Resilient One-Piece Pump for Collapsible Container Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable pumps are not suitable for collapsible containers, requiring external forces to return to a filled state and are often expensive with multiple components, making them inefficient for use with semi-rigid collapsible containers and prone to leakage.
Innovation Solution
A disposable dispensing system utilizing a one-piece pump with a resilient design, comprising a housing and a regulator, where the resiliency of the plastic material allows the pump to automatically return to its original shape and create negative pressure for refilling, overcoming the negative pressure in collapsible containers without external forces and minimizing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a disposable pump is designed to work with collapsible containers, then the pump can efficiently dispense liquid and contract the container, but the pump requires complex multi-component construction with external forces to return to filled state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump body, pressure chamber, and return mechanism into a single integrated disposable unit. The pump housing forms the pressure chamber, and the regulator assembly is integrated within, eliminating the need for separate external forcing mechanisms. This merging allows the pump to automatically return to its filled state through the resilient regulator without requiring additional components or external forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is designed to automatically return to its filled state through the resilient regulator mechanism that self-activates when liquid is dispensed. The regulator's elasticity provides the return force without external intervention, and the suction force automatically draws liquid from the collapsible container back into the pressure chamber, making the system self-servicing throughout the dispensing cycle.
2Reliability
If a disposable pump uses multiple components to achieve pumping function, then the pump can dispense liquid, but it increases manufacturing cost and complicates recycling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple pumping functions into a single molded housing that forms the pressure chamber, contains the regulator assembly, and provides structural support. This single-component design reduces manufacturing steps, eliminates assembly operations, and lowers costs while maintaining reliable pumping function through the integrated suction and delivery valve mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the pressure chamber for liquid storage, provides structural support for the regulator assembly, creates the suction force through pressure differential, and serves as the dispensing outlet structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining reliable pumping operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a disposable pump is designed with simple construction, then it is cost-effective and easy to recycle, but it may be prone to leakage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator component is made of resilient material that forms flexible sealing elements within the pump housing. This flexible regulator assembly creates reliable seals between the pressure chamber and the external environment, preventing leakage and contamination while maintaining a simple overall construction that is easy to manufacture and recycle as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is designed as a disposable single-use component that is inexpensive to manufacture through simple molding processes. The entire assembly, including housing and regulator, can be produced as one piece or easily assembled from minimal parts, making it economically viable to discard after a single use rather than attempting to clean, sterilize, and reuse.
4Ease of operation
If the pump uses resilient plastic material for automatic return, then it eliminates external forces, but the material must withstand negative pressure in collapsible containers
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator is designed with specific dimensional parameters and material properties that allow it to withstand the negative pressure generated by collapsible containers. By optimizing the thickness, shape, and elastic modulus of the resilient material, the regulator can flex to provide return force while maintaining structural integrity against the opposing negative pressure from the collapsing container walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient regulator acts as an internal counterforce mechanism that opposes the negative pressure from the collapsible container. As the container collapses and creates negative pressure, the regulator's elasticity provides an equal and opposite force to maintain the pressure differential needed for liquid suction, effectively counterbalancing the container's collapsing force.
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 system efficiently dispenses liquids from semi-rigid collapsible containers, is cost-effective with fewer components, and ensures easy recycling as a single unit, while maintaining a sealed condition to prevent leakage and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
the resiliency of the plastic material allows the pump to automatically return to its original shape and create negative pressure for refilling
Implementation Method 2
The liquid leaving the chamber creates a negative pressure in the fluid chamber, which negative pressure functions to draw new liquid from the container into the pressure chamber
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The present invention relates to a disposable dispensing system comprising - a collapsible container (400) for liquid material and - a pump (1) being sealingly connected to the collapsible container (400) for withdrawal of liquid material from the container (400) during collapse thereof, - the pump (1) comprising - a housing (400) forming a chamber (110) and a dispensing opening (120), wherein the pressure in the chamber (110) may be varied for pumping liquid from the container (400) to the chamber (110), and further from the chamber (110) to a dispensing opening (120), - and a regulator (200) being fixedly arranged in the chamber (110) for regulating a flow of liquid between the container (400) and the chamber (110), and between the chamber (110) and the dispensing opening (120), - wherein the pump (1) may assume a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container (400) to the chamber (110) by means of a negative pressure created in the chamber (110), - and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber (110) to the dispensing opening (120). The dispensing system is characterized by the pump (1) consisting of plastic materials; and the pump (1) comprising - return means automatically returning the pump (1) from said dispensing position to said closed position, whereby the return means uses the resiliency of said plastic material for overcoming a negative pressure created in the collapsible container (400) during emptying thereof.