Contactless Vending Dispensing With Proximity Selection and UV Sanitizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers prefer to dispense products in a contactless manner to avoid physically touching devices such as vending machines and beverage dispensers, which can spread germs due to multiple users handling them.
Innovation Solution
A vending machine with a transparent panel, proximity sensors, and a delivery portal that allows product selection and dispensing without physical contact, using indicator lights and a digital display for confirmation, along with contactless payment and UV sanitation of dispensed products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If consumers use traditional contact-based interfaces (touchscreens, keypads, physical buttons), then the device operation is simple and reliable, but germ transmission occurs and hygiene is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based interfaces (touchscreens, keypads, physical buttons) with contactless sensing technologies including proximity sensors, cameras, and machine learning algorithms that detect hand gestures and facial expressions to control product selection and dispensing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary digital processing layer between the consumer and the dispensing mechanism, using cameras and machine learning models to interpret gestures and translate them into control signals, eliminating the need for direct physical contact with the device
2Ease of operation
If consumers manually operate the device to select and dispense products, then the operation is direct and reliable, but physical contact with the device is required which spreads germs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with contactless sensing and automated actuation systems, using proximity sensors to detect product selection and automated mechanisms to dispense products without requiring the consumer to touch the device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the device to automatically detect product selection through proximity sensors and activate dispensing mechanisms without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in the selection and dispensing process
3Object-affected harmful factors
If products are dispensed through a delivery portal, then contactless product delivery is achieved, but the delivery portal itself becomes a potential contamination source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary sanitation action by exposing products to ultraviolet light in the delivery portal before they are dispensed to the consumer, destroying microorganisms on the product surface in advance to prevent contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ultraviolet radiation as a strong oxidizing agent to sanitize products in the delivery portal, where the UV light breaks down molecular bonds of microorganisms and destroys their genetic material, effectively eliminating contamination without physical contact
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
Enables consumers to select and receive sanitized products without touching the machine, reducing germ transmission and enhancing hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a proximity sensor with the product storage compartment and corresponding to the row of products, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a hand of a consumer within a predetermined detection distance of the proximity sensor
Implementation Method 2
the delivery portal may include an ultraviolet light source configured to produce UV-C radiation to sanitize a product in the delivery portal
Data Source
AI summary
A vending machine includes a housing defining a product storage compartment for storing products. The housing of the vending machine includes a delivery portal and a front portion having a transparent panel configured to allow a consumer to view the products within the product storage compartment. A row of products is arranged within the product storage compartment. A proximity sensor is arranged within the product storage compartment and corresponds to the row of products. The proximity sensor is configured to detect a hand of a consumer within a predetermined detection distance of the proximity sensor, and a product in the row of products is selected when the hand of the consumer is detected within the predetermined detection distance of the proximity sensor. The vending machine includes a dispensing mechanism configured to convey the selected product to the delivery portal.