Magnetic Drive Piston Dispenser for Viscous Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems for viscous materials on substrates, such as printed circuit boards, face inefficiencies due to the time required for the dispenser unit to lower and raise, particularly with auger-type dispensers, which contributes to the overall dispensing time and accuracy issues.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser system featuring a gantry system with a piston-driven dispenser unit, where a motor-controlled piston moves between pre-dispense and dispense positions within a chamber, blocking the delivery of viscous material to precisely eject a controlled volume through a nozzle, eliminating the need for z-axis movement during dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an auger-type dispenser is used to dispense viscous material, then the material can be dispensed with great accuracy, but the time required for z-axis movement (lowering and raising the dispenser unit) increases the overall dispensing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical auger-driven dispensing system with a magnetic field-based drive system. The magnetic drive mechanism eliminates the need for mechanical contact and z-axis movement, allowing the dispenser to maintain positioning while rapidly dispensing material through magnetic actuation of the piston, thus reducing cycle time while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic control of the piston through magnetic field modulation, allowing rapid reciprocating motion of the piston within the sealed chamber. This dynamic magnetic actuation enables fast material dispensing without the inertial limitations of mechanical z-axis movement, resolving the time-accuracy tradeoff
2Reliability
If the dispenser unit is lowered to wet the circuit board before dispensing, then material adhesion is improved, but the additional time required for wetting increases the dispensing operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic drive system performs preliminary positioning and sealing actions through magnetic field establishment before actual material dispensing begins. The piston is pre-positioned and the chamber is sealed magnetically, eliminating the need for separate wetting steps while ensuring proper material adhesion through controlled dispensing pressure and timing
3Productivity
If a piston-driven magnetic drive system is used to dispense material, then dispensing speed and precision are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the magnetic drive mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical transmission components (gears, belts, linkages) with a magnetic field-based drive system. The magnetic drive uses magnetic field interaction between the stator and rotor to directly actuate the piston, eliminating mechanical complexity while enabling high-speed, precision dispensing through electromagnetic control
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
This solution enhances dispensing efficiency by reducing the time required for material deposition and improving accuracy, allowing for precise and rapid dispensing of viscous materials without the need for z-axis movement, thereby optimizing the dispensing process.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic drive is disposed within the chamber and is configured to move the piston between the retracted position and the extended position
Data Source
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AI summary
A dispenser for dispensing a volume of viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, and a dispenser unit coupled to the gantry system. The dispenser unit includes a housing having a chamber, and a piston disposed in the chamber. The piston has an elongate body and is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a motor to drive the movement of the piston within the chamber. The motor includes a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel having at least one drive magnet, and a driven magnet disposed between wheel and the piston. The dispenser further includes a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice to dispense viscous material. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing are further disclosed.