Dual-Roll Tissue Dispenser Closure for Spare Roll Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensers for rolls of tissue paper in public restrooms fail to reliably protect the spare roll from soiling and require high spring forces for automatic closure, making them difficult to slide and expensive to construct.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with a housing accommodating two rolls, featuring a slidable closure with rotatably connected walls and tension springs, where the closure is guided to block access to the spare roll until a predetermined amount of paper is dispensed, using bumps and a rib to reduce spring force requirements and ensure secure protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slidable closure with rotatably connected walls is used to protect the spare roll, then the spare roll is protected from soiling, but high spring forces are required making it difficult to slide and expensive to construct
Solution Approach 1:
The closure body is divided into two rotatably connected walls that can move independently. Each wall is connected to the body via a rotation axis, allowing the closure to segment its movement and reduce the force required to slide the entire closure at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The walls are designed to rotate dynamically during the sliding process. As one wall rotates during movement, it creates mechanical advantage that reduces the spring force required. The dynamic rotation allows the closure to transition from a static high-force requirement to a dynamic low-force operation.
2Reliability
If high spring forces are used to ensure automatic closure, then the spare roll is reliably protected, but the construction becomes expensive and the closure becomes difficult to slide
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system uses dynamic rotation of walls during opening and closing to reduce the spring force requirement. The rotational movement creates mechanical leverage that amplifies the effect of smaller spring forces, maintaining reliable automatic closure without requiring expensive high-force springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation axes act as intermediaries between the spring force and the closure movement. These axes transform the linear spring force into rotational motion, providing mechanical advantage and reducing the overall force requirement while maintaining reliable closure functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the closure is designed to block access to the spare roll, then soiling is prevented, but access to the next roll is restricted until predetermined paper amount is dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the position of the walls indicates the amount of paper remaining on the current roll. As paper is dispensed and the roll diameter decreases, the walls naturally rotate further, automatically adjusting the closure position to maintain protection while preparing for the next roll access.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system is self-regulating through the rotational movement of its walls. The walls automatically adjust their position based on the paper consumption level, providing protection when needed and allowing access when the roll is depleted, without requiring external intervention or complex control mechanisms.
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 effectively protects the spare roll from soiling and reduces the need for high spring forces, allowing for easier access to the next roll when the current one is nearly dispensed, while maintaining mechanical strength and preventing rotation of the rolls.
Implementation Method 1
first and second walls are urged toward each other to respectively position second edges of the first and second walls opposite to the first edges in a blocking position
Implementation Method 2
first and second walls are each rotatably connected to the body at a first edge
Data Source
AI summary
Dispenser includes housing for at least two rolls of tissue paper, access opening in housing, and closure selectively closing a portion of access opening. Closure includes body, first wall movably connected to body at first edge of first wall; and second wall movably connected to body at first edge of second wall. First and second wall are urged toward each other to respectively position second edges of first and second walls opposite to first edges in a blocking position in which sliding of closure into first or second position is blocked until a predetermined amount of paper of second or first roll, respectively, has been dispensed. Closure includes first and second spring urging first and second walls, respectively, toward each other, spring force of first and second springs being configured to automatically return closure into first or second position, respectively, when sliding of the closure into first or second position, respectively, is blocked.