Sliding Spring Spindle for Reduced-Core Toilet Paper Rolls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expandable and contractible spindle designs are not well-suited for rolls with reduced diameter center apertures, as the snap fit connection becomes fragile and less flexible, making them ineffective for coreless or reduced-core toilet paper rolls.
Innovation Solution
An expandable and contractible spindle design featuring a first elongated housing with a hollow interior and a second elongated housing with varying diameters, allowing for coaxial sliding and a spring for biasing in an expanded configuration, eliminating the need for snap connections and enabling use with rolls of varying core diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the wall thickness of the elongated member is increased to provide sufficient strength, then the strength is improved, but the flexibility deteriorates and the snap fit connection becomes more fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle is divided into two separate elongated members (first and second elongated members) that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation allows each member to have optimized wall thickness for strength while maintaining overall flexibility through the sliding interface, resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility in the snap fit connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle transitions from a static snap-fit connection to a dynamic sliding connection between two elongated members. The members can slide axially relative to each other, providing controlled movement that maintains flexibility while the spring mechanism ensures consistent engagement force, thereby resolving the brittleness issue of traditional snap fits.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the diameter of the elongated member is reduced to fit smaller core diameters, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability of the snap fit connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle design with two sliding elongated members and a spring mechanism creates a universal connection system that can reliably accommodate various core diameters. The sliding interface and spring force provide consistent engagement reliability across different sizes, making the spindle adaptable to both standard and reduced-core rolls without compromising connection reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the spindle is designed for standard core diameters, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability to reduced-core rolls deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle uses a spring mechanism that can be adjusted or replaced to change the engagement force parameters, allowing the same basic sliding structure to adapt to different core diameters. This parameter adjustment capability maintains ease of manufacture for the base design while providing adaptability to various roll types including reduced-core rolls.
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 spindle can securely dispense paper products with reduced core diameters, providing a robust and adaptable solution for coreless or reduced-core rolls, while maintaining flexibility and preventing theft by fitting into standard dispensers.
Implementation Method 1
The spring is located inside both members and applies a constant pressure to the elongated members, forcing them away from each other axially
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable and contractible spindle for dispensing rolled paper product, such as toilet paper, is described. The spindle comprises two elongated housings slideably coupled together, and a spring disposed there between. The first housing has a hallow interior portion and a side opening that provides access to the interior. The second housing has at least three sections with different diameters. The first section has a diameter that fits into the hollow interior of the first housing, but is too large to exit the side opening. The second section has a diameter smaller than the side opening. The third section has a diameter larger than the side opening. In this manner, first housing slides with respect to second housing along the length of the second section of second housing. The spring is disposed in the hallow interior, causing the spindle to expand.