Pigment Concentrate Dosing Container Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing pigment-containing products face challenges in reproducibility of color shades and efficiency, leading to high costs and waste due to inaccurate pigment quantity requests and settling issues during mixing.

Innovation Solution

The method involves producing a pigment concentrate in a dosing container with a pigment-free base material of higher density to prevent settling, allowing for precise mixing and addition to base materials using conventional mixing devices, eliminating the need for pre-filled base colors and ensuring complete mixing without residue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pigment concentrates are filled into individual dosing containers and mixed on site, then the processor can produce pigment-containing products according to color specifications, but the reproducibility of color shades deteriorates due to incomplete mixing and pigment settling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveon-site mixing capabilityVSAvoidcolor shade reproducibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pigment mixture is prepared in advance in a dosing container before being added to the base material. This preliminary mixing ensures that the pigment is uniformly distributed and completely mixed, eliminating the problem of incomplete mixing and pigment settling that occurs when mixing on-site. The dosing container is specifically designed to facilitate complete mixing of the pigment concentrate with the base material before application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the processor orders pigment-containing products based on estimated quantities, then production can be initiated, but material loss increases due to either insufficient quantity (requiring reordering and remixing) or excessive quantity (resulting in waste)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidpigment waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing container provides precise measurement feedback on the exact amount of pigment-containing product that can be produced with the available base material. This allows the processor to order the exact quantity needed, preventing both insufficient quantity (which would require reordering and remixing) and excessive quantity (which would result in waste). The feedback mechanism is achieved through the controlled dosing process that measures and dispenses precise amounts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The method changes the parameter of pigment concentration by using a dosing container that precisely controls the amount of pigment concentrate added to the base material. This parameter control ensures that the correct quantity of pigment-containing product is produced, eliminating material loss due to overproduction or the need for remixing after reordering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If basic paints or base colors are filled into dosing containers, then pigment mixing can be simplified, but the ability to produce custom color shades deteriorates due to limitations in pigment mixture flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepigment mixing simplicityVSAvoidcustom color shade production
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing container is designed to receive and mix multiple different pigment-containing base materials separately before combining them. This segmentation allows for flexible creation of custom color shades by controlling the amount of each pigment type added, while maintaining ease of manufacture through the automated dosing and mixing process. The container can accommodate various pigment concentrates and base materials, providing both simplicity and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This approach ensures reliable and cost-effective production of consistent color shades by preventing pigment settling and ensuring complete mixing, reducing waste and time losses associated with incorrect pigment quantities.

Implementation Method 1

the pigment-free base material in the process according to the invention has a greater density than the pigment-containing base materials, so that a heterogeneous mixture is formed when the dosing container is charged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity gradient: Density Gradient

Implementation Method 2

This can prevent the pigments from settling in the bottom area of the dosing container and no longer fully participating in the subsequent mixing process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSettling prevention: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentEP2119495B1Method for producing products containing pigments
Publication Date: 2011.07.13 SCHWENK PUTZTECHN

AI summary

Method for preparing pigment-containing product (preferably dyes, primers and polishes) comprises: adding a pigment concentrate, from a dosing container in a given quantity, to a base material; and mixing, where for preparing the pigment concentrate, a first pigment-containing raw material and a second pigment-containing raw material are filled in the dosing container and the two raw materials are mixed together in the container. Independent claims are included for: (1) a method for preparing a pigment concentrate comprising feeding the dosing container, in a first step, with a pigment-free raw material and with, in a second step, a pigment-containing raw material; and (2) the pigment concentrate prepared by the above method.