Follower Plate Geometry for Viscous Material Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional follower plates leave residual adhesive in storage containers, resulting in waste when replacing empty containers with fresh ones, as they are inefficient in evacuating viscous materials like hot melt adhesives.
Innovation Solution
A follower plate with an annular outer body, a sealing element, and a material saving insert featuring radial slots and ribs, which forms a leak-proof seal and maximizes material removal by aligning an orifice with a pipe for efficient fluid communication, minimizing waste by holding residual material within the insert.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a conventional follower plate with a concave lower surface is used, then the adhesive can be forced to flow through the central aperture, but a portion of adhesive remains in the storage container resulting in waste
Solution Approach 1:
The follower plate is segmented into an annular outer body and a separate material saving insert that fits within a recess. This segmentation allows the insert to be optimized specifically for material evacuation while the outer body provides structural support and sealing, resolving the contradiction between complete evacuation and waste prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The material saving insert introduces localized structural features (radial slots and ribs) in a specific region of the follower plate. These features create channels that actively direct and evacuate residual adhesive toward the central aperture, addressing the local problem of material remaining in the container without compromising the overall plate function.
2Loss of substance
If the follower plate evacuates all adhesive from the storage container, then waste is minimized, but the structural integrity and sealing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the follower plate into an outer body and an inner material saving insert, the design allows each component to be optimized for its specific function. The outer body maintains sealing reliability while the insert maximizes material evacuation, resolving the contradiction between complete evacuation and sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The material saving insert is nested within the annular outer body, fitting into a recess in the follower plate. This nesting arrangement allows the insert to perform its evacuation function while being contained within and supported by the structurally sound outer body, maintaining both evacuation efficiency and sealing reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A follower plate and an apparatus that uses the follower plate to force a viscous material to flow from a storage container. The follower plate includes a cylindrical outer body, a sealing element, and a material saving insert in which a plurality of ribs forms annular concentric slots having a length (L) that runs from the outer edge of the insert to an inner hub. Each slot further exhibits a width (w) that remains substantially the same along its length (L). Each slot further comprises a depth that is variable and tapers along its length (L), such that the depth of the slot approximate to the outer edge (d0) is less than the depth of the slot approximate to the inner hub (di). The width and depth of the slots are configured so that any viscous material that has not been dispensed from the storage container resides within the slots.