Rotating Impregnation Chamber With Marker-Guided Spray Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impregnation devices for small wearable items, such as shoes, waste substantial amounts of impregnating agent and extend drying time due to excessive use, leading to inefficiency and prolonged treatment cycles.
Innovation Solution
A treatment apparatus with a rotatable turntable and nozzles inside a closed chamber, using markers and scanners to control nozzle activation based on item position, allowing precise application of impregnating agent and reducing overlap, combined with a plateau for multi-tier treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a substantial quantity of impregnating agent is used to achieve sufficient treatment, then thorough impregnation is achieved, but impregnating agent is wasted and drying time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The turntable rotates during treatment to dynamically change the position of items relative to stationary nozzles, enabling uniform distribution of impregnating agent across all surfaces without requiring excessive amounts of agent. This dynamic positioning ensures thorough coverage while minimizing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanner detects markers on the turntable to provide feedback on item position, allowing the control unit to precisely control nozzle activation timing. This feedback mechanism ensures impregnating agent is applied only when needed and in the correct amount, preventing both waste and insufficient treatment.
2Reliability
If a substantial quantity of impregnating agent is used to achieve sufficient treatment, then thorough impregnation is achieved, but drying time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating turntable enables uniform distribution of impregnating agent in a controlled manner, preventing pooling or excessive application in any one area. This dynamic application method achieves thorough treatment with minimal agent, thereby reducing drying time without compromising impregnation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment process uses periodic activation of nozzles synchronized with turntable rotation, applying impregnating agent in controlled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action ensures adequate coverage while allowing evaporation between applications, reducing overall drying time.
3Area of stationary object
If the nozzle sprays impregnating agent continuously, then coverage is comprehensive, but agent waste increases and treatment precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms continuous spraying into controlled intermittent spraying by synchronizing nozzle activation with turntable position feedback. This dynamic control maintains comprehensive coverage by targeting all areas over time while achieving high precision in each application instance, eliminating both waste and imprecision.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker detection system provides real-time feedback on turntable position, enabling the control unit to activate nozzles at precise moments when items are in the optimal position. This feedback-controlled timing ensures agent is applied only where needed, achieving both comprehensive coverage and high application precision without waste.
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
Achieves efficient impregnation with reduced agent usage and shorter drying times, ensuring thorough treatment without leakage and minimizing mist interference.
Implementation Method 1
The nozzles (32, 32') are arranged inside the treatment chamber (12) directed for spraying a mist towards the turntable (20)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention describes an apparatus as well as a method for applying a surface treatment such as impregnation agent or water repellency agent to an item in particular shoes, boots, bags, gloves or the like, where the apparatus comprises a closed treatment chamber provided with an openable access feature providing access to the treatment chamber from outside the treatment chamber, and where in the vicinity of the bottom of the treatment chamber a turntable is provided said turntable has a flat surface in a x-y plane, and furthermore that the turntable is rotatable around an axis Z orthogonal to said x-y plane, and where one or more nozzles are arranged inside the treatment chamber directed for spraying a mist towards the turntable where said one or more nozzles is/are connected to a control unit, and where a plurality of markers are provided on the periphery of the turntable, and that inside the treatment chamber a scanner for register- ing the markers is provided where input from the scanner is used as input to the control unit, such that the one or more nozzles are activated to issue a mist of treatment according to a preprogrammed sequence and/or count of markers registered by the scanner.