Fluid Dispenser Cam Track Actuation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers for cosmetic compositions lack a robust and ergonomic design that allows efficient and repeated use, particularly for delivering fluids to the human body surface, with limited effectiveness in actuating and refilling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser featuring a cylindrical outer body with a domed applicator surface, a rotatable actuator collar interacting with an axially mobile pump housing via a cam track and cam follower, which raises and lowers the pump housing and refill cartridge to actuate and refill the pump engine, ensuring efficient fluid delivery and refilling through a cam track and cam follower mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual pump mechanism is used in existing fluid dispensers, then the device can deliver cosmetic compositions, but the actuation and refilling mechanisms lack robustness and ergonomic efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing is designed to be axially mobile rather than fixed, allowing it to move dynamically between raised and lowered positions. This dynamic configuration enables the pump engine to be efficiently actuated by the rotatable collar while also facilitating automatic refilling from the refill cartridge, thereby improving both operational ease and mechanism robustness
Solution Approach 2:
The pump engine operates through periodic cycles of actuation and refilling. The rotatable collar provides periodic rotational input that raises and lowers the pump housing in cycles, with each cycle comprising an actuation phase (raising) and a refilling phase (lowering). This periodic action ensures consistent and reliable operation of the dispensing mechanism
2Productivity
If the pump housing is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the mechanism cannot be efficiently actuated or refilled
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing transitions from a fixed to a mobile configuration, moving axially between raised and lowered positions. This dynamic design enables efficient actuation of the pump engine through rotational input from the collar while also allowing automatic refilling from the cartridge, significantly improving fluid delivery efficiency despite increased structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile pump housing is nested within the dispenser body structure, with the refill cartridge positioned to accommodate the housing's axial movement. The cam track mechanism is integrated into the collar structure, creating a compact nested arrangement that enables complex motion without proportionally increasing overall device size
3Manufacturing precision
If a rotatable collar with cam track mechanism is implemented, then consistent fluid dispensing is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam track mechanism acts as an intermediary between the simple rotational input from the user and the complex axial motion required for pump actuation and refilling. This intermediary mechanism translates rotational motion into precise periodic axial displacement, ensuring consistent fluid dispensing while isolating the user from the complexity of the underlying mechanical system
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 robust and ergonomic delivery of cosmetic compositions, enabling efficient actuation and refilling, enhancing the structural integrity and ease of use by utilizing a cam track and cam follower system that ensures consistent fluid dispensing and refilling.
Implementation Method 1
the rotatable actuator collar and axially mobile pump housing, interacting by means of a cam track on one and a cam follower on the other, do so in a manner such that rotation of actuator collar in a first direction causes the raising of the pump housing
Implementation Method 2
the cam follower on the pump housing falling on rotation of the actuator collar in a second direction to a rest position and thereby lowering the pump housing and the refill cartridge
Data Source
AI summary
A robust and ergonomic fluid dispenser (1) suitable for dispensing cosmetic compositions and comprising a cylindrical outer body, an upper section having a domed applicator surface, a cylindrical lower section that forms a protective cover for a refill cartridge (13), a rotatable actuator collar (4), an axially mobile pump housing (6) carrying a pump engine inside, the rotatable actuator collar (4) and axially mobile pump housing (6) interacting by means of a cam track on one and a cam follower on the other, the pump housing (6) being reversibly attached to the refill cartridge (13), the cam follower (7) on the pump housing (6) rising on rotation of the actuator collar (4) in a first direction and thereby lifting the pump housing (6) and the refill cartridge (13) to a raised position and actuating the pump engine, the cam follower (7) on the pump housing (6) falling on rotation of the actuator collar (4) in a second direction to a rest position and thereby lowering the pump housing (6) and the refill cartridge (13).