Fixed-Nip Tissue Roll Dispenser for Jam-Free Sheet Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispenser assemblies for tissue paper rolls with overlapping webs face complexity in separating sheets due to flexible fingers and nip controllers that are sensitive to the weight reduction of the roll, leading to issues like over-spinning and jamming.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser assembly with a base, first roller, and counter roller positioned to create a fixed nip, generating a braking force to break the line of weakness, along with a cradle to support the roll and decoupling rollers to manage unwinding direction, reducing the risk of over-spinning and jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible fingers and nip controller are used to separate sheets and adapt to roll weight reduction, then sheet separation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex flexible fingers and nip controller mechanisms from the dispenser assembly. Instead, it uses a simple fixed nip between rollers combined with offset lines of weakness in the tissue webs to achieve sheet separation, thereby extracting the problematic complex components while maintaining the separation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset lines of weakness in the two overlapping webs are designed to automatically separate sheets as the roll unwinds through the fixed nip, without requiring active control mechanisms. The system uses the inherent structure of the tissue roll itself to perform the separation function, eliminating the need for complex adaptive controllers.
2Ease of operation
If flexible fingers and nip controller are used to separate sheets, then sheet distribution is adapted, but reliability decreases due to over-spinning and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the unreliable flexible fingers and nip controller that caused over-spinning and jamming issues. The fixed nip design eliminates the complexity and reliability problems associated with adaptive control mechanisms while maintaining effective sheet distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset lines of weakness are designed to break easily and intentionally during normal operation, allowing sheets to separate cleanly. This sacrificial design element ensures reliable sheet distribution without requiring durable, complex control mechanisms that are prone to failure.
3Reliability
If fixed nip is used to generate braking force, then sheet breakage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the braking function and sheet separation function into a single fixed nip between the first roller and counter roller means. This merged design achieves both sheet breakage prevention and separation without requiring additional complex mechanisms, as the fixed nip simultaneously provides the necessary braking force and separation action.
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 solution enables reliable tangential dispensing, reduces the risk of sheet breakage, and facilitates easy maintenance by preventing unauthorized stuffing, ensuring a controlled and qualitative service.
Implementation Method 1
the first roller and the counter roller means are positioned relatively to each other spaced according to a fixed nip therebetween such as to generate a braking force on the sheet material sufficient to break the line of weakness
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser assembly designed to tangentially dispense a sheet from a roll of sheet material including sheet material formed from two webs, each web having lines of weakness positioned transversely across the web which allows the web to be separated into a plurality of sheets, the lines of weakness of one web being offset from those of the other web. The dispenser assembly includes (1) a base arranged to hold the roll of sheet material and to couple the dispenser assembly with an environment structure; (2) a first roller and a counter roller between which the sheet material is movable towards a dispensing outlet; and (3) a cradle arranged to support the roll of sheet material and to unwind the sheet material towards the first roller whatever a consumption level of the roll of sheet material. The first roller and the counter roller are positioned relatively to each other spaced according to a fixed nip therebetween to generate a braking force on the sheet material sufficient to break the line of weakness of the web at the dispensing outlet or downstream the dispensing outlet.