Nutating Pump Assembly With Air Venting for Low-Waste Micro-Dosing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently and efficiently dispensing micro-ingredients, particularly in addressing the challenges of managing product loss and waste associated with highly concentrated micro-ingredients in beverage dispensers, including priming requirements and evacuation difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A nutating pump assembly with an air vent chamber and agitation shelf is used to agitate micro-ingredients, ensuring efficient dispensing with minimal waste by providing accurate dosing and preventing product loss through the use of a stepper motor and low-level probes for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a peristaltic pump is used to infuse viscous fluids, then the pump can handle high viscosity fluids, but the pump generates excessive heat and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly divides the fluid handling system into separate functional components: a disposable pump head containing the rotor and stator that contacts the fluid, and a reusable motor housing. This segmentation allows the fluid-contacting components to be replaced frequently without replacing the entire pump, addressing the issue of heat generation and wear in viscous fluid pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump head with rotor and stator is designed as a disposable component that can be replaced after a single use or limited number of uses. This eliminates the need to replace the entire pump assembly when the fluid handling components wear out or overheat, reducing overall system cost and improving reliability for viscous fluid infusion.
2Measurement precision
If a peristaltic pump is used for precise infusion, then the pump can deliver accurate flow rates, but the pump is difficult to sterilize and prone to bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is segmented into a sterile-disposable pump head and a non-sterile-reusable motor housing. The pump head can be sterilized independently or replaced with a pre-sterilized unit, while the motor housing remains outside the sterile field. This resolves the contradiction by allowing precise infusion control while eliminating sterilization challenges.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor housing is extracted from the sterile environment and separated from the pump head. This allows the fluid-contacting components to be sterilized or replaced without subjecting the entire pump assembly to sterilization processes, preventing bacterial growth while maintaining infusion precision.
3Volume of moving object
If a peristaltic pump with integrated motor is used, then the pump structure is compact, but the pump cannot be sterilized and requires complete replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into two main parts: a compact pump head with rotor and stator, and a motor housing. The pump head can be sterilized or replaced independently, while the motor housing provides structural support and houses the drive mechanism. This segmentation maintains compactness while enabling sterilization and selective replacement of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor housing serves multiple functions: providing structural support, housing the drive mechanism, and acting as a reusable component that doesn't require sterilization. The pump head serves as both the fluid handling component and the sterile barrier. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between compactness and sterilization capability.
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 enables efficient, accurate, and reliable dispensing of highly concentrated fluids with minimal waste, ensuring all product is utilized and reducing the need for priming, while maintaining product integrity and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a rotor (204) positioned within the stator (202). The rotor (204) is configured to rotate within the stator (202) to propel fluid along the lumen of the stator (202)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present application provides a nutating pump assembly for pumping a fluid. The nutating pump assembly may include a nutating pump and an air vent chamber assembly in fluid communication with the nutating pump.