Applicator With Elastic Member For Consistent Sheet Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Variations in the application force of sheet members for administering active ingredients through the skin occur due to individual differences in user application, leading to inconsistent administration.
Innovation Solution
An applicator with a body, a cap that moves orthogonally to the bottom plate, and an elastic member that applies force to the cap, ensuring a consistent pressing force is applied to the sheet member, which is then bent by a bending portion to secure it to the skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sheet member is applied to skin by hand or using auxiliary tools, then the application process is simple, but the pressing force varies among users leading to inconsistent active ingredient administration
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is designed to automatically apply the sheet member to the skin with consistent pressing force without requiring manual pressure application. The elastic member self-generates the pressing force through its elasticity, eliminating the need for users to manually control the pressure, thus achieving both ease of operation and reliable consistent administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force parameter is controlled by the elastic member's physical properties (elasticity, pre-compression) rather than user input. By designing the elastic member with specific elastic coefficients and pre-compression amounts, the patent standardizes the pressing force parameter across all users, ensuring consistent active ingredient administration while maintaining simple operation.
2Device complexity
If manual application is used, then device complexity is low, but variations in pressing force occur leading to inconsistent application conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member automatically generates and maintains the pressing force without requiring complex control systems. This self-service mechanism achieves uniform pressing force through the inherent elasticity of the member, providing reliable manufacturing precision while keeping the device structure simple and avoiding complex actuators or sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary between the applicator body and the sheet member, mediating the force transmission. This intermediary component standardizes the pressing force through its elastic properties, ensuring uniform application conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure that does not require complex force control mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If no pressing mechanism is used, then the device is simple, but insufficient pressing force is applied to the sheet member
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member self-generates the necessary pressing force through its elastic recovery after being compressed during assembly. This self-service force generation mechanism provides sufficient pressing force to ensure proper sheet member application without requiring external power sources, motors, or complex mechanical pressing mechanisms, thus maintaining device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-compressed during applicator assembly, storing elastic potential energy in advance. When the applicator is applied to the skin, this pre-stored energy is released as pressing force on the sheet member. This preliminary action ensures sufficient pressing force is available without requiring complex active pressing mechanisms during the actual application process.
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 applicator reduces variations in the application of sheet members to the skin, ensuring a consistent and appropriate force is applied, enhancing the uniformity of active ingredient administration.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member configured to extend along the slide direction between the body and the cap. The elastic member applies, to the cap, elastic force that acts in a direction away from the bottom plate
Data Source
AI summary
An applicator of one embodiment is for applying a sheet member to skin. The applicator includes: a body including a bottom plate configured to face the skin and a bending portion provided to the bottom plate; a cap being movable along a slide direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom plate; and an elastic member configured to extend along the slide direction between the body and the cap. The elastic member applies, to the cap, elastic force that acts in a direction away from the bottom plate, the cap being movable toward the bottom plate against the elastic force. The bending portion bends the sheet member that has advanced thereto in a pressed state in which the cap has been moved toward the bottom plate, thereby applying the sheet member to the skin.