Liquid Discharge Valve Coupling for Rapid Droplet Stroke
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid material discharge devices face challenges in rapidly moving valve elements to discharge multiple droplets efficiently, as the use of strong springs to follow actuator motion increases load on the actuator and limits the necessary movement distance due to the smaller displacement of piezoelectric actuators.
Innovation Solution
A liquid material discharge device with a coupling device that includes a pressing portion and a locking portion, allowing the valve stem to pivot and maintain contact with the arm, reducing the need for strong springs and enabling the valve element to follow rapid actuator motion without separating, thus securing the required stroke amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring with a larger spring constant is used to move the valve element back to the original position, then the valve element can follow the actuator motion, but the load on the actuator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the spring component from the system and replaces it with a coupling device that has a pressing portion. This pressing portion presses the contact portion of the valve stem against the arm, eliminating the need for a spring while maintaining the valve element's ability to follow actuator motion during rapid discharge operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device acts as an intermediary between the arm and the valve stem. The pressing portion of the coupling device mediates the contact between the arm and the contact portion of the valve stem, ensuring reliable force transmission without requiring a strong spring or increasing actuator load.
2Reliability
If a spring with a larger spring constant is used to move the valve element rapidly, then the valve element can follow the actuator motion, but the distance for valve element movement is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the spring component and replacing it with the coupling device's pressing portion, the system eliminates the constraint that limited valve element movement distance. The pressing portion maintains contact during rapid motion without the displacement limitations imposed by strong springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device enables dynamic adaptation during valve element motion. The pressing portion maintains contact between the arm and valve stem while allowing the necessary stroke amount, adapting to the rapid motions required for high-speed droplet discharge without the rigid constraints of a strong spring.
3Productivity
If the valve element is moved rapidly to discharge multiple droplets in a short time, then discharge efficiency is improved, but separation and collision between the actuator and valve element occur
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device serves as a reliable intermediary that maintains continuous contact between the arm and valve stem during rapid discharge operations. The pressing portion ensures force transmission without separation or collision, enabling high-speed droplet discharge while maintaining operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional spring-based mechanical system with a coupling device that uses a pressing portion to maintain contact. This substitution eliminates the separation and collision problems that occur with rapid valve element motion, enabling higher discharge speeds without compromising reliability.
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 solution allows for efficient and rapid valve-element motion to follow actuator motion without increasing the load on the actuator, ensuring the necessary movement distance for discharge, even with piezoelectric actuators, thereby enhancing the discharge efficiency and reducing the risk of separation.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric actuator... yields a smaller amount of displacement as it generates greater force
Implementation Method 2
an elastic body that biases the plunger upward
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid material discharge device includes: a valve stem having a valve element provided at a tip portion, and a contact portion; a liquid chamber in which the valve element moves forward and backward; a nozzle communicating with the liquid chamber; a valve seat having a hole via which the liquid chamber and the nozzle communicate with each other; an arm that is in separable contact with the valve stem; and a valve driving device configured to move the valve element forward to and backward from the valve seat by causing the arm to pivot. The liquid material discharge device further includes a coupling device that couples the valve stem with the arm, wherein the coupling device includes a pressing portion that presses the contact portion against the arm.