Tape Dispenser Fixing Lever Springless Design
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tape dispensers face issues with inefficient cutting force transfer, tape shaking during cutting, and increased manufacturing costs due to the use of separate springs for fixing levers, which can lead to faulty tape cutting and process complexity.
Innovation Solution
A tape dispenser design that includes a fixing lever with a close-fitting member and a rotating shaft to adjust tension, eliminating the need for a spring structure by using an elastic contact member and fixing bars to stabilize the tape roll during cutting, allowing for precise cutting without hindering the tape roll's rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring structure is used in the fixing lever to keep it apart from the tape roll surface, then the tape roll can rotate freely, but the manufacturing cost increases and the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component from the fixing lever assembly entirely. The fixing lever is designed to be springless, eliminating the need for separate spring insertion processes and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the ability to keep the fixing lever apart from the tape roll surface during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing lever is divided into multiple functional parts including a fixing part with a contact member, an extended part, and a rotating shaft. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling the lever to maintain proper spacing from the tape roll without requiring an elastic spring element.
2Reliability
If the fixing lever is kept in close contact with the tape roll surface, then the tape can be fixed during cutting, but the tape roll rotation is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing lever is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move between different positions. During tape unwinding, the lever maintains spacing from the tape roll surface to permit free rotation. During cutting operations, the lever can be positioned to contact and fix the tape, providing dynamic adaptability to different operational states without compromising either rotation or fixing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact member on the fixing lever acts as an intermediary element that can selectively engage with the tape roll surface. This intermediary structure allows controlled contact only when needed for cutting, while maintaining separation during rotation through the elastic deformation capability of the contact member itself rather than requiring a separate spring mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If a separate spring is purchased and inserted into the fixing lever, then the tape can be kept apart from the tape roll surface, but the material cost increases and additional processes are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic function previously provided by a separate spring component is merged into the fixing lever structure itself. The contact member and fixing lever body are integrated, with the lever's own structural elasticity providing the necessary spacing function. This eliminates the need for separate spring procurement, storage, and insertion processes, simplifying the manufacturing supply chain and assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing lever is designed to be self-sufficient, providing its own elastic spacing function through its inherent structural design rather than requiring external spring components. The lever's geometry and material properties enable it to automatically maintain proper spacing from the tape roll surface without needing additional parts or complex assembly steps.
4Device complexity
If the blade is located horizontally, then the structure is simple, but the cutting force is not transferred efficiently and tape cannot be cut at once
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is positioned at an inclined angle relative to the horizontal plane, creating an asymmetric cutting configuration. This asymmetric positioning allows the blade to engage the tape at an optimal angle, improving force transfer efficiency during cutting operations. The inclined blade geometry enables cleaner, more efficient cuts while maintaining structural simplicity, resolving the trade-off between complexity and cutting performance.
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
Enables accurate and efficient cutting of tape at the desired length and position, reduces manufacturing costs, and simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for additional spring components, while maintaining the tape roll's free rotation and preventing tape sagging.
Implementation Method 1
a close-fitting member 160 disposed on the inner side of the tape roll 2 so as to apply a given force to the rotating shaft 140 in one direction
Implementation Method 2
a contact member 121 coming into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the tape roll 2
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a tape dispenser for cutting tape, while the tape is being unwound by rotation of a tape roll, including: a fixing part coming into close contact with an outer peripheral surface of the tape roll so as to fix the tape roll thereto; a fixing lever to which a given force is applied so that the fixing part rotates to come into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tape roll; a rotating shaft connected to the fixing lever and rotating to come into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tape roll; an extended part for connecting the fixing part and the rotating shaft with each other; and a close-fitting member disposed on the inner side of the tape roll so as to apply a given force to the tape roll in one direction.