Needle Assembly With Helical Ridges for Stable Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid applicators, such as tattoo devices, face challenges in effectively sealing fluid communication between the needle and the housing to prevent cross-contamination and ensure stable needle movement, particularly during the reciprocating motion of the needle.
Innovation Solution
A needle assembly with an elastic tubular member featuring helical ridges that provide both longitudinal and lateral biasing forces, ensuring the needle bundle moves smoothly between extended and retracted positions while maintaining a fluid seal within the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic biasing member is used to seal and bias the needles, then the needle can be biased axially and transversally, but the sealing effectiveness and stability during reciprocating motion may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic tubular member with helical ridges that acts as a flexible sealing element. This tubular member surrounds the needle bundle and provides both sealing and biasing functions through its elastic properties and helical ridge structure, eliminating the need for separate sealing members and simplifying the overall assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic tubular member with helical ridges performs multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the fluid communication path, provides axial biasing force to maintain needle contact, and offers lateral support. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components while improving sealing reliability.
2Productivity
If the needle is actuated to reciprocatively move between extended and retracted positions, then ink can be applied to skin, but fluid contamination may occur between the needle and housing
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic tubular member forms a flexible seal around the needle bundle, preventing fluid contamination while allowing the needle to reciprocate freely. The helical ridges on the tubular member enhance the sealing effect by providing lateral biasing force that maintains contact between the tubular member and the housing wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic tubular member with helical ridges acts as an intermediary element between the needle bundle and the housing. It mediates the interaction by providing a sealing interface that allows needle movement while preventing fluid leakage and contamination.
3Ease of operation
If the needle bundle moves reciprocally in the channel, then ink application is enabled, but stable needle movement and positioning may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic tubular member provides a flexible yet stabilizing environment for the needle bundle. It allows free reciprocating motion while maintaining stable positioning through the biasing force exerted by the helical ridges, ensuring consistent needle-to-skin contact during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic tubular member with helical ridges provides dynamic stabilization, adapting to the needle's reciprocating motion while maintaining constant lateral biasing force. This dynamic support ensures stable needle positioning throughout the motion cycle without restricting necessary movement.
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 effectively prevents fluid contamination and stabilizes needle movement, enhancing the hygiene and operational efficiency of tattoo devices by ensuring a secure seal and controlled needle operation.
Implementation Method 1
The tubular member comprises a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached the needle bundle to bias the needle bundle to move longitudinally towards the retracted position
Implementation Method 2
the elastic tubular member comprises a helical ridge extending on an external surface of the tubular member such that the helical ridge provides a biasing force that biases the needle bundle both longitudinally towards the retracted position and laterally towards a lateral side of the channel of the housing
Implementation Method 3
The first and second ends of the tubular member may be sealingly attached to the housing and the needle bundle to prevent fluid communication between the lower open end and the upper open end of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A needle assembly for a liquid applicator comprises a housing, a needle bundle, and an elastic tubular member. The housing comprises a longitudinal channel having upper and lower open ends. The needle bundle is movably mounted in the channel and configured to be driven by a driving shaft to reciprocatively move between a retracted position and an extended position. The tubular member comprises a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached the needle bundle to bias the needle bundle to move longitudinally towards the retracted position. The tubular member comprises a thicker first portion and a thinner second portion separated by a slanted boundary, which extends between the first and second ends in both the longitudinal direction and a lateral perimetral direction. The slanted boundary may be helical. The first portion may include a pair of symmetrically arranged slanted ridges.