Two-Piece Plunger Re-Mixing Dispenser for Settled Liquids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double-tube dispensers for two-part liquids, such as epoxy glues, face issues with additives separating and settling over time, leading to inconsistent product quality and rendering the product unusable without manual remixing.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser design featuring a two-piece plunger system with a re-mixer piece and a top piece, allowing in-situ mixing within the tube, using a plunger rod to mix the components before use, ensuring consistent product quality by re-mixing settled additives within the tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional double-tube dispensers are used for storing two-part liquids, then the liquids can be stored separately, but additives separate and settle over time leading to inconsistent product quality
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger is divided into two separate pieces: a top piece that seals the tube opening and a re-mixer piece that contains mixing elements (such as a spiral ribbon or radial blades) positioned at the bottom of the tube. This segmentation allows the re-mixer piece to be inserted and removed independently, enabling in-situ mixing without contaminating the entire plunger assembly with settled additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The re-mixer piece is inserted into the tube before dispensing to perform preliminary mixing of the settled additives. This preliminary action restores uniform composition to the liquid components before they are dispensed, ensuring consistent product quality without requiring separate mixing operations.
2Reliability
If additives are allowed to settle during storage, then storage stability is improved, but the product becomes unusable without manual remixing
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service mixing where the user simply inserts the re-mixer piece into the tube and rotates it to mix the settled additives. The mixing action is performed directly within the storage tube, eliminating the need for separate mixing containers or complex mixing procedures. After mixing, the re-mixer piece is removed and the tube is ready for immediate dispensing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a two-piece plunger system with re-mixer piece is used, then in-situ mixing is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The re-mixer piece serves multiple functions: it acts as a mixing tool with spiral ribbon or radial blades, a sealing element when positioned against the tube opening, and a removable component that does not contaminate the plunger system. The top piece of the plunger can function both as a seal and as a handle for inserting and removing the re-mixer piece. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mixing tools and containers.
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
Enables consistent mixing and dispensing of multi-component liquids by re-mixing settled components within the tube, maintaining product usability and quality.
Implementation Method 1
The re-mixer piece is used to mix the components within the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A re-mixing dispenser for containing and dispensing a liquid. The dispenser may have one or more tubes, each containing a different liquid. At least one of the liquids may be re-mixed in situ, using a special two-piece plunger and plunger rod. A mixing piece of the two-piece plunger is moveable independently of a top piece and has blades that allow it to move through the liquid. A plunger rod is removably attached to the mixing piece and is operable to move the mixing piece up and down within the tube during mixing. The two plunger pieces are joined and moved as a single plunger during dispensing.