Dispensing Machine Translation Means for Compact Fluid Formulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dispensing machines for fluid products are bulky, inflexible, and require laborious maintenance, limiting their use in confined spaces and accuracy in producing user-defined formulations, especially in automotive refinishing applications.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing machine with elongated support means for removable containing units and translation means allowing vertical movement of a receptacle to delivery positions, combined with metering means for precise fluid delivery, enabling a compact, flexible design that allows for easy access and high accuracy in producing multiple formulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a carousel or wheel mechanism is used to position containers, then multiple containers can be dispensed in sequence, but the machine becomes bulky and difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to dispense multiple containers in sequenceVSAvoidmachine design becomes bulky and complex

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the dispensing function into separate modular units: a stationary support structure for containers and a movable receptacle carriage. Each container can be independently accessed and replaced without moving the entire machine, segmenting the complex carousel mechanism into simpler, maintainable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a horizontal rotary carousel, the invention positions containers vertically on a stationary support and moves the receptacle vertically to access different containers. This dimensional change eliminates the need for a bulky rotary mechanism while maintaining the ability to access multiple containers sequentially.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If a rotary carousel mechanism is used, then containers can be positioned one after another, but maintenance operations become laborious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesequential dispensing capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance operations become laborious

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The movable receptacle carriage is extracted from the container support structure. The containers remain stationary on the support, while only the receptacle moves to access different containers. This separation allows maintenance personnel to access and service individual containers without disassembling a complex rotary mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed so that containers can be easily removed and replaced by the operator without requiring complex adjustment or assembly procedures. The simple vertical access mechanism allows users to service the system themselves, reducing the need for specialized maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If containers are arranged on a rotary wheel, then multiple products can be dispensed, but only a part of the containers are accessible at once

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of dispensable containersVSAvoidaccessibility of containers

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically repositions the receptacle vertically to access different containers as needed. Instead of having containers rotated into position, the receptacle moves to the required vertical position to access the desired container, providing dynamic access to all containers without requiring them to be physically accessible at the same time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid bulky design is used, then structural stability is maintained, but the machine cannot be disposed in narrow work environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidspace occupied by machine

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle carriage is designed to nest within or alongside the stationary container support structure when not in use. The vertical arrangement allows the moving components to be compact and integrated within the overall structure, reducing the footprint of the machine while maintaining structural stability through the rigid support framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11565223B2Dispensing machine and related method for preparing a user-defined formulation by dispensing fluid products

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 COROB SPA

AI summary

A dispensing machine for dispensing fluid products comprising a dispensing zone (15) in which elongated support means (12) are disposed, configured to support a plurality of removable containing units (11) of the fluid products in a stationary manner along a longitudinal axis (X) is disclosed. The dispensing zone (15) further includes translation means (20) configured to allow moving a receptacle (18) positioned on a metering unit and disposed on the translation means (20) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (X) to delivery positions substantially vertically below said containing units (11) and measurement means (16) configured to meter a quantity of fluid product that is delivered from a containing unit (11) to the receptacle (18) in a delivery position corresponding to the respective containing unit. Also disclosed is the use of such dispensing machine for preparing customized formulations of fluid products as well as a method for preparing user-defined target formulation from a plurality of dispensable fluid products.