Rotating Valve Application Head for Accurate Droplet Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing droplet applying apparatuses, particularly those using non-return valves, struggle to achieve accurate and high-speed droplet application with minimal variation, and the structure of single switching valves complicates maintenance and air removal.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a column-shaped storage-side valve and discharge-side valve with through-holes that rotate to control the liquid passage, allowing for precise volume changes and independent operation, enabling accurate droplet discharge and facilitating easy maintenance by allowing both valves to communicate simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If non-return valves are used in a pump chamber, then the structure is simple, but accurate discharge amount (0.5% variation or less) and high processing speed (one shot per second or less) cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber is divided into multiple independent cavities (first cavity and second cavity), each with its own plunger and valve assembly. This segmentation allows simultaneous operation of multiple discharge cycles, achieving high processing speed while maintaining simple individual cavity structures that can deliver accurate discharge amounts.
Solution Approach 2:
The plungers perform reciprocating periodic motion to repeatedly fill and discharge liquid from each cavity. The periodic action of multiple cavities operating in sequence or parallel enables sustained high-speed discharge (one shot per second or less) while each individual periodic cycle maintains precise volume control for accurate discharge amount.
2Volume of moving object
If a single switching valve with concave groove and through-hole is used, then size is reduced, but maintenance and air removal become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into separate first and second valves, each with simple through-hole structures rather than complex integrated designs. This segmentation maintains compact overall size while making each individual valve easier to access, remove, and maintain separately, solving the maintenance difficulty problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The valves are designed to be extractable from the block, allowing them to be removed for maintenance and air removal operations. This extraction capability enables easy cleaning and air bubble removal from the liquid passage without disassembling the entire application head, maintaining small size while improving maintainability.
3Productivity
If multiple application heads are arranged for speed-up, then productivity increases, but the application heads become larger and thicker
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cavities and their associated plungers and valves are merged into a single integrated application head assembly. This combining of multiple functional units into one compact structure achieves high productivity (multiple droplets per second) while keeping the application head thin and compact, avoiding the need for separate large-headed units.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple cavities are arranged in a planar configuration within the block rather than stacking them vertically, which increases productivity through parallel operation while maintaining thin profile in the thickness direction. This dimensional arrangement enables speed-up without increasing application head thickness.
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 configuration achieves high accuracy in droplet application with minimal variation, enhances maintenance by allowing simultaneous washing of the liquid passage, and supports high-speed operation with improved processing capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a plunger sliding in a space in communication with an intermediate liquid passage that is a liquid passage between the storage-side valve and the discharge-side valve to change a volume of liquid in the intermediate liquid passage
Implementation Method 2
Each of the storage-side valve and the discharge-side valve has a column-shaped part, is provided with a through-hole penetrating between outer circumferential surfaces of the column-shaped part, and is rotatable at least within a predetermined angle range around a center axis of the column-shaped part
Data Source
AI summary
An application head includes a storage-side valve, a discharge-side valve and a plunger. The storage-side valve slides in a space in communication with an intermediate liquid passage between the storage-side valve and the discharge-side valve and changes the volume of liquid in the intermediate liquid passage. Each of the storage-side valve and the discharge-side valve has a column-shaped part, includes a through-hole penetrating between outer circumferential surfaces of the column-shaped part, and is rotatable at least within a predetermined angular range around a center axis of the column-shaped part. Each of the through-holes of the storage-side valve and the discharge-side valve communicates with liquid passages on both sides at a predetermined rotational position and does not communicate with the liquid passage on both sides at other rotational positions outside the angular range.