Liquid Dispensing Assembly With Return Purge for Colorant Waste Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing colorant dispensers for paint face the issue of waste due to purging, which is necessary to prevent nozzle blockage and mistints, but results in the unnecessary disposal of colorant.
Innovation Solution
An assembly with a controller-operated pump and valve system that allows for the purging of liquid colorant back into the container through multiple dispense openings, reducing waste by using the colorant for cleaning and incorporating features to detect air presence and liquid condition through flow resistance measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If purging is performed to clean the dispense opening, then the risk of nozzle blockage and mistints is reduced, but colorant is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
A purge valve is introduced as an intermediary component that provides a dedicated pathway for purging colorant back into the container. This separates the purging function from the main dispense opening, allowing cleaning to occur without wasting colorant through the dispense nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-cleaning by using the pump to actively purge colorant through the purge valve back into the container. This automated self-service mechanism ensures the dispense opening remains clean without requiring manual intervention or additional resources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dispense openings are used, then dispensing flexibility and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is segmented with multiple independently controllable outlets, each capable of being opened or closed separately. This allows selective dispensing through different openings based on requirements, providing flexibility without requiring completely separate valve systems for each outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve member performs multiple functions by controlling flow to multiple dispense openings and the purge valve through its internal passage structure. This multi-functional design consolidates what could be separate valve systems into one component, reducing overall complexity while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Assembly for dispensing a liquid, in particular a colorant for paint, comprising a container for holding a liquid, a pump, a valve, at least one dispense opening, and comprising or associated with a controller arranged to operate the pump and the valve to withdraw liquid from the container and to dispense liquid via the opening and to operate the pump and the valve to purge liquid from the pump to the container via the dispense opening.