Rotary Earplug Dispenser Clearance Design to Prevent Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earplug dispensers lack simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in dispensing earplugs, as they often result in jamming issues due to the interaction between rotating parts and earplugs.
Innovation Solution
An earplug dispenser design featuring a container with a downwardly opening mouth, a rotatable member with vertically extending conduits arranged in an annular array, and a cover with a cylindrical bearing surface to guide rotation, preventing jamming by maintaining a radial gap between the rotatable member and the cover surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotatable member is used to dispense earplugs, then earplugs can be dispensed one at a time, but earplugs may jam between the rotatable member and the cover surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific radial gap between the rotatable member's outer peripheral surface and the cover's inwardly facing cylindrical surface. This localized dimensional feature prevents earplugs from jamming in the interface region while maintaining the dispensing function. The gap dimension is carefully controlled to be large enough to prevent jamming but small enough to maintain structural integrity and proper alignment.
2Ease of operation
If the rotatable member is manually rotated, then earplugs can be dispensed, but the mechanical interaction may cause jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the dimensional parameters of the interface between the rotatable member and the cover. Specifically, the radial gap dimension is optimized to prevent jamming during manual rotation. Additionally, the cylindrical bearing surface and journal surface provide proper friction characteristics that enable smooth manual rotation while preventing unwanted movement or jamming.
3Productivity
If the conduits are arranged in an annular array, then one conduit aligns with the dispensing port at a time, but the mechanical structure may become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the rotatable member serve multiple functions: it holds multiple earplugs in conduits arranged in an annular array, provides a manual rotation interface through its outer peripheral surface, guides rotation through the cylindrical journal surface, and prevents jamming through the controlled radial gap. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each function, simplifying the overall mechanical structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An earplug dispenser (10) includes a container (12), a cover (14), and a rotatable member (16). The container (12) is adapted to hold a quantity of earplugs (18) to be dispensed, and has a downwardly opening mouth (20). The cover (14) is attached to the container (12) to close the downwardly opening mouth (20). The rotatable member (16) is carried in the cover (14) for rotation about a vertical axis (22). The cover (14) has a base (24), a dispensing port (26) extending through the base (24), and a facing cylindrical surface (28A) extending up from the base (24) and centered on the vertical axis (22). The rotatable member (16) has a plurality of conduits (29) extending vertically through the rotatable member (16), with each conduit (29) adapted to receive an earplug (18) from the container (12) and align one at a time with the dispensing port (26) to allow an earplug (18) carried in the conduit (29) to be dispensed downwardly through the dispensing port (26). The rotatable member (16) has an outer peripheral surface 34 at least partially surrounded by the cylindrical surface (28A) and accessible through an aperture (30) formed in the cover (14) for manual rotation of the rotatable member (16). The peripheral and cylindrical surfaces (34,28A) are sized relative to each other to prevent earplugs 18 from jamming therebetween during rotation of the rotatable member (16).