Compact Dental Resin Mixer with Magnetic Mixing and Color Sensor
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixers for dental resins in 3D printing are not optimized for mixing small amounts of resin with high viscosity, and they do not ensure uniform color mixing, particularly for small prosthodontic laboratories with limited space.
Innovation Solution
A compact mixing and dyeing device for dental resins that includes a housing with stabilizing means, a mixing means (either mechanical or magnetic), a container for the resin, pigment tanks, dispensing means, a color sensor, scales, and a control panel, which allows for precise mixing and color matching of small resin amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional mixers are used for dental resins, then they can mix larger amounts of resin, but they cannot effectively mix small amounts of high viscosity resin and do not ensure uniform color mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing container is divided into multiple zones with separate pigment dispensing systems, allowing precise control of pigment distribution throughout the small volume of resin. This segmentation enables uniform color mixing even when the total resin quantity is small.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a magnetic mixing mechanism instead of conventional mechanical搅拌, using magnetic fields to rotate mixing elements within the resin. This substitution provides more effective mixing action for high viscosity materials and small quantities, ensuring homogeneous color distribution without requiring large mixing volumes.
2Ease of operation
If conventional mixers are used, then they can perform basic mixing functions, but they are too large for small prosthodontic laboratories with limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing container is positioned concentrically within the housing, with the magnetic mixing arm nested inside the container. The pigment tanks are arranged in a compact configuration around the mixing chamber. This nested arrangement minimizes the overall device footprint while maintaining full mixing functionality, making it suitable for small laboratory spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional three-dimensional bulk mixing to a more compact arrangement where mixing occurs in a concentrated central zone. The magnetic mixing arm operates within a reduced volume, and the pigment dispensing system uses vertical and radial arrangements to save space, effectively reorganizing the mixing process in different spatial dimensions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple color pigment tanks are added to achieve broad color range, then color variety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each pigment tank is equipped with a dedicated dispensing means that can precisely control pigment flow. The magnetic mixing system serves multiple functions: mixing resin, distributing pigments uniformly, and achieving consistent color reproduction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, managing complexity while maintaining broad color capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a color sensor that monitors the color of the mixed resin in real-time and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism automatically adjusts the pigment dispensing amounts to achieve the desired color match, reducing the need for manual adjustment and simplifying the operation of multiple pigment tanks.
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 device enables efficient mixing and color matching of small resin amounts, ensuring uniformity and consistency with the desired color, while being compact enough for use in small prosthodontic laboratories.
Implementation Method 1
the mixing means is a small magnetic mixing arm positioned within the resin container
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing and dyeing device for dental resins for 3D printing and is arranged for contactless dyeing by mixing fluid ingredients. The device includes a housing with a stabilizing means, a mixing means which is arranged for mixing resin housed within a container, the container provided within the housing, positioned concentrically with the mixing means, at least two pigment tanks, at least two dispensing means, a colour sensor which based on a template colour is arranged for determining proper amounts of the resin pigments fed from the pigment tanks, a scales positioned under the container, a device closing sensor, a temperature sensor, a control panel, and includes at least one heating means, which heating means is arranged for heating resin within the container, and a mixing arm has a tip enabling coupling replaceable mixing tips, and the colour sensor is arranged for scanning the patient's dentition.