MaxStax is a great example of a project where design form works to envelop engineered function. The client's requirement was to develop a plastic cutlery dispenser with touchless sensors to deliver a single piece of cutlery at a time to each user thereby eliminating waste and transfer of germs from user to user. Starting on the inside, a mechanism was designed that separates a single piece of cutlery from a stack of over 100 pieces. The mechanism then allows the piece to drop away from the stack and present only the handle to the user to take. The rotation of a single DC motor is converted to several linear motions in the mechanism to accomplish the dispensing. After confirming a reliable mechanical design testing with multiple prototypes the shell was designed and incorporated with the mechanism.. TGiF worked to facilitate all steps in obtaining a patent on the mechanism for the client.
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Max Packaging MaxStax Touchless Dispenser
Max Packaging's MaxStax Touchless plastic cutlery dispenser addresses the need for simple to use sanitary devices in public spaces. The company's proprietary plastic cutlery needed a specific mechanism to easily deliver utensils every time.
MaxStax function has an option setting for a ready-to-deliver utensil handle after every dispense to ensure an always ready state, or a "touchless" sensor setting to keep utensils stored, ready and out of the way. It is designed to be easily serviced from the front for loading and setup. Indicator LEDs are located for low power and low cutlery alerts for staff.
Available
Freelance, Full-time, Moonlighting
Tristan Christianson
Independent Industrial Design, Product Development & Production
San Francisco, CA