Dispenser With Flexing Actuator For Microcapsule Fragrance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fine fragrance products face challenges in maintaining a long-lasting scent due to the incompatibility of volatile solvents with microcapsules, leading to short fragrance duration and inefficient atomization, especially when high surface tension carriers like water are used, which resist atomization and can damage microcapsules.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with separate reservoirs for volatile solvents and microcapsules, featuring a common actuator assembly with different pump strokes and a flexing member to accommodate stroke differences, allowing for controlled dispensing of microcapsules and solvent mixtures while minimizing contact and reducing actuation force, thus enhancing fragrance duration and atomization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If volatile solvent and microcapsules are stored together in a single reservoir, then the dispenser structure is simple, but the solvent incompatibility damages microcapsules and reduces fragrance duration
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into two separate reservoirs: one for volatile solvent and one for microcapsules in carrier. This segmentation prevents direct contact between incompatible solvent and microcapsules, protecting microcapsule integrity while maintaining a relatively simple overall dispenser structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A carrier substance (such as water or oil) is introduced as an intermediary medium to hold the microcapsules. The microcapsules are suspended in the carrier rather than directly in the volatile solvent, preventing solvent damage while enabling controlled dispensing through the pump system.
2Reliability
If high surface tension carrier like water is used for microcapsules, then microcapsule stability is improved, but atomization efficiency deteriorates due to resistance to breaking into droplets
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier (water or oil) serves as a protective intermediary that maintains microcapsule stability during storage and dispensing. By suspending microcapsules in the carrier rather than exposing them directly to volatile solvent, the system preserves microcapsule integrity while the pump system handles the atomization process effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional high-pressure atomization mechanisms with a pump-based dispensing system that can effectively atomize carrier-microcapsule suspensions. The pump delivers controlled amounts of the suspension through a nozzle, achieving efficient atomization without damaging the microcapsules.
3Reliability
If separate reservoirs with different pump strokes are used, then controlled dispensing and minimized microcapsule contact is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate pump mechanisms with different strokes are merged into a single common actuator assembly. The actuator simultaneously drives both pumps through different stroke ranges, enabling independent control of solvent and microcapsule dispensing while sharing a common actuation mechanism, thus reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator assembly is designed with dynamic stroke adjustment capability, allowing it to drive the first pump through a first stroke and the second pump through a second stroke that is different from the first stroke. This dynamic operation enables precise control over the dispensing amounts of each component.
4Ease of operation
If common actuator drives both pumps with different strokes, then unified actuation is achieved, but actuation force requirements vary between pumps
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator assembly combines the driving functions for both pumps into a single unified mechanism. This merging allows the consumer to operate both pumps with a single action, improving ease of operation while the internal mechanism handles the different force requirements of each pump.
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 provides a longer-lasting fragrance experience by minimizing microcapsule damage and ensuring efficient atomization, maintaining a consistent spray pattern and reducing the risk of clogging, while allowing consumers to perceive a familiar actuation force similar to single-pump products.
Implementation Method 1
the difference between the first stroke and the second stroke is accommodated through flexure of the flexing member
Implementation Method 2
a first pump and a first composition; a second reservoir, the second reservoir comprising a second pump and a second composition
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser for applying at least two compositions, the dispenser including at least two reservoirs for storing the at least two compositions separately, at least two pumps for pumping the at least two compositions, which pumps have different strokes, an exit orifice, and an actuator assembly. The difference between the first stroke and the second stroke is accommodated through flexure of a flexing member in the actuator assembly. The first composition includes microcapsules and the second composition includes a volatile solvent.