Rotating Drum Sealing for Odor-Free Hygiene Waste Disposal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste disposal devices for personal hygiene products, such as diapers and sanitary napkins, fail to effectively prevent odor escape, particularly at the interface between moving components, and require complex and costly sealing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A waste disposal device with a drum housing and a flexible sealing member featuring upwardly facing raised sealing portions, which provides a double or multiple seals without increasing user effort, by reducing friction and enhancing odor retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple seals and additional related parts are provided to prevent odor escape, then odor control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the flexible sealing member with raised sealing portions for the drum body interface, and separate seals for the drum housing and container interfaces. This segmentation allows each seal to be optimized for its specific location and movement characteristics, improving overall odor control without requiring a single complex sealing mechanism throughout the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sealing solutions are applied to different locations based on their specific requirements. The flexible sealing member with raised portions is used where movement occurs (drum body interface), while simpler compression seals are used where components are stationary relative to each other (drum housing and container interfaces). This local quality approach optimizes odor control at each interface without uniformly increasing complexity throughout the entire device.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a seal is provided between moving components (drum body and drum housing), then odor control is improved, but friction increases and user effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The flexible sealing member can deform and adapt as the drum body rotates, maintaining effective sealing contact throughout the motion cycle. The raised sealing portions are positioned to engage the drum body surface at optimal points during rotation, ensuring odor control is maintained during movement without creating excessive friction that would increase user effort.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible sealing member made of elastomeric material is used instead of rigid sealing components. This flexibility allows the seal to conform to the drum body surface and accommodate the rotational movement without creating high friction forces. The flexible nature of the sealing member enables it to maintain sealing effectiveness while rotating with the drum body, preventing odor escape without significantly increasing the torque required by the user.
3Reliability
If upwardly facing raised sealing portions are added to the flexible sealing member, then sealing efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member geometry is modified by adding raised sealing portions with specific dimensional parameters (height, width, spacing). These parameter changes create multiple sealing contact points that improve sealing efficiency and reliability. The raised portions are designed with optimized dimensions that balance sealing performance with manufacturability, allowing standard molding or extrusion processes to produce the feature without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing operations.
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 device effectively minimizes odor release while maintaining user-friendly operation, suitable for various user groups and environments, including homes and medical facilities, reducing the risk of physical complaints and improving sealing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
provides a double or multiple seals without increasing user effort, by reducing friction and enhancing odor retention
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a waste disposal device for refuse, comprising a container having a container opening and closing means that are positioned near to the container opening for substantially closing the container opening in such a way that odour release is prevented. The closing means comprising a drum housing 10 comprising a drum opening 14 and housing a drum body 20, wherein the drum body is pivotable between an insertion position for placing refuse in the waste disposal device and a transit position for aligning the refuse with the drum opening. The drum opening further comprising a flexible sealing member 30 extending about the edge of the drum opening for that part that is closely connected to the external surface of the drum body, wherein the flexible sealing member having upwardly facing raised sealing portions in a direction away from the bottom of the container, that are in contact with the external surface of the drum body or wherein the flexible sealing member comprises two separated flexible sealing parts.