Product dispensing system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional personal care product and personal protective equipment (PPE) dispensing systems are inefficient due to robust individual packaging, leading to increased costs, waste, and inconvenience, particularly in situations where timely restocking is difficult and products are not readily available, causing health and hygiene issues.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing system that uses assemblies of products held together by a strap or securing element, allowing for bulk loading and dispensing, with a mechanism that prevents over-dispensing and provides a view of remaining inventory, reducing packaging waste and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If robust individual packaging is used for each product, then product protection during transportation and dispensing is improved, but dispensing system size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct protectionVSAvoiddispensing system size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individually packaged products are merged into a single multi-pack unit that can be loaded into the dispensing system as one assembly, reducing the overall volume required in the dispensing system while maintaining individual product protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Individual product packages are nested within a larger dispensing assembly container, allowing multiple products to be compactly arranged within the dispensing system volume, maximizing space utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If robust individual packaging is used for each product, then product protection during transportation is improved, but packaging waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct protectionVSAvoidpackaging waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing system is designed to retain and reuse the outer assembly container while individual product packages are dispensed and removed, separating the reusable structural component from the consumable product packaging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The outer assembly container serves multiple functions: protecting products during transportation, facilitating bulk loading into the dispensing system, and acting as a reusable structural element within the dispenser, reducing the need for additional packaging materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If conventional dispensing systems are built robustly to withstand improper usage, then system durability is improved, but product cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem durabilityVSAvoidproduct cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing system is segmented into a durable fixed housing and replaceable internal assemblies, allowing the critical structural components to be built robustly while the consumable product assemblies can be economically replaced rather than repaired

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The product assemblies are designed as disposable or replaceable units that can be economically manufactured and replaced, shifting the durability requirement to the permanent housing while allowing cost-effective consumable components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of operation

If individual items are placed into conventional dispensing system one by one, then product loading is simplified, but time consumption and product damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading simplicityVSAvoidrestocking time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual product packages are combined into a single pre-assembled multi-pack unit that can be loaded into the dispensing system in one operation, maintaining loading simplicity while dramatically reducing restocking time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Products are pre-assembled into ready-to-load configurations with attached support structures before being placed into the dispensing system, eliminating the need for time-consuming individual assembly during restocking operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

5Manufacturing precision

If individual items are placed into conventional dispensing system one by one, then product placement is controlled, but health and cleanliness concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct placement controlVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple products are combined into a single sealed or protected assembly that maintains product integrity during storage and loading, reducing exposure to contamination while allowing controlled dispensing of individual items

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The assembly support structure acts as an intermediary carrier that protects individual products from direct contact and contamination during handling and loading, while still allowing precise positioning within the dispensing system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11532197B2Product dispensing system

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 AUNT FLOW CORP

AI summary

A dispensing unit for personal care products and personal protective equipment includes one or more dispensing assemblies contained within a single housing. The dispensing unit may contain dispensing assemblies that independently dispense two different types of products. Each dispensing assembly includes an actuator that mechanically injects a time delay between dispensings. Products are bundled together with support structures that are removed when the bundles are placed into a dispensing assembly.