Dental Mixer Drive Coupling With Guided Shaft Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials require complex and often incorrect coupling processes, leading to inefficient torque transmission and frequent mixer disposal due to improper alignment and connection of hexagonal cross-sectional components.
Innovation Solution
A device with a guiding section on the drive shaft that allows initial placement without aligning engagement sections, enabling axial guidance and radial restraint, facilitating easy connection and torque transmission by transitioning from a loose fit to a force fit when the mixer is moved into position, thus simplifying the coupling process and ensuring proper mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the mixer is quickly attached to the dispenser without alignment, then the coupling process is fast, but the mixer and drive shaft are not properly engaged resulting in unsatisfactory performance
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is designed with a guiding section that performs the preliminary action of aligning and positioning the mixer axially before the engagement sections are coupled. This preliminary alignment action eliminates the need for manual orientation of hexagonal cross-sections, allowing quick attachment while ensuring proper engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding section acts as an intermediary element between the mixer and the engagement sections. It provides a transition from a loose fit during insertion to a force fit during engagement, mediating the coupling process to ensure both speed and accuracy without requiring manual alignment.
2Power
If the mixer is properly aligned and connected, then the torque transmission is efficient, but the coupling process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding section performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions that automatically orient the engagement sections correctly before torque transmission begins. This eliminates the need for complex manual alignment procedures while ensuring efficient torque transmission through proper engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling interface is segmented into distinct functional sections: the guiding section for alignment and positioning, and the engagement sections for torque transmission. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, simplifying the overall coupling process while maintaining efficient power transmission.
3Reliability
If the mixer is frequently replaced due to improper coupling, then the mixing quality is maintained, but the productivity and user convenience decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding section performs preliminary alignment and positioning that ensures proper engagement on first attempt, eliminating the need for frequent mixer replacements. This preliminary action maintains mixing quality by ensuring correct coupling while improving productivity by reducing downtime associated with replacing mixers.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of hexagonal cross-sections is required, then the engagement is precise, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding section performs the preliminary action of automatic alignment, eliminating the need for manual orientation of hexagonal cross-sections. This maintains engagement precision through mechanical guidance while dramatically improving ease of operation by allowing users to simply push the mixer onto the drive shaft without complex alignment procedures.
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4a~6b
AI summary
A device (1) for mixing and dispensing dental materials is provided, comprising a drive shaft (30) for driving a mixer (20). The mixer is placeable on the drive shaft in a first and a second position, wherein in the first position a guiding section (32) of the drive shaft is mated with an engagement section (21) of the mixer, but an engagement section (31) of the drive shaft is not engaged with the engagement section of the mixer, and in the second position the engagement section of the drive shaft is also engaged with the engagement section of the mixer.