Colorant Dispensing Assembly With Recoverable Purging Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing colorant dispensers for paint face the issue of waste due to purging, which is necessary to prevent nozzle blockage but results in the unnecessary use of colorant.
Innovation Solution
An assembly with a controller-operated pump and valve system that allows for the use of additional dispense openings of varying diameters for precise and rapid dispensing, enabling the colorant to be purged back into the container, reducing waste while effectively cleaning the dispense opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If purging is performed to clean the dispense opening and prevent nozzle blockage, then reliability is improved, but loss of substance increases due to waste of colorant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a purging system that redirects liquid from the pump back to the container through a separate purging opening, allowing the dispensed liquid to be recovered and reused rather than discarded. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable cleaning of the dispense opening while recovering the colorant material that would otherwise be wasted.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member is segmented with multiple distinct openings: dispense openings for normal operation and separate purging openings for cleaning. This segmentation allows the cleaning function to be performed independently through dedicated pathways, enabling effective purging while directing the purged liquid back to the container to minimize waste.
2Productivity
If additional dispense openings of varying diameters are added for precise and rapid dispensing, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member serves multiple functions through its various openings: it provides both normal dispensing through dispense openings and purging through separate purging openings. The same valve member and pump assembly handle both dispensing and purging operations, making the device multi-functional without requiring entirely separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different openings in the valve member have different diameters optimized for their specific functions: larger openings for rapid dispensing and smaller openings for precise dispensing and purging. This local differentiation of opening sizes allows the single valve member to provide both precise and rapid dispensing capabilities while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system minimizes waste by allowing the colorant to be reused during the purging process, maintaining operational efficiency and accuracy in dispensing, and provides means to detect air presence and liquid condition through flow resistance measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a pump, a valve, at least one dispense opening
Implementation Method 2
the valve, in a first position, connects the container to the pump and, in a second or further position, connects the pump to the or a dispense opening
Data Source
AI summary
Assembly for dispensing a liquid, in particular a colorant for paint, comprising a container for holding a liquid, a pump, a valve, at least one dispense opening, and comprising or associated with a controller arranged to operate the pump and the valve to withdraw liquid from the container and to dispense liquid via the opening and to operate the pump and the valve to purge liquid from the pump to the container via the dispense opening.