Flexible Down Tube With Movable Sleeve for Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible down tubes in spray dispensers are challenging to assemble using high-speed automated equipment due to their pivoting capability, which complicates the assembly process and can lead to breakage or require specialized equipment.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing device with a down tube structure featuring an essentially rigid upper and lower section and an intermediate flexible section, along with a rigid sleeve that moves between positions to restrict or allow pivoting, facilitating assembly with conventional equipment and enabling higher line speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible down tube is used to enable pivoting and follow remaining liquid in the bottle, then the ability to dispense liquid effectively is improved, but the complexity of assembly and risk of breakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The down tube is divided into three distinct sections: an upper rigid section, an intermediate flexible section, and a lower rigid section. This segmentation allows the tube to pivot at the flexible intermediate section while maintaining structural integrity at the rigid sections, enabling it to follow remaining liquid in the bottle without compromising assembly reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the down tube have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions. The upper and lower sections are rigid to maintain structural stability and positioning, while the intermediate section is flexible to enable pivoting. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between flexibility for operation and rigidity for assembly.
2Ease of operation
If a flexible down tube with pivoting capability is used, then liquid can be dispensed effectively when the bottle is tilted, but assembly speed and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the down tube into rigid and flexible portions, the design maintains simplicity during assembly (rigid sections) while enabling complexity during operation (flexible pivoting section). This allows conventional high-speed assembly equipment to be used without specialized equipment for flexible components.
Solution Approach 2:
The down tube transitions from a static rigid structure during assembly to a dynamic flexible structure during operation. The intermediate flexible section allows the tube to pivot and adapt to different bottle positions, enabling effective liquid dispensing while maintaining simple assembly procedures.
3Device complexity
If a rigid down tube is used, then assembly is simple and reliable, but the tube cannot follow remaining liquid when the bottle is tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The down tube is segmented into rigid sections for assembly simplicity and a flexible intermediate section for liquid following capability. The rigid upper and lower sections maintain positioning stability during assembly, while the flexible intermediate section enables the tube to pivot and track remaining liquid in the bottle during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The down tube has locally differentiated properties: rigid material at the upper and lower sections for structural stability and simple assembly, and flexible material at the intermediate section for pivoting and liquid following. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between assembly simplicity and operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are liquid dispensing devices suitable for use to dispense liquid from a container. They have a conventional sprayer associated with a flexible down tube. The down tube has an essentially rigid upper section linked to the sprayer, an essentially rigid lower section suitable to extend into the container, and an intermediate flexible section. An essentially rigid member (e.g. a sleeve) is mounted on/to the down tube so as to move between a first position in which it covers the flexible section so as to restrict pivoting of the lower section relative to the upper section, to a second position in which it permits the lower section to pivot relative to the upper section. As the down tube is being inserted in the container a flange on the sleeve is held by the container lip so that the sleeve is caused to move between the two positions. The down tube structure is thus rigid during assembly of the tube with the container, but automatically becomes flexible thereafter. Methods of assembly are also disclosed using these structures.