Triangular Aperture Bag Dispenser for Controlled Tearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensers for rolled, perforated, and flexible materials often break or over-dispense the material due to lack of control over dispensation speed, require users to identify perforations, and cannot be easily handled with one hand, leading to inaccurate tearing and inconsistent dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with a faceplate featuring a triangular aperture and a cradle that slows material dispensation, allows for one-handed operation, and enables precise tearing at perforations without requiring alignment with a tearing device, using a combination of curved surfaces and a linear slot to manage the speed and direction of material dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the user pulls the material quickly through the rectangular slot, then the dispensation speed increases, but the material breaks or too much material is dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser uses a curved surface that dynamically adapts to the material being dispensed. The curved geometry provides variable resistance along the dispensation path, automatically slowing the material as it exits while allowing controlled pulling. This dynamic geometric feature resolves the contradiction by providing speed control without mechanical components that could damage the material.
2Ease of operation
If the user uses a tearing device to tear the material at the perforation, then the material can be separated into units, but the tearing is inaccurate and the perforation stays intact
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surface is pre-configured to guide the material through a specific path that naturally positions the perforation for tearing. The geometry of the curved surface performs the alignment function in advance, eliminating the need for separate alignment actions by the user. This preliminary geometric positioning ensures accurate tearing at the perforation while maintaining ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If the dispenser uses a single rectangular slot, then the structure is simple, but the material dispensation speed cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple rectangular slot with a curved surface geometry. This curved feature provides speed control through its geometric shape, creating variable resistance along the material path. The curvature allows the material to be slowed and controlled as it exits the dispenser, achieving speed control without adding complex mechanical components, motors, or adjustable mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing device includes a container retaining a dispensable material, which prevents the material from breaking prior to being dispensed or over-dispensing material by including a mechanism to slow the dispensation of the material, and also aids in breaking the material subsequent to the material exiting the container. The container has a faceplate with at least three members forming a substantially triangular aperture through which the dispensable material is fed. The three members include a pair of opposing flanges forming the triangular aperture therebetween. The pair of opposing flanges further form a substantially linear slot therebetween and contiguous with the triangular aperture, with the dispensable material further fed through the slot. Each of the pair of opposing flanges has a curved surface forming a side of the triangular aperture.