Inductive Trash Can Cover Mechanism for Rapid Opening and Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic inductive trash cans suffer from slow cover opening, inadequate safety mechanisms, and space occupancy by motors, leading to user inconvenience and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an inductor, linkage switch, first elastic element, engagement element, and drive assembly enables progressive automatic cover opening and instant closure, with a safety mechanism to interrupt abnormal closing actions, utilizing a combination of elastic forces and engagement rods to ensure quick operation and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a motor is installed inside the trash can to enable automatic cover opening, then the trash can can open automatically, but the internal usable space of the trash can becomes small and the opening is narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the interior space of the trash can and relocated to the exterior, specifically positioned on the combination seat. This extraction eliminates the space occupation problem while maintaining the automatic opening function, as the motor can still drive the rotary frame through the existing mechanical linkage without intruding into the trash can's internal volume.
2Speed
If the motor rotating speed is increased to enable faster cover opening, then the cover opening speed improves, but the motor occupies more internal space and may cause safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional high-speed motor-driven mechanical system with an elastic force-based system. The first elastic element stores and releases elastic energy to rapidly rotate the rotary frame, achieving fast cover opening without requiring a high-speed motor. This substitution eliminates the need for a large, high-power motor while maintaining or improving the opening speed.
3Reliability
If safety mechanisms using inductors are installed to detect users, then automatic closing function is provided, but the response may be delayed or malfunction due to blind spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical safety mechanism involving the engagement element, engagement rod, and linkage switch. This mechanical intermediary works in conjunction with the inductor to provide redundant safety detection. The engagement rod can physically interrupt the closing action when obstruction is detected, providing immediate mechanical response that complements and compensates for the limitations of the inductor-based detection system.
4Ease of operation
If the trash can uses conventional automatic opening structure with inductor, then hygienic automatic operation is achieved, but user convenience is reduced due to slow response
Solution Approach 1:
The first elastic element is pre-loaded and stores elastic energy in advance, ready to immediately drive the cover opening when triggered. This preliminary preparation of elastic force eliminates the delay associated with motor acceleration and startup, enabling instant cover opening response when the inductor detects the user, thereby significantly improving user convenience.
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
This solution achieves rapid cover opening and closing, enhances user safety, and optimizes space usage by eliminating the need for internal motor components, addressing the limitations of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one inductor, configured on one side of the upper cover assembly, and adapted to drive the linkage switch when sensing an object
Implementation Method 2
the elastic force of the first elastic element is used to rotate the control element and further to move the rotary protrusion of the rotary frame therewith to cause the rotary frame to drive the rotary sheets to move to open the trash can quickly
Implementation Method 3
the elastic force of the second elastic element causes the engagement rod to be in engagement with the engagement element again and open the drive device at the same time
Data Source
AI summary
An inductive trash can structure mainly includes a upper cover assembly constituted by a combination seat, rotary frame, rotary protrusion and rotary sheets, control element, first elastic element, engagement element, drive assembly constituted by a movable carrier, engagement rod and drive element, linkage switch, at least one second elastic element, at least one inductor and at least one power supply. The rotary sheets is used as a trash can cover to reduce the space required for a cover opening action, the inductor is adapted to open and close the upper cover assembly with its automatic induction to increase use hygiene, the first elastic element is used to open the cover instantly, and the closing of the drive assembly allows use safety.