Patent Publication Number: US-2019184347-A1

Title: Apparatus, system, and method to keep particles in liquids and pastes in suspension

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present inventive concept relates to an apparatus, system, and method to prevent settling of particles in liquids. More particularly, the present inventive concept relates to an apparatus, system, and method to continuously maintain the integration of ink particles and ink liquid or other particles in a liquid and particle combination product. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Electrically conductive inks typically use metal particles such as silver to provide the properties needed to perform properly, i.e., electrical conductivity. These particles are typically supported in a liquid suspension medium, and are typically heavy relative to the suspension medium. As a result, the particles tend to settle out of solution over time, especially after the liquids are packaged. The issue of particles settling while packaged is true for many other packaged liquids and pastes made up of particles rendered in a suspended state, including inks and paints. 
     In order to maintain their usefulness, particle filled inks and similar liquids and pastes must be kept in suspension after being packed for shipment, storage or use in dispensing cartridges. The problem is that the metaphorical clock starts immediately after packaging such liquids and pastes, since the heavy particles will start to sink to the bottom of the suspension. These inks and other liquids and pastes are often expensive, and can be rendered useless if not used within a relatively brief period while the particles are still in suspension. Accordingly, after particle-filled liquids and pastes are packaged, they need to be continually mixed to keep the particles from settling. 
     Notably, packaged liquid cannot be mixed directly. In a dispensing application of materials such as inks, a degassing process must typically be performed to eliminate air bubbles during packaging thereof. This may be performed by applying a vacuum to the ink or other liquid or paste during packaging to draw out gasses. If the ink is mixed through direct contact with the ink, for example, by inserting a mixer into the ink contained in a cartridge, air is often re-introduced into the liquid. Air bubbles in the ink can cause problems during use thereof, for example, causing skips and gaps during dispensing. 
     Accordingly, liquids and pastes must be mixed after packaging and without breaching the packaging. Such mixing may include, among other things, rolling and agitating the packaged liquid or paste, using a constant motion of the packaging to keeps particles therein from settling. 
     However, current methods of mixing such particle filled inks and other liquids and pastes have several limitations. For instance, packaged inks must be kept level during rolling or agitation. If an ink cartridge or other packaged liquid is at an angle while it is rolled, particles will start to settle towards a lower end of the cartridge regardless of rotation. Accordingly, existing methods of keeping particles in suspension can only work with cartridges that can be held level. If a cartridge has an irregular shape, e.g., it is wider at one end, it cannot be mixed effectively. This is typically the case where support “ears” are used to support a cartridge in a rack for storage and/or mixing. 
     Similarly, currently available mixing devices may only be used with cartridges or other packages of a particular size. Different mixing devices are often required for cartridges of different sizes. This leads to inefficiencies in the mixing process, especially if mixing many different sizes of cartridges is desired. 
     Furthermore, existing methods of mixing particle filled liquids require inserting packages into a canister or jar to be rolled. As a result, the packages cannot be seen during rolling, which makes tracking of inventory and visual inspection of the materials difficult, if not impossible. 
     Still further, rolling or agitation of the packages via existing methods often must be started after the packages are inserted into a mixing apparatus, and must be stopped before the packages can be removed. This leads to inefficiency as motors are started up, brought up to speed, and slowed down as part of the processes of mixing and using the inks or other liquids. Additionally, this means that when packages of ink or other liquids are added or removed from a mixing apparatus, the mixing of all packages in the mixing apparatus must be stopped and subsequently re-started, regardless of how many packages are being added or removed. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a method, apparatus, and system to more effectively mix inks and other liquids and pastes to keep particles therein in suspension such that the ink and other liquids and pastes can be efficiently used and maintained in high quality form. There is also a need for a method, apparatus, and system to keep particles in ink, other liquids and pastes in suspension through a non-contact means. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
     The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus, system, and method to roll particle-filled inks and other liquids and pastes without making direct contact thereto, such that the particles are maintained in suspension. 
     Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a mixing system, including a drive roller configured to rotate at a predetermined speed, one or more support rollers spaced apart from and extending in parallel with the drive roller, and one or more caddies disposed between the drive roller and each of the one or more support rollers, each caddy including a shaft, and at least two plates disposed on the shaft, each plate including one or more corresponding sockets, each socket configured to receive a cartridge therein. The rotation of the drive roller may rotate the one or more caddies between the drive roller and each of the one or more support rollers. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, each of the one or more caddies may be configured to hold one or more cartridges of a predetermined size in the one or more corresponding sockets. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the mixing system may further include a first caddy and a second caddy. The one or more corresponding sockets of the first caddy may be configured to hold cartridges of a first size, and the one or more corresponding sockets of the second caddy may be configured to hold cartridges of a second size different from the first size. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a rotation speed of the drive roller may be adjustable. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the system may include a plurality of caddies. The plurality of caddies may have a uniform diameter of the two or more plates. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more corresponding sockets of the one or more caddies may hold the cartridges substantially in parallel with the shaft of each caddy. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the corresponding sockets of the one or more caddies may support the cartridges such that an end of each cartridge is disposed within a diameter of the plates. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the mixing system may further include a first caddy disposed between the drive roller and a first support roller, and a second caddy disposed between the drive roller and a second support roller. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the mixing system may further include first and second caddies disposed along a length of the drive roller, the first and second caddies being disposed between the drive roller and one of the one or more support rollers. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a cartridge caddy including a shaft, and at least two plates disposed on the shaft and including one or more corresponding sockets configured to receive and support a cartridge therein substantially parallel to the shaft, the at least two plates having the same diameter. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the corresponding sockets may be disposed at a location in the plates such that an end of each cartridge remains within the diameter of the plates. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a method of mixing contents stored in a cartridge, the method including supportingly receiving one or more cartridges storing the contents in a corresponding pair of a respective one or more sockets of a caddy, and rotatingly supporting the caddy on a supporting roller and a drive roller rotating at a predetermined speed. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include controlling a rotation speed of the drive roller according to a predetermined requirement of the contents stored in the cartridges. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include maintaining each cartridge parallel to a shaft of the caddy while the caddy is rotatingly supported. The shaft may be parallel with the supporting roller and the drive roller. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric illustration of a mixing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric illustration of a mixing system and separate caddy according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric illustration of a mixing system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. Also, while describing the present general inventive concept, detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish the clarity of the points of the present general inventive concept are omitted. 
     It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the teachings of this disclosure. 
     Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
     All terms including descriptive or technical terms which are used herein should be construed as having meanings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. However, the terms may have different meanings according to an intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, case precedents, or the appearance of new technologies. Also, some terms may be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning of the selected terms will be described in detail in the detailed description of the invention. Thus, the terms used herein have to be defined based on the meaning of the terms together with the description throughout the specification. 
     Also, when a part “includes” or “comprises” an element, unless there is a particular description contrary thereto, the part can further include other elements, not excluding the other elements. In the following description, terms such as “unit” and “module” indicate a unit to process at least one function or operation, wherein the unit and the block may be embodied as hardware or software or embodied by combining hardware and software. 
     Hereinafter, one or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept are directed to a system and method of mixing inks and other particle filled liquids and pastes by using a mixing system  1000 . 
     For the purposes of the exemplary embodiments described herein, cartridges  210  are described as carrying electrically conductive ink. However, it will be understood that exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept may be equally applied to other liquids and pastes comprising particles held in a suspended state. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are isometric views of a mixing system  1000  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated therein, exemplary embodiments of the mixing system  1000  may include a base  100  which supports and rotates one or more caddies  200 . 
     The base  100  may include one or more drive rollers  110  and one or more support rollers  120 . The drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  may support the one or more caddies  200 . The drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  may be similar in construction. In an exemplary embodiment, each drive roller  110  and each support roller  120  is a cylindrical shaft configured to rotate in the base  100 . The support roller(s)  120  may rotate freely, whereas the drive roller(s)  110  are powered, for example by a motor  300  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), to rotate at a predefined speed and direction. 
     Each caddy  200  of the mixing system  1000  may hold one or more cartridges  210 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a caddy  200  may include a pair of circular plates  220  supported by a shaft  230 . Each plate  220  may include one or more sockets  225  to support a cartridge  210 . Specifically, a cartridge  210  is supported by being inserted through a corresponding socket  225  aligned in each plate  220 . 
     The caddies  200  may be positioned to hold the cartridges  210  level, i.e., substantially parallel to the shaft  230  and such that gravitational and rotational forces apply to the entire cartridge equally. In an exemplary embodiment, the plates  220  of each caddy  200  have the same diameter, such that cartridges  210  inserted through sockets  225  are held parallel to the shaft  230  regardless of the rotation of the caddy  200 . Furthermore, the sockets  225  may be configured to hold cartridges  210  level even when they have an irregular shape. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , if a cartridge  210  has “ears”  210   a  which would make the cartridge  210  wider on one end than the other, the cartridge  210  may still be inserted into a socket  225 . In an exemplary embodiment, the ears  210   a  are not inserted into the socket  225  supporting the corresponding cartridge  210 , and furthermore the ears  210   a  are disposed within a diameter of the plates  220 , i.e., the ears do not extend beyond the edge  220   a  of the plates  220 . As such, even if a cartridge  210  has ears  210   a,  the cartridge  210  may still be held parallel to the shaft  230  without interfering with rolling, such that when the caddy  200  is placed on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 , the cartridge  210  is maintained level. 
     A continuous frictional contact between the drive roller(s)  110  and an outer edge  220   a  of the plates  220  of each caddy  200  causes each caddy  200  to continually rotate about its central axis C (an axis running through the shaft  230 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The support roller(s)  120  serve to support the caddy  200  without directly driving the rotation.  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate roller configurations according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, and are described in greater detail infra. 
     Each cartridge  210  may contain an ink or other liquid or paste made up of solute particles suspended in a solvent. The particles may settle out of suspension if not continuously mixed. Accordingly, the particles are kept in suspension by first loading one or more cartridges  210  into the sockets  225  of a caddy  200  and placing the caddy  200  onto the drive roller(s)  110  and the support roller(s)  120 , which as noted above causes the caddy  200  to rotate about its central axis C. This rotation of the caddy  200  also rotates the cartridges  210  held in the caddy  200 , thereby keeping the solute particles in suspension. This mixing occurs without directly contacting the contents of the cartridges  210 , thereby avoiding the issue of re-introducing air into the contents of cartridges  210 . 
     It will be understood that the cartridges  210  may be replaced by similar devices requiring non-contact mixing, for example, syringes, barrels, and drums, which cooperate with the intended purposes of the caddy and mixing system  1000  according to the exemplary embodiments present general inventive concept. Furthermore, although the cartridges  210  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  are tubular in shape, it will be understood that the cartridges  210  and corresponding sockets  225  may have any shape that allows the cartridges  210  to be supported by the plates  220 , without affecting the functioning of the system  1000 . For example, the cartridges  210  may be rectangular in cross-section, and the sockets  225  may similarly be rectangular in shape to receive and support the cartridges  210 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment each caddy  200  may be open in design. That is, each caddy  200  may support cartridges  210  between plates  220  without enclosing the cartridges  210 . This allows the number of cartridges  210 , as well as the contents of each cartridge  210 , to be visually inspected while each caddy  220  is being rolled on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 . 
     Since the caddies  200  are not physically attached to the base  100 , each caddy  200  may be lifted off the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  and placed thereon quickly and easily, without the need to disengage or unlock any components first. Gravity can hold each caddy  200  securely on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 . In operation, each drive roller  110  is preferably kept turning at a predefined speed regardless of whether a caddy  200  is supported thereon. This allows a caddy  200  to be placed on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  and removed therefrom quickly and easily, without needing to separately start and stop the rotation of the drive roller(s)  110 . Furthermore, this arrangement allows a single caddy  200  to be removed or added to the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  without interrupting the mixing of any caddies  200  already being rolled by the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which one caddy  200  has been removed from the base  100  while other caddies  200  remain on a drive roller  110  and support roller  120 . 
     The speed of rotation of the drive roller(s)  110  may be set according to a required speed, a particular desired application or a particular liquid or paste being mixed. Due to differing viscosities and different weights of the particles relative to the solvent, some liquids and pastes may require a lower or higher rotation speed than others to keep the solute particles from settling. The speed of rotation of the drive roller  110  may therefore be adjusted, for example by adjusting the speed of a motor  300  turning the drive roller  110 . 
     As pointed out supra, the mixing system  1000  allows caddies  200  to be loaded, removed and replaced on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  quickly and easily. To recap, the cartridge(s)  210  are the devices that hold the ink or other liquid or paste, the caddy/caddies  200  are the inventive devices that hold the cartridges  210 , and the drive roller(s)  110 , in conjunction with the support roller(s)  120 , are the devices that roll the caddy  200 . 
     Exemplary embodiments of the mixing system  1000  offer many advantages over existing systems presently used to mix liquids and pastes. Each caddy  200  may be made to hold different cartridges  210  or other packages of ink or other liquid or paste. For example, with reference to  FIG. 3 , a first caddy  200 - 1  can have sockets  225 - 1  to hold 30 cc syringes, while a second caddy  200 - 2  can have sockets  225 - 2  to hold 10 cc dispensing cartridges. In an exemplary embodiment, each caddy  200  can be made to hold one specific size of cartridge  210 . Dispensing cartridges and other packages of ink or other liquid or paste come in various sizes, capacities, and lengths. Caddies  200  supporting various sizes of dispensing cartridges (e.g., from 3 cc to 100 cc, including increments such as 5 cc, 10 cc, 15 cc, 20 cc, 25 cc, 30 cc, etc.) can be used on the same base  100  at the same time, without need to retool the base  100 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, each caddy  200  holds cartridges  210  of a particular size and shape. In another exemplary embodiment, individual caddies  200  may hold cartridges  210  having different sizes and shapes. For example, one caddy  200  may include both sockets  225  to hold 10 cc dispensing cartridges and sockets  225  to hold 30 cc syringes. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the caddies  200  may be made with a uniform size or diameter of the plates  220 , so that different caddies  200  may be turned at the same speed while supported on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 . In such an exemplary embodiment, the base  100 , specifically the spacing of the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 , may be made according to the particular size of caddy  200 , such that the base  100  can securely support caddies  200  of that particular size. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the same set of drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  may be configured to support caddies  200  having different sizes, thereby allowing for more flexibility in the design of each caddy  200 . In this exemplary embodiment, the base  100  may simultaneously support and rotate several caddies  200  of different sizes. 
     Additionally, although each caddy  200  is illustrated to include two plates  220 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , it will be understood that a caddy  200  may include any number of plates  220  as may be required to perform the intended purposes of the inventive concept as described herein. In an exemplary embodiment each caddy  200  has at least two plates  220  in order to be supported steadily on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 . Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment each cartridge  210  is supported by a socket  225  in at least two corresponding plates  220 , to hold the cartridge  210  securely and level. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, cartridges  210  may be added to a caddy  200  and removed therefrom without removing the caddy  200  from the base  100  or stopping the caddy&#39;s  200  rotation. Alternatively, if it is desired to remove a caddy  200  from the base  100  (for example, if the rotational speed of the caddy  200  is at a level that makes removing individual cartridges  210  difficult), a desired caddy  200  may be removed by lifting it off the base  100  (see  FIG. 2 ), without the need to stop the drive roller  110 . Similarly, a caddy  200  may be added to the system  100  by simply placing the caddy  200  on the base  100 , such that the edge  220   a  of each plate  220  contacts the drive roller  110  and support roller  120 , without the need to separately start moving the drive roller  110  after placement thereon. This allows caddies  200  to be quickly and easily moved from the base  100  to a work area (e.g., production area, packaging area, etc.) and from a work area to the base  100 . The caddy  200  can hold the cartridges  210  when not on the base  100 , for example if the caddy  200  is kept on a work space during production and/or during use of the ink or other liquid or paste in the cartridges  210 . 
     Different configurations of the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120  may be used depending on the particular requirement and application as described in the embodiments herein.  FIGS. 1 and 3  illustrate different possible configurations of the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 . In all cases, it is understood that gravity holds the caddies  200  in place on the drive roller(s)  110  and support roller(s)  120 .  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which a drive roller  110  is disposed to support one side of caddies  200  and a support roller  120  is disposed to support an opposite side of the caddies  200 . Several caddies  200  may be positioned longitudinally along the length of the base  100 , being rotated by the same drive roller  110  and support roller  120 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a mixing system  1000  including multiple pairs of side by side caddies  200 - 1  and  200 - 2  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated therein, a single drive roller  110  may be located between each pair of caddies  200 - 1  and  200 - 2 . Each of the caddies  200 - 1  and  200 - 2  can be supported by the drive roller  110  on one side while the support rollers  120 - 1  and  120 - 2  can support the other side of the respective caddies  200 - 1  and  200 - 2 . The rotation of the drive roller  110  may turn all caddies  200  simultaneously. In this configuration, caddies  200  of different sizes may be more easily used. For example, a caddy  200 - 1  in  FIG. 3  may have a different diameter than a caddy  200 - 2 , such that the drive roller  110  turns the different size caddies  200 - 1  and  200 - 2  at different speeds. Furthermore, different bases  100  may be configured to more effectively accommodate and support caddies  200  of different sizes. For example, with reference to  FIG. 3 , if all of the caddies  200 - 2  have a substantially larger diameter than all of the caddies  200 - 1 , a base  100  may be used in which support roller  120 - 2  is disposed further away from the drive roller  110  than support roller  120 - 1 . 
     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.