End Plug Locking Geometry for Easy Roll Insertion and Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensers for rolls of material, such as tissue paper, face challenges in ensuring easy insertability and secure locking of end plugs within retention mechanisms, leading to issues with exchangeability and stability.
Innovation Solution
The design of an end plug with a locking portion positioned between inclined surfaces, allowing for adjustable geometry to fit various retention mechanisms, enhances insertability and locking force, featuring a bearing pin with varying diameters and a locking portion that can be customized to provide reliable locking and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple bearing pin is used for the end plug, then the device complexity is reduced, but the locking force and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing pin is segmented into multiple portions with different diameters (first portion with larger diameter, second portion with smaller diameter). This segmentation allows the end plug to provide both structural simplicity and reliable locking through the geometric interaction between the stepped surfaces and the retention mechanism's locking member, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and locking reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the locking portion is positioned closer to the end face, then the insertability is improved, but the locking stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the bearing pin are assigned different diameters and functions: the first portion (closer to end face) with larger diameter facilitates insertion, while the second portion with smaller diameter provides stable locking. The locking portion is positioned at a specific distance from the end face to optimize both insertability and locking stability through localized geometric properties.
3Manufacturing precision
If a fixed geometry end plug is used, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to different retention mechanisms is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The end plug design incorporates variable parameters including different diameters for different portions of the bearing pin, adjustable positioning of the locking portion relative to the end face, and configurable inclination angles of locking surfaces. These parameter variations enable the same basic design to adapt to different retention mechanism geometries while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized production methods.
Data Source
AI summary
An end plug for a roll of material to be inserted into a retention mechanism, includes: a receiving portion for insertion in the roll, an end face for contacting the mechanism and a bearing member for insertion into the mechanism. The bearing member includes a bearing pin having a counter surface facing the end face and at least one portion for locking the end plug in an end position in the mechanism, the locking portion being positioned within a zone defined by a first surface extending towards the end face from an intersection position with the bearing pin, the first surface being inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bearing pin by an angle of 117 and a second surface extending towards the end face from the intersection position, the second surface being inclined with respect to the axis of the bearing pin by an angle of 141.