Piercing Nozzle Structure for Tie Clip Retention and Clear Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices for viscous materials face issues such as worker injuries from using sharp tools to remove tie clips and obstruction of material flow due to lodged thin film material or metal clips, especially with high viscosity products.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle with piercing projections that pierce the collapsible tube and a retention shelf to maintain unobstructed flow, along with a design that allows flexible angular positioning for consistent bead application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If piercing features are added to eliminate sharp tools, then worker safety is improved, but material flow obstruction occurs due to lodged thin film material or metal clips
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle interior surface is segmented into multiple functional zones: piercing features for safety, retention shelves for capturing debris, and smooth flow channels for material passage. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interfering with others, resolving the contradiction between safety and flow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Retention shelves act as intermediary structures between the piercing features and the material flow path. These shelves capture and hold the thin film material and metal clips that are dislodged during piercing, preventing them from obstructing the material flow while maintaining the safety benefits of the piercing features.
2Ease of manufacture
If piercing features are used to open the tube, then the need for sharp tools is eliminated, but thin film material and metal clips become lodged in the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The retention shelves are pre-configured in the nozzle structure to anticipate and capture debris before it can obstruct the flow path. This preliminary action of debris capture prevents the worsening effect while maintaining the ease of use provided by the piercing features.
3Productivity
If the nozzle outlet end is made sufficiently large, then material flow is improved, but metal tie clips may pass through into the end product
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle exhibits local quality variations: the outlet end has a larger opening for improved flow, while the retention shelves create localized capture zones for metal clips. This allows the nozzle to simultaneously achieve high productivity through the large outlet and high reliability through the localized debris capture mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a nozzle having a piercing projection for safe and efficient release of viscous material from a collapsible tube sealed at a front end and a rear end by tie clips when housed within a dispensing tool. The piercing projection extends from the nozzle interior surface. The piercing projection is arranged to pierce the front end of the collapsible tube along a tear line to form a flap of the collapsible tube to which the front end tie clip remains attached. An upstanding wall extends from the nozzle interior surface to define a retention shelf between the upstanding wall and the nozzle interior surface. The retention shelf is configured to receive and retain therein the flap and the front end tie clip during dispensing to enable unobstructed flow of the viscous material through the dispensing end opening.