Polypropylene Plastic Spring for Linear Cosmetic Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic springs used in dispensing apparatuses are not optimal for easy operation, long service life, and exhibit undesired fatigue, hysteresis, and non-linear spring characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A plastic spring with a modulus of elasticity less than 1500 MPa, designed to be reversibly compressible by at least 10%, and configured to minimize characteristic values K1 and K2, made from a material mixture with polypropylene as the basic component and additional components like polyethylene or ethylene-octene copolymers, ensuring linear force-displacement diagrams and fatigue resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal springs are used in dispensing apparatuses, then good spring properties and long service life are achieved, but the apparatus becomes more complex and difficult to recycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic with a specifically controlled modulus of elasticity (less than 1500 MPa), transforming the spring into a reversibly compressible plastic component that maintains functional performance while improving recyclability and simplifying the apparatus construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite plastic materials with specific mechanical properties, combining polymers with elastic modulus below 1500 MPa to create a plastic spring that mimics metal spring behavior while enabling integration with other plastic components for simplified manufacturing and recycling
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional plastic springs are used, then recycling and cost-effectiveness are improved, but fatigue resistance and spring linearity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the elastic modulus parameter of the plastic material (less than 1500 MPa) and the compressibility parameter (at least 10% reversible compression), creating a plastic spring that achieves both recyclability and fatigue resistance by operating within optimal parameter ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific local properties of the plastic spring including the elastic modulus distribution and compressibility characteristics in different regions, ensuring uniform stress distribution and hysteresis-free operation while maintaining overall recyclability
3Stability of the object's composition
If plastic springs with high elastic modulus are used, then structural stability is improved, but reversibility and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and controls the critical parameter of elastic modulus (less than 1500 MPa) to achieve the optimal balance between structural stability and reversibility, allowing the spring to maintain its shape while enabling easy compression and recovery for user-friendly operation
4Ease of manufacture
If plastic springs are used instead of metal springs, then cost and recyclability are improved, but hysteresis and non-linear spring characteristics increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the plastic material's elastic modulus and compressibility parameters to minimize hysteresis and achieve linear spring characteristics, ensuring predictable force-displacement behavior that matches or exceeds metal spring performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness and recyclability
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 provides a spring with good spring properties, ease of operation, high fatigue resistance, and hysteresis-free performance, enabling a simple, cost-effective, and recyclable dispensing apparatus with a long service life.
Implementation Method 1
the spring is preferably reversibly compressible by at least 10% and/or the modulus of elasticity of the plastic is less than 1500 MPa
Data Source
AI summary
A spring made of plastic, a dispensing apparatus provided therewith for in particular cosmetic products and the use of such a spring are proposed, wherein the spring is made of a material mixture with propylene and has special characteristic values for achieving good spring properties.