Automatic Foam Soap Dispenser Using Inverted Bottle Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional automatic soap dispensers face issues such as inconsistent soap dispensing, hygiene concerns due to contact with the dispenser, limited compatibility with pre-existing soap bottles, and high costs associated with changing between liquid and foamed soap, as well as space constraints for mounting.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser design featuring a sensor-activated mechanism that inverts a pre-existing soap bottle with an optional foam pump, allowing for consistent dispensing of liquid or foamed soap without requiring specialized bottles, and enabling easy replacement and mounting, while accommodating various soap types and reducing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional contact-based dispensing mechanisms are used, then the dispenser structure is simple, but hygiene is compromised due to germ transmission through user contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical contact-based dispensing mechanism with an automatic sensing and pumping system. The sensor detects the presence of hands, triggers a motor-driven pump mechanism, and dispenses soap without requiring physical contact between the user and the dispenser, thereby eliminating germ transmission through contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser automatically detects when soap is needed through hand presence sensing and initiates the dispensing process without user intervention. The system self-activates the pump mechanism and controls the dispensing amount, making the hygiene-critical function automatic and contactless.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic dispensing mechanisms are implemented, then hygiene is improved by eliminating contact, but soap dispensing consistency becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the sensor detects hand presence and triggers the pump, and the system is designed to dispense a controlled amount of soap based on the activation signal. The consistent mechanical pump action and controlled dispensing mechanism ensure reliable and consistent soap delivery with each activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the sensing function from the dispensing function, with the sensor detecting hand presence and the motor-driven pump independently controlling the dispensing action. This separation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring both hygiene through contactless operation and consistency through controlled mechanical dispensing.
3Volume of moving object
If pressurized foamed soap containers are used, then space efficiency is improved by converting liquid to foam, but pressure changes cause inconsistent dispensing amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a sensor-based feedback system that detects hand presence and triggers the pump mechanism. The system is designed to dispense a consistent amount of soap or foam with each activation, compensating for pressure changes by using the motor-driven pump to deliver controlled dispensing volumes regardless of reservoir pressure variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces pressure-dependent passive dispensing with an active motor-driven pump system. The pump mechanically controls the dispensing action, ensuring consistent soap or foam delivery independent of pressure changes in the reservoir, thereby maintaining dispensing precision while allowing space-efficient foam conversion.
4Reliability
If specialized bottles are designed for specific dispensers, then dispensing performance is optimized, but adaptability and cost are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal dispenser system with a standardized mounting interface that can accommodate various bottle types and configurations. The sensor-activated pump mechanism and bottle mounting system are designed to work with different bottle shapes, sizes, and soap types (liquid, gel, or foamed), allowing a single dispenser design to serve multiple functions and be compatible with various soap products.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide dispensers (10), and particularly automatic dispensers, and even more particularly, automatic soap dispensers for dispensing a foamed soap to a user's hands.