Feminine Hygiene Dispenser Trigger Suction Cup Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vending machines for feminine hygiene products in low-traffic areas face challenges due to the need for large capacity dispensers, which are costly and may encourage over-dispensing, as users lack control over the quantity dispensed.
Innovation Solution
A vending machine design featuring a weight indicator system with a suction cup and delivery tray mechanism, where the trigger actuates the suction cup to hold the product until the compressed state, preventing immediate retrieval and allowing controlled dispensing, thereby limiting the number of products taken.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large capacity dispenser is used, then the storage area is sufficient, but the cost increases and over-dispensing is more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into multiple individual product compartments, each containing a single feminine hygiene product. This segmentation allows the system to provide limited, controlled quantities (one at a time) while maintaining sufficient storage capacity through multiple discrete units, thereby reducing overall cost compared to a single large-capacity dispenser.
Solution Approach 2:
The products are pre-positioned in individual compartments within the dispenser, ready for immediate dispensing. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when a user activates the trigger, exactly one product is dispensed without requiring the user to manually select or take multiple products, thus preventing over-dispensing while maintaining adequate storage.
2Quantity of substance
If a large capacity dispenser is used, then the storage area is sufficient, but the likelihood of removing more products than necessary increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser divides the product storage into separate, individual compartments, each containing one product. This segmentation physically isolates each product and allows the trigger mechanism to dispense only one unit at a time, preventing users from removing multiple products simultaneously and thereby reducing over-dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user and the products. When the trigger is activated, it mechanically activates the suction cup to release exactly one product from its compartment. This intermediary control ensures that users can only obtain one product at a time, preventing over-dispensing while still providing adequate storage capacity through multiple compartments.
3Ease of manufacture
If a small capacity dispenser is used, then the cost is reduced, but the likelihood of over-dispensing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser uses multiple small, individual compartments rather than a single large compartment. Each compartment holds one product and is independently accessible through the trigger mechanism. This segmented approach maintains low cost while preventing over-dispensing, as the trigger can only activate one compartment at a time.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger mechanism serves as an intermediary that controls access to the products. When activated, it mechanically engages the suction cup to release exactly one product from its compartment. This intermediary control ensures that even though multiple products are stored in separate compartments, users can only retrieve one at a time, preventing over-dispensing in a cost-effective design.
4Ease of operation
If a trigger mechanism with suction cup is used, then controlled dispensing is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup mechanism is designed to automatically adhere to the product compartment and release the product when the trigger is activated. The suction cup self-activates the dispensing action through its own adhesion properties, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages or additional actuators. This self-service approach achieves controlled dispensing while minimizing mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical dispensing mechanisms with a suction-based system. Instead of using springs, levers, or cam mechanisms to hold and release products, the invention uses the suction cup's adhesive properties to secure and dispense products. This substitution of mechanical systems with a simpler suction-based approach achieves controlled dispensing with reduced device complexity.
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 system effectively reduces over-dispensing by ensuring only one product is dispensed at a time, addressing the cost and capacity issues while promoting responsible usage.
Implementation Method 1
A product dispensing module includes a suction cup, a delivery tray, and a trigger operatively connected to the suction cup and to the delivery tray
Data Source
AI summary
A feminine hygiene product dispenser for dispensing feminine hygiene products. The dispenser includes a rack to hold the feminine hygiene products. A weight is adapted to fit within the rack, wherein the weight is supported by a last feminine hygiene product to be dispensed from the rack, the weight including an indicator. A housing includes a door, wherein the door has a window through which the indicator appears in the absence the plurality of feminine hygiene products. A product dispensing module includes a suction cup, a delivery tray, and a trigger operatively connected to the suction cup and to the delivery tray, wherein actuation of the trigger moves the suction cup to a holding position and positions the delivery tray to a product delivery position. The trigger slides freely when the suction cup is in the holding position to prevent the delivery tray from dispensing one of the feminine hygiene products.