Method and dispensing device for dispensing a consumable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dispensing devices in high-traffic areas, such as public toilets, often face issues with excessive and abusive usage, leading to increased consumption, misuse, and soiling, resulting in unreasonable operating, cleaning, and maintenance costs, as well as reduced user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A method that controls dispensing by measuring the duration of uninterrupted output time and the number of activations, blocking consumable issuance if either exceeds predetermined limits, with additional conditions ensuring effective user interaction and preventing accidental activations, and allowing temporary unlocking after a blocking period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual activation or sensor-based activation is used for dispensing consumable, then user convenience and ease of operation are improved, but abusive usage and excessive consumption occur leading to increased operating and maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors dispensing events and uses feedback control to compare the current dispensing count against a predetermined maximum limit. When the limit is reached, the system automatically blocks further dispensing operations, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents excessive consumption while maintaining ease of operation for legitimate users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the dispensing device by dynamically adjusting the activation state based on the number of dispensing events. The device transitions from an always-available state to a blocked state when the maximum limit is reached, using parameter changes in the control system to prevent consumable waste while maintaining user convenience.
2Loss of substance
If maximum dispensing limit is implemented to prevent abusive usage, then consumable consumption is controlled, but legitimate users may be blocked from accessing the consumable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by resetting the dispensing counter at scheduled intervals or under specific conditions. This preliminary reset action ensures that legitimate users who may have been affected by the limit can access the consumable again, while still maintaining the protective function against abusive usage through the overall limit structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic behavior by allowing the maximum dispensing limit to be reset under certain conditions, such as after a predetermined time interval or when specific criteria are met. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt between preventing abuse and ensuring legitimate access, improving reliability while maintaining consumption control.
3Ease of operation
If frequent dispensing is allowed to maintain user satisfaction, then user comfort is improved, but operating and maintenance costs increase due to excessive consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to monitor and regulate dispensing frequency by comparing actual dispensing counts against predetermined limits. This feedback mechanism ensures user comfort is maintained within reasonable bounds while automatically preventing excessive consumption that would lead to increased operating and maintenance costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by implementing a maximum dispensing limit that restricts the total number of times the consumable can be dispensed. This parameter change balances user comfort with cost control, allowing sufficient access for legitimate users while preventing the excessive consumption that drives up operating and maintenance costs.
4Loss of substance
If dispensing is blocked after reaching maximum limit to prevent misuse, then consumable protection is improved, but device complexity increases due to monitoring and blocking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control to automatically monitor dispensing events and trigger blocking actions when limits are reached. This feedback-based approach protects the consumable from misuse while maintaining relatively simple device architecture, as the monitoring and blocking functions are integrated into the existing control system rather than requiring separate complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring its own operation and enforcing the maximum dispensing limit without requiring external intervention. The device autonomously blocks further dispensing when the limit is reached, protecting the consumable from misuse while avoiding the need for additional complex monitoring infrastructure or manual oversight mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method according to the invention for dispensing a consumable from a dispensing device comprises in principle the following steps: the actuation of an activation unit by a user, the enablement of dispensing of the consumable, the measuring of a number of activations, and the measuring of a duration of an uninterrupted dispensing time. According to the invention, the dispensing of a consumable to the user is inhibited if at least one of the following inhibit conditions (196) is met. The first inhibit condition (196) is met if a measured duration of an uninterrupted dispensing time tmux is equal to or greater than a predefined maximum uninterrupted dispensing time Tmux (tmux >Tmux). The second inhibit condition (196) is met if the measured number of activations n is equal to or greater than a predefined maximum number of activations nmux (n>nmux.