System and Method for Dispensing Material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018369443-A1
Application number	US-201715632509-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2017
Priority date	Jun 26, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fluid dispensing method, the method comprising steps of: providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir; selecting a subset of the plurality; dispensing fluid via the selected subset of the plurality; pausing all dispensing of fluid; selecting a second subset of the plurality; dispensing fluid via the second selected subset of the plurality.

First claim

1 . A method for dispensing a fluid, the method comprising steps of:
a) providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir; b) selecting a subset of the plurality; c) repeatedly dispensing fluid via the selected subset of the plurality in a first burst; d) pausing all dispensing of fluid; e) selecting a second subset of the plurality; f) repeatedly dispensing fluid via the second selected subset of the plurality in a second burst.

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of: providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, comprises providing a thermal drop on demand apparatus.

3 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising steps of:
g) selecting a multitude of non-overlapping subsets of the plurality;
h) alternating the dispensing of fluid via one of the multitude of subsets and pausing wherein for any first subset of the multitude to dispense fluid, each other subset of the multitude dispenses fluid prior to the first subset again dispensing fluid.

4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, comprises providing a fluid comprising a fragrance composition.

5 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the first subset of the plurality of nozzles is selected randomly

6 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of dispensing fluid each yield a similar volume of fluid output.

7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the time associated with each fluid dispensing step is substantially less than the time associated with the pausing of dispensing.

8 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of: providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, comprises providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzle sets, each nozzle set in fluid communication with one reservoir of a plurality of fluid reservoirs.

9 . A method for dispensing a fluid, the method comprising steps of:
a) providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, wherein the apparatus comprises about 80 dispensing nozzles; b) selecting a first subset of the plurality, the first subset comprising about 20 nozzles; c) dispensing fluid via the selected first subset of the plurality; d) pausing all dispensing of fluid; e) selecting a second subset of the plurality, the second subset comprising about 20 nozzles, the second subset comprising no common nozzles with the first subset; f) dispensing fluid via the second selected subset of the plurality; g) selecting a third subset of the plurality, the third subset comprising about 20 nozzles, the third subset comprising no common nozzles with the first or second subsets; h) dispensing fluid via the third selected subset of the plurality; i) pausing all dispensing of fluid; j) selecting a fourth subset of the plurality, the fourth subset comprising about 20 nozzles, the fourth subset comprising no common nozzles with the first, second, or third subsets; k) dispensing fluid via the fourth selected subset of the plurality.

10 . The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of: providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, comprises providing a thermal drop on demand apparatus.

11 . The method according to claim 9 further comprising steps of:
l) selecting a multitude of non-overlapping subsets of the plurality;
m) alternating the dispensing of fluid via one of the multitude of subsets and pausing wherein for any first subset of the multitude to dispense fluid, each other subset of the multitude dispenses fluid prior to the first subset again dispensing fluid.

12 . The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, comprises providing a fluid comprising a fragrance composition.

13 . The method according to claim 9 wherein the steps of dispensing fluid each yield a similar volume of fluid output.

14 . The method according to claim 9 wherein the time associated with each fluid dispensing step is substantially less than the time associated with the pausing of dispensing.

15 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of: providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, wherein the apparatus comprises about 80 dispensing nozzles, comprises providing a drop on demand apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzle sets, each nozzle set in fluid communication with one reservoir of a plurality of fluid reservoirs, each nozzle set comprising about 80 nozzles.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein no subset of the plurality is fired again until each other subset of the plurality is fired.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Bush Stephan Gary
• Sherman Faiz Feisal

Classifications

• A61L2209/132

  Piezo or ultrasonic elements for dispensing · CPC title

• A61L2209/11

  Apparatus for controlling air treatment · CPC title

• A61L2209/134

  Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles · CPC title

• A61L9/14 Primary

  using sprayed or atomised substances {including air-liquid contact processes} · CPC title

• B41J2/17513

  Inner structure · CPC title