Dental Casting Mixer With Dynamic Rotor and Static Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixers for dental casting materials face issues with non-homogeneous mixing, air bubble formation, reduced flow rates, and material wastage due to suboptimal viscosity parameters and geometry, particularly with viscous products.
Innovation Solution
A mixer combining a dynamic rotor with a static mixing structure, featuring a pre-chamber for deviated entry and a tapering mixing chamber with radially oriented fins, and a static element for additional mixing, optimized for viscoelastic materials to ensure homogeneity and efficient flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a dynamic mixer with rotating fins is used to mix viscous materials, then mixing action is provided, but non-homogeneous mixing occurs and air bubbles form
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber is divided into multiple zones with different fin configurations. The first region has fins extending from the rotor, while the second region has a different fin arrangement, creating segmented mixing zones that progressively homogenize the material without trapping air bubbles
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor rotates at controlled speeds to dynamically mix the material. The rotation creates controlled turbulence and shear forces that enhance mixing homogeneity while the dynamic motion prevents air bubble entrapment by continuously redistributing the material
2Productivity
If the mixer is optimized for low viscosity materials, then flow rates are maintained, but mixing performance deteriorates with increased viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the mixing chamber have locally optimized fin configurations. The first region has fins designed for initial mixing, while the second region has fins optimized for final homogenization. This local differentiation allows the mixer to handle varying viscosities while maintaining both flow rate and mixing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The mixer design incorporates parameters that can be adjusted based on material viscosity. The fin geometry, rotor speed, and chamber dimensions are optimized to change effective mixing parameters, allowing the system to maintain productivity across different viscosity ranges while achieving homogeneous mixing
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mixing chamber is made longer to improve mixing, then mixing homogeneity improves, but material waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber is segmented into two functional regions: a first region for primary mixing and a second region for final homogenization. This segmentation achieves thorough mixing in a compact length, reducing the total chamber length needed and thereby minimizing material waste while maintaining mixing homogeneity
4Stability of the object's composition
If the number of fins is increased to improve mixing, then mixing action is enhanced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the number of fins throughout the chamber, the design segments the mixing function into two regions with different fin configurations. This segmented approach achieves effective mixing with a moderate total number of fins, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining mixing homogeneity
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 combined dynamic and static mixing approach ensures homogeneous mixing, reduces air bubbles, maintains flow rates, and minimizes material waste, even with varying viscosities, while reducing the length and number of fins for improved performance and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a dynamic rotor (7) having a rotation axis (8) and provided with a predetermined number of fins (12) radially emerging from said axis in the region of the first region (6a)
Implementation Method 2
a pre-chamber (41) for deviated entry of said components
Implementation Method 3
a tapering mixing chamber (6)
Data Source
AI summary
A mixer adapted to mix a base and a catalyst to make a paste for dental castings has a holding body adapted to receive the components to be mixed through two inlets (3, 4). The components are conveyed into a mixing chamber (6) where a dynamic rotor (7) is present which, through suitable fins (12), allows mixing of the two components. Downstream of the dynamic mixing (7) along a feeding direction (A) of the material, a static-mixing structure (9) is also provided which is equipped with a predetermined number of shaped elements (10) to enable further mixing of the materials before the latter come out of the mixer.