Rotatable Skewer for Hygienic Cutlery Dispenser Loading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic cutlery dispensers require time-consuming reloading and are prone to jamming if not loaded correctly, and may become unhygienic if loaded by an unclean hand.
Innovation Solution
A skewer system comprising a stack of cutlery with non-circular holes and a rotatable vertical shaft that can be locked and unlocked to facilitate easy loading into a dispenser, allowing the skewer to be removed without removing the cutlery stack, thereby simplifying the loading process and maintaining hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cutlery is manually loaded into the dispenser, then the dispenser can be refilled, but the process is time-consuming and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The skewer is pre-loaded with a stack of cutlery pieces in a controlled environment before being inserted into the dispenser. This preliminary stacking action eliminates the need for manual loading of individual pieces during dispenser refilling, significantly reducing loading time and minimizing the risk of improper loading
Solution Approach 2:
The loading process is segmented into two distinct phases: (1) pre-stacking cutlery on the skewer in a controlled setting, and (2) inserting the pre-loaded skewer into the dispenser. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, improving overall refilling efficiency
2Productivity
If the dispenser is manually reloaded, then cutlery can be replenished, but jamming may occur if not loaded correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The cutlery is pre-stacked on the skewer with proper alignment and spacing before insertion into the dispenser. This preliminary arrangement ensures that cutlery pieces are correctly positioned, eliminating loading errors that would cause jamming during dispenser operation
Solution Approach 2:
The skewer acts as an intermediary tool that facilitates proper cutlery arrangement during loading. The skewer's design, including the flange and shaft dimensions, ensures that cutlery pieces are held in the correct orientation and spacing, preventing jamming as the skewer is inserted and then removed from the dispenser
3Productivity
If the dispenser is loaded by hand, then cutlery can be replenished, but hygiene may be compromised if hands are not washed
Solution Approach 1:
The loading operation is extracted from the dispenser location and performed separately at a preparation station. The skewer is loaded with cutlery away from the dispenser, allowing the operator to maintain hygiene by keeping hands away from the dispenser interior. Only the clean skewer (not the operator's hands) contacts the dispenser during the brief insertion/removal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The skewer serves as a hygienic intermediary that transfers cutlery to the dispenser without requiring direct hand contact with the dispenser interior. The skewer can be easily sanitized and provides a barrier between the operator's hands and the dispenser, maintaining hygiene standards while enabling efficient refilling
Data Source
AI summary
A lockable skewer for loading stacks of plastic cutlery into dispensers is described. The skewer comprises a vertical shaft that passes through holes in the cutlery. The vertical shaft includes a flange located below the bottom of the stack. The vertical shaft is configured to rotate between an unlocked position in which the flange is configured to pass through the holes in the cutlery pieces and a locked position in which the flange is not configured to pass through the holes in the cutlery pieces.