Lever-Compressed Hose Dispenser for Precise Liquid Portioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices for liquid foodstuff products are unable to consistently dispense precise quantities due to variable compressibility of the hose member, which also requires thick walls to withstand compressions, making them cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing device with a hose member of elastic material that is compressible and features a check valve to prevent backflow and a discharge valve for controlled dispensing, supported by a pressure means that allows for precise volume reduction, enabling consistent dispensing of predefined quantities with thin walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hose member is made thick-walled to withstand rapid compressions, then its strength and durability are improved, but its compressibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin-walled hose member (4) that is sufficiently flexible to be easily compressed by hand. The hose member has thin walls that allow for easy compression while maintaining sufficient strength through the support structure. This resolves the contradiction by using thin-film construction that achieves both flexibility and adequate strength when combined with proper structural support.
2Ease of operation
If the hose member is made thin-walled to ease compression, then its ease of operation is improved, but its strength and ability to withstand compressions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tube member (8) as an intermediary structure that provides external support to the thin-walled hose member (4). The tube member acts as a mediator that enables the hose to be thin-walled and easy to compress while the tube provides the necessary structural strength to withstand repeated compressions without damaging the hose.
3Device complexity
If manual compression of the hose member is used for dispensing, then device complexity is reduced, but dispensing precision and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely manual mechanical compression system with a pump mechanism (6) that mechanically dispenses the liquid product. The pump mechanism provides controlled, precise dispensing through mechanical action while maintaining relatively simple device complexity. This substitution achieves both precision and simplicity by using a dedicated pumping mechanism rather than relying on variable manual compression.
4Productivity
If the hose member is compressed to dispense product, then productivity is improved through rapid dispensing, but product backflow into the container increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a check valve (5) that is pre-positioned in the system to automatically prevent backflow. The check valve is arranged to close automatically when the pump mechanism compresses the hose member, preventing product from flowing back into the container before dispensing is complete. This preliminary protective measure eliminates backflow losses while maintaining rapid dispensing capability.
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 consistent dispensing of liquid foodstuff products with reduced compressive force requirements, ensuring accurate dosing and minimizing product wastage while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the hose member 4 is compressible so as to dispense the product 2 therefrom, and it can regain its original shape when the compressing stops
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a portioning device for portioning out a liquid foodstuff product (2) from a container (3), wherein a hose member (4) of elastic and resilient material is connectable with the container such that product can be made to flow from the container into the hose member. The hose member is compressible in order to portion out product (2) therefrom and it is designed so as to regain, by its own resilience, an original shape after compression thereof. A check valve (5) is arranged to close in order to prevent product, upon compressing the hose member, from flowing back from the hose member to the container, and a discharge valve (6) is arranged to open so as to allow portioning out of product from the hose member and to close when so done. The hose member is disposed in a tube member (8) or the like, and a pressure means (9) is arranged for compressing the hose member in order to portion out product therefrom. The tube member (8) has an oblong slot extending in a longitudinal direction along the tube member (8). The pressure means (9) is oblong, extends along the slot and is insertable therein in order to compress side portions (4a) of the tube member in the slot, and the pressure means (9) is pivotally mounted on the tube member (8) as a one-arm lever.