Tattoo Needle Ink Delivery With Peristaltic Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tattoo machines require repeated dipping of the needle in an ink reservoir, which is time-consuming, inefficient, prone to contamination, and does not provide accurate metered quantities of ink, affecting the speed and accuracy of the tattoo-making process.
Innovation Solution
A tattoo machine with a removable ink bottle and a peristaltic pump mechanism that dispenses a controlled and contactless metered quantity of ink to the needle, eliminating the need for dipping and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the needle is repeatedly dipped in an ink reservoir for refilling, then the tattoo machine can be used continuously, but the process becomes time-consuming and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The ink is pre-loaded into the needle assembly before use, eliminating the need for repeated dipping operations during tattooing. This preliminary preparation allows continuous operation without interrupting the tattoo-making process to refill ink.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink reservoir is integrated within the needle assembly structure, with the ink container nested inside the handle and the needle positioned to access the ink directly. This nested configuration allows the ink supply to be built into the tool itself rather than requiring external refilling.
2Quantity of substance
If the needle is repeatedly dipped in an ink reservoir, then ink can be replenished, but cross-contamination occurs and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink supply system is segmented into a sealed ink reservoir and a sterile needle assembly, preventing contact between the ink and external contaminants. The ink is delivered through a closed system rather than open dipping, isolating the ink supply from potential contamination sources.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed delivery mechanism acts as an intermediary between the ink reservoir and the needle, transferring ink without direct exposure to the external environment. This intermediary system prevents cross-contamination by maintaining a closed pathway for ink delivery.
3Quantity of substance
If the needle is repeatedly dipped in an ink reservoir, then ink can be applied, but the process lacks precision and manufacturing precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a controlled delivery mechanism that provides feedback on ink consumption and maintains precise metering of ink to the needle. This feedback control ensures consistent, accurate ink dosing without the variability introduced by manual dipping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual dipping operation is replaced with a mechanical or automated ink delivery system that precisely controls ink flow to the needle. This substitution eliminates the imprecision of hand-operated dipping and provides consistent, metered ink application.
4Duration of action of moving object
If the needle is repeatedly dipped in an ink reservoir, then the tattoo machine can operate, but the device complexity increases due to additional refilling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The complex external refilling mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simple, integrated ink reservoir that is part of the handle assembly. This extraction simplifies the overall device by eliminating separate refilling components while maintaining continuous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink delivery system is designed to be self-contained and self-regulating, requiring no external refilling operations or complex control mechanisms. The integrated reservoir automatically supplies ink to the needle as needed, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall device complexity.
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
The solution enhances the speed and accuracy of tattoo-making by providing continuous, controlled ink delivery, reducing contamination risks, and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a peristaltic pump mechanism that dispenses a controlled and contactless metered quantity of ink to the needle
Data Source
AI summary
A tattoo machine is provided. The tattoo machine includes an external casing with a top cover and a bottom cover. The tattoo machine includes a sleeve that partially encircles the bottom cover. The sleeve is connected to the bottom cover. A fluid bottle is removably positioned on the top of the sleeve. The tattoo machine includes a fluid dispensing mechanism having a tubing and a peristaltic pump. A tattoo needle is slidably disposed of in a tattoo nozzle. The fluid dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense a metered quantity of fluid from the removable fluid bottle to the tattoo needle in a controlled and contactless manner. A driving mechanism is configured to selectively operate the pump and enable longitudinal stroke motion for the tattoo needle.