Blade Dispenser Ejection Mechanism for Safe User Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blade dispensers pose difficulties in safely dispensing blades due to the need to catch a small protruding blade portion with the finger or fingernail, which can lead to injury, and expose the user to the risk of cutting themselves on the sharp edge during the dispensing process.
Innovation Solution
A blade dispenser design featuring a housing with a blade loading mechanism that includes a sled, flexible member, pivotable member, and biasing element, allowing for easy and safe dispensing of blades through a button-activated blade eject assembly that moves the blade to a position accessible from the exterior without exposing the sharp edge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user catches a small protruding portion of the blade with their finger or fingernail to dispense the blade, then the blade can be pushed out through the slot, but the user may be injured or exposed to the sharp blade edge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the blade ejector assembly with button, cam, and sled) that mediates between the user and the blade. Instead of directly catching and pushing the blade with fingers, the user presses a button that activates the cam to move the sled, which then pushes the blade out. This intermediary system eliminates direct contact with the sharp edge while maintaining blade dispensing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade dispenser is designed to be self-serving by automatically ejecting the blade when the button is pressed. The internal mechanism (cam and sled) performs the blade ejection action without requiring the user to manually catch and push the blade, making the system perform the potentially harmful action itself rather than requiring user intervention with exposed fingers.
2Ease of operation
If the blade is slightly extended sideways from the dispenser exposing both the safe top edge and the sharp blade edge, then the blade can be grasped and removed, but the user's fingers are exposed to injury
Solution Approach 1:
The blade ejector assembly serves as an intermediary that handles the blade extension and exposure process. The cam mechanism controls the sled to push the blade out to a predetermined position, ensuring the blade is extended far enough to be grasped but not so far as to expose the user to the sharp edge during normal operation. The system mediates the exposure level to maintain safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism performs preliminary action by automatically positioning the blade at the optimal extension point before the user needs to grasp it. The cam and sled system pre-extends the blade to the correct position, eliminating the need for the user to manually manipulate and expose the blade edge, thereby preventing injury before it can occur.
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 solution enables easy and safe dispensing of blades, reducing the risk of injury by allowing the blade to be accessed without manual alignment, ensuring user safety during the dispensing process.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element operable to bias the sled toward the open end of the carrier cavity of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The sled comprises a cam
Data Source
AI summary
A blade dispenser is provided that includes a housing, a carrier, and a blade eject assembly. The housing defines a carrier cavity having an open end, and includes a blade loading mechanism. The carrier is operable to hold a plurality of blades. The carrier is selectively disposable within the carrier cavity of the housing. The blade eject assembly includes a button biased in a normal position relative to a base. The button is operable to be moved relative to the base and engage a blade disposed within the carrier, and to move the blade to a position where at least a part of the blade is disposed outside the housing.