Liquid Dosing Device with Mechanical Stop for Eye Drop Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dosing devices for eye drops often result in jet formation when actuated, which is undesirable, and require high actuating force, posing challenges in achieving consistent drop dosage without air leakage.
Innovation Solution
A dosing system with a mechanical dosing stop mechanism using actuating blades and a slotted sleeve, anchored to a plastic bottle, that limits the actuating path to prevent jet formation and reduce actuating force, incorporating a conical round pin for air compression and a spring element for efficient dosage, and a protective cap for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the actuating path is extended to reduce actuating force, then the actuating force is reduced, but jet formation occurs and dosing consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical dosing stop mechanism that mediates between the actuating blades and the liquid intake. This intermediary component limits the actuating path to a precise extent, ensuring that the compression force is applied over a controlled distance. This prevents both jet formation (by limiting excessive compression) and ensures sufficient force transmission (by optimizing the compression path), thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing actuating force and maintaining dosing consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of actuating path length by introducing a mechanical dosing stop that defines a specific compression distance. By precisely controlling the actuating path parameter, the system achieves optimal balance between reducing actuating force and preventing jet formation. The dosing stop transforms the actuating path from an uncontrolled variable to a precisely defined parameter, ensuring consistent drop dosage while maintaining manageable actuating force.
2Manufacturing precision
If the actuating path is limited to prevent jet formation, then dosing consistency is improved, but actuating force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical dosing stop acts as an intermediary that optimizes force transmission. Rather than directly limiting the actuating path in a way that increases force, the dosing stop mechanism efficiently transmits the applied force over a controlled distance, achieving precise dosing with minimal actuating force. The intermediary mechanism ensures that the limited actuating path does not result in force multiplication.
3Reliability
If the outlet valve is designed to discharge liquid without air entry, then airless operation is achieved, but valve complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air prevention function from a complex valve mechanism and implements it through a simple outlet valve design. The outlet valve is designed with a specific configuration that inherently prevents air entry during liquid discharge, separating the air prevention function from complex mechanical valve systems. This extraction approach achieves reliable airless operation while maintaining valve simplicity.
4Manufacturing precision
If actuating blades are used to compress the liquid intake, then dosing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compression function into two distinct components: actuating blades for applying compression force and a mechanical dosing stop for limiting compression distance. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the blades for force application and the dosing stop for precision control. By dividing the dosing mechanism into these functional segments, the system achieves high dosing precision while keeping each individual component simple and manageable.
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 system ensures a constant drop dosage without jet formation, reduces actuating force, and prevents unintentional actuation, while maintaining a simple construction and airless operation.
Implementation Method 1
an actuating path stop would be sufficient, i.e. stroke limitation for one drop size... an actuating blade, i.e. one of the actuating half-shells, which is anchored to the bottle in the form of the liquid intake and has an actuating path limiter
Implementation Method 2
a spring element for efficient dosage
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for dosing liquid from a liquid-receiving element (2), in which the liquid-receiving element (2) comprises an outlet valve (1), and a dosing system is available, said dosing system consisting of a first actuating wing (4) and a second actuating wing (5), which are arranged around the liquid-receiving element (2) and can be moved in relation to each other such that they compress the liquid-receiving element (2), a mechanical dosing stop being available.