Rotatable Dispenser Opening to Reduce Sheet Product Frictional Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet product dispensers face issues with inconsistent frictional force during dispensing, leading to difficulties in tearing off individual sheets due to either inadequate or excessive force, and the leading edge often becoming stuck or difficult to access.
Innovation Solution
A sheet product dispenser with a rotatable dispensing member that adjusts its position to minimize the angle between the pulling direction and dispensing direction, reducing frictional force, and featuring a ball joint for additional degrees of freedom and a mechanical stop to prevent over-rotation, ensuring smooth sheet product extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed dispenser opening is used, then the structure is simple, but the frictional force applied to the sheet product is inconsistent leading to difficulty in tearing off individual sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser opening is made rotatable about a vertical axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation in response to lateral forces applied by the user. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the alignment between the pulling direction and dispensing direction, reducing frictional force and enabling easier sheet separation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If the dispenser opening is fixed, then the device complexity is low, but the leading edge of the sheet product becomes stuck or difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable dispenser opening dynamically repositions itself in response to lateral forces, ensuring the leading edge of the sheet product remains accessible and does not become stuck within the housing. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal alignment between the pulling direction and dispensing direction throughout the sheet extraction process.
3Ease of operation
If a sharp edge dispenser opening is used, then sheet product breaking is facilitated, but excessive frictional force causes the sheet to be separated into unsuitable small pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable dispenser opening reduces frictional force by optimizing alignment between the pulling direction and dispensing direction. This dynamic alignment adjustment ensures that sufficient force is applied to break sheets at the perforation line without excessive friction that would cause unwanted fragmentation, thereby maintaining sheet product integrity.
4Ease of operation
If the dispenser opening does not rotate, then the device complexity is low, but the angle between pulling direction and dispensing direction increases frictional force
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser opening is designed to rotate about a vertical axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation in response to lateral forces applied during sheet extraction. This rotation minimizes the angle between the pulling direction and dispensing direction, thereby reducing frictional force and enabling smoother sheet product extraction while adding minimal complexity to the overall device.
5Ease of operation
If the dispenser opening is offset from the rotating axis, then the alignment between pulling direction and dispensing direction is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser opening is intentionally offset from the vertical rotating axis, creating an asymmetric configuration that enables effective rotation and alignment adjustment. This asymmetric positioning allows the opening to dynamically optimize its orientation relative to the pulling direction, reducing frictional force and improving sheet extraction ease while adding minimal structural complexity.
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 effectively adjusts frictional force for easy sheet separation, preventing the leading edge from becoming stuck and ensuring accessibility, while reducing the risk of twisting or misalignment.
Implementation Method 1
reduces a frictional force applied to the sheet product
Implementation Method 2
featuring a ball joint for additional degrees of freedom
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A sheet product dispenser (1), comprising a housing (2) for accommodating a source of a sheet product (11) and a dispenser opening (4) for dispensing the sheet product, wherein the dispenser opening (4) is provided in a rotatable dispensing member (5), rotating of the rotatable member (5) is restricted to one rotating axis (51), and the dispenser opening (4) is offset from the rotating axis (51) of the rotatable member (5).