Can Opener Linkage Groove for Reliable Blade Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing can openers face issues with blade retraction failure due to spring force attenuation and fatigue, leading to user experience problems.
Innovation Solution
A can opener design featuring a transmission mechanism with a main drive gear, eccentric disc, and movable block, utilizing linkage grooves and resilient components to ensure synchronized forward and backward rotation, enabling smooth cutting and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring forces are used to tension the gear for synchronous rotation, then the gear can rotate synchronously in reverse, but the spring force attenuates and fails due to fatigue, causing the retracting gear to fail engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component from the gear tensioning system and replaces it with a cam mechanism. The cam's geometric shape provides the necessary tensioning force through its profile, eliminating the spring's elastic deformation mechanism that leads to fatigue and force attenuation over time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an elastic element (spring) that stores and releases energy through deformation, the patent uses a rigid cam profile that converts rotational motion into the required linear tensioning force. This inverts the approach from energy storage via deformation to force generation via geometric constraint.
2Ease of operation
If a cam mechanism is used to drive the movable block, then the blade can be driven away from the can body, but the blade may collide with the can body when retracting
Solution Approach 1:
The cam profile is designed with a controlled descent section that preemptively reduces the movable block's position before the blade completes its retraction stroke. This preliminary action prevents the blade from colliding with the can body by ensuring proper clearance is established in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism provides dynamic control of the movable block's position throughout the rotation cycle. By varying the cam profile geometry, the system dynamically adjusts the blade's distance from the can body, ensuring optimal positioning during both cutting and retraction phases without collision.
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
Ensures stable and reliable blade operation, enhancing user experience through seamless cutting and retraction processes.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient component, wherein the resilient component is arranged between the eccentric disc and the movable block
Data Source
AI summary
Can opener includes a shell, power mechanism, transmission mechanism, and cutting mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a main drive gear, eccentric disc, and movable block. The main drive gear and eccentric disc are coaxially arranged, and the surface of the main drive gear facing the eccentric disc is provided with a linkage groove. The movable block is arranged on the eccentric disc in a liftable manner to insert into or withdraw from the linkage groove. One side of the movable block is provided with a first inclined surface and a first vertical surface, and the other side is provided with a second vertical surface. When the main drive gear rotates forward, the linkage groove abuts against the first vertical surface to drive the eccentric disc to rotate forward. When it rotates forward beyond the limiting position, the linkage groove slides relative to the first inclined surface to stop driving the eccentric disc to rotate forward. When it rotates backward, the linkage groove abuts against the second vertical surface to drive the eccentric disc to rotate backward.