Dispenser for rolled sheet materials with motorized spindle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic dispensers for flexible sheet materials face issues such as high manufacturing costs due to complex mechanisms, static electricity accumulation, noise during operation, and hygiene concerns in public environments.
Innovation Solution
An electronic dispenser with a motorized feed roll assembly, including a gear system and pressing rollers, that uses a sensor-activated motor to dispense sheet material hygienically, reduces noise, and incorporates a gear reducer and clutch for efficient operation, along with a pivotally mounted pawl member and adjustable sensors for controlled dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional motors and drive systems are used in electronic dispensers, then automated dispensing control is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motor from its conventional separate mounting position and relocates it inside the hollow interior of the feed roller. This integration eliminates the need for separate motor mounting structures, gearboxes, and coupling mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining automated dispensing control. The motor directly drives the feed roller through its hollow core, simplifying the drive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the motor and feed roller into a single integrated assembly where the motor is housed within the feed roller's hollow interior. This combination reduces the number of separate components, simplifies the overall structure, and decreases device complexity while achieving automated dispensing control through the integrated motor-roller system.
2Productivity
If conventional rollers and drive systems are used, then sheet material dispensing is achieved, but noise during operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes conventional noisy gearboxes, belts, and external drive mechanisms from the system. By placing the motor inside the feed roller and using direct drive, it eliminates the noise-generating intermediate transmission components while maintaining effective sheet material dispensing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hollow feed roller structure as an intermediary that houses the motor internally. This intermediate structure allows direct coupling between the motor shaft and the feed roller core, eliminating noisy mechanical transmissions while effectively transferring rotational motion for sheet material dispensing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If static dissipative measures are added to dispensers, then static electricity accumulation is reduced, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies static dissipative properties locally to the feed roller material rather than requiring system-wide modifications. The feed roller is made from a material with inherent static dissipative characteristics, providing localized electrostatic control where it is most needed (at the sheet material contact point) without adding complex system-wide modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the feed roller to have static dissipative properties. By selecting a material with appropriate electrical resistance characteristics, the system naturally dissipates static electricity without requiring additional active components, circuitry, or complex structural modifications.
4Device complexity
If integrated motorized feed roller is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the feed roller into functional zones: the hollow interior houses the motor, the outer surface contacts the sheet material, and the structural wall provides mechanical support. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently, with the motor mounting area designed for ease of assembly while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses conventional motor and roller design patterns that have been proven manufacturable. The motor is mounted using standard mounting techniques within the hollow space, and the overall structure follows established manufacturing practices, avoiding the need for exotic or highly precision-dependent manufacturing methods.
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 dispenser provides consistent, controlled dispensing of sheet material while minimizing noise, reducing manufacturing costs, and enhancing hygiene by using a sensor-activated motor and gear system, allowing for both automatic and manual dispensing modes.
Implementation Method 1
a motor that can be at least partially received within the internal chamber or recess of the feed roller body so as to be at least partially or substantially integrated therein, and can be operable in response to a signal(s) from the electronic sensor to rotate the feed roll
Implementation Method 2
The drive system also can include a gear assembly and one or more bearings that rotatably support the motor within the feed roller body as the feed roller is driven/rotated thereabout.
Implementation Method 3
one or more bearings that rotatably support the motor within the feed roller body as the feed roller is driven/rotated thereabout
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material may include a driven feed roller assembly that is operable to dispense the sheet material though a discharge chute of a housing of the dispenser. The feed roller assembly can comprise a feed roller rotatably mounted within the dispenser housing that includes a body having an outer surface against which the sheet material is engaged to feed the sheet material toward the discharge chute, as well as a drive mechanism that is substantially integrated within the body of the feed roller and operable to drive the feed roller. The dispenser also may include one or more pressing rollers biased toward the body of the feed roller so as to engage the sheet material therebetween, and a control system linked to the drive mechanism to control the operation thereof.