It’s true that syringes are making a comeback against dispense valves in automation. This is because in the past few years, there have been technological advancements allowing all plastic syringes to outperform traditional dispense valves in automated production cells while improving throughput. Assembly fluid dispense valves and large reservoirs, such as a 5 gallon/liter tank, have been the choice of automation integrators over the past two decades when designing a fully automated production cell.
Certain Dispense Valves Have Flaws
These dispense valves have done the job but not without some serious flaws and limitations. Daily adjustment while the reservoir empties, weekly cleaning with poisonous cleaning chemicals such as Acetone and Methyl Ethyl Ketone and monthly rebuilding of worn valves have plagued production managers for decades.
New non-pneumatic or air-free drive systems for all plastic syringe reservoirs coupled with advanced software has improved fluid deposit repeatability from +/-30% to upwards of +/-2%* (results are dependent on fluid) thus exceeding the performance of most dispense valves. Quick change automation adapters coupled with off line syringe loading have reduced syringe change over time from minutes to seconds. New 19” din rail mount technology with 30 foot cabling allows control unit mounting in standard electronic cabinets.
Most importantly the all plastic syringe reservoir eliminates employee contact with harmful assembly fluids like Acetone and Methyl Ethyl Ketone, completely eliminating cleaning and rebuild downtime resulting in improved throughput. When empty, the plastic reservoir is capped and acts as a closed container making disposal easy.
SmartDispenser® Systems Don’t Have These Issues
Unlike pneumatic dispensing systems, the SmartDispenser® uses AirFree® linear drive fluid dispense technology. It allows manufacturers to establish one dispense program globally while achieving the highest repeatability when dispensing assembly fluids. There is no change to fluid deposits. Manufacturers reduce the cost of product validation by standardizing dispense programs per product. The SmartDispenser® eliminates fluid waste, rework, rejects, and costly air compressors to maximize profitability. Unlike pneumatic dispensing products, it enables you to achieve total process control in the dispensing process.
The SmartDispenser® Gun Tray is made from fabricated aluminum and works as a storage device for pre-loaded LDS dispense guns in an automated production cell. It features two soft touch hand grips and a USB storage slot to allow easy transport of four dispense guns and the USB memory stick from the SmartDispenser® Priming Station to the automated production cell. The gun is secured into a Push-To-Connect™ Gun Mount in the SmartDispenser® Gun Tray as the offline LDS Dispense Guns complete the dispense tip priming process.
Once the transport has taken place and the syringe reservoir in the automated production cell is empty, the operator simply pulls each empty LDS Dispense Gun out and replaces it with a replenished LDS Dispense Gun by pushing the Push-To-Connect Gun Mount into the locked position. The syringe reservoir refill time is reduced to seconds by pre-loading LDS Dispense guns off line while active LDS Dispense Guns run production in the automated cell. The operator can change the entire LDS Dispense Gun as opposed to only changing the empty syringe reservoir.
The SmartDispenser® system, unlike pneumatic dispense systems, is able to exceed the performance of most dispense valves and is a safer alternative to traditional dispense valves in automated production. Please contact Fishman Corporation for more information.