Bar soap grinding dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated soap dispensers for bar soap lack a grinding mechanism to produce finer soap chips, are not fully automated for convenient dispensing, and do not provide visual alerts for soap replacement, limiting the use of specialty soaps in public settings due to concerns of cross-contamination and soap loss.
Innovation Solution
A congealed product grinding and dispensing machine with a rotary cutting tool driven by an electric motor, an actuator, and a proximity sensor, along with a programmable display for soap level indication, which grinds bar soap into finer chips and dispenses them automatically, allowing users to see the soap brand and track usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If slicing action is used to cut soap, then larger pieces are produced, but finer soap chips are needed for easier and faster dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cutting mechanism from slicing to grinding, fundamentally altering the parameter of chip size distribution. The grinding action produces uniformly fine chips that dissolve faster while maintaining manufacturing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional slicing mechanical system with a grinding mechanism, substituting one type of mechanical action for another to achieve the desired chip fineness and dissolution characteristics
2Ease of operation
If manual soap dispensing is used, then direct contact with bar soap is required, but automated dispensing is needed to prevent cross-contamination and soap loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service dispensing where the automated mechanism handles soap distribution without requiring user contact with the bar, allowing users to simply receive pre-portioned chips in their hands
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automated dispensing mechanism as an intermediary between the soap bar and the user, eliminating direct contact while maintaining the soap distribution function
3Ease of operation
If soap level is not visually indicated, then users cannot easily see when soap needs replacement, but adding visual display increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the natural color of the soap bar itself as the visual indicator, allowing users to see through the housing and monitor soap levels and brand identification without adding electronic display systems
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent housing creates an optical copy or view of the internal soap bar, allowing external visualization of the soap level and characteristics without adding separate monitoring systems
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 machine effectively produces finer soap chips for easy dissolution, provides a fully automated dispensing system, and alerts users when the soap needs replacement, enhancing the use of specialty soaps in public settings by reducing cross-contamination and soap loss concerns.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary cutting tool which is driven by an electric motor within the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A congealed product grinding and dispensing machine is disclosed. The machine has a housing with an aperture through a wall for dispensing ground soap chips. A product chute located within the housing feeds bar soap toward a rotary cutting tool which is driven by an electric motor within the housing. An actuator in circuit with the motor and a control circuit energizes the motor for a preset time period when the actuator is actuated. Another embodiment disclosed includes an inclined product chute which simplifies soap bar loading. Additional elements of the invention involve including a proximity sensor as the actuator and incorporating a programmable display into the machine housing, the display being in circuit with the actuator.