Sheet product dispenser with spring assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sheet product dispensers often experience issues such as jamming, misfeeding, and high pull force requirements due to component configurations that can lead to over-torqueing and damage, necessitating improvements for efficient and user-friendly operation.
Innovation Solution
The dispenser incorporates a spring assembly with a crank arm, floater link, rocker link, and torsion springs to reduce pull force and time for dispensing, along with a torque limiter to prevent over-torqueing, and features like roll holders and a knife drum to ensure proper feeding and cutting of sheet products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional feed wheel or manual feeding mechanism is used, then the dispenser allows manual feeding of sheet product, but the mechanism is susceptible to over-torqueing by users which may cause damage to internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The spring assembly is pre-configured to absorb and limit the torque applied during manual feeding. When a user applies force to feed the sheet product, the spring compresses to cushion the impact, preventing over-torqueing of internal components while still allowing manual feeding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring assembly changes the torque parameter dynamically during the feeding process. As the spring compresses under applied force, it modulates the torque transmission to the feed wheel and internal components, maintaining reliability while enabling manual operation.
2Device complexity
If a traditional dispensing mechanism without spring assistance is used, then the structure is simpler, but the pull force and pull time required for dispensing are relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The spring assembly is pre-loaded and positioned to provide assistance during the dispensing action. Before the user pulls the sheet product, the spring is already compressed and ready to release energy, reducing the pull force and pull time required during the actual dispensing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring assembly provides continuous force assistance throughout the dispensing cycle. As the user pulls the sheet product, the spring continuously releases stored energy to supplement the user's force, maintaining a smoother and more efficient dispensing action throughout the entire pull duration.
3Ease of operation
If a feed wheel mechanism is used to allow manual feeding, then feeding is facilitated, but the mechanism may be over-torqueed causing damage to internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The spring assembly acts as an intermediary element between the user's manual feeding action and the feed wheel mechanism. It mediates the force transmission by absorbing excess torque through compression, protecting the feed wheel and internal components from damage while still facilitating easy manual feeding.
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 solution effectively prevents jamming, reduces the required pull force, and protects internal components, providing a more efficient and user-friendly dispensing mechanism with reduced operational effort and increased reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The torsion spring is configured to charge during rotation of the knife drum in a feed direction in response to a user pulling on a free end of the sheet product. The torsion spring may be configured to discharge to cause the knife drum to rotate to the predetermined position.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser for dispensing sheet product is provided. The dispenser includes a housing with an outlet through which sheet product is dispensed. A knife drum is rotatable with respect to the housing. A knife is movable between a retracted position within the knife drum and an extended position where the knife protrudes outside of the knife drum to cut the sheet product. A cam follower surface is fixed with respect to the housing. A cam follower is attached to the knife and operable to engage the cam follower surface and travel therealong to transition the knife between the retracted position and the extended position. A spring assembly biases the knife drum during rotation toward a predetermined position. The spring assembly comprises a first spring and a second spring. The spring assembly is attached at a single mount position that is fixed with respect to the housing.