Square Piston Drive Rack Anti-Rotation Dispensing Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dispensing tools face issues with rotation and loosening of cartridges during operation, leading to inefficiencies and ergonomic problems, especially when converting between cartridge and sausage pack dispensing systems.

Innovation Solution

A single-piece piston with a square configuration and a drive rack featuring a noncircular attachment aperture to prevent rotation, combined with a circular seal lip and segmented sections for effective material dispensing, is used to create a material dispensing assembly that securely attaches to a dispensing gun, ensuring stable operation and easy conversion between cartridge and sausage pack dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional cartridge support sleeve is used in a dispensing tool, then the cartridge can be easily inserted and removed, but the cartridge may rotate or loosen during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cartridge insertion and removalVSAvoidcartridge stability during operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a non-circular attachment aperture in the piston and a correspondingly non-circular drive rack interface. This asymmetric design prevents rotation of the cartridge during operation while maintaining ease of insertion and removal. The non-circular geometry creates a mechanical keyway that locks the cartridge in place without requiring additional fasteners or complex locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If a single-piece piston with square configuration is used, then rotation and loosening are prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of rotation and looseningVSAvoidpiston and drive rack structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention integrates the attachment aperture directly into the piston body as a single-piece construction, eliminating the need for separate attachment mechanisms. The square configuration of the piston combines the sealing surface, drive interface, and anti-rotation feature into one integrated component. Similarly, the drive rack incorporates the non-circular attachment aperture as an integral feature rather than a separate element, simplifying the overall assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a noncircular attachment aperture is used in the drive rack, then rotation is prevented, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation preventionVSAvoiddrive rack fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameter of the attachment interface from circular to non-circular (square) configuration. This parameter change enables rotation prevention while maintaining manufacturability through standard machining operations. The non-circular aperture can be created using conventional milling or laser techniques, and the square piston configuration allows for simple extrusion or molding processes, balancing complexity prevention with manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2303763B1Material dispensing assembly
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 MERITOOL LLC
  • EP2303763B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2303763B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2303763B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A material dispensing assembly (100) and method of operation is disclosed for converting a portable cartridge dispensing tool to a bag-type dispensing tool. The assembly comprises a single piece piston (110) for advancing material though a material housing (104), the single piece piston (110) includes a substantially square-shaped receptacle (140). The assembly further comprises a square shaped drive rack (112) for attaching to the piston (110) at the substantially square-shaped receptacle (140) at a connection end (128). The drive rack (112) further comprises a plurality of teeth (142) located thereon. The assembly (100) further has a support (127) with a substantially square profile for receiving and supporting the drive rack (112) during operation such that the construct of the drive rack and piston (110) are prevented from rotating during operation.