Jaw Mechanism Liner System for Faeces Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for collecting animal faeces, such as scoops and bag-based systems, often contaminate users and require cumbersome operations, risk leakage, and are not designed for repeated use without exposure to pathogens.

Innovation Solution

A device with a jaw mechanism covered by a liner that can be independently operated to collect and then convey faeces into a housing without contaminating internal parts, allowing for easy transport and disposal without direct contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a plastic bag is used to cover the hand and grab the material, then direct contact with faeces is avoided, but the user still feels the warm faeces through the bag and must bend down to pick up the waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser exposure to pathogensVSAvoidconvenience of collection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A disposable liner is introduced as an intermediary component between the collection device and the faeces. The liner contacts the faeces and is then discarded, preventing pathogens from contaminating the device or user. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining hygiene while allowing ergonomic device design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The collection system is segmented into reusable device components and a disposable liner component. The liner is separated from the main device, allowing the device to be designed for ergonomic operation while the liner provides the卫生 barrier. This segmentation enables both pathogen protection and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a scoop device is used to collect faeces, then collection efficiency is improved, but the device surfaces become contaminated requiring subsequent cleaning that exposes users to pathogens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollection efficiencyVSAvoiduser exposure to pathogens during cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liner is designed as a cheap, disposable component that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for cleaning the collection device, as the disposable liner protects the reusable device from contamination. The principle resolves the contradiction by sacrificing the liner rather than requiring user exposure during cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The contaminating element (liner) is extracted as a separate removable component from the main device. This allows the device to maintain high collection efficiency while the extracted liner carries all contamination, eliminating the need for device cleaning and associated pathogen exposure risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If a bag-based system is used to carry collected material, then transport is enabled, but the bag may be broken or ruptured by use on rough ground or while being carried

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport capabilityVSAvoidrisk of leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liner acts as a flexible protective shell that contains the faeces during collection and transport. Its flexible nature allows it to conform to the collection device and resist rupture under normal handling conditions, including rough ground use. The liner's film structure provides reliable containment while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Productivity

If existing scoop devices are used, then collection function is provided, but no provision is made for retention of the collected material requiring subsequent deposition in a container

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollection functionVSAvoidretention and transport of collected material

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collection device and retention container are merged into a single integrated unit. The liner extends from the collection jaws through the device body to the discharge end, allowing collected material to be retained within the liner and transported without requiring separate containers or additional operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2753763B1Device for collection of material from a surface

Publication Date: 2016.07.13 WILSON GRAHAM JOHN

Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3

AI summary

The invention provides a device (10, 210, 510) for collecting material from a surface. The device is particularly but not necessarily exclusively suited to collection of animal excreta, it has a jaw arrangement (22, 224, 524) which is able to be opened to define a mouth (28) for receiving the material to be collected, and to be closed to collect the material, A conveyor mechanism (44, 46, 364) is provided for advancing collected material into a housing (12, 512). A liner (33) is placed over the jaw arrangement to separate it from the material being collected. The conveyor mechanism serves to advance the liner along with the material collected therein, whereby the material is able to be collected into the housing and retained in the liner without making contact with surfaces of the device.