Fluid Dispenser With Contactless Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensing systems face challenges in achieving precise and accurate measurement and handling of fluid volumes, particularly with high viscosity and high vapor pressure liquids, due to limitations in piston displacement measurement and mechanical play, leading to inaccuracies and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The dispenser incorporates a piston actuator with a position determination device that includes a first position element rigidly arranged in the housing and a second position element coupled to the piston actuator, allowing for continuous position detection without mechanical or electrical contact, enabling precise recording and dispensing of fluid volumes by combining incremental path measurement with absolute position detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If incremental path measurement is used to determine piston displacement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates because the absolute position cannot be determined after power-on and reference points must be re-established
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines incremental path measurement means with means for determining the absolute travel position of the piston actuator. This merging allows the system to benefit from both the simplicity of incremental measurement and the accuracy of absolute position determination, eliminating the need to re-establish reference points after power-on while maintaining reduced device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a detector that serves as an intermediary to determine the absolute travel position of the piston actuator. This detector acts as a mediator between the incremental measurement system and the absolute position requirement, providing reference information without significantly increasing system complexity.
2Reliability
If mechanical contact is used for position detection, then the reliability of position detection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components and potential wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based position detection with a detector that determines absolute travel position without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates wear and mechanical failure modes while maintaining detection reliability, and the integrated design keeps complexity manageable.
3Device complexity
If the piston actuator position is not continuously tracked, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity deteriorates due to loss of time in re-establishing reference points after each power-on or interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous tracking of the piston actuator's absolute travel position using the detector. This continuity ensures that position information is always available without interruption or re-establishment, eliminating downtime after power-on or interruptions and maintaining high operational efficiency.
4Measurement precision
If absolute position determination is implemented, then the measurement precision is improved, but the use of energy increases due to additional sensors and continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The detector used for determining absolute travel position utilizes the existing magnetic field generated by the piston actuator's position sensor. This self-service approach allows the system to obtain absolute position information without requiring additional active sensors or energy-consuming components, maintaining low energy consumption while achieving high measurement precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a dispenser for receiving and dispensing fluid volumes, to which a piston-cylinder unit, designed as an interchangeable part and comprising a piston and a cylinder, can be detachably attached. The dispenser has a housing and a device for incremental displacement measurement, which is designed such that, during relative movement between the piston and the cylinder, the distance traveled by the piston relative to the dispenser housing can be incrementally determined. The dispenser has a piston actuator that can be detachably connected to the piston in such a way that the piston can be moved by means of the piston actuator to receive and/or dispense fluid volumes. The dispenser has a position determination device comprising a first position element and a second position element. The first position element is rigidly arranged in or on the dispenser housing. The second position element is movably coupled to the piston actuator.The positioning device is designed to detect the position of the second positioning element without mechanical or electrical contact between the first and second positioning elements. The invention also relates to a system for receiving and dispensing fluid volumes, comprising a piston-cylinder unit designed as an exchangeable part and a dispenser.