Rotating Disk Closure for Accurate Hygroscopic Powder Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metering and dispensing systems for powders and granular materials face issues with inconsistent feed rates, limited powder formulations, and inability to handle hygroscopic materials, leading to incomplete dispensing and safety concerns due to moisture ingress.
Innovation Solution
A metering and dispensing closure with a container cap member featuring rotatable disks that selectively open and close an aperture, ensuring accurate and consistent dispensing by sequencing the movement of the disks to prevent moisture ingress and allow for higher caustic concentrations in detergent powders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a water spray and screen approach is used for powder dispensing, then the system can handle a wide range of powder formulations, but the feed-rate becomes very inconsistent (varying over 3:1 range or more)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water spray mechanical system with a controlled rotational disk mechanism that uses gravity and mechanical rotation to meter powder discharge. The rotatable disk with controlled apertures provides precise volumetric measurement and consistent feed-rate, eliminating the 3:1 variation range inherent in spray/screen systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental operating parameters from water-based spray dispersion to dry mechanical rotation with controlled aperture opening/closing. This parameter change enables precise metering through rotational position control while maintaining versatility with various powder formulations through adjustable disk aperture configurations.
2Ease of manufacture
If spray/screen dispensing is used, then the system can operate with simple equipment, but it cannot handle powders that absorb water quickly and turn into gel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water spray mechanism with a dry mechanical rotation system. The rotatable disk with gravity-fed powder discharge eliminates water contact entirely, allowing hygroscopic and gel-forming powders to be dispensed without absorption issues while maintaining system simplicity through mechanical rather than chemical/dissolution-based operation.
3Device complexity
If spray/screen dispensing is used, then the system structure is simple, but the feed-rate variation requires complex concentration feedback control subsystems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the water spray system with a mechanically controlled rotatable disk that provides inherent volumetric measurement precision. The controlled aperture opening and closing through rotation eliminates the need for complex concentration feedback control subsystems, achieving repeatable dosing through pure mechanical metering while keeping the overall system structure relatively simple.
4Device complexity
If rotatable metering disk with stationary feed pieces is used, then the measuring mechanism is simple, but no internal stirring action occurs leaving powder in the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the metering function with an internal stirring/agitating function by incorporating stirring elements within the rotatable disk assembly or container. This combination ensures continuous internal stirring action that prevents powder settling and bridging, achieving complete powder dispensing while maintaining a relatively simple integrated measuring mechanism structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A metering and dispensing closure for a container wherein two rotatable disks rotate in conjunction with a stationary cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The disks and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure.