Slot Nozzle Alignment for Adhesive Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzle assemblies for dispensing viscous materials, such as hot melt adhesives, face issues with alignment and adjustment, leading to undesirable effects on the dispensed material and process, particularly in applications like disposable diaper production where precise control is crucial.
Innovation Solution
The design of a nozzle assembly with a first body and a second body, where the upper surface of the second body contacts the lip surface of the first body, maintaining alignment and contact with the housing while allowing for relative movement of the second body, ensuring consistent material discharge without misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the nozzle is adjusted to control material application parameters, then the desired dispensing control is achieved, but components of the nozzle shift with respect to other components causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle assembly is divided into multiple separable components including a first body, second body, and tip assembly that can be adjusted independently. This segmentation allows the material application parameters to be controlled through tip assembly adjustment while the main body components remain fixed and aligned, preventing misalignment issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle design incorporates adjustable elements that allow dynamic modification of material application parameters during operation. The tip assembly can be positioned at different distances from the second body, enabling control over material flow and application characteristics without requiring movement of the fixed, aligned main body components.
2Productivity
If the nozzle components are adjusted for material control, then dispensing parameters are optimized, but air can be trapped between components causing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle design incorporates features that prevent air trapping before material dispensing begins. The tip assembly and second body are configured with overlapping surfaces and gap control features that ensure proper sealing and prevent air entrapment in advance of the dispensing operation, eliminating defects before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip assembly acts as an intermediary element between the material source and the substrate. It is positioned in close proximity to the second body with controlled gaps, serving as a mediator that manages material flow while preventing air from being trapped between components during the dispensing process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the nozzle allows component movement for adjustment, then material parameters can be controlled, but excess material deposition occurs due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the nozzle into a fixed main body and an adjustable tip assembly, the design enables material parameter control through tip positioning while maintaining precise alignment of the main body components. This prevents misalignment-related excess material deposition while retaining the ability to adjust dispensing parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable tip assembly provides localized control over material application parameters without affecting the overall alignment of the nozzle system. Only the tip portion moves to control material flow characteristics, while the main body remains fixed and properly aligned, preventing excess material deposition caused by system-wide misalignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle assembly includes a first body having an upper and an inner surface; a first channel in the first body to receive a material; a second body having an upper and an inner surface; a second channel in the second body, in liquid communication with the first channel, and configured to receive the material from the first channel; a material outlet defined by the first and second bodies configured to discharge the material; a material inlet on the upper surface of the first body, in liquid communication with the first channel, and configured to receive the material into the nozzle assembly; and an upper lip extending from the first body toward the second body and partly defined by the upper surface of the first body. The upper lip includes a lip surface opposite the upper surface of the first body. The upper surface of the second body is configured to contact the lip surface of the upper lip.