Wet-On-Demand Wipe Dispenser With Contact-Activated Wetting Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pre-moistened wipes and towelettes often experience dry-out due to evaporation of moistening solutions, especially in low-use scenarios, resulting in insufficiently moistened or completely dry substrates when needed.
Innovation Solution
A wet-on-demand dispenser system that includes a housing, a container for fluid, wetting tips with movable valve members, and a roll holder, where the wetting tips are activated upon contact with the substrate to dispense fluid, ensuring consistent moisture levels by controlling fluid flow based on substrate extraction speed and position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If substrates are pre-moistened with fluid solutions, then substrates are ready for immediate use, but the fluid evaporates over time causing dry-out
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wetting action by pre-positioning the substrate in contact with the fluid reservoir and wetting tip assembly. The substrate is prepared to receive fluid immediately upon activation, eliminating the need for separate pre-moistening steps while ensuring consistent fluid application.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate serves a dual function: it acts as both the product to be dispensed and the activation mechanism. When the user pulls the substrate, it automatically triggers the wetting tip to dispense fluid onto itself, creating a self-service system that eliminates manual intervention for fluid application.
2Reliability
If substrates are kept in a moist environment, then they remain wetted, but fluid evaporates in low-use scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the fluid from a bulk reservoir and delivers it precisely to the substrate only when needed. This on-demand extraction approach eliminates the need to maintain a continuously moist environment, preventing evaporation losses that occur when fluid is kept in contact with air over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The wetting system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when substrate is dispensed. The valve member opens intermittently to allow fluid flow, then closes to prevent evaporation, creating a periodic action pattern that maintains reliability while minimizing fluid loss.
3Reliability
If fluid is continuously dispensed, then substrates remain sufficiently moist, but fluid is wasted and evaporation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member operates periodically, opening only when substrate contact triggers the wetting mechanism. This periodic operation ensures substrates receive necessary fluid while preventing continuous flow that would cause waste and increase evaporation from the reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses substrate contact as a feedback signal to control fluid dispensing. When substrate touches the wetting tip, it triggers the valve to open; when substrate is removed, the valve closes. This feedback mechanism ensures fluid is dispensed only when needed, eliminating waste while maintaining adequate substrate wetting.
4Manufacturing precision
If movable valve members are used to control fluid flow, then fluid dispensing is precise, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable valve member is actuated automatically by substrate contact itself, without requiring external control mechanisms. The substrate serves as both the product and the actuator, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining precise fluid flow control through the valve's mechanical response to substrate presence.
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 system maintains optimal moisture levels in substrates by dynamically dispensing fluid as needed, preventing dry-out and ensuring effective wetting of wipes or towelettes upon use.
Implementation Method 1
one or more wetting tips in fluid communication with the container. Each of the one or more wetting tips has a movable valve member
Implementation Method 2
the movable valve members are moved as a function of contact with the substrate and movement of the movable valve members in an upward direction cause fluid to be dispensed on the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments wet-on-demand dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing wet-on-demand substrates includes a housing, a container for holding a fluid, one or more wetting tips in fluid communication with the container. Each of the one or more wetting tips has a movable valve member. The exemplary dispenser further includes a holder for holding a roll of substrate and the movable valve members are moved as a function of contact with the substrate.