Tissue Dispenser Floating Support Roller for Tear-Free Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue dispensers often fail to maintain tissue control, leading to issues like tearing, crumpling, and irregular dispensing, as the tissue can become stuck within the mechanism due to inadequate control over the dispensing process.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system with a support roller that moves between two positions in response to tissue tension, applying compressive force to a main roller, and a guide extension that ensures the tissue remains approximated to the outer circumferential surface of the main roller, preventing bending and crumpling, and facilitating consistent dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed support roller is used in the dispensing mechanism, then the structure is simple, but the tissue control is insufficient leading to tearing, crumpling, and irregular dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller is made movable along the guide extension rather than being fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position in response to tissue tension. This dynamic configuration enables the roller to maintain optimal contact with the tissue during dispensing, improving tissue control and preventing issues like tearing and crumpling while adding only minimal structural complexity through the guide extension.
2Manufacturing precision
If the support roller is positioned far from the main roller, then the tissue can move freely, but the tissue bends away from the main roller causing irregular dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The distance between the support roller and main roller is made variable through the movable support roller design. As tissue is pulled and tension increases, the support roller automatically moves closer to the main roller, maintaining optimal tissue approximation. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures consistent dispensing precision while allowing sufficient tissue movement freedom during the dispensing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If the tissue is tightly approximated to the main roller, then dispensing consistency is improved, but the tissue may get stuck between the roller and guide wall
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller's position is dynamically adjusted based on tissue tension rather than being fixed in a tight approximation position. During dispensing, the roller maintains close contact for consistent incisions, but when tissue tension decreases or the tissue risks getting stuck, the roller automatically moves away along the guide extension, preventing the tissue from becoming trapped between the roller and guide wall.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed elongated slot is used for the support roller, then the structure is simple, but the support roller cannot adjust to varying tissue tension
Solution Approach 1:
The guide extension acts as an intermediary component that enables the support roller to move along a controlled path. The elongated slot in the support frame serves as a guide for this movement, allowing the support roller to adjust its position in response to tissue tension while maintaining structural simplicity. The guide extension mediates between the fixed support frame structure and the movable support roller, providing adaptability without excessive complexity.
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 system effectively prevents tissue from getting stuck and ensures consistent, controlled dispensing by maintaining tissue tension and alignment, reducing the likelihood of tearing and crumpling, and providing a consistent length of tissue.
Implementation Method 1
The support roller can move from a first position to a second position in response to a user pulling on a tail end of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
The support roller can be biased towards the first position and/or can apply a compressive force to the main roller when in the second position
Implementation Method 3
The support roller may be biased towards the first position by force of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
Various dispensing systems with floating support rollers are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dispensing system can include a housing, roll support arm, and a dispensing mechanism that can enable dispensing of tissue from a roll mounted on the roll supporting arm. The dispensing mechanism can include a main roller and a support roller. The support roller can move from a first position to a second position in response to a user pulling on a tail end of the tissue. The support roller can be biased towards the first position and can apply a compressive force to the main roller in the second position. The compressive force can urge the tissue towards the main roller and can provide improved tissue support.