Carousel Dispenser Lever Indexing to Reduce Roll Advancement Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing web material dispensers face issues with incompatibility with standard rolls, complex mechanical constructions, high operational force requirements, and improper roll advancement, leading to damage and inefficient restocking.
Innovation Solution
A carousel-style dispenser with a rotatable turntable and lever actuator mechanism that includes indexing and braking arrangements to ensure intuitive operation, secure roll positioning, and reduced force requirements, allowing sequential presentation of multiple rolls through a geometric drive shaft and indexing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a rotatable turntable style dispenser is used to store multiple discrete rolls, then onboard storage capacity is improved, but the mechanical construction becomes complex and requires significant force to advance rolls
Solution Approach 1:
The turntable is segmented with individual spindles for each roll position, allowing independent roll placement and removal. The lever actuator is segmented into a lever arm and a pawl mechanism, separating the user input function from the indexing function. This segmentation simplifies the overall mechanical construction while maintaining multi-roll storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pawl and ratchet mechanism provides automatic indexing and positioning of rolls without requiring complex control systems. The mechanism self-regulates the advancement process, preventing over-rotation and ensuring precise positioning of each roll at the dispensing location without user intervention beyond simple lever activation.
2Quantity of substance
If a rotatable turntable with advancement mechanism is used, then multiple rolls can be stored, but significant force is required to advance rolls and improper use can damage the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The lever actuator translates small user-applied forces into larger rotational moments through its lever arm geometry. The pawl mechanism dynamically engages with the ratchet teeth only when force is applied, allowing easy advancement during operation while preventing reverse motion without requiring continuous high force from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The pawl acts as an intermediary between the lever actuator and the turntable, mediating the force transmission. It converts the user's lever motion into controlled incremental rotations, reducing the direct force requirement on the turntable while preventing improper use that could damage the assembly.
3Device complexity
If gravity feed arrangements are used for roll advancement, then mechanical complexity is reduced, but roll positioning precision and repeatability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gravity feed arrangements with a lever-actuated pawl-ratchet indexing mechanism. This mechanical substitution provides positive, repeatable positioning through the engagement of pawl teeth with ratchet increments, ensuring precise roll positioning at the dispensing location while maintaining relatively simple mechanical construction.
4Ease of operation
If the turntable allows free rotation for easy roll access, then ease of operation is improved, but secure positioning of rolls relative to the dispense opening is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pawl-ratchet mechanism enables periodic, discrete rotational steps rather than continuous rotation. Each pawl engagement with a ratchet tooth provides a fixed angular increment, ensuring that rolls are positioned at predetermined locations including the dispense opening. This periodic indexing maintains ease of operation through simple lever activation while ensuring reliable positioning.
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 dispenser assembly effectively manages multiple rolls, providing intuitive operation, secure roll positioning, and reduced force requirements, ensuring efficient and repeatable dispensing while preventing premature roll advancement.
Implementation Method 1
A user actuated lever arm is accessible from outside of the housing and connected to the turntable via a drive mechanism. The lever arm, turntable and drive mechanism provide a rotational linkage that is configured to effectuate rotation of the turntable in response to annular translation of the lever arm relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
at least one indexing arrangement that is configured to provide one or more of a tactile or audible indication of discrete roll of web material having been positioned proximate the dispensing opening
Implementation Method 3
a brake arrangement that is configured to mitigate inertial or momentum rotation of the turntable during each turntable advancement actuation
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser assembly that includes a carousel tray and is operable to allow the user to selectively orient one of a plurality of respective discrete rolls of web material supported by the carousel tray proximate a dispense opening. An elongate user actuated lever arm is accessible from outside the dispenser housing and operable to allow the user to manually rotate the carousel tray relative to the housing to present each discrete roll of web material proximate the dispense opening for use. In preferred embodiments, the dispensing assembly includes one or more indexing and/or brake assemblies that are configured to inhibit inertial rotation of the carousel and/or to resist rotation of the carousel beyond a desired radial location absent user interaction with the lever arm.