Glove Dispenser with Segmented Packaging for Sanitary Donning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for dispensing and donning gloves are inefficient, leading to contamination, waste, and increased time and energy expenditure for workers, while also failing to ensure proper sanitation and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A compact mechanical device that dispenses and facilitates the donning of gloves in a sanitary manner, using individually packaged gloves with pre-oriented cuffs and a mechanism that presents the gloves in a gloving area for easy insertion, while holding excess gloves inside to prevent contamination and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gloves are dispensed from an open cardboard box, then workers can access gloves quickly, but air-borne contaminants can enter and settle on exposed gloves causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the glove storage into individual sealed packets, with each packet containing a single glove. This segmentation prevents contamination of individual gloves while maintaining quick access, as workers simply take one sealed packet at a time from the dispensing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanical dispensing device as an intermediary between the glove storage and the worker. This device automatically presents sealed glove packets to the worker, eliminating the need for workers to reach into open boxes and potentially contaminate gloves with their hands.
2Ease of operation
If workers reach into the cardboard box to pull out gloves, then they can obtain gloves for use, but their contaminated hands can soil the gloves and the box
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing mechanism is designed to automatically present the glove packet to the worker without requiring the worker to reach into the storage area. The mechanical system performs the retrieval action itself, allowing the worker to simply take the presented packet, thereby preventing hand contamination of gloves and the storage mechanism.
3Productivity
If excess gloves fall onto the floor or are stuffed back into the box, then workers can continue using gloves, but the gloves become contaminated or are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
By providing individual sealed packets for each glove, the system eliminates the problem of excess gloves falling or being stuffed back. Each packet is a complete, self-contained unit that is taken directly from the dispenser to the point of use, preventing any opportunity for contamination or waste.
4Ease of operation
If the current manual donning method is used, then gloves can be put on, but it requires significant dexterity, focus, and attention to detail which tired workers lack
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is pre-positioned within the sealed packet in a specific orientation that facilitates easy donning. The packet is designed so that the glove is ready to be pulled on immediately upon opening, eliminating the complex manual manipulation steps required in traditional donning methods and reducing the need for dexterity and focus.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a compact glove dispenser and gloving device that sanitarily dispenses and dons disposable gloves on hands and is designed for ease of use, low complexity, and low cost. Individual gloves are packaged with glove palm and fingers folded with the open cuff facing the flat surface of the packaging, held open and in place by a frame made of thin material. Multiple glove packets are positioned in cartridges in a storage area, oriented for mechanical transporting to dedicated left and right gloving areas. Once in the gloving area, the glove cuff is held open, presented to the user who pushes hands through the packaging, donning the glove in a single motion.