Paper product dispenser cutting system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumable product dispensers, such as bath tissue dispensers, often face issues with excessive product usage and difficulty in tearing the tissue from the roll, leading to wastage and potential user confusion about product availability.
Innovation Solution
A paper product dispenser with a rotating member and cutting blade system that automatically cuts a specified length of product from the roll during dispensing, ensuring controlled usage and presenting a sufficient tail for user access, thereby preventing excessive consumption and maintaining product availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If no cutting system is provided, then users can freely withdraw product, but this leads to excessive product usage and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade system operates automatically through the rotating member mechanism, detecting when a sufficient length of product has been withdrawn and self-activating to sever the product without requiring user intervention. This eliminates the need for manual cutting while preventing excessive withdrawal.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating member provides feedback on the amount of product withdrawn by measuring the rotation angle or distance. When the predetermined length is reached, this feedback triggers the cutting blade to activate, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents over-withdrawal.
2Reliability
If a cutting blade is always in contact with the cutting surface, then cutting is always ready, but this increases device complexity and potential for malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade transitions from a static always-contact configuration to a dynamic movable configuration. The blade is positioned to contact the cutting surface only when needed, reducing friction and wear during non-cutting periods while maintaining cutting readiness when activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blade engages the cutting surface periodically rather than continuously. The rotating member controls the blade to contact the cutting surface only at the moment of cutting, then disengage, creating a periodic action that reduces wear and simplifies the mechanism.
3Loss of substance
If the cutting blade cuts too much product, then excessive usage is prevented, but not enough product remains to present a tail for user access
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual estimation of product length with a mechanical measurement system. The rotating member mechanically measures the withdrawal distance, ensuring precise control of the cut length to maintain the optimal balance between waste prevention and accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and apparatus for dispensing of paper products. A paper product dispenser comprising a housing comprising a product holding area configured to hold a roll; a rotating member configured to rotate, in a first direction, in response to rotation of the roll; a cutting surface in the housing; a cutting blade coupled to the rotating member and having a first position, and a second position in which the cutting blade is in contact with the cutting surface, wherein the rotating member is configured to (i) move the cutting blade from the first position to the second position during a first portion of a rotation cycle of the roll in the first direction and (ii) move the cutting blade from the second position to the first position during a second portion of the rotation cycle of the roll in the first direction.