annostelupää

Annostelupää, in Finnish, refers to a dosing head or metering head used in automation and dispensing systems to deliver a precise volume of liquid, paste or semi-solid per actuation. It is a core component in equipment that requires repeatable, controlled dosing, such as automated dispensers, filling lines, pipetting robots and laboratory instruments.

The dosing head typically contains a metering chamber with a fixed or adjustable volume. During operation, the chamber fills from a reservoir and then dispenses its contents to the output line. The mechanism can be based on positive displacement, pistons, diaphragms or syringes, and is often paired with valves or pumps to control intake and discharge. Materials are chosen for chemical resistance and cleanliness, with common options including stainless steel and specialized polymers. The design aims to minimize dead volume and prevent contamination between doses.

Types of annostelupää vary by mechanism and application. Positive-displacement and piston-type heads are common for accurate, repeatable dosing of viscous liquids. Diaphragm or syringe-based heads may be used for sterile or GMP-compliant environments. Some heads are adjustable to set the dose volume, while others are fixed for high-speed operations. Compatibility with a range of viscosities, temperatures and cleaning regimes is a key consideration.

Applications span pharmaceutical production, cosmetics and personal care, food and beverage, chemical processing and laboratory automation. Advantages include high precision, repeatability, easy calibration and potential for sterile configurations. Limitations may include viscosity range restrictions, wear of seals, need for regular calibration and cleaning, and the necessity of compatible materials to avoid product contamination.