Adjustable Sanitizing Apparatus for Touch Screen Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen sanitizing solutions, such as those using transparent films and UVC light, face challenges in ensuring microbiological safety while being user-friendly and adaptable to different screen sizes, as they often require manual replacement or exposure to harmful UVC light.
Innovation Solution
A modular sanitizing apparatus with a film conveyor system, featuring adjustable deflector rolls and a UVC sanitizing unit, which moves a sanitized film over the touch screen surface, ensuring user safety by enclosing UVC exposure and allowing easy adjustment to fit various screen sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UVC light is used to sanitize the film, then microbiological safety is improved, but human safety deteriorates due to harmful exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The UVC light source is extracted from the public viewing area and enclosed within a housing structure. The housing contains the UVC radiation, allowing sanitization to occur without exposing users to harmful levels of UVC light, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving microbiological safety and preventing human harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The film itself acts as an intermediary medium between the UVC light source and the user. The UVC light sanitizes the film surface, and the film then serves as the protective interface that users interact with, indirectly receiving the sanitization benefit without direct exposure to the UVC source.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-size sanitizing apparatus is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different screen sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus incorporates adjustable components, specifically the deflector rolls, that can be repositioned to accommodate different touch screen sizes. This dynamic adjustability allows a single apparatus design to serve multiple screen dimensions, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed with universal features that enable it to function with various touch screen sizes through the adjustable deflector mechanism. This multi-functionality allows one apparatus design to serve multiple purposes across different device configurations.
3Device complexity
If manual film replacement is required, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and user convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates an automatic film conveyance mechanism that transports the film through the sanitization process and positions it for user interaction without requiring manual intervention for replacement. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by automating the film replacement task, improving productivity while maintaining acceptable complexity levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical act of film replacement is substituted with an automated conveyance system that uses rollers and motors to transport the film. This replacement of manual mechanical operations with an automated system improves efficiency and productivity.
4Ease of operation
If the film is placed close to the touch surface, then user interaction quality is improved, but sanitization effectiveness deteriorates due to insufficient UVC exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector rolls are designed to be adjustable, allowing the film position to be dynamically optimized. The rolls can be positioned to maintain an optimal gap that balances user interaction quality with sufficient UVC exposure, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and sanitization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector rolls create localized control over the film position at different points in the sanitization path. This allows different sections of the film to be positioned optimally for their specific function - closer to the surface for interaction quality in useable areas, and positioned for maximum UVC exposure in sanitization zones.
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 apparatus provides a user-friendly, microbiologically safe touch screen interface by automatically sanitizing the film after use, maintaining a safe distance from the touch surface, and ensuring effective UVC exposure without human risk, while being easily adaptable and maintainable.
Implementation Method 1
Short-wave ultraviolet radiation also known as ultraviolet C radiation or UVC light has been found to be an effective way of sanitizing surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sanitizing apparatus for providing a sanitized user interface for a touch screen unit. The sanitizing apparatus comprising a film conveyor apparatus, a housing, a film, a control unit and a sanitizing unit. The film conveyor apparatus is configured to move a sanitized portion of the film in front of a touch surface of the touch screen unit. The sanitizing apparatus sanitizes a portion of the film by means of UVC light. The film conveyor apparatus comprises a chassis, and a plurality of rolls attached to the chassis. The plurality of rolls comprises a plurality of deflector rolls configured to guide the film about the touch screen unit, and a drive roll configured to drive the film. The plurality of rolls is arranged as two groups of rolls. The chassis comprises two pairs of deflector roll support means configured to be assembled on two opposite sides of the touch screen unit. Each pair of deflector roll support means rotatably supports all rolls of one of the two groups of rolls.