Liquid Dispensing Nozzle Drip Capture With a Movable Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensing apparatuses suffer from liquid product dripping between dispensing cycles, leading to soiling and malfunctioning of components, waste of product, and the need for frequent cleaning.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a movable tank containing a collection chamber and air outlets to capture and redirect residual liquid from nozzles during operation interruptions, using a control unit to manage the tank's position and air blow to clean the nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a dispensing unit with nozzles is used to dispense liquid product into containers, then the liquid product can be delivered to containers efficiently, but liquid product drips from the nozzles between dispensing cycles causing soiling and malfunctioning of components
Solution Approach 1:
A movable tank positioned between the nozzle and the container serves as an intermediary element. The tank receives residual liquid from the nozzle through an inlet communication and redirects it to the collection chamber, preventing direct dripping onto the conveyor and other components. This intermediary structure intercepts and redirects the harmful liquid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The residual liquid that would otherwise be waste and cause soiling is redirected into the collection chamber of the movable tank. This converts the harmful dripping into a recoverable resource, allowing the liquid to be collected and potentially reused, thereby eliminating waste and reducing cleaning frequency.
2Productivity
If the apparatus operates continuously to maintain productivity, then liquid product is dispensed without interruption, but residual liquid accumulates in nozzles causing dripping during interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tank is positioned and ready before an interruption occurs. When the apparatus stops, the tank immediately captures residual liquid from the nozzle through its inlet communication, preventing dripping during the interruption period. This preliminary positioning ensures reliability is maintained even when continuous operation stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable tank acts as a buffer between the nozzle and the environment during interruptions. It receives residual liquid when the dispensing unit stops and maintains the cleanliness of surrounding components, thereby preserving apparatus reliability during stopped periods without affecting continuous productivity during operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If frequent cleaning interventions are performed to maintain apparatus cleanliness, then liquid product dripping is prevented, but productivity is reduced and liquid product is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tank converts the harmful residual liquid that would require frequent cleaning into a recoverable resource. By redirecting this liquid to the collection chamber, the system eliminates waste and reduces cleaning frequency, thereby maintaining productivity while preserving cleanliness without interrupting production.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable tank provides self-service by automatically capturing and redirecting residual liquid during operation interruptions. This eliminates the need for manual cleaning interventions, allowing the apparatus to maintain cleanliness autonomously and continue production without productivity loss.
4Productivity
If the nozzle remains in position for continuous dispensing, then productivity is maintained, but residual liquid accumulates and drips during unexpected stops
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tank positioned between the nozzle and the container acts as an intermediary that receives residual liquid from the nozzle. Even when the nozzle remains in position for continuous dispensing, any residual liquid is captured by the tank through its inlet communication, preventing accumulation and dripping while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable tank extracts residual liquid from the nozzle area and redirects it to the collection chamber. This extraction function removes the harmful residual liquid that would otherwise accumulate during continuous operation, preventing dripping without interrupting the dispensing process.
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
Prevents liquid dripping, maintains apparatus cleanliness, reduces maintenance, and recovers residual product for reuse.
Implementation Method 1
a system comprising one or more air outlets (66) for dispensing a blow of air against said one or more nozzles (42) received within said inlet mouths (64)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for dispensing a liquid product into containers includes a conveyor for conveying a plurality of containers through a filling station; a dispensing unit set in the filling station and including one or more nozzles and a system for pumping the liquid product to said one or more nozzles for dispensing the liquid product into the containers that follow one another in the filling station; a tank including a collection chamber and at least one inlet mouth in communication with the collection chamber, the tank being mobile between a resting position and a working position in which the at least one inlet mouth is set in a position underlying the one or more nozzles; and a control unit configured for controlling movement of the tank from the resting position (P1) to the working position, and vice versa.