Needle Penetration and Atmosphere Control for Liquid Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquids in containers degrade when exposed to ambient environments during dispensing or storage due to oxidation and chemical reactions, and existing solutions fail to effectively prevent this degradation while maintaining the quality of the liquid.

Innovation Solution

A liquid dispensing device that includes a needle for penetrating containers without tearing and a motion control system to rotate the needle, along with a system for controlling atmospheric and thermal conditions within the container, which prevents exposure to ambient environments and maintains the quality of the liquid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a needle penetrates the container to dispense liquid, then liquid dispensing is enabled, but the container may be torn and liquid quality degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid dispensingVSAvoidcontainer integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is vibrated in the axial direction during penetration to prevent tearing of the container. The vibration reduces friction and allows smooth passage through the container wall, enabling liquid dispensing while maintaining container integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The needle transitions from a static to a dynamic state by introducing axial vibration during penetration. This dynamic motion allows the needle to penetrate the container without causing damage, resolving the contradiction between enabling dispensing and maintaining container integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the needle penetrates the container, then liquid can be dispensed, but oxidation and chemical reactions occur degrading liquid quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid dispensingVSAvoidoxidation and chemical reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An inert atmosphere is maintained within the container to prevent oxidation and chemical reactions. By displacing ambient air with inert gas, the liquid remains protected from harmful chemical reactions even during the penetration and dispensing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The inert atmosphere acts as an intermediary barrier between the liquid and ambient air. This intermediate environment allows liquid dispensing to occur while preventing direct contact between the liquid and oxygen-containing air that would cause oxidation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the needle rotates during penetration, then container tearing is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer integrityVSAvoidmotion control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotation, axial vibration is applied to the needle during penetration. This simpler vibrational motion achieves the same effect of preventing container tearing while requiring less complex motion control compared to rotational mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The approach is inverted from rotating the needle to vibrating it axially. This alternative motion mode achieves container integrity protection while reducing the complexity of the motion control system required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10899593B2Liquid dispensing device

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 C&A IP HLDG LLC

AI summary

A liquid dispensing device includes a needle. The needle is adapted to penetrate a container without tearing out a portion of the container. The portion of the container is near a point of penetration on the container. The liquid dispensing device includes a motion control system. The motion control system is configured to rotate the needle while the needle penetrates the container.