Drive Assembly Isolation in Product Dispensers for Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated product dispensers with motors and drivetrains emit high sound power levels due to vibrations, which are transmitted to other components, causing noise and potential functional issues.

Innovation Solution

The integration of an isolation member, such as an isolation bushing or mount, between the drive assembly and the chassis assembly in automated product dispensers, which mounts the drive assembly to be substantially spaced apart from the chassis frame, thereby inhibiting vibration transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the drive assembly is directly mounted to the chassis frame, then the structural complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but vibration transmission increases causing high sound power levels and potential functional issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidsound power level

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An isolation member is introduced as an intermediary component between the drive assembly and the chassis frame. This isolation member acts as a mediator that transmits necessary mechanical forces while blocking the transmission of vibrations, thereby reducing sound power levels without complicating the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful vibration transmission path is extracted from the system by introducing the isolation member, which selectively blocks vibration frequencies while maintaining the functional connection between the drive assembly and chassis frame

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If the drive assembly is directly mounted to the chassis frame, then the device complexity is reduced, but vibration transmission causes harmful effects to other components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation member serves as a simple intermediary component that adds minimal complexity to the device while effectively blocking vibration transmission to other components of the dispenser

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If an isolation member is introduced to mount the drive assembly apart from the chassis frame, then vibration transmission is inhibited and sound power levels are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound power levelVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A simple isolation member is introduced as a mediator between the drive assembly and chassis frame, adding minimal complexity while effectively reducing sound power levels by blocking vibration transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If the drive assembly is spaced apart from the chassis frame using an isolation member, then the integrity of dispenser components is maintained, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegrity of dispenser componentsVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation member acts as a simple intermediary component that protects the integrity of dispenser components by isolating them from vibrations, while maintaining ease of manufacture through a straightforward implementation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution effectively reduces sound power levels emitted during operation by isolating the drive assembly from the chassis, minimizing vibration transmission and maintaining the integrity of dispenser components.

Implementation Method 1

an isolation member that mounts the drive assembly to the chassis assembly such that the drive assembly is substantially spaced apart from the chassis frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Implementation Method 2

vibrations generated by the motor and the drivetrain, which are transmitted to other components of the dispenser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS11137059B2Automated product dispensers and related methods for isolating a drive assembly to inhibit vibration transmission

Publication Date: 2021.10.05 GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

An automated product dispenser for dispensing a product from a supply of product is provided. The automated product dispenser includes a chassis assembly, a drive assembly, and an isolation member. The chassis assembly includes a chassis frame, and the drive assembly includes a motor, a drivetrain, and a drivetrain housing. The isolation member mounts the drive assembly to the chassis assembly such that the drive assembly is substantially spaced apart from the chassis frame. A related method of inhibiting vibration transmission in an automated product dispenser also is provided.