Hinged Dispenser Shell for Deformable Tube Squeezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for dispensing materials from deformable tubes, such as adhesives, face challenges in regulating flow, leading to messiness and waste, especially with higher viscosity adhesives getting trapped at the bottom of the tube, and are often complex and costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a shell with two hinged shell pieces that surround a deformable tube, featuring press portions with grooves and hinges to systematically squeeze the tube from bottom to top, ensuring complete dispensing of contents while being easy to manufacture and assemble, and compatible with tubes containing internal stiffeners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple parts and complex structures are used to control delivery from deformable tubes, then dispensing control is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two functional shell pieces that can be assembled around the deformable tube. Each shell piece has a press portion with specific pressing features, allowing the complex dispensing control function to be distributed across simpler modular components that are easier to manufacture and assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell pieces are designed with pressing features that can accommodate both tubes with and without internal stiffeners. The press portions can systematically squeeze the tube from bottom to top, providing universal dispensing control for different tube types and viscosity materials through a single device design.
2Stability of the object's composition
If internal stiffeners are placed in the tube to help rebound, then tube wall rebound is improved, but higher viscosity adhesives remain trapped at the bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The press portions are designed to systematically squeeze the tube from the bottom upward before the tube can rebound. This preliminary bottom-to-top pressing action ensures that higher viscosity adhesives are completely expelled from the bottom of the tube before any rebound occurrence, preventing material trapping while still allowing the stiffener to provide rebound control.
3Ease of manufacture
If users squeeze the tube manually, then simplicity is maintained, but adhesive flow regulation is difficult and messiness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shell pieces act as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the deformable tube. The press portions with grooves and pressing features provide a structured interface that guides and regulates the squeezing force, transforming simple manual pressure into controlled adhesive flow while maintaining ease of use.
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 device provides precise and efficient dispensing of both low and high viscosity materials with minimal waste, is cost-effective, and easy to assemble, addressing the complexity and wastage issues of existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge located in the bottom portion connecting the press portion to the shell piece
Implementation Method 2
The inner surfaces of the press portions have pressing features configured to squeeze a deformable tube from the bottom of the tube to the top of the tube
Implementation Method 3
Each shell piece comprises a press portion having a groove surrounding the press portion
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Devices for dispensing material from a deformable tube comprise a shell having a top portion and a bottom portion. The shell comprises two shell pieces, the shell defining a compartment adapted for receiving a deformable tube and having an aperture in its top portion. Each shell piece comprises a press portion having a groove surrounding the press portion and a hinge located in the bottom portion connecting the press portion to the shell piece. The inner surfaces of the press portions have pressing features configured to squeeze a deformable tube from the bottom of the tube to the top of the tube.