Mixing and Dispensing Head for Additive Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current additive manufacturing technologies face challenges in efficiently mixing and dispensing viscous, reactive liquids to create precise additive structures, particularly in creating outsole components for footwear, due to limitations in controlling flow rates and achieving multi-scale features in a single pass.
Innovation Solution
A mixing and dispensing head system with a tapered mixing rod and chamber design, coupled with a motor for rotational and linear movement, and a controller for adjusting pump flow rates and mixing rod position, allows for precise deposition of mixed materials onto a substrate, enabling efficient creation of additive structures with variable flow rates and multi-scale features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional mixing and dispensing methods are used for viscous reactive liquids, then the system structure is simple, but the manufacturing precision and ability to create multi-scale features is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing rod is made movable along the central axis rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of the mixing chamber volume. This enables the system to adapt to varying flow rates and create multi-scale features with high precision while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing rod serves multiple functions: it mixes the viscous reactive liquids, defines the mixing chamber volume, and its position can be dynamically adjusted to accommodate different dispensing requirements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
2Productivity
If fixed mixing chamber volume is used, then the device structure is simple, but the productivity and ability to respond to changing flow rates is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber volume is made dynamically adjustable through the movable mixing rod, allowing real-time response to changing flow rates. This improves productivity by enabling continuous operation at optimal parameters without requiring complex multi-chamber systems.
3Productivity
If high flow rates are used for rapid deposition, then the productivity increases, but the manufacturing precision and surface quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The materials are thoroughly mixed in the adjustable-volume mixing chamber before dispensing, ensuring homogeneous mixture that flows smoothly at high rates. This preliminary mixing action enables high deposition rates while maintaining surface quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts the mixing chamber volume parameter to optimize mixing efficiency and material flow characteristics, enabling high flow rates to be maintained while preserving manufacturing precision through controlled mixing conditions.
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 enables precise and efficient deposition of mixed materials, allowing for the creation of smooth, multi-scale features in a single pass, improving the production speed and precision of additive structures, such as outsole components, by dynamically adjusting the interior volume of the mixing chamber in response to changing flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
the mixing rod rotates about the central axis to mix the one or more materials
Implementation Method 2
the linear position of the mixing rod may be continuously adjusted based on changes in velocity (or flow rate or amount of material pumped by) of the one or more pumps
Implementation Method 3
One or more pumps may pump the one or more materials for mixing into the mixing chamber
Implementation Method 4
A mixing and dispensing head system with a tapered mixing rod and chamber design allows for precise deposition of mixed materials onto a substrate
Data Source
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AI summary
Various methods and systems are provided for mixing and dispensing viscous materials for the creation of additive structures. As one example, during a mixing and dispensing operation with a mixing and dispensing head of a multi-dimensional printing apparatus, linear movement of a mixing rod positioned within a mixing chamber of the mixing and dispensing head, at least along a central axis of the mixing chamber, is adjusted based on an operating condition of the printing apparatus.