Crankable Product Dispenser Eliminates Reverse Travel

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing product dispensers require inefficient reverse travel of the squeezing member, leading to user fatigue and mechanical/electrical stress, and often necessitate high force for actuation, particularly problematic for children or individuals with limited strength.

Innovation Solution

A product dispenser design featuring a frame assembly with opposed ends, elongate drive members, and a crankable drive train assembly that allows one-way travel of the driven member, eliminating the need for reverse travel and reducing the force required for actuation, enabling easy insertion and removal of containers without reversing the driven member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the squeezing member travels along the screw in both forward and reverse directions to dispense product, then the dispenser can return the squeezing member to its origin, but this requires unproductive time and causes user fatigue and mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidunproductive time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the squeezing member reverse direction along the screw to return to origin, the invention inverts the approach by using a rack-and-pinion system where the squeezing member moves in one direction only, and the frame assembly is repositioned to access different portions of the product container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the squeezing member travels along the screw in both forward and reverse directions, then the dispenser can service the entire container, but this causes undue stress on mechanical and electrical parts leading to accelerated failure

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional approach by keeping the squeezing member's motion unidirectional and instead making the frame assembly movable to service different portions of the container, thereby eliminating reverse travel stress on mechanical and electrical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If a rotatable knob is used to control travel of the squeezing member, then the dispenser can actuate the squeezing member, but this requires relatively large magnitude of force that is problematic for children or persons with limited hand strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidforce required for actuation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the traditional screw-and-knob mechanical system with a rack-and-pinion system actuated by a push-button mechanism, substituting high-force rotational mechanics with low-force linear actuation that is easier for children and persons with limited hand strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the dispenser accommodates both forward and reverse travel of the squeezing member, then it can service the entire container, but this makes the dispenser complex with many moving parts that are not economical to manufacture or repair

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention simplifies the system by inverting the approach: instead of making the squeezing member bidirectional, it makes the frame assembly unidirectional and movable, thereby reducing the number of moving parts and simplifying the mechanical system while maintaining the ability to service the entire container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design reduces user fatigue and mechanical stress by eliminating reverse travel and lowering the force needed for actuation, making the dispenser more efficient and accessible for various users, including children and those with limited strength.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elongate drive member having first and second drive member ends and substantially extending between the first and second assembly ends

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

first and second drive trains each having a plurality of interconnected gears and each being respectively operatively coupled to the first and second drive member ends

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentUS7694849B1Product dispenser with crankable assembly

Publication Date: 2010.04.13 TURNOUT PRODS

AI summary

A product dispenser for compelling a flowable product from a container comprising a frame assembly having first and second opposed frame assembly ends, first and second opposed dispensing notches respectively on the first and second frame assembly ends, at least one elongate drive member substantially extending between the first and second assembly ends and having first and second drive member ends. The dispenser may also have first and second drive trains each comprising a plurality of interconnected gears and each respectively operatively coupled to the first and second drive member ends, a driven member threadably coupled to the elongate drive member and adapted to travel between the first and second frame assembly ends, and a crank assembly adapted to be selectively operatively coupled to one of the drive trains. Actuation of the crank assembly may cause travel of the driven member between the first and second frame assembly ends.