, and an external material is transported to the downstream space of the piston to make a reserve for a material dispensing cycle. After the material loading cycle is completed, the material dispensing apparatus implements the material dispensing cycle, and the piston moves downstream to drive the material in the downstream space to flow downstream and be discharged, thereby making the material applied to a product to be acted on.
[0003] The existing material dispensing apparatus can only discharge materials through the material dispensing cycle, and can only supplement external materials to the pump chamber in the material loading cycle, resulting in an interruption of material output, and affecting the product quality.SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a material dispensing apparatus, a system, a control method, and a control device, so as to solve or alleviate one or more technical problems in the existing technology.
[0005] As one aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a material dispensing apparatus, comprising: a piston pump comprising a pump cylinder, a pump rod, and a piston, wherein the pump cylinder is defined with a pump chamber having a first opening and a second opening which are distributed at intervals in an axial direction, the piston is movably provided within the pump chamber and partitions the pump chamber into a first pump chamber defined with the first opening and a second pump chamber defined with the second opening, and the piston, driven by the pump rod, reciprocates along the axial direction between the first opening and the second opening; a material dispensing mechanism defined with a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a discharge flow channel, wherein an input end of the first flow channel is in communication with the first opening, a first end of the second flow channel is in communication with the second opening, and there is an intersection among an output end of the first flow channel, a second end of the second flow channel and an input end of the discharge flow channel; and a flow path switch provided at the intersection for switching between a first state and a second state, wherein the flow path switch is configured in such a manner that, in a process of movement of the piston towards the first opening, the flow path switch is in the first state for making any two of the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the discharge flow channel in communication, so as to cause a material within the first pump chamber to enter the first flow channel through the first opening and to be shunted at the intersection to the second flow channel and the discharge flow channel; and in a process of movement of the piston towards the second opening, the flow path switch is in the second state for making the second flow channel in communication with the discharge flow channel, so as to cause a material within the second pump chamber to enter the second flow channel through the second opening and to be diverted at the intersection to the discharge flow channel.
[0006] In an implementation, the flow path switch comprises: a flow path module defined with an introduction flow channel, a first branch flow channel, and a second branch flow channel, which are in communication with each other, wherein an output end of the introduction flow channel is in communication with the input end of the discharge flow channel through the first branch flow channel, and in communication with the second end of the second flow channel through the second branch flow channel; and a switching module provided in the flow path module for making an input end of the introduction flow channel in communication with or blocked from an output end of the first flow channel; wherein, in the process of movement of the piston towards the first opening, the switching module is configured to be controlled to switch to the first state, so as to conduct the introduction flow channel with the first flow channel; and in the process of movement of the piston towards the second opening, the switching module is configured to be controlled to switch to the second state, so as to block the introduction flow channel from the first flow channel.
[0007] In an implementation, the material dispensing mechanism comprises: a first material dispensing module defined with an axially extending passage and a first sub flow channel in communication with the passage; wherein the passage is used for supporting an end of the pump cylinder adjacent to the second opening; the pump rod extends into the first pump chamber through the second opening, and the piston is provided on the pump rod; the first sub flow channel constitutes a part of the second flow channel, and in the axial direction, the first sub flow channel is located on a side of the second opening away from the first opening; and a flow channel module defined with a second sub flow channel, wherein a first end of the second sub flow channel adjacent to the second opening has a third opening, a second end of the second sub flow channel has a fourth opening, the second sub flow channel forms the other part of the second flow channel, and the second end of the second sub flow channel forms the second end of the second flow channel.
[0008] In an implementation, the piston pump further comprises: a flow guide provided within the passage, the flow guide being located on the side of the second opening away from the first opening in the axial direction, and the flow guide being provided opposite to the first sub flow channel; wherein the flow guide is defined with a first avoidance hole provided therethrough along an axial direction, the pump rod is slidably inserted through the first avoidance hole, an outer peripheral wall of the flow guide is formed with at least one flow guide groove, and the flow guide groove extends along the axial direction and communicates with the corresponding first sub flow channel.
[0009] In an implementation, the flow guide comprises: an annular body, a center of which is provided with the first avoidance hole, and an outer peripheral wall of which is provided with a plurality of teeth each extending radially outwards from the outer peripheral wall of the annular body, the plurality of teeth being circumferentially distributed at intervals along the outer peripheral wall of the annular body;
[0010] wherein the flow guide groove is defined between at least two adjacent teeth of the teeth.
[0011] In an implementation, the first material dispensing module is defined with at least two of the first sub flow channels, the flow channel module is further defined with at least one flow shunting groove which communicates with the third opening, and the flow shunting groove is in communication with each of the first sub flow channels respectively.
[0012] In an implementation, the material dispensing mechanism further comprises: a second material dispensing module defined with a counterbore extending along the axial direction for supporting an end of the pump cylinder adjacent to the first opening; wherein the second material dispensing module defines the first flow channel and the discharge flow channel;
[0013] the first flow channel comprises an upstream section, a midstream section and a downstream section which are in sequential communication, wherein the upstream section extends from a downstream side of the counterbore along the axial direction, the midstream section extends along a direction intersecting the axial direction, the downstream section extends along a direction intersecting an extension direction of the midstream section, and an output end of the downstream section constitutes the output end of the first flow channel;
[0014] the discharge flow channel is spaced apart from the first flow channel.
[0015] In an implementation, an end of the pump rod protruding out of the second pump chamber is formed with a material inlet, an end of the pump rod inserted into the first pump chamber is formed with a material outlet, and an interior of the pump rod is defined with a material flow channel extending from the material inlet to the material outlet.
[0016] In an implementation, the material dispensing mechanism further comprises: a material input module in communication with the material inlet for regulating a flow rate of a material input to the material inlet; and a material output module in communication with an output end of the discharge flow channel for regulating a flow rate of a material output from the output end of the discharge flow channel.
[0017] As one aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a material dispensing system, comprising: at least one of the material dispensing apparatuses according to any one of the above implementations.
[0018] In an implementation, the material dispensing system further comprises: a drive apparatus drivingly connected with a pump rod of each of the material dispensing apparatuses for driving the pump rod to urge the piston to reciprocate.
[0019] In an implementation, the material dispensing system comprises a plurality of the material dispensing apparatuses provided side by side.
[0020] First material dispensing modules of the plurality of the material dispensing apparatuses are a one-piece structure; and / or, second material dispensing modules of the plurality of the material dispensing apparatuses are a one-piece structure.
[0021] As one aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a material dispensing control method, applied to the material dispensing system according to any one of the above embodiments.
[0022] The method can include starting a dispensing cycle comprising: switching a flow path switch to a first state; and controlling a drive apparatus to drive a pump rod to move towards a first opening of a first pump chamber of a pump chamber, and pumping, by a piston urged by the pump rod, a material within the first pump chamber from the first opening to a first flow channel of a material dispensing mechanism, thereby causing the material within the first flow channel to be shunted respectively to the discharge flow channel and the second flow channel through the flow path switch, and causing, in turn, a part of the material to be discharged through the discharge flow channel, and the other part of the material to flow back to a second pump chamber of the pump chamber.
[0023] The method can additionally or alternatively include starting a reloading cycle comprising: switching the flow path switch to a second state; and controlling the drive apparatus to drive the pump rod to move towards the second opening, and pumping, by the piston urged by the pump rod, the other part of the material in the second pump chamber from the second opening to the second flow channel, thereby causing the other part of the material to be transported to the discharge flow channel through the second flow channel.
[0024] In an implementation, the dispensing cycle can further comprise: switching a material input module to a closed state, and switching a material output module to an open state.
[0025] The reloading cycle can further comprises: switching the material output module to an open state, and switching the material input module to an open state, causing an external material to be input in a material flow channel of the pump rod through a material inlet of the pump rod, thereby causing the material in the material flow channel to be filled into a downstream space of the piston.
[0026] As one aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a material dispensing control device, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions being loaded and executed by the at least one processor, so as to cause the at least one processor to execute any one of the above control methods.
[0027] As one aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a material dispensing apparatus comprising: a piston pump having a pump rod supporting a piston, the piston dividing a pump cylinder into a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber; a material output module fluidly connected to the piston pump to receive a material output from the piston pump, wherein the material dispenser is defined with a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a discharge flow channel; the first flow channel fluidly connected to the first pump chamber and extending between the first pump chamber and an intersection; the second flow channel extending between the intersection and the second pump chamber and fluidly connected to the second pump chamber; the discharge flow channel extending between the intersection and a material output module of the material dispenser to fluidly connect the intersection and the material output module of the material dispenser; and a flow path switch disposed at the intersection, wherein the flow path switch actuatable between: a first state in which the intersection is open such that the first flow channel is fluidly connected to the second flow channel and the discharge flow channel such that the first pump chamber is fluidly connected to both the second pump chamber and the material output module; and a second state, in which the flow path switch blocks flow between the first pump chamber and the intersection such that the first pump chamber is fluidly disconnected from both the second pump chamber and the material dispenser.
[0028] In an implementation, a material flow channel extends within the pump rod such that material is flowed into the first pump chamber through the pump rod.
[0029] In an implementation, the material dispensing apparatus can further comprises: a material input module disposed upstream of the first pump chamber, the material input module actuatable between: an open state in which the material can flow past the material input module and into the first pump chamber; and a closed state in which the material input module blocks flow of the material to the first pump chamber; wherein the material input module is in the open state with the flow path switch in the second state, and the material input module is in the closed state with the flow path switch in the first state.
[0030] The above technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, by adding the flow path switch and a special design for the material dispensing mechanism, can pump out the material uninterruptedly in a process of reciprocating movement of the piston, and achieve continuous output of the material, thereby ensuring the consistency of product quality and the reliability of performance.
[0031] The above summary is only for the purpose of the specification, and is not intended to make limitations in any way. In addition to the schematic aspects, implementations, and features described above, further aspects, implementations, and features of the present application will be easily understood by referring to the drawings and the following detailed description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] In the drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals throughout the plurality of drawings represent the same or similar components or elements. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should be understood that these drawings only depict some implementations disclosed in the present application and should not be regarded as limitations on the scope of the present application.
[0033] FIG. 1A shows a partial cross-sectional view of a material dispensing apparatus, showing the material dispensing apparatus in a first state.
[0034] FIG. 1B shows an enlarged view of area A in FIG. 1A.
[0035] FIG. 2A shows a partial cross-sectional view of the material dispensing apparatus, showing the material dispensing apparatus in a second state.
[0036] FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of area B in FIG. 2A.
[0037] FIG. 3A shows a schematic diagram of the material dispensing apparatus, where the material dispensing apparatus is in the first state.
[0038] FIG. 3B shows a schematic diagram of the material dispensing apparatus, where the material dispensing apparatus is in the second state.
[0039] FIG. 4A is an isometric view of the material dispensing apparatus.
[0040] FIG. 4B shows an exploded view of the material dispensing apparatus.
[0041] FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a first material dispensing module of a material dispensing apparatus.
[0042] FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of the first material dispensing module of FIG. 5A taken along line B-B in FIG. 5A.
[0043] FIG. 6A is an isometric view of a flow channel module of a material dispensing apparatus;
[0044] FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the flow channel module of FIG. 6A along line B-B in FIG. 6A.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows an isometric view of a flow guide of a material dispensing apparatus.
[0046] FIG. 8A shows an isometric view of a second material dispensing module of a material dispensing apparatus.
[0047] FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the second material dispensing module of FIG. 8A taken along line B-B in FIG. 8A.
[0048] FIG. 8C shows a cross-sectional view of the second material dispensing module of FIG. 8A taken along line C-C in FIG. 8A.
[0049] FIG. 8D shows a cross-sectional view of the second material dispensing module of FIG. 8A taken along line D-D in FIG. 8A.
[0050] FIG. 9A shows an isometric view of a pump rod of a material dispensing apparatus.
[0051] FIG. 9B shows a cross-sectional view of the pump rod of FIG. 9A taken along line B-B in FIG. 9A;
[0052] FIG. 10 shows a partially exploded view of a material dispensing system.
[0053] FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram of a material dispensing control device. Reference Numerals: 10-material dispensing system, 10a-first sealing ring, 10b-second sealing ring, 10c- third sealing ring, 10d-fourth sealing ring, 10e-fifth sealing ring, 10f-screw, 10g-connecting pipe, 12-material dispensing mechanism, 12a-first flow channel, 12b-second flow channel; 100-material dispensing apparatus, 101-control box, 102-pressure sensor, 103-first base plate, 104-second base plate, 105-guide rod, 106-second guide bushing; 110-piston pump, 111-pump cylinder, 111a-pump chamber, 111a1-first pump chamber, 111a2-second pump chamber, 1111-first opening, 1112-second opening, 112-pump rod, 1121-material inlet, 1122-material outlet, 1123-material flow channel, 1124-mounting hole, 1125-threaded hole, 1126-guide hole, 1127-first end of the pump rod, 113-piston, 114-flow guide, 1141-annular body, 1142-first avoidance hole, 1143-tooth, 1144-flow guide groove, 115-O-shaped ring, 116-piston nut, 117-first guide bushing; 120-first material dispensing module, 121-passage, 1211-A sub-passage, 1212-B sub- passage, 1213-C sub-passage, 122-first sub flow channel, 123-fifth opening, 124-sixth opening; 130-flow channel module, 130a-first end of the flow channel module, 130b-second end of the flow channel module , 131-second sub flow channel, 132-third opening, 133-fourth opening, 134-flow shunting groove; 140-second material dispensing module, 141-counterbore, 142-upstream section, 142a- input end of the upstream section, 143-midstream section, 144-downstream section, 1441-output end of the downstream section, 145-discharge flow channel, 1451-input end of the discharge flow channel, 1452-output end of the discharge flow channel, 146-first spare hole, 147-second spare hole; 150-flow path switch, 150a-introduction flow channel, 150b-first branch flow channel, 150c-second branch flow channel, 151-flow path module, 152-switching module; 160-material input module; 170-material output module, 170a-output passage, 170b-mixing passage; 180-drive apparatus, 181-drive unit, 182-drive shaft; 200-control device, 210-processor, 220-memory, 221-instruction.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0054] Only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described below. Just as those skilled in the art may appreciate, the described embodiments may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered to be exemplary in nature, not limitative.
[0055] FIG. 1A shows a partial cross-sectional view of a material dispensing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, showing the material dispensing apparatus 100 in a first state; FIG. 1B shows an enlarged view of area A in FIG. 1A; FIG. 2A shows a partial cross-sectional view of the material dispensing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present application, showing the material dispensing apparatus 100 in a second state; FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of area B in FIG. 2A; FIG. 3A shows a schematic diagram of the material dispensing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present application, where the material dispensing apparatus is in the first state; FIG. 3B shows a schematic diagram of the material dispensing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present application, where the material dispensing apparatus is in the second state; FIG. 4A shows an isometric view of the material dispensing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present application; and FIG. 4B shows an exploded view of the material dispensing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present application.
[0056] The material dispensing apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 1A to FIG. 4B.
[0057] In the example shown, a material dispensing apparatus 100 can be applied to a material dispensing system, and the material dispensing system can include one or more material dispensing apparatuses 100, in which a plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 can be provided side by side. For example, the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 are provided symmetrically with respect to the X direction. The plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 can implement dispensing of multi-component materials to meet the needs to mix the multi-component materials and apply such materials on a surface to be operated. As shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 4B, there are two material dispensing apparatuses 100 provided symmetrically with respect to the X direction.
[0058] In the example shown, the material dispensing apparatus 100 includes a piston pump 110, a material dispenser 12, and a flow path switch 150.
[0059] The piston pump 110 includes a pump cylinder 111, a pump rod 112, and a piston 113. The pump cylinder 111 is defined with a pump chamber 111a having a first opening 1111 and a second opening 1112 which are distributed at intervals in an axial direction. The piston 113 is movably provided within the pump chamber 111a and partitions the pump chamber 111a into a first pump chamber 111a1 defined with the first opening 1111 and a second pump chamber 111a2 defined with the second opening 1112, and the piston 113, driven by the pump rod 112, reciprocates along an axial direction between the first opening 1111 and the second opening 1112. It should be noted that the axial direction is a depth direction of the pump chamber 111a, and is also an extension direction of the pump rod 112; and as shown in FIG. 1A, the axial direction is the X direction.
[0060] Further, the material dispensing mechanism 12 is defined with a first flow channel 12a, a second flow channel 12b and a discharge flow channel 145. An input end of the first flow channel 12a is in communication with the first opening 1111, a first end of the second flow channel 12b is in communication with the second opening 1112, and there is an intersection among an output end of the first flow channel 12a, a second end of the second flow channel 12b and an input end of the discharge flow channel 145 through the flow path switch 150. The flow path switch 150 has a first state and a second state, and can be controlled to switch between the first state and the second state according to a state of movement of the piston 113. In some examples, the flow path switch 150 can be configured as an actively controlled valve. For example, flow path switch 150 can be pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically controlled, among other options.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 3A, the arrows in FIG. 1A and FIG. 3A indicate the following flow path of a material in the material dispensing apparatus in the first state, i.e., in a process of a material dispensing cycle.
[0062] In a process of movement of the piston 113 towards the first opening 1111 (e.g., in a downstream direction) , the flow path switch 150 is switched to the first state, such that the flow path switch 150 in the first state can place any two of the first flow channel 12a, the second flow channel 12b and the discharge flow channel 145 in communication, thereby causing a material in the first pump chamber 111a1 to enter the first flow channel 12a through the first opening 1111 and to be shunted via the flow path switch 150 at the intersection to the second flow channel 12b and the discharge flow channel 145. That is to say, when the flow path switch 150 is switched to the first state, the first flow channel 12a, the second flow channel 12b and the discharge flow channel 145 are in communication with each other through the flow path switch 150, and the material within the first pump chamber 111a1 enters the first flow channel 12a, passes through the flow path switch 150, and is shunted in such a manner that a part of the material is shunted to the second flow channel 12b, flows back to the second opening 1112 via the second flow channel 12b, and flows back to the second pump chamber 111a2 via the second opening 1112; and the other part of the material is shunted to the discharge flow channel 145, and is transported downstream via the discharge flow channel 145, so as to output the material, and facilitate application of the material to a surface to be acted on. Accordingly, it can be seen that the process of movement of the piston 113 towards the first opening 1111 is a cyclic process in which the material dispensing apparatus 100 implements material dispensing. In this process, while outputting a part of the material, the material dispensing apparatus causes the other part of the material to flow back to the second pump chamber 111a2, which provides a basis for achieving continuous output of the material.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3B, the arrows in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3B indicate the following flow path of a material in the material dispensing apparatus in the second state, i.e., in a process of a material loading cycle.
[0064] In a process of movement of the piston 113 towards the second opening 1112, the flow path switch 150 is switched to the second state, such that the flow path switch 150 in the second state fluidly connects the second flow channel 12b with the discharge flow channel 145, so as to facilitate flow of material within the second pump chamber 111a2 to the second flow channel 12b through the second opening 1112 and to be diverted at the intersection to the discharge flow channel 145. It can be understood that the process of movement of the piston 113 towards the second opening 1112 is a cyclic process of loading material. In this process, an external material is introduced into the first pump chamber 111a1 to make a reserve for a next material dispensing cycle; meanwhile, the material within the second pump chamber 111a2 is driven by the piston 113 to enter the second flow channel 12b via the second opening 1112 and to be transported to the discharge flow channel 145 via the second flow channel 12b, thereby achieving output of the material in a material loading process.
[0065] As described above, the material dispensing apparatus in this embodiment can output the material in both the material dispensing process and the material loading process, which achieves continuous and uninterrupted output of the material, and continuous and uninterrupted production, thereby ensuring the consistency of product quality and the reliability of performance. Moreover, the pump rod drives the piston to reciprocate uninterruptedly, such that the material is always in a flowing state, which can avoid the material from solidifying in the flow channels, further ensure the continuity and stability of the material output, and also reduce the cleaning work for the material dispensing apparatus.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 2B, in an implementation, the flow path switch 150 includes a flow path module 151 and a switching module 152. The flow path module 151 is defined with an introduction flow channel 150a, a first branch flow channel 150b, and a second branch flow channel 150c, which are in communication with each other, and an output end of the introduction flow channel 150a is in communication with the input end of the discharge flow channel 145 through the first branch flow channel 150b, and is in communication with the second end of the second flow channel 12b through the second branch flow channel 150c. The switching module 152 is provided in the flow path module 151 for making an input end of the introduction flow channel 150a in communication with or blocked from the output end of the first flow channel 12a. The flow path switch 150 may be a valve, for example, a crossover valve or a three-way valve, the flow path module 151 is equivalent to a valve body defining a flow path, and the switching module 152 is equivalent to a set of components such as a valve core and a valve stem that can be controlled to make the flow path in communication or blocked.
[0067] In this implementation, the flow path switch 150 is connected to the upstream first flow channel 12a through the introduction flow channel 150a, is in communication with or blocked from the first flow channel 12a through the switching module, then extends downstream from the introduction flow channel 150a with two branch flow channels, that is, a first branch flow channel 150b and a second branch flow channel 150c, and is, in turn, in communication with the downstream discharge flow channel 145 through the first branch flow channel 150b and with the downstream second flow channel 12b through the second branch flow channel 150c, such that the first flow channel 12a is in communication with or blocked from the second flow channel 12b and the discharge flow channel 145 respectively, by the flow path switch 150 to achieve control of the material flow path.
[0068] In the example shown, in the process of movement of the piston 113 towards the first opening 1111, that is, in the cycle of material dispensing, the switching module 152 is configured to be controlled to switch to the first state, so as to fluidly connect the first flow channel 12a with flowpaths downstream of the flow path switch 150 through the introduction flow channel 150a. The switching module 152 is switched to the first state, and the material in the first flow channel 12a enters the introduction flow channel 150a, and is fluidly connected to the second flow channel 12b and the discharge flow channel 145 can flow at an outlet of the introduction flow channel 150a. The material exiting from the first flow channel 12a is directed such that a part of the material flows to the discharge flow channel 145 via the first branch flow channel 150b and is discharged from the discharge flow channel 145, and the other part of the material flows to the second flow channel 12b via the second branch flow channel 150c, and flows back into the second pump chamber 111a2 via the second flow path 12b, which achieves discharge of the material and priming of the piston pump 110 with material at the same time.
[0069] Moreover, in the process of movement of the piston 113 towards the second opening 1112, i.e., in the cycle of material loading, the switching module 152 is configured to be controlled to switch to the second state, so as to block flow through the introduction flow channel 150a from the first flow channel 12a. The material in the second pump chamber 111a2, driven by the piston 113, enters the second flow channel 12b through the second opening 1112, enters the discharge flow channel 145 through the second branch flow channel 150c and the first branch flow channel 150b in sequence, and is discharged from the discharge flow channel 145. Meanwhile, an external material is loaded to the first pump chamber 111a1 to make a material reserve for a next material dispensing cycle.
[0070] The flow path switch 150 of this implementation places the upstream first flow channel 12a in fluid communication with the downstream discharge flow channel 145 and second flow channel 12b through three flow channels (including, for example, the introduction flow channel 150a, the first branch flow channel 150b and the second branch flow channel 150c) , and utilizes the switching module 152 to fluidly connect or disconnect the first flow channel 12a from the flowpaths downstream of the flow path switch 150, which achieves conversion of different material flow paths in the material dispensing cycle process and the material loading cycle process, thereby ensuring the continuous flow and output of the material.
[0071] In one example, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the introduction flow channel 150a extends along a first direction Z, the first branch flow channel 150b extends along a second direction Y, and the second branch flow channel 150c extends along a third direction X. As can be seen, the third direction X is an axial direction of the pump rod 112, and the Y direction and Z direction are respectively substantially perpendicular to the X direction, though it is understood that not all examples are so limited. The introduction flow channel 150a, the first branch flow channel 150b, and the second branch flow channel 150c extend in the foregoing directions, which facilitates cooperation with the upstream first flow channel 12a and the downstream second flow channel 12b and discharge flow channel 145 in a more compact space, and provides a compact configuration for the overall volume of the material dispensing apparatus 100.
[0072] FIG. 5A shows an isometric view of a first material dispensing module 120 of the material dispensing apparatus 100. FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of the first material dispensing module 120 of FIG. 5A taken along line B-B in FIG. 5A.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, and as referred to in FIG. 1A to FIG. 4B, the material dispensing mechanism 12 can include a first material dispensing module 120 which is defined with an axially extending passage 121 and a first sub flow channel 122 in communication with the passage 121. An outer peripheral wall of the first material dispensing module 120 is formed with a fifth opening 123, an inner wall of passage 121 defined by the first material dispensing module 120 is formed with a sixth opening 124, and the first sub flow channel 122 extends from fifth opening 123 to the sixth opening 124. The passage 121 is used for supporting an end of the pump cylinder 111 adjacent to the second opening 1112; the pump rod 112 extends into the first pump chamber 111a1 through the second opening 1112, and the piston 113 is provided on the pump rod 112. The first sub flow channel 122 constitutes a part of the second flow channel 12b, and in the axial direction, the first sub flow channel 122 is spaced axially from the second opening 1112.
[0074] As shown, the end where the fifth opening 123 of the first sub flow channel 122 is located is the first end of the second flow channel 12b. When the piston 113 moves towards the first opening 1111, a part of the material flowing through the second branch flow channel 150c of the flow path switch 150 finally enters the second pump chamber 111a2 through the first sub flow channel 122; and when the piston 113 moves towards the second opening 1112, the material in the second pump chamber 111a2 is discharged through the first sub flow channel 122, thus achieving backflow or discharge of the material.
[0075] By adding the first sub flow channel 122 which is in communication with the passage 121 carrying the pump cylinder 111, the material dispensing mechanism 12 in this implementation makes the second pump chamber 111a2 in communication with the outside, which provides a path for the material to flow back to the second pump chamber 111a2 or for the material to be discharged from the second pump chamber 111a2.
[0076] An inner peripheral wall of the pump cylinder 111 defines the pump chamber 111a, and the piston 113 is in sealing contact with the inner peripheral wall of the pump cylinder 111 to partition the pump chamber 111a into the first pump chamber 111a1 and the second pump chamber 111a2. In the present application, no limitation is made on the sealing structure of the piston pump 110, and the following describes the sealing structure of the piston pump 110 only by taking the implementations shown in the drawings as an example. As shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 4B, in conjunction with FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the pump rod 112 extends into the pump chamber 111a through the second pump chamber 111a2, an end of the pump rod 112 extending to the pump chamber 111a is denoted as a first end 1127 of the pump rod 112 (see FIG. 9A) , an O-shaped ring 115 is provided at the first end 1127 of the pump rod 112 and interfaced with an upstream side of the piston 113 (aside of the piston 113 facing towards the second opening 1112) , a piston nut 116 is connected at the first end 1127 of the pump rod 112, and the piston 113 is fixed on the pump rod 112 by a downstream side of the piston 113 (aside of the piston 113 facing towards the first opening 1111) . A first sealing ring 10a is provided within the passage 121, sleeved on the pump rod 112, in sliding contact with the pump rod 112, and located on an upstream side of the second opening 1112 of the pump cylinder 111. An upstream side of the first sealing ring 10a (aside of the first sealing ring 10a facing away from the second opening 1112) abuts against a first guide bushing 117 for the pump rod 112 to pass through, which plays a role in guiding the axial movement of the pump rod 112. An outer periphery of the first opening 1111 of the pump cylinder 111 is sealingly connected with a downstream component through a second sealing ring 10b, and an outer periphery of the second opening 1112 of the pump cylinder 111 is sealingly connected with the passage 121 of the first material dispensing module 120 through a third sealing ring 10c.
[0077] In the axial direction towards the second opening 1112, the passage 121 of the first material dispensing module 120 includes an A sub-passage 1211, a B sub-passage 1212 and a C sub-passage 1213 which are in communication in sequence. An end of the pump cylinder 111 where the second opening 1112 is located is supported in the A sub-passage 1211, the following flow guide 114 and the above first sealing ring 10a are supported in the B sub-passage 1212, and the first guide bushing 117 is supported in the C sub-passage 1213. A diameter of the A sub-passage 1211 matches a diameter of the end of the pump cylinder 111 where the second opening 1112 is located, a diameter of the B sub-passage 1212 matches diameters of the following flow guide 114 and the above first sealing ring 10a, a diameter of the C sub-passage 1213 matches a diameter of the first guide bushing 117. The diameter of the B sub-passage 1212 is greater than the diameter of the C sub-passage 1213 and less than the diameter of the A sub-passage 1211.
[0078] It should be noted that, in an implementation, a plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 are applied to the material dispensing system 10, and a plurality of first material dispensing modules 120 in the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 can be integrally provided and adopt a one-piece structure, so as to increase the structural compactness of the material dispensing system 10 and reduce space occupation. For example, the plurality of first material dispensing modules 120 are integrally provided symmetrically with respect to the axial direction, and have a plurality of passages 121 symmetrical with respect to the axial direction and a plurality of first sub flow channels 122 in a one-to-one correspondence therewith. As shown in FIG. 5A, there are two first material dispensing modules 120 integrated into a one-piece structure.
[0079] FIG. 6A shows an isometric view of a flow channel module 130 of the material dispensing apparatus 100. FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the flow channel module 130 of FIG. 6A taken along line B-B in FIG. 6B.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, and as referred to in FIG. 1A to FIG. 4B, the material dispensing mechanism 12 further includes a flow channel module 130, which is defined with a second sub flow channel 131. A first end 130a of the flow channel module 130 has a third opening 132, and a second end 130b of the flow channel module 130 has a fourth opening 133. The second sub flow channel 131 extends from the third opening 132 to the fourth opening 133. The second sub flow channel 131 constitutes at least a portion of the second flow channel 12b. In the example shown, the second sub flow channel 131 and the foregoing first sub flow channel 122 (FIGS. 5A–5B) constitute the second flow channel 12b in the example shown. In the example shown, the third opening 132 of the second sub flow channel 131 communicates with the fifth opening 123 of the first sub flow channel 122 and is sealed by a fourth sealing ring 10d, and the fourth opening 133 of the second sub flow channel 131 communicates with the second branch flow channel 150c of the flow path switch 150 and is sealed by a fifth sealing ring 10e. As shown, the fourth sealing ring 10d can be formed as a gasket clamped between the flow channel module 130 and material dispensing module 120.
[0081] By adding the flow channel module 130, the material dispensing mechanism 12 in this implementation utilizes the flow channel module 130 to define the second sub flow channel 131; and by using the second sub flow channel 131 and the foregoing first sub flow channel 122 to make up the second flow channel 12b which communicates with the second branch flow channel 150c of the flow path switch 150, the first pump chamber 111a1 is made in in communication with the external second branch flow channel 150c, such that when the piston 113 moves towards the first opening 1111, a part of the material flowing through second branch flow channel 150c of the flow path switch 150 enters the second pump chamber 111a2 through the second sub flow channel 131 and the first sub flow channel 122 in sequence; and when the piston 113 moves towards the second opening 1112, the material in the second pump chamber 111a2 enters the second branch flow channel 150c through the first sub flow channel 122 and the second sub flow channel 131 in sequence, and is discharged from the second branch flow channel 150c, the first branch flow channel 150b and the discharge flow channel 145 in sequence, which achieves continuous flow of the material.
[0082] In one example, as shown in FIG. 1B, and as referred to in FIG. 1A, the first sub flow channel 122 extends along the second direction Y, and the second sub flow channel 131 includes an A-flow channel 131a extending along the second direction Y and a B-flow channel 131b extending along the third direction X, i.e., the axial direction. The first sub flow channel 122, the A-flow channel 131a, and the B-flow channel 131b are in sequential communication to define the second flow channel 12b.
[0083] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a flow guide 141 of the material dispensing apparatus 100.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 1B, in conjunction with FIG. 2B to FIG. 6B, in order to facilitate smooth flow of the material between the second pump chamber 111a2 and the first sub flow channel 122, in an implementation, the piston pump 110 is added with a flow guide 114. Specifically, the flow guide 114 is provided within the passage 121, the flow guide 114 is located on the side of the second opening 1112 away from the first opening 1111 in the axial direction, and the flow guide 114 is disposed at an axial position of the first sub flow channel 122 in this example. The flow guide 114 aligning with the sub flow channels 122 facilitates the flow guide 114 at least partially defining flowpaths for the material to enter into and exit from the sub flow cannels 122. In the example shown, the flow guide 114 is defined with a first avoidance hole 1142 provided therethrough along the X direction (axial direction) , the pump rod 112 is slidably inserted through the first avoidance hole 1142. An outer peripheral wall of the flow guide 114 is formed with at least one flow guide groove 1144 in this example, and the flow guide groove 1144 extends along the axial direction and communicates with the corresponding first sub flow channel 122. In the example shown, the flow guide grooves 1144 can be at least partially aligned with the sub flow channels 122 to guide flow into and out of the sub flow channels 122. In some examples, the flow guide 114 is configured such that the teeth 1143 are circumferentially narrower than the openings 124 of the sub flow channels 122, such that the sub flow channels 122 are not fully blocked regardless of the position of the flow guide 114.
[0085] In the process of movement of the piston 113 towards the first opening 1111, the material output from the first sub flow channel 122 flows is guided by the flow guide 114 into the second pump chamber 111a2; and in the process of movement of the piston 113 towards the second opening 1112, the material in the second pump chamber 111a2 is guided by the flow guide 114 to the first flow channel 12a, such that the material flows more smoothly; meanwhile, the flow guide 114 plays a role in rigidly axially positioning the pump rod 112.
[0086] A downstream side of the flow guide 114 (aside of the flow guide 114 oriented away from the second opening 1112 and away from the pump cylinder 111) abuts against the first sealing ring 10a, so as to avoid material leakage. The flow guide 114 can, in some examples, press against the sealing ring 10a to secure the sealing ring 10a and which, in some examples, can compress the sealing ring 10a to enhance the seal formed by sealing ring 10a.
[0087] In some examples, the flow guide 114 includes an annular body 1141, a center of which is provided with the first avoidance hole 1142, and an outer peripheral wall of which is provided with a plurality of teeth 1143 each extending radially outwards from the outer peripheral wall of the annular body 1141, the plurality of teeth 1143 being circumferentially distributed at intervals along the outer peripheral wall of the annular body 1141. The flow guide groove 1144 is defined between at least two adjacent teeth 1143. In this implementation, the plurality of teeth 1143 are distributed at intervals on the outer peripheral wall of the annular flow guide 114, and a groove 1144 is formed between every two adjacent teeth 1143. When the flow guide 114 is assembled with the passage 121 of the material dispensing mechanism 12, the flow guide 114 can be disposed in any rotational position about the axis when in axial alignment with the first sub flow channel 122 to achieve communication between at least one groove 1144 and the first sub flow channel 122, without being repeatedly adjusted for position or giving rise to the problem of being assembled not in place.
[0088] In some examples, the first material dispensing module 120 can be defined with at least two first sub flow channels 122. As shown in FIG. 5B, the first sub flow channels 122 extend about the axis X. The first sub flow channels 122 can be distributed circumferentially about the axis X. In examples including multiple of the first sub flow channels 122, the first sub flow channels 122 can be evenly spaced relative to each other. Since the first material dispensing module 120, the piston pump 110, and the second material dispensing module 140 are distributed in the axial direction, resulting in more axial space occupied by the material dispensing apparatus 100, for any one of the components therein, for example, the first material dispensing module 120, its axial space will be limited. Therefore, the plurality of first sub flow channels 122 are distributed at circumferentially at a common axial location. The multiple first sub flow channels 122 of a single pump 110 can circumferentially overlap each other. Such alignment about the axis X can balance the spatial restriction and increase flow channel sections.
[0089] In order to cooperate with at least two first sub flow channels 122 in terms of flow capacity, as shown in FIG. 6A, the flow channel module 130 is further defined with at least one flow directing groove 134 which communicates with third opening 132, and flow directing groove 134 is in communication with each of the first sub flow channels 122 respectively. That is to say, the third opening 132 of the flow channel module 130 is in directly-facing communication with the at least one first sub flow channel 122. In order to ensure that a first sub flow channel 122 which is not in directly-facing communication with the third opening 132 can form material flow between the same and the third opening 132, the flow channel module 130 makes the first sub flow channel 122 which is not in directly-facing communication with the third opening 132 communicate with the third opening 132 through the flow directing groove 134, such that a part of the material flowing out of the third opening 132 directly enters the first sub flow channel 122 which is in directly-facing communication with the same, and the other part of the material flowing out of third opening 132 can be guided into other first sub flow channels 122 through the flow directing groove 134, thus achieving communication of one third opening 132 with a plurality of first sub flow channels 122, and artfully balancing the flow rate and limited space. Moreover, the flow directing groove 134 provides a position for the arrangement of the fourth sealing ring 10d.
[0090] FIG. 8A is an isometric view of a second material dispensing module 140 of the material dispensing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present application; FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the second material dispensing module 140 of FIG. 8A taken along line B-B in FIG. 8A; FIG. 8C shows a cross-sectional view of the second material dispensing module 140 of FIG. 8A taken along line C-C in FIG. 8A; and FIG. 8D shows a cross-sectional view of the second material dispensing module 140 of FIG. 8A taken along line D-D in FIG. 8B.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D, and as referred to in FIG. 1A to FIG. 6B, in some examples, the material dispensing mechanism 12 further includes a second material dispensing module 140 defined with a counterbore 141 extending along the axial direction X for supporting an end of the pump cylinder 111 adjacent to the first opening 1111. The second sealing ring 10b seals between the counterbore and the end of the pump cylinder 111 adjacent to the first opening 1111.
[0092] In the example shown, the second material dispensing module 140 at least partially defines the first flow channel 12a and the discharge flow channel 145. The first flow channel 12a includes an upstream section 142, a midstream section 143 and a downstream section 144 which are in sequential communication, and a downstream outlet 1441 of the downstream section 144 communicates with an inlet of the flow path switch 150 (an inlet of the foregoing introduction flow channel 150a) . The upstream section 142 extends from a downstream side of the counterbore 141 along the axial direction X, the midstream section 143 extends along a direction C intersecting the axial direction X, and the downstream section 144 extends along a direction intersecting an extension direction of the midstream section 143. An input end 142a of the upstream section 142 is the input end of the first flow channel 12a, and an output end 1441 of the downstream section 144 constitutes the output end of the first flow channel 12a; the discharge flow channel 145 is spaced apart from the first flow channel 12a, an input end 1451 of the discharge flow channel 145 is in sealed communication with an outlet of the upstream first branch flow channel 150b, and an output end 1452 of the discharge flow channel 145 is in communication with an inlet of the downstream material output module 170.
[0093] In one example, as shown in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D, the downstream section 144 extends along the direction Y substantially perpendicular to the axial direction X. The downstream section 144 can extend along an axis perpendicular to and offset set the axis of reciprocation of the piston 113. The discharge flow channel 145 includes a first discharge section (not numbered) directly facing and spaced apart from the downstream section of the first flow channel 12a in the first direction Z and extending along the direction Y parallel to the downstream section 144. The first discharge section of the flow channel 145 is stacked with the downstream section 144. The first discharge section of flow channel 145 has a shorter axial length than the downstream section 144 in the example shown. The first discharge section of the flow channel 145 can be disposed parallel to and directly vertically stacked with the downstream section 144, in various examples. In some examples, the discharge flow channel 145 includes a second discharge section (not numbered) extending from a downstream side of the first discharge section along the axial direction X. The first discharge flow channel 145 can thereby be configured to redirect flow of material through the discharge flow channel 145. In the example shown, portions of the discharge flow channel 145 are directly axially overlapped with portions of the first flow channel 12a. Divider wall 1453 fluidly separates the first flow channel 12a and the discharge flow channel 145. The configuration of divider wall 1453 facilitates a compact configuration while maintaining fluid separation between first flow channel 12a and discharge flow channel 145 except through flow path switch 150.
[0094] In conjunction with the illustrated extension directions of the introduction flow channel 150a, the first branch flow channel 150b and the second branch flow channel 150c of the foregoing flow path switch 150, and the illustrated extension directions of the first sub flow channel 122 and the second sub flow channel 131 of the second flow channel 12b in the drawings, the overall structure of the material dispensing mechanism 12 is more compact, the volume is smaller, and the occupied space is less.
[0095] The second material dispensing module 140 is formed with a first spare hole 146 which can extend along the first direction Z and communicate with the discharge flow channel 145, and a second spare hole 147 which extends along the second direction Y and communicates with the downstream section 144 of the first flow channel 12a. In a process of operation of the material dispensing apparatus 100, both the first spare hole 146 and the second spare hole 147 are sealed by plugs. When the flow channels are to be cleaned, the first spare hole 146 and the second spare hole 147 are used for inserting a cleaning rod. Additionally, the first spare hole 146 can also be used for mounting a pressure sensor 102 which can be selectively mounted on the first spare hole 146 or the material output module 170 according to the operation requirements of the material dispensing apparatus 100.
[0096] It should be noted that, in an implementation, the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses are applied to the material dispensing system, and the plurality of second material dispensing modules 140 in the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses can be integrally provided and adopt a one-piece structure, so as to increase the structural compactness of the material dispensing system and reduce space occupation. For example, the plurality of second material dispensing modules 140 are integrally provided symmetrically with respect to the axial direction, and have a plurality of first flow channels 12a symmetrical with respect to the axial direction and a plurality of discharge flow channels 145 in a one-to-one correspondence therewith. As shown in FIG. 8A, there are two second material dispensing modules 140 integrated into a one-piece structure.
[0097] FIG. 9A is an isometric view of a pump rod 112 of the material dispensing apparatus 100; and FIG. 9B shows a cross-sectional view of the pump rod 112 of FIG. 9A taken along line B-B in FIG. 9A. The pump rod 112, a material input module 160 and a material output module 170 will be introduced in detail below.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, and as referred to in FIG. 1A to FIG. 4B, in one implementation, an external material enters the pump chamber 111a from an exterior of the pump rod 112 as in a conventional feeding manner, but the exterior of the pump rod 112 tends to be wetted by the material, and the material on the pump rod 112 is exposed to air to cause solidification, resulting in wear of the pump rod 112 with other components such as seals in a movement process. Therefore, in another implementation of the present application, the external material is introduced into the pump chamber 111a from a space inside the pump rod 112. Specifically, an end of the pump rod 112 protruding out of the second pump chamber 111a2 is formed with a material inlet 1121, an end of the pump rod 112 inserted into the first pump chamber 111a1 is formed with a material outlet 1122, and an interior of the pump rod 112 is defined with a material flow channel 1123 extending from the material inlet 1121 to the material outlet 1122. Since both the material inlet 1121 and the material outlet 1122 are located on the pump rod 112, the material enters the material flow channel 1123 inside the pump rod 112 via the material inlet 1121, and is discharged into the pump chamber 111a from the material outlet 1122. The exterior of the pump rod 112 will not come into contact with the material, so the material will not solidify on the pump rod 112, avoiding the wear of the pump rod 112 with other components.
[0099] The material dispensing mechanism 12 further includes a material input module 160 in communication with the material inlet 1121 for regulating a flow rate of a material input to the material inlet, so as to introduce the material into the material flow channel 1123 of the pump rod 112; and a material output module 170 in communication with an output end of the discharge flow channel 145 for regulating a flow rate of a material output from the output end of the discharge flow channel 145. By adding the material input module 160 and the material output module 170, the material dispensing apparatus 100 in this implementation achieves regulation of the flow rate of the input material and the flow rate of the output material, and meets different operation requirements. The material input module 160 can be mounted on the pump rod 112, and the material output module 170 can be mounted on the second material dispensing module 140. Both the material input module 160 and the material output module 170 may be a valve structure, for example, a pneumatic valve or an electromagnetic valve, which are controlled to be opened and closed by a control box 101 to achieve on-off of the input and output of the material. The specific structure of the material input module 160 or the material output module 170 is not limited in the present application, and any structure that can achieve fluid on-off function can serve as the material input module 160 or the material output module 170 of the present application.
[0100] The material output module 170 includes an output passage 170a in sealed communication with the output end of the discharge flow channel 145, and a mixing passage 170b which communicates with a downstream of the output passage 170a for mixing and outputting multi-component materials. When applied to dispensing of multi-component materials, the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses include a plurality of material input modules 160 each inputting its own material, and a plurality of material output modules 170 including a plurality of output passages 170a and one mixing passage 170b integrated into one piece. The output passages are in a one-to-one correspondence with and correspondingly communicate with the upstream discharge flow channels 145 to output respective materials and input the respective materials to the downstream mixing passage 170b. After being mixed in the mixing passage 170b, the multi-component materials are output to act on a surface to be acted on, achieving dispensing and mixing of the multi-component materials.
[0101] FIG. 10 shows a schematic structural diagram of a material dispensing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 10, and as referred to in FIG. 1A to FIG. 4B, an embodiment of the present application further provides a material dispensing system 10. This material dispensing system 10 includes at least one material dispensing apparatus 100 according to any one of the above implementations. In one example, the material dispensing system 10 includes one material dispensing apparatus 100 for dispensing a single-component material.
[0102] In another example, the material dispensing system 10 can include a plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 which can dispense two-component materials or materials of more than two components. The plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 can be provided side by side. For example, the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 are distributed symmetrically with respect to the axial direction. The material dispensing system 10 is more compact in overall structure and occupies less space while achieving dispensing of multi-component materials.
[0103] A plurality of piston pumps 110, a plurality of material dispensing mechanisms 12, and a plurality of flow path switches 150 of the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 are all provided side by side. Correspondingly, the plurality of material dispensing mechanisms 12 include a plurality of first material dispensing modules 120 provided side by side, a plurality of second material dispensing modules 140 provided side by side, a plurality of flow channel modules 130 provided side by side, a plurality of material input modules 160 provided side by side, and a plurality of material output modules 170 provided side by side. The plurality of first material dispensing modules 120 can be integrated into a one-piece structure; and / or the plurality of second material dispensing modules 140 can be integrated into a one-piece structure, such that an overall layout of the material dispensing system 10 is further reduced. Additionally, as described above, the plurality of material output modules 170 can be integrated into a one-piece structure, achieving separate output and final mixing of the multi-component materials.
[0104] In order to precisely control a dispensing amount of the material and improve the automation of the material dispensing system 10, the material dispensing system 10 can further include a drive apparatus 180 drivingly connected with a pump rod 112 of each material dispensing apparatus 100, so as to drive the pump rod 112 to urge the piston 113 to reciprocate. The material dispensing system 10 can control a stroke of the pump rod 112 and piston 113 through the drive apparatus 180 to regulate a discharge amount.
[0105] In one implementation, the drive apparatus 180 includes one drive unit 181, by which a single pump rod 112 of a single material dispensing apparatus 100 is driven to urge a single piston 113 to reciprocate, or a plurality of pump rods 112 of the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 are driven simultaneously to urge a plurality of pistons 113 to reciprocate respectively, which reduces the cost of the material dispensing system 10 while achieving dispensing of a plurality of materials.
[0106] In another implementation, the drive apparatus 180 includes a plurality of drive units 181 which respectively drive the plurality of pump rods 112 of the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 to respectively urge the plurality of pistons 113 to reciprocate, with a stroke of each pump rod 112 and each piston 113 controllable independently, such that a discharge amount of each material can be independently regulated, achieving precise dispensing of different proportions of a plurality of materials.
[0107] An end of a pump rod 112 protruding out of a second pump chamber 111a2 (a second end of the pump rod 112) has an inlet area and a mounting area. The inlet area is located on a side of the mounting area adjacent to a first opening 1111, that is, the inlet area is closer to the first opening 1111 of the pump chamber 111a than the mounting area. The inlet area is defined with a material inlet 1121, the mounting area is defined with a mounting hole 1124 and a threaded hole 1125 in communication with the mounting hole 1124, an end of a drive shaft 182 of the drive apparatus 180 is formed with a protrusion (not numbered) , and the end of the drive shaft 182 is inserted in the mounting hole 1124, the protrusion is stuck in the threaded hole 1125 and locked tightly in the threaded hole 1125 by a nut, achieving the driving connection between the drive apparatus 180 and the corresponding pump rod 112.
[0108] The material dispensing system 10 can further include a guide rod 105 extending axially, and the mounting area of the pump rod 112 is formed with a guide hole 1126 for the guide rod 105 to pass through, such that an end of the guide rod 105 is fixed to a first material dispensing module 120, while the other end passes through the guide hole 1126 of the pump rod 112, and the guide rod 105 comes into slidable contact with the guide hole 1126 through a second guide bushing 106 sleeved on the guide rod 105, so as to guide the reciprocation of the pump rod 112, avoid the displacement or deviation of the pump rod 112 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and improve the precision of the reciprocation of the pump rod 112.
[0109] In the material dispensing system 10, two first sides (e.g., two first sides in the second direction Y) of the first material dispensing module 120 distributed oppositely are mounted respectively on two first base plate 103, and second sides (e.g., a side in the first direction Z) of the first material dispensing module 120 are mounted on a second base plate 104. Flow channel modules 130 are mounted on the first sides of the first material dispensing module 120, a second material dispensing module 140 and the first material dispensing module 120 are connected therebetween with an axially extending contour sleeve 10g, and a bolt 10f passes through an assembly hole of the second material dispensing module 140 into the contour sleeve 10g and extends from the contour sleeve 10g to an assembly hole of the first material dispensing module 120, achieving fixation of the second material dispensing module 140 with the first material dispensing module 120, and ensuring the assembly precision, and no occurrence of warping caused by different bolt tightening forces.
[0110] Pressure sensors 102 can monitor fluid pressures of materials within output passages 170a. In an application to a dispensing system for materials of multiple components with different proportions, it can be determined by monitoring data of the pressure sensors 102 whether a volume ratio of the components of the materials is substantially consistent with a preset volume ratio. When monitoring data of a pressure sensor 102 deviates too much, the dispensing system can send out an alarm signal, which is convenient for an operator to check the problem in time.
[0111] Based on the material dispensing system 10 of any one of the above implementations, an embodiment of the present application further provides a material dispensing control method, which includes starting a dispensing cycle and starting a reloading cycle. The dispensing cycle specifically includes: switching a flow path switch 150 to a first state; and controlling a drive apparatus 180 to drive a pump rod 112 to move towards a first opening 1111 of a pump chamber 111a, and pumping, by a piston 113 urged by the pump rod 112, a material within the first pump chamber 111a from the first opening 1111 to a first flow channel 12a of a material dispensing mechanism 12, thereby causing the material within the first flow channel 12a to be flowed respectively to a discharge flow channel 145 and a second flow channel 12b through the flow path switch 150, and causing, in turn, a part of the material to be discharged through the discharge flow channel 145, and the other part of the material to flow back to a second pump chamber 111a2 thereby loading the second pump chamber 111a2.
[0112] In a dispensing cycle process, a material input module 160 is switched to a closed state, and a material output module 170 is switched to an open state. The material within a first pump chamber 111a1 is driven by the piston 113 urged by the pump rod 112 to enter the first flow channel 12a, and then to be directed by the flow path switch 150, such that a first portion of the material flows to the discharge flow channel 145, and a second portion of the material flows to the second flow channel 12b and flows back to the second pump chamber 111a2 via the second flow channel 12b, making a material reserve for material dispensing in the reloading cycle. In some examples, the first and second portions of the material can be about equal, such that about 50%of the material forms the first portion and about 50%of the material forms the second portion.
[0113] In a reloading cycle process, the material output module 170 remains in the open state, and the material input module 160 is switched to the open state, such that an external material is input to a material flow channel 1123 of the pump rod 112 through a material inlet 1121 of the pump rod 112, thereby causing the material within the material flow channel 1123 to be filled into the first pump chamber 111a1, and loading the material within the first pump chamber 111a1 to make a material reserve for a next round of material dispensing cycle. At the same time, the material flowed back to the second pump chamber 111a2 in the previous dispensing cycle is driven by the piston 113 to enter the second flow channel 12b, and is transported to the discharge flow channel 145 via the second flow channel 12b, and that material can be dispensed, thereby achieving continuous output of the material.
[0114] According to the number of material dispensing apparatuses 100 in the material dispensing system 10, the material dispensing control method in this example can achieve dispensing of single-component materials or multi-component materials. When the material dispensing system 10 has a plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100 and a plurality of drive units 181 in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of material dispensing apparatuses 100, the material dispensing control method, by independently controlling pump rods 112 and pistons 113 by the drive units 181 respectively, can achieve dispensing and mixing of multi-component materials in different proportions.
[0115] In various examples of the present application, the material may be silica gel, polyurethane, epoxy or the like, and the single-component material or the multi-component material mixed after being dispensed may be used as an adhesive, a sealant or a coating, which is applied to bonding of a battery unit or an electronic component, coating of a thermal interface material, potting of an electronic component, on-site formation of a gasket, conformal coating or the like. For the application of the multi-component material, multiple components of the material need to be mixed before being applied to a final product. The material dispensing system 10 and the control method thereof in the embodiments of the present application can ensure that the components are mixed at a constant flow rate and in a precise proportion, thereby ensuring the consistency of the quality of the final product and the reliability of the performance.
[0116] Various examples of the present application further provides a material dispensing control device 200. The control device 200 can include a processor 210 and a memory 220 storing instructions 221 which can run on the processor 210. When the processor 210 executes the instructions 221, the material dispensing control method in the above embodiment is implemented. The number of the memory 220 and the processor 210 may be one or more.
[0117] The above processor 210 may be a central processing unit (CPU) , or may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP) , an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or the like. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any regular processor. It should be noted that the processor 210 may be a processor 210 supporting an advanced RISC machine (ARM) architecture.
[0118] Optionally, the above memory 220 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system and an application program required by at least one function; and the data storage area may store data created according to use of the control device 200. In addition, the memory 220 may include a high-speed random access memory 220, and may further include a non-transitory memory 220, for example, at least one magnetic disk storage device, a flash memory device, or another non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, the memory 220 may optionally include a memory 220 remotely provided relative to the processor 210, and the remote memory 220 may be connected to the control device 200 through a network. Instances of the above network include, but are not limited to, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, a mobile communication network, and combinations thereof.
[0119] In the description of this specification, it should be understood that the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly stating the number of technical features as indicated. Accordingly, a feature defined by “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of “plurality” is two or more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.
[0120] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms “mount” , “connect with” , “connect” , “fix” and the like should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it is possible to be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integration; it is possible to be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication; it is possible to be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal communication between two elements or an interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood as a specific case may be.
[0121] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, a first feature being “on” or “under” a second feature may include a case that the first and second features are in direct contact, or a case that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through an additional feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being “on” , “above” and “over” a second feature includes a case that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply represents that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being “under” , “below” and “beneath” a second feature includes a case that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply represents that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.
[0122] It should be noted that, although the steps of the method in the present application are described in a specific order in the drawings, it is not required or implied that these steps must be carried out in this specific order, or that all the shown steps must be carried out to achieve a desired result. Additionally, or alternatively, some steps may be omitted, a plurality of steps may be combined into one step to be carried out, and / or one step may be decomposed into a plurality of steps to be carried out, and so on. The above drawings are only schematic illustrations of the processing included in the method according to the exemplary embodiments of the present application, and are not for limiting purposes. It will be readily understood that the processing shown in the above drawings does not indicate or limit a chronological order of the processing. Additionally, it will also be easy to understand that the processing may be carried out synchronously or asynchronously in a plurality of modules, for example.
[0123] The disclosure above provides many different embodiments or instances to achieve the different structures of the present application. In order to simplify the disclosure of the present application, the parts and settings of particular instances are described above. Certainly, they are only examples, and their purpose is not to limit the present application. In addition, in the present application, reference numerals and / or reference letters can be repeated in different instances, and such repetition is for the purpose of simplification and clarity, which itself does not indicate the relationships between the various implementations and / or settings discussed.
[0124] Described above are only specific implementations of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any technicians familiar with this technical field can readily envisage various changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, all of which should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the attached claims.
Claims
1.A material dispensing apparatus, comprising:a piston pump comprising a pump cylinder, a pump rod, and a piston, wherein the pump cylinder is defined with a pump chamber having a first opening and a second opening which are distributed at intervals in an axial direction, the piston is movably provided within the pump chamber and partitions the pump chamber into a first pump chamber defined with the first opening and a second pump chamber defined with the second opening, and the piston, driven by the pump rod, reciprocates along the axial direction between the first opening and the second opening;a material dispensing mechanism defined with a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a discharge flow channel, wherein an input end of the first flow channel is in fluid communication with the first opening, a first end of the second flow channel is in fluid communication with the second opening, and there is an intersection among an output end of the first flow channel, a second end of the second flow channel and an input end of the discharge flow channel; anda flow path switch provided at the intersection for switching between a first state and a second state, wherein the flow path switch is configured such that:in a process of movement of the piston towards the first opening, the flow path switch is in the first state for making any two of the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the discharge flow channel in communication, so as to cause a material within the first pump chamber to enter the first flow channel through the first opening and to be directed at the intersection to the second flow channel and the discharge flow channel; andin a process of movement of the piston towards the second opening, the flow path switch is in the second state for making the second flow channel in communication with the discharge flow channel, so as to cause a material within the second pump chamber to enter the second flow channel through the second opening and to be diverted at the intersection to the discharge flow channel and such that the first flow channel is fluidly disconnected from the discharge flow channel by the flow path switch.2.The material dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow path switch comprises:a flow path module defined with an introduction flow channel, a first branch flow channel, and a second branch flow channel, which are in communication with each other, wherein an output end of the introduction flow channel is in communication with the input end of the discharge flow channel through the first branch flow channel, and in communication with the second end of the second flow channel through the second branch flow channel; anda switching module provided in the flow path module for making an input end of the introduction flow channel in communication with or blocked from an output end of the first flow channel;wherein, in the process of movement of the piston towards the first opening, the switching module is configured to be controlled to switch to the first state, so as to conduct the introduction flow channel with the first flow channel; and in the process of movement of the piston towards the second opening, the switching module is configured to be controlled to switch to the second state, so as to block the introduction flow channel from the first flow channel.3.The material dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the material dispensing mechanism comprises:a first material dispensing module defined with an axially extending passage and a first sub flow channel in communication with the passage; wherein the passage is used for supporting an end of the pump cylinder adjacent to the second opening; the pump rod extends into the first pump chamber through the second opening, and the piston is provided on the pump rod; the first sub flow channel constitutes a part of the second flow channel, and in the axial direction, the first sub flow channel is located on a side of the second opening away from the first opening; anda flow channel module defined with a second sub flow channel, wherein a first end of the second sub flow channel adjacent to the second opening has a third opening, a second end of the second sub flow channel has a fourth opening, the second sub flow channel forms the other part of the second flow channel, and the second end of the second sub flow channel forms the second end of the second flow channel.4.The material dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the piston pump further comprises: a flow guide provided within the passage, the flow guide being located on the side of the second opening away from the first opening in the axial direction, and the flow guide being provided opposite to the first sub flow channel; wherein the flow guide is defined with a first avoidance hole provided therethrough along an axial direction, the pump rod is slidably inserted through the first avoidance hole, an outer peripheral wall of the flow guide is formed with at least one flow guide groove, and the flow guide groove extends along the axial direction and communicates with the corresponding first sub flow channel.5.The material dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the flow guide comprises: an annular body, a center of which is provided with the first avoidance hole, and an outer peripheral wall of the annular body is provided with a plurality of teeth each extending radially outwards from the outer peripheral wall of the annular body, the plurality of teeth being circumferentially distributed at intervals along the outer peripheral wall of the annular body;wherein the flow guide groove is defined between at least two adjacent teeth of the teeth.6.The material dispensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first material dispensing module is defined with at least two of the first sub flow channels, the flow channel module is further defined with at least one flow shunting groove which communicates with the third opening, and the flow shunting groove is in communication with each of the first sub flow channels respectively.7.The material dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the material dispensing mechanism further comprises: a second material dispensing module defined with a counterbore extending along the axial direction for supporting an end of the pump cylinder adjacent to the first opening; wherein the second material dispensing module defines the first flow channel and the discharge flow channel;the first flow channel comprises an upstream section, a midstream section and a downstream section which are in sequential communication, wherein the upstream section extends from a downstream side of the counterbore along the axial direction, the midstream section extends along a direction intersecting the axial direction, the downstream section extends along a direction intersecting an extension direction of the midstream section, and an output end of the downstream section constitutes the output end of the first flow channel;wherein the discharge flow channel is spaced apart from the first flow channel.8.The material dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an end of the pump rod protruding out of the second pump chamber is formed with a material inlet, an end of the pump rod inserted into the first pump chamber is formed with a material outlet, and an interior of the pump rod is defined with a material flow channel extending from the material inlet to the material outlet.9.The material dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the material dispensing mechanism further comprises:a material input module in communication with the material inlet for regulating a flow rate of a material input to the material inlet; anda material output module in communication with an output end of the discharge flow channel for regulating a flow rate of a material output from the output end of the discharge flow channel.10.A material dispensing system, comprising:at least one of the material dispensing apparatuses according to any one of claims 1 to 9.11.The material dispensing system according to claim 10, further comprising: a drive apparatus drivingly connected with a pump rod of each of the material dispensing apparatuses for driving the pump rod to urge the piston to reciprocate.12.The material dispensing system according to claim 10, wherein the material dispensing system comprises a plurality of the material dispensing apparatuses provided side by side;wherein first material dispensing modules of the plurality of the material dispensing apparatuses are a one-piece structure; and / or second material dispensing modules of the plurality of the material dispensing apparatuses are a one-piece structure.13.A material dispensing control method, applied to the material dispensing system according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the method comprises:starting a dispensing cycle comprising: switching a flow path switch to a first state; and controlling a drive apparatus to drive a pump rod to move towards a first opening of a first pump chamber of a pump chamber, and pumping, by a piston urged by the pump rod, a material within the first pump chamber from the first opening to a first flow channel of a material dispensing mechanism, thereby causing the material within the first flow channel to be flowed respectively to the discharge flow channel and the second flow channel through the flow path switch, and causing, in turn, a part of the material to be discharged through the discharge flow channel, and the other part of the material to flow back to a second pump chamber of the pump chamber; andstarting a reloading cycle comprising:switching the flow path switch to a second state; andcontrolling the drive apparatus to drive the pump rod to move towards the second opening, and pumping, by the piston urged by the pump rod, the other part of the material in the second pump chamber from the second opening to the second flow channel, thereby causing the other part of the material to be transported to the discharge flow channel through the second flow channel.14.The material dispensing control method according to claim 13, wherein the dispensing cycle further comprises: switching a material input module to a closed state, and switching a material output module to an open state; andthe reloading cycle further comprises: switching the material input module to an open state, causing an external material to be input in a material flow channel of a pump rod through a material inlet of the pump rod, thereby causing the material in the material flow channel to be filled into the first pump chamber.15.A material dispensing control device, comprising:at least one processor; anda memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions being loaded and executed by the at least one processor, so as to cause the at least one processor to execute the material dispensing control method according to any one of claims 13 to 14.16.A material dispensing apparatus comprising:a piston pump having a pump rod supporting a piston, the piston dividing a pump cylinder into a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber;a material dispenser fluidly connected to the piston pump to receive a material output from the piston pump, wherein the material dispenser is defined with a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a discharge flow channel;the first flow channel fluidly connected to the first pump chamber and extending between the first pump chamber and an intersection;the second flow channel extending between the intersection and the second pump chamber and fluidly connected to the second pump chamber;the discharge flow channel extending between the intersection and a material output module of the material dispenser to fluidly connect the intersection and the material output module of the material dispenser; anda flow path switch disposed at the intersection, the flow path switch actuatable between:a first state in which the intersection is open such that the first flow channel is fluidly connected to the second flow channel and the discharge flow channel such that the first pump chamber is fluidly connected to both the second pump chamber and the material dispenser; anda second state, in which the flow path switch blocks flow between the first pump chamber and the intersection such that the first pump chamber is fluidly disconnected from both the second pump chamber and the material dispenser.17.The material dispensing apparatus of claim 16, wherein a material flow channel extends within the pump rod such that material is flowed into the first pump chamber through the pump rod.18.The material dispensing apparatus of any one of claims 16–17, further comprising:a material input module disposed upstream of the first pump chamber, the material input module actuatable between:an open state in which the material can flow past the material input module and into the first pump chamber; anda closed state in which the material input module blocks flow of the material to the first pump chamber;wherein the material input module is in the open state with the flow path switch in the second state, and the material input module is in the closed state with the flow path switch in the first state.