Dispenser Transfer Assembly Reducing Liquid Delivery Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional make-up devices require excessive operator manipulation cycles to deliver liquid products from a reservoir to an applicator, leading to inefficiency and user frustration.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with a pump assembly and transfer assembly that includes a piston, bias member, and adapter, which reduces the number of cycles required to deliver liquid from the reservoir to the applicator by utilizing a pushbutton-driven mechanism that advances a wiper to displace the piston and overcome the bias force, allowing efficient fluid transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional make-up device is used, then the liquid product can be delivered to the applicator, but an excessive number of operator manipulation cycles (50 or more) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical pump system with a pressure-driven system using a flexible reservoir that expands under pressure to push liquid through the applicator, eliminating the need for repeated mechanical pumping actions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic pressure application to the flexible reservoir, where each pressure cycle advances the liquid a predetermined distance, enabling controlled delivery in fewer cycles compared to continuous manual pumping
2Productivity
If a pump assembly with piston and bias member is used, then efficient fluid transfer is achieved in fewer cycles, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a pressure application mechanism, a flexible reservoir, a piston with seal, and an applicator assembly, allowing each component to perform its specific function efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The piston acts as an intermediary between the pressure application mechanism and the liquid, translating applied pressure into controlled liquid displacement through the seal and out to the applicator
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 dispenser significantly reduces the number of cycles needed to deliver liquid to the applicator, achieving efficient fluid transfer in less than 20 cycles, with some tests showing successful delivery in as few as 6 to 7.5 cycles, compared to 50 or more cycles in conventional devices.
Implementation Method 1
a bias member, which applies a bias force to the piston that resists flow of the liquid from the reservoir to the applicator
Implementation Method 2
a pushbutton-driven mechanism that advances a wiper to displace the piston and overcome the bias force
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D~1E
Figure 2
AI summary
A dispenser (100) with a transfer assembly (200) is arranged to efficiently transfer a stored liquid (155) from a reservoir (150) in a body (110) of the dispenser to an applicator (250). The transfer assembly (200) includes an adapter (210), applicator base (220), piston (230) and a bias member (240). The adapter (210) is in contact with the body (110) and has a central member (212) with orifices (214) to fluidly couple the applicator base (220) to the reservoir (150). The applicator base (220) is supported by and extends beyond the adapter (210). The applicator base (220) forms a cavity for housing the piston (230) and the bias member (240). A tubular member (221) of the applicator base (220) supports an applicator (250). The piston (230) includes a passage (235) that conveys the stored liquid (155) from the cavity to the applicator (250). The bias member (240) keeps the head (232) of the piston (230) against a surface (212a) of the central member (212). When stored liquid (155) is under a pressure that exceeds a bias force, displacement of the piston (230), opens a seal.