Granular Dispensing Channel Using Pneumatic Flow for Precise Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for depositing granular or powdered materials on ceramic tiles lack precision in controlling the amount and position of the material, and often require mechanical members that can damage the material and are cumbersome to use.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing device with a compact design that uses gravity and pneumatic or vibrating means to control the flow of material without mechanical shutters, allowing precise deposition and easy positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical shutters or closure means are used to control material flow, then the dispensing can be controlled, but the device complexity increases and mechanical members may damage the granular material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical shutters and closure means with a pneumatic system. Compressed air is introduced through a blow opening into the intermediate portion to fluidize and move the granular material toward the outlet opening. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact with the material, preventing damage while maintaining control over dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic means (compressed air) to control the flow of granular material. The air flow is directed through a blow opening into the intermediate portion, creating a pneumatic conveyor that transports the material to the outlet opening without mechanical contact, thus avoiding material damage while enabling precise control.
2Device complexity
If gravity-based dispensing is used, then the device is simple, but the precision of material deposition is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate portion as a mediator between the gravity-fed inlet and the outlet. This intermediate chamber allows compressed air to interact with the granular material, fluidizing it and enabling precise control over when and how the material is dispensed, thereby improving deposition precision while maintaining overall device simplicity.
3Productivity
If multiple dispensing devices are used to increase productivity, then the decoration speed increases, but the device weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements into a single integrated device. The dispensing device includes an inlet portion, intermediate portion, outlet portion, and pneumatic system all in one compact unit. This merging allows multiple such devices to be closely spaced and used in parallel for high-speed decoration without each device adding excessive weight or size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a compact, flattened geometry for the dispensing device with elongated quadrangular inlet and outlet openings. This dimensional optimization allows devices to be arranged side by side in a compact configuration, enabling parallel operation for increased productivity while minimizing the weight and footprint of each individual device.
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
Enables precise and controlled dispensing of granular materials, facilitating high-speed decoration applications with reduced mechanical complexity and material damage.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate portion (23) is configured to enable the deposit and accumulation of a predetermined quantity of granular material coming from the inlet opening (21), i.e. to halt the flow of granular material from the inlet opening (21) towards the outlet opening (22)
Implementation Method 2
The pneumatic means (24, 25, 26) can be activated on command to send, inside the intermediate portion (23), an air flow such as to produce the outflow towards the outlet opening (22) of the granular material deposited and accumulated in the intermediate portion (23)
Implementation Method 3
the outlet opening (22) is positioned at the end of an outlet portion (22a) of the dispensing channel (20) which has a longitudinal axis (X) inclined so as to allow the granular material to flow by gravity through the outlet opening (22)
Implementation Method 4
The vibrating means can be activated simultaneously or independently of the pneumatic means to transmit controlled vibrations to the intermediate portion (23) such as to cause the granular material to flow towards the outlet opening (22)
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing device for dispensing a granular material, comprising a dispensing channel (20) provided with an inlet opening (21) and an outlet opening (22). The dispensing channel (20) comprises an intermediate portion (23), which connects the inlet (21) and outlet (22) openings and is provided with a longitudinal axis (Y); the intermediate portion (23) has a length (L) and a height (H), measured on a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis (Y), wherein the height (H) is measured perpendicular to the length (L). The intermediate portion (23) is configured to enable the deposit and accumulation of a predetermined quantity of granular material coming from the inlet opening (21); Motor means are provided which can be activated on command to cause the granular material to flow in advancement from the intermediate portion (23) towards the outlet opening (22).