Decoupled Plunger and Ball Screw Control for Viscous Material Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing discharge devices for viscous materials face complexity in controlling the plunger operation during material supply, requiring strict synchronization of material filling and plunger retreat speed.

Innovation Solution

The discharge device includes a supply valve, a plunger, a ball screw, and a motor with a power transmission mechanism, where the plunger and ball screw are not connected. A pressure sensor detects the internal pressure of the cylinder, allowing for correction to a desired value after material supply, facilitating easier control of the plunger operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the plunger is strictly synchronized with the supply source during material supply, then the filling amount and plunger retreat speed are precisely controlled, but the operation control becomes considerably complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization precisionVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control process into two independent segments: (1) material supply control through the supply valve, and (2) plunger movement control through the ball screw mechanism. By decoupling these controls and eliminating the mechanical connection between plunger and ball screw, the system achieves precise control without complex synchronization requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a pressure sensor as an intermediary element that detects cylinder internal pressure and provides feedback to the control unit. This intermediary enables indirect control of plunger position through pressure feedback, eliminating the need for direct mechanical synchronization between the supply source and plunger movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the plunger is mechanically connected to the ball screw for synchronized movement, then the material supply and plunger retreat are coordinated, but the control system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination stabilityVSAvoidmechanical connection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the mechanical connection between the plunger and ball screw, making them independent components. The plunger is no longer mechanically coupled to the ball screw, allowing each component to be controlled independently while achieving coordinated action through pressure-based feedback control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback control system where the pressure sensor continuously monitors cylinder internal pressure and sends signals to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the ball screw and supply valve based on this feedback, achieving stable coordination between material supply and plunger movement without direct mechanical connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This configuration simplifies the operation control of the plunger, eliminating the need for precise synchronization of material filling and plunger retreat speed, and allows for appropriate synchronization of the ball screw and plunger advances during discharge, forming a desired overlap portion.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor which is arranged in the cylinder and detects a pressure of the viscous material supplied into the cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 2

correct the internal pressure of the cylinder by raising the ball screw with the supply valve being closed to drop the internal pressure of the cylinder to a desired value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure correction through volume change:

Implementation Method 3

a plunger which applies a pressure to the viscous material supplied to the cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure application:

Data Source

PatentEP3747551B1Discharge device and liquid supply method
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 THREE BOND CO LTD
  • EP3747551B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3747551B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3747551B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Technical Problem Provide is a discharge device capable of easily controlling an operation of a plunger at the time of supplying a viscous material to a cylinder and a liquid supply method capable of forming a desired overlap portion. Solution to Problem The discharge device 10 includes the supply valve 40 which controls the supply of the viscous material M to the cylinder 30, the plunger 50 which applies a pressure to the viscous material supplied to the cylinder, the ball screw 60 which is movable in the same direction as the back-and-forth direction of the plunger, and the motor 120 which is connected to the ball screw through the power transmission mechanism 110, wherein the plunger and the ball screw are not connected.