Rotatable Pinch Valve Insert for Tool-Free Tube Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pinch valves in liquid dispensers require disassembly for cleaning, leading to downtime, are prone to damage, and complicate the replacement of dispensing tubes, resulting in inefficiencies and potential customer wait times.

Innovation Solution

A pinch valve design featuring a holder and rotatable insert that defines a passageway for the dispensing tube, allowing for easy rotation, removal, and insertion without tools, reducing the risk of damage and simplifying maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the pinch valve assembly is taken apart for cleaning using tools to remove fasteners, then cleaning can be performed, but time is lost, tools are required, training is needed, and fasteners must be tracked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pinch valve is divided into a holder and a removable insert component. The insert can be easily separated from the holder without tools, allowing the tube to be accessed for cleaning while minimizing disassembly and downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the pinch valve is designed with a removable insert that rotates, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetube replacement easeVSAvoidvalve structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is designed to rotate within the holder, transforming the static valve structure into a dynamic one. This rotation mechanism allows the tube to be easily replaced by rotating the insert to different positions, improving ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10228071B2Pinch valve for dispensing liquid

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 A C DISPENSING EQUIP

AI summary

A pinch valve has an insert housed in a holder. The insert and the holder are shaped to receive a dispensing tube and the insert can rotate within the holder and around the dispensing tube. The insert can be rotated to have the pinch valve in a release configuration where the insert can be moved downward and out of the holder to allow for cleaning of the insert and holder.