Vibrating Dispenser Heating Moisture Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for dispensing loose solid materials, such as ceramic powders, face issues with material adherence to vibrating elements due to moisture, leading to encrustation and altered dynamic characteristics, which affects precise distribution and increases errors in decorative patterns on ceramic substrates.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of heating elements to evaporate moisture on vibrating elements and the use of non-stick coatings, along with air blower devices for cleaning, to prevent encrustation and ensure consistent material flow, while maintaining desired humidity levels for ceramic processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heating elements are introduced to evaporate moisture on vibrating elements, then material adherence is reduced and encrustation is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial flow consistencyVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces heating elements that change the temperature parameter of the vibrating elements, evaporating moisture that causes material adherence. This parameter change (from ambient temperature to heated temperature) prevents encrustation and maintains consistent material flow, resolving the reliability issue while accepting increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The heating elements act as an intermediary between the moisture problem and the vibrating elements. By introducing this intermediate heating mechanism, the patent indirectly solves the adherence issue without directly modifying the vibrating elements themselves, thus managing the complexity increase more effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If non-stick coatings are applied to vibrating elements, then material adherence is reduced and encrustation is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial flow consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies non-stick coatings (such as Teflon) to the vibrating elements, creating a composite structure where a specialized coating layer is combined with the base vibrating element material. This composite approach reduces material adherence and prevents encrustation, though it increases manufacturing complexity through the additional coating process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If air blower devices are added for cleaning vibrating elements, then encrustation is removed and dispensing accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The air blower device provides self-service cleaning of the vibrating elements by removing encrustation automatically. This maintains dispensing accuracy without requiring manual intervention, though it does increase energy consumption and device complexity. The system essentially cleans itself during or between operation cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If heating elements are introduced to evaporate moisture, then material adherence is reduced, but the humidity of the material mass may be altered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibrating element performanceVSAvoidmaterial humidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The heating elements are applied locally to the vibrating elements rather than to the entire material mass. This localized heating approach evaporates moisture only where it contacts the vibrating elements, preventing adherence without significantly altering the overall humidity of the ceramic powder material, thus maintaining material composition stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively prevents encrustation, maintains precise control over material distribution, and ensures consistent decorative patterns by reducing material adherence and altering the dynamic characteristics of vibrating elements, thus improving the accuracy and efficiency of the dispensing process.

Implementation Method 1

The introduction of heating elements to evaporate moisture on vibrating elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

the body of piezoelectric material enters into a vibrating mode, at the same time setting the whole vibrating element in vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2760594B1Device and method for dispensing loose solid material

Publication Date: 2015.11.18 SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOC COOP ARL

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AI summary

A device (100) for dispensing a loose solid material (P), comprising a plurality of vibrating elements (210) arranged flanked to one another such as to restingly support the material (P), each of which is associated to a piezoelectric means (220) suitable for converting an electrical excitation signal into a mechanical vibration which can cause a fall of material (P) from the vibrating elements (210), and heating means (240, 245) for heating the vibrating elements (210).