Spindle Translation Mechanism for Coreless Roll Depletion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet product dispensers face issues with frictional problems during rotation due to improper roll types, leading to undesirable dispensing rates and user experience, and result in waste due to premature access to reserve rolls.
Innovation Solution
The design of spindles and dispensers that specifically support coreless rolls, inhibiting the use of cored rolls and ensuring complete depletion of the current roll before allowing access to another, through a mechanism where the spindle translates between configurations to control roll access and prevent premature access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spindle is designed to engage with either coreless rolls or cored rolls, then the dispenser can accommodate different roll types, but friction during rotation becomes undesirable and dispensing rate becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the spindle design into two distinct types: one specifically engineered for coreless rolls and another for cored rolls. Each spindle type has geometric features tailored to its intended roll type, eliminating the friction and dispensing issues that arise from mismatched configurations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by sacrificing universal adaptability to ensure reliable, friction-free operation for each specific roll type.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a single spindle that tries to accommodate both roll types (which causes friction problems), the invention inverts the approach by designing two specialized spindles where each is optimized exclusively for one roll type. The spindle geometry is inverted from a universal design to a specialized design, ensuring that the engagement features match the specific characteristics of either coreless or cored rolls, thereby eliminating friction and ensuring smooth, reliable dispensing.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If multiple rolls are supported in a dispenser, then continuous supply is achieved, but premature access to reserve rolls causes waste
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements preliminary action by requiring the complete depletion of the current roll (indicated by the spindle reaching a predetermined position) before the dispenser mechanism allows access to the reserve roll. The system is pre-configured with interlocking mechanisms that physically prevent access to reserve rolls until the active roll is exhausted, thereby eliminating premature access and waste while maintaining continuous supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism (the spindle position indicator and interlocking system) that mediates between the current roll and the reserve roll. This intermediary controls access to the reserve roll based on the depletion status of the active roll, ensuring that users cannot prematurely access reserve rolls. The intermediary acts as a gatekeeper that maintains continuous supply while preventing waste.
3Productivity
If the spindle translates to allow access to reserve rolls, then continuity is maintained, but access occurs before complete depletion causing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses parameter changes by establishing a specific predetermined position of the spindle as the trigger condition for accessing reserve rolls. The system monitors the spindle position parameter and only allows access to reserve rolls when this parameter reaches the predetermined threshold, ensuring complete depletion of the active roll. This parameter-based control maintains dispensing continuity while preventing premature access and waste.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product is provided. An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing defining an interior space for receiving a first roll of sheet product (170a, 170b) therein, a mandrel (150a, 150b) positioned within the interior space, and a spindle (100) positioned over at least a portion of the mandrel and configured to support the first roll of sheet product for rotation about the mandrel. The spindle comprises abase portion (102) and a nose portion (104) configured to translate relative to one another along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel (150a, 150b). At least a portion of the spindle is configured to translate relative to the mandrel from a first configuration to a second configuration to cause a remainder of the first roll of sheet product (170a, 170b) to deform and enable movement of a dispensing door (186) to enable access to a second roll of sheet product.