Extendable Bag Roller for Texture Sprayers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Texture sprayers face challenges with bag material exchange, as it is cumbersome and messy, especially when dealing with varying bag sizes, leading to product waste and instability during the emptying process.

Innovation Solution

An extendable bag roller with a movable extension that adjusts to accommodate different bag sizes, allowing for seamless support and efficient material extraction without repositioning, reducing waste and slippage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-size bag support is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different bag sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different bag sizesVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bag support incorporates a movable extension that can be adjusted between different positions to accommodate bags of varying sizes. The extension can be moved along the curved surface to extend or retract the support area, allowing the same fixed structure to dynamically adapt to different bag dimensions without requiring multiple fixed configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bag support is divided into a base portion and a separate movable extension portion. This segmentation allows the extension to be independently adjusted and positioned along the curved surface, enabling the system to accommodate different bag sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be reconfigured as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the bag support area is increased to accommodate longer bags, then all bag sizes can be supported, but shorter bags become unstable and waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag size accommodationVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The movable extension allows the bag support area to be dynamically adjusted based on the specific bag size being used. For shorter bags, the extension can be retracted to minimize the support area, preventing material from spilling onto unnecessary surfaces and reducing waste. For longer bags, the extension can be extended to provide adequate support. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal support for each bag size while minimizing material loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed bag support is used, then the device is simple to operate, but repositioning is required for different bag sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag size flexibilityVSAvoidrepositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The movable extension can be quickly adjusted along the curved surface to accommodate different bag sizes without requiring complete repositioning of the entire bag support system. Users can simply move the extension to the appropriate position and lock it in place, significantly reducing the time and effort required to switch between different bag sizes compared to repositioning the entire support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the extension is made movable to accommodate different bag sizes, then versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag size adjustment capabilityVSAvoidextension mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extension is designed to be movable along the curved surface with a relatively simple mechanism that allows users to adjust its position easily. The movement is constrained to a single degree of freedom along the curved path, and the extension can be locked in place at various positions, providing bag size adjustment capability without requiring a complex multi-component mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By separating the bag support into a base portion and a movable extension portion, the design allows the extension to be independently adjusted without affecting the rest of the system. This segmentation simplifies the overall mechanism by allowing the extension to be moved and locked independently, reducing the complexity compared to a fully integrated adjustable structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 extendable bag roller ensures proper positioning and balance of bags of various lengths, allowing for complete emptying without waste or mess, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing cleanup efforts.

Implementation Method 1

a roller that rolls along the curved surface of the bag support to squeeze the material out of the bag

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3354348B1Texture sprayer bag roller extension
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 GRACO MINNESTOA INC
  • EP3354348B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3354348B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3354348B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An extendable bag roller (24) for supporting a bag of material during removal of the material from the bag includes a bag support (25) having a curved surface (28) configured to support the bag of material on the curved surface (28) and a roller (44) that rolls along the curved surface of the bag support to squeeze the material out of the bag. The bag support includes a base (26) defining a first portion of the curved surface (28) of the bag support and an extension (27) defining a second portion of the curved surface of the bag support, the extension (27) being moveable to selectively increase and decrease the area of the curved surface of the bag support to accommodate different bag sizes.