Removable Jetting Needle Assembly for Clean, Precise Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jetting dispenser systems lack easy access for cleaning and maintenance, often require disassembly, and suffer from accuracy and precision issues due to trapped air and inappropriate nozzle designs, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A jetting system with a fluid body and dispensing needle that allows for easy access and maintenance, featuring a removable valve seat and dispensing needle, along with a needle coating holder for improved sealing and precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional jetting dispenser designs are used, then the system structure is integrated and compact, but access to components for cleaning and maintenance is difficult requiring disassembly of multiple parts

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccess to components for cleaningVSAvoidSystem integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing needle is made separable from the fluid body, allowing the needle to be removed and cleaned independently without disassembling the entire jetting system. This segmentation enables easy access to the needle for cleaning while maintaining an integrated system structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dispensing needle is extracted as a removable component from the fluid body through a releasable connection mechanism. This allows the needle to be taken out for cleaning or replacement without affecting the rest of the system, improving maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional dispensing nozzles are used, then the system is simpler, but the nozzles do not fit into small or tight components limiting applications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveApplication rangeVSAvoidNeedle design

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing needle parameters (size, shape, configuration) can be varied to fit different application requirements including small or tight components. The needle can be customized with different outer diameters, lengths, and tip geometries to adapt to various substrate and component configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional jetting systems are used, then the system structure is simpler, but air becomes trapped decreasing accuracy and precision

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMaterial application accuracyVSAvoidSystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing needle is pre-filled with viscous material through the fluid body before use, ensuring that air is displaced and no air pockets remain in the dispensing path. This preliminary filling action guarantees accurate and precise material application from the first dispense.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If coatings are applied to dispensing components, then dispensing is facilitated, but undesirable droplets form reducing accuracy and precision

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDispensing efficiencyVSAvoidMaterial application accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is applied selectively to specific regions of the dispensing needle rather than the entire surface. By controlling the location and extent of the coating, the system maintains dispensing efficiency while preventing excessive coating that would cause droplet formation and reduce accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Facilitates efficient cleaning and maintenance, enhances accuracy and precision of material application, and reduces downtime and waste by allowing components to be replaced without disassembling the entire system.

Implementation Method 1

The electrically actuated jetting dispensers can, more specifically, use a piezoelectric actuator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

some dispensing components may receive coatings thereon to facilitate dispensing or jetting of the material, but such coatings often cause undesirable droplets to be formed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS12515228B2Jetting needle integration with fluid jetting valve and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 NORDSON CORP

AI summary

A fluid body for use with a jetting dispenser may include a fluid inlet for receiving the fluid from a source; a fluid outlet for discharging the fluid from the fluid body; a chamber defined between the fluid inlet and outlet and configured to receive the fluid therein; a valve seat in the chamber, the fluid outlet extending through the valve seat; a valve element for reciprocal movement within the chamber between a first position, in which the valve element contacts the valve seat, and a second position, in which the valve element is spaced from the valve seat; a dispensing needle separable from the fluid body and configured to receive the fluid from the fluid outlet; and a retaining nut configured to releasably secure the dispensing needle to the fluid body such that the dispensing needle contacts the fluid body adjacent the fluid outlet.