Injection Cell for Accurate Fluid Dispensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems face challenges in achieving accurate and repeatable dispensing of fluid materials, particularly for high viscosity materials, due to issues with contamination, accuracy, temperature control, and the need for controlled environments, which are costly and impractical to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system with an injection cell that interconnects two reservoirs of fluid material, featuring a normally closed valve that opens during a compression cycle, allowing for precise volume dispensing using an air piston and motor-driven mechanisms, with temperature control options like water jackets or Peltier elements to maintain consistent fluid properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If positive displacement fillers are used for dispensing, then dispensing speed and accuracy are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of cleaning increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the dispensing function into separate components: a reservoir for fluid storage, a valve for controlled dispensing, and a nozzle for material delivery. This segmentation eliminates complex internal moving parts while maintaining dispensing accuracy through the controlled valve mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the piston and cylinder components from the fluid path, placing them outside the reservoir. This allows the internal reservoir to be simple and easy to clean, while the piston mechanism operates separately to provide controlled dispensing without contaminating the fluid storage area.
2Manufacturing precision
If volumetric dispensing apparatus are used, then dispensing accuracy is improved, but temperature control requirements increase system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operating parameters by using a normally closed valve that opens during compression cycles. This allows precise volumetric control through controlled opening timing and duration, eliminating the need for strict temperature control while maintaining dispensing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic control of the valve opening and closing during compression cycles to achieve accurate dispensing. The valve responds to real-time pressure changes rather than relying on static environmental conditions, providing adaptability without complex temperature control systems.
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 accurate and repeatable dispensing of fluid materials at a desired temperature without the need for a controlled ambient environment, ensuring uniform viscosity and density, thus maintaining consistent dispensing results over multiple cycles.
Implementation Method 1
during the compression cycle the injection cell may operate using an air piston and/or a motor-driven arrangement to displace a piston cylinder and a piston carried therein
Implementation Method 2
The reservoirs may be contained within a temperature control element, e.g., individually or collectively, for example, one or more water jackets or Peltier elements
Implementation Method 3
The reservoirs may be contained within a temperature control element, e.g., individually or collectively, for example, one or more water jackets or Peltier elements
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for the injection/dispensing of fluid material in a volumetrically accurate and repeatable manner via an injection cell that interconnects two reservoirs of the fluid material. The injection cell has a normally closed dispensing valve that is opened for dispensing of the fluid material during a compression cycle, and closed during a return cycle. Opening and closing of the dispensing valve is effected using either or both of pressurized air and/or a motorized linkage. During the compression cycle, independent longitudinal displacements of a piston cylinder and a piston within the injection cell act to first open the dispensing valve and subsequently eject fluid material within the piston cylinder via the opened dispensing valve. The piston cylinder and piston are returned to an initial state that facilitates reloading of the injection cell from the reservoirs and closes the dispensing valve during a return cycle.