Electronic Pre-Cut Sheet Dispenser With Adaptive Roll Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sanitary dispensers for web materials, such as paper towels, pose difficulties for young children and elderly adults due to high resistance requirements and can jam if the web material's tensile strength is too low, leading to torn sheets and operational issues with different products.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with a motor-driven actuator roller, product identification sensor, and adjustable dispensing parameters, including a cutting blade for pre-cutting sheets, allows for user-friendly operation and adaptation to various web materials by detecting the product and adjusting dispensing settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual or mechanical sanitary dispensers are used with spring-loaded cutting mechanisms, then automatic sheet dispensing and cutting is achieved, but high resistance to pulling is created requiring high tensile strength web material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-loaded cutting mechanism with an electronic motor-driven system. The motor rotates the feed drum and actuator roller to dispense and cut sheets without requiring users to overcome spring resistance, thus eliminating the high pulling resistance problem while maintaining automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the dispensing system by using electronic control to regulate motor speed and rotation角度, replacing the fixed mechanical spring tension. This allows adjustment of dispensing force and eliminates the need for high tensile strength material required by spring mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If high tensile strength web material is used to overcome spring resistance, then dispensing operation is enabled, but the web material becomes less soft and less absorbent
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the mechanical spring system with an electronic motor system, the patent eliminates the requirement for high tensile strength material. Users can operate the dispenser with softer, more absorbent web materials that have lower tensile strength, as the motor provides controlled force without requiring material resistance.
3Extent of automation
If purely electronic dispensers with motor-driven feed rolls are used, then hands-free operation is achieved, but users must tear sheets off causing operational issues with different products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a product identification sensor that detects the type of web material loaded in the dispenser. Based on the detected product type, the control circuit adjusts dispensing parameters such as rotation角度 and speed, enabling the same electronic dispenser to work optimally with different products (e.g., paper towels, tissues, wipes) without requiring manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the dispensing system dynamic by allowing real-time adjustment of motor parameters based on product detection. The control circuit modifies operational characteristics according to the detected web material type, enabling adaptive hands-free operation across different product categories.
4Device complexity
If conventional dispensers are used without product detection, then device complexity is reduced, but dispensing parameters cannot be adjusted for different web materials leading to jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the product identification sensor detects the web material type and provides information to the control circuit. The control circuit then adjusts dispensing parameters based on this feedback, preventing jamming by optimizing operation for the specific product loaded. This automatic feedback loop maintains reliability without requiring complex manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing pre-cut sheets from a roll or a web material to a user in need of the web material. The dispenser contains a product identification sensor in communication with a control circuit. This product identification sensor detects and identifies information about the roll of the web material placed in the holder and relays this information to the control circuit. The control circuit adjusts dispensing parameters for the actuator roller in dispensing a sheet of the web material from the dispenser.