Direct Drive Electric Toothbrush Cam Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric toothbrushes require complicated and expensive precision gearing mechanisms to move bristle holders, which increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A direct drive electric toothbrush design featuring a plastic cam attached to a drive shaft that translates rotary motion into oscillatory motion for the bristle holder, eliminating the need for precision gearing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If precision gearing mechanisms are used to move bristle holders, then the desired motion can be achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex precision gearing mechanisms from the toothbrush design. Instead of using gears to achieve the desired oscillatory motion, the invention uses a directly driven cam mechanism that converts rotary motion from the motor into the required oscillating motion of the bristle holder, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining operational effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gearing system with a cam mechanism. The cam, driven directly by the motor through a drive shaft, transforms rotational motion into the desired oscillatory motion of the bristle holder. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple gear components, reducing mechanical complexity while achieving the same functional outcome
2Ease of operation
If precision gearing mechanisms are used to move bristle holders, then the desired motion can be achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive precision gearing components from the design. By using a directly driven cam mechanism, the invention eliminates the need for precision-machined gears, which are typically costly to manufacture. The simplified structure with fewer parts reduces both material costs and manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a cam mechanism that can be manufactured more economically than precision gearing systems. The cam and associated components can be produced using standard manufacturing processes without requiring high-precision machining, thereby reducing the overall manufacturing cost of the toothbrush while maintaining the required operational performance
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
Simplifies and reduces costs by providing effective oscillation of bristle holders with a more efficient and cost-effective mechanism, enhancing cleaning efficacy without the complexity of precision gearing.
Implementation Method 1
a cam having a cam lobe... the cam lobe imparts a pushing force on a first side wall of the cavity... the oscillatory head bristle holder being responsive thereto for rotation in a first direction, and a pushing force on a second wall of the cavity opposite the first wall in response to rotation of the drive shaft, the oscillatory head bristle holder being responsive thereto for rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
An electric toothbrush has an axially elongated body having a handle defining a hollow interior region for holding a motor disposed therein, a head comprising a static bristle holder plate having tufts of bristles disposed thereon and an oscillatory head bristle holder with other tufts of bristles disposed thereon. One end of the drive shaft is connected to the motor and an opposite end to a cam for directly driving the cam which has at least one lobe a portion of which cam is received in an oscillatory cavity for imparting a pushing force on the walls of the oscillatory cavity in response to rotation of the drive shaft for moving the oscillatory head bristle holder with a back and forth oscillatory motion. By eliminating the need for precision gearing, this direct drive arrangement simplifies and makes more efficient the translation of rotary motion into oscillatory motion.