Viscous Material Container with Groove-Discharge Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing viscous material containers, such as those used in the dental field, often retain air when a piston is inserted, leading to air bubbles mixing with the material and reducing the control over the force required for dispensing, which can affect the material's appearance and bacterial growth.
Innovation Solution
The container design includes a housing with groove portions that allow air to be discharged from the first passage as the piston is inserted, featuring an annularly circular contact portion and non-contact portions that reduce the contact area and facilitate smooth piston movement, ensuring air is expelled before the piston reaches the material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a piston is inserted into the housing to push out viscous material, then the material can be discharged from the container, but air remains in the housing and mixes into the viscous material causing air bubbles
Solution Approach 1:
The piston is divided into multiple functional segments: a contact portion that contacts the housing wall to seal and push material, and non-contact portions that create clearance spaces. This segmentation allows air to be channeled out through specific paths while the material is being pushed, preventing air bubbles from mixing with the discharged material.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove portions in the housing act as intermediary channels that guide air away from the material flow path. These grooves provide a dedicated escape route for air bubbles, separating the air discharge function from the material discharge function, thereby preventing air contamination of the material.
2Reliability
If the piston contacts the housing wall extensively to seal the passage, then material can be pushed effectively, but air cannot escape and remains trapped in the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The piston has different contact characteristics at different locations: the contact portion provides localized sealing against the housing wall to prevent material leakage, while the non-contact portions leave intentional gaps. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of effective sealing where needed and air escape where required.
3Reliability
If the piston has large contact area with the housing, then sealing is improved, but the force required to push the piston increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston applies contact force only where necessary (at the contact portion) rather than along the entire length. This partial action provides sufficient sealing at the critical interface while minimizing unnecessary friction and resistance from extended contact, thereby reducing the overall pushing force required.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Provided herein is a viscous material container that makes it unlikely that air remains in a housing when a piston is inserted from an insertion port of the housing. A first section of a housing is formed with two groove portions communicating with a first passage to discharge air in the first passage when a piston is inserted from an insertion port. The two groove portions communicate with the insertion port, and extend along a first imaginary center line.