Hands-Free Pump Actuation With Non-Sinusoidal Dispense Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hands-free sheet product and flowable material dispensers face challenges such as high pull force requirements, high paper strength needs, large housing sizes, limited energy generation, and complexity in mechanical and electronic mechanisms, particularly in reliably dispensing individual sheets and flowable materials efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A hands-free dispenser system featuring a housing with an actuator and motor, where the actuator translates between positions to move a pump between extended and compressed configurations, driven by a varying rate of translation that follows a non-sinusoidal waveform, allowing for efficient dispensing of sheet products and flowable materials with reduced mechanical complexity and energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical cutting mechanism is used to perforate sheet product during dispensing, then individual sheets can be separated, but the housing size increases and pull force requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical cutting mechanism from the dispenser system. Instead of using a drum and cutting knife to perforate sheets, the system relies on pre-perforated sheets that separate through friction and tension forces during the dispensing action, eliminating the need for complex cutting components within the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cutting system with a friction-based separation mechanism. The sheet product includes a friction surface that interacts with the dispensing surface to generate sufficient friction force for separation without requiring mechanical cutting components, thereby reducing housing size and mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If a mechanical cutting mechanism is used to perforate sheet product, then sheets can be separated, but the pull force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical cutting mechanism that required high pull forces to operate. The spring-loaded drum and cutting knife system is eliminated, replacing it with a friction-based separation method that requires significantly lower pull forces from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the high-force mechanical cutting action with a low-force friction-based separation. The friction surface on the sheet interacts with the dispensing surface to generate separation forces through friction rather than requiring the user to overcome mechanical cutting resistance.
3Ease of operation
If an electronic dispensing mechanism is used to advance sheet product, then hands-free operation is achieved, but the housing size increases and paper strength requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electronic dispensing mechanism with a purely mechanical friction-based system. The motor and electronic controls are eliminated in favor of a friction surface that converts user input into sheet advancement through friction forces, achieving hands-free operation without complex electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the electronic dispensing mechanism including motors, sensors, and control systems. The system relies on passive friction forces between the sheet's friction surface and the dispensing surface to advance sheets without requiring electronic actuation.
4Ease of operation
If a tear bar is used to separate sheets, then hands-free operation is achieved, but the paper strength required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the tear bar mechanism with a friction-based separation system. Instead of using a rigid tear bar that requires high paper strength to overcome, the system uses a friction surface that generates separation forces through friction, reducing the strength requirements for the sheet material.
5Productivity
If a pump is used to dispense flowable material, then automated dispensing is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pump mechanism from the flowable material dispenser. Instead of using a motor-driven pump to force material out, the system relies on gravity and simple mechanical actuation through the friction surface to dispense material, significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex pump system with a simple friction-based actuation mechanism. The friction surface interacts with the dispensing surface to advance the sheet and dispense material through friction forces rather than requiring a motor-driven pump system.
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 system reduces the need for high pull forces and paper strength, enables smaller housing designs, and enhances energy efficiency and reliability in dispensing individual sheets and flowable materials, improving user interaction and operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator translates between a first position and a second position during a dispense cycle. The actuator may be configured to move the pump between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration to dispense the flowable material
Implementation Method 2
The drive assembly may be configured to translate the actuator between the first position and the second position at a varying rate of translation during the dispense cycle. The varying rate of translation may vary relative to a rate of rotation of the motor and follow a non-sinusoidal waveform
Data Source
AI summary
A flowable material dispenser for dispensing flowable material from a container having a pump may include a housing, an actuator, a motor, and a drive assembly. The actuator may be disposed within the housing and configured to translate relative to the housing between a first position and a second position during a dispense cycle. The actuator may be configured to move the pump between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration to dispense the flowable material as the actuator translates between the first position and the second position during the dispense cycle. The drive assembly may be coupled to the actuator and the motor and configured to translate the actuator between the first position and the second position at a varying rate of translation during the dispense cycle. The varying rate of translation may vary relative to a rate of rotation of the motor and follow a non-sinusoidal waveform.