Rotatable Valve Suction for Foamed Adhesive Cut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
The application of foamed adhesives in surface applications faces challenges due to material expansion, leading to improper cut-off and after-flow issues in existing devices, which hinder precise application and increase production costs.
Innovation Solution
A device with a rotatable valve member featuring a cylindrical rod with a slot-shaped passageway is used to suck back material from the discharge slot before flow interruption, preventing expansion-related issues and ensuring precise cut-off by establishing fluid communication and allowing for instant flow interruption without displacing fluid, combined with adjustable components for various substrate sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If foamed adhesive is used to reduce material costs, then material savings are achieved, but material expansion causes improper cut-off and after-flow issues
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs a preliminary suction action to remove foamed adhesive from the discharge slot before the valve closes. This preliminary action prevents the adhesive from expanding and causing improper cut-off or after-flow, while still allowing the benefits of using foamed adhesive for material savings.
2Productivity
If a closing element is used to interrupt the flow of foamed material, then flow interruption is achieved, but residual material expands and causes after-flow onto the application product
Solution Approach 1:
Before the closing element interrupts the flow, the device performs a preliminary suction action to remove residual foamed adhesive from the discharge slot. This prevents the residual material from expanding and causing after-flow onto the application product, maintaining application quality while enabling flow interruption.
3Ease of operation
If foamed material is forced through a slot-shaped discharge channel, then surface application is enabled, but material expansion hampers precise application
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs a preliminary suction action to remove foamed adhesive from the discharge slot before closing. This preliminary action eliminates the expansion problem that hampers precise application, while maintaining the ability to perform surface application through the slot-shaped discharge channel.
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
This solution enables improved material application with reduced waste and increased precision, enhancing the quality of products like bookbinding by ensuring proper material cut-off and efficient adhesive use, thereby reducing production costs and improving product durability.
Implementation Method 1
the material located in the discharge slot or channel between the discharge opening and the rotatable valve member is sucked back before the rotatable valve member interrupts the flow of material
Data Source
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AI summary
Device (1) for intermittently applying a liquid material, in particular foamed adhesive, onto a substrate, comprising housing (2) having an internal fluid chamber (6), a first movable member (4) being moveable between a first downstream position and a second upstream position, a slot nozzle (8) having a discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) and a discharge opening (12), and a rotatable valve member (14) being rotatable between a first position and a second position as well as a method (100) for intermittently applying a liquid material, in particular foamed adhesive, onto a substrate.