Dispenser functionality evaluation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dispensers for materials like liquids and aerosols face issues such as low battery life, mechanical stalls, clogged pumps, and empty refill containers, which affect their functionality and efficiency in dispensing materials.
Innovation Solution
The system evaluates dispenser functionality by measuring non-loaded and loaded electrical characteristics, peak currents, and other metrics during dispense events to identify issues like mechanical impedances, clogged pumps, and battery life, and adjusts thresholds based on historical data to determine whether to perform or refrain from performing a dispense event, providing alerts and adjusting operational characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dispenser operates without evaluating electrical characteristics, then the dispense event can be performed without delay, but the reliability of dispensing is reduced due to undetected battery issues or mechanical problems
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of electrical characteristics (voltage, current, power) before executing the dispense event. This advance assessment detects potential issues with battery charge, motor functionality, and pump operation, ensuring reliable dispensing while minimizing delays through proactive problem identification
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors electrical characteristics during dispensing operations and uses this feedback to assess dispenser health, battery life, and mechanical condition. This real-time feedback enables dynamic adjustment of dispensing parameters and early detection of failures, maintaining high reliability without significant time loss
2Ease of operation
If the dispenser uses a battery as a power source, then the dispenser can operate autonomously, but the battery life is limited and may cause operational failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system evaluates battery electrical characteristics (voltage, current, power) before dispense events to assess remaining battery life. By performing this preliminary assessment, the system can plan dispensing operations to maximize battery utilization and avoid operational failures due to depleted power
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors battery electrical characteristics and provides feedback on battery health and remaining capacity. This enables autonomous operation within safe limits and triggers alerts or shutdowns before complete battery depletion occurs, extending effective operational duration
3Productivity
If the dispenser performs mechanical dispensing operations, then the material can be dispensed, but mechanical stalls or impedances may occur affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system evaluates motor current and power characteristics before initiating mechanical dispensing operations. This preliminary assessment detects potential mechanical impedances, stalled components, or pump blockages, allowing the system to prevent failed dispensing attempts that would reduce both productivity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors electrical characteristics during mechanical dispensing operations and uses this feedback to detect mechanical stalls or impedances. By continuously assessing motor current, power consumption, and operational patterns, the system can identify mechanical problems and adjust operations to maintain reliable and productive dispensing
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for evaluating dispenser functionality of a dispenser for dispensing a material. In an example, a non-loaded electrical characteristic and/or a loaded electrical characteristic of the dispenser may be measured and evaluated to determine whether to perform a dispense event. In another example, current measurements, such as peak current, may be measured during a dispense event. The current measurements may be evaluated to determine whether a problem exists, such as a mechanical stall, a gear train problem, an actuator problem, a pump problem (e.g., a clogged pump), a mechanical impedance, and/or other issue. Such information may be collected, stored as historical data, and/or used to determine whether to perform subsequent dispense events.