Peristaltic Soap Pump with Distance-Based Volume Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public washroom fixtures often require manual contact, increasing the risk of germ transmission, and existing automatic liquid dispensers lack precise control over dispensation volume and distance-based adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump-based liquid dispenser with a sensor system that adjusts dispensation volume based on object distance, ensuring precise and touch-free operation, featuring a peristaltic pump positioned near the top for efficient and protected manufacturing, and a flexible tube configuration for accurate volume control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a manual contact fixture is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the germ transmission risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical contact with an automatic sensor-based activation system. The sensor detects the user's presence and triggers the pump mechanism automatically, eliminating the need for hand contact with buttons or levers. This substitution of mechanical interaction with automated sensing resolves the contradiction by reducing germ transmission risk while maintaining acceptable device complexity through integration of compact sensor and pump components.
2Productivity
If a peristaltic pump is positioned near the top of the dispenser, then the dispensation speed and accuracy are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible tube as an intermediary element that connects the reservoir at the bottom to the peristaltic pump positioned near the top. This flexible tube mediates the liquid transfer, allowing the pump to be optimally positioned for fast and accurate dispensation while simplifying the manufacturing process by using a readily available flexible connection rather than requiring complex rigid piping or integrated pump-reservoir structures.
3Measurement precision
If the pump is positioned near the top, then the differential pressure and dispensation accuracy are improved, but the energy required to pump liquid upward increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump operates by periodic compression and relaxation of the flexible tube, creating discrete volume displacements. This periodic action allows the pump to build up differential pressure efficiently by incrementally advancing liquid against gravity in controlled increments. The rhythmic compression cycles enable accurate dispensation measurement while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous pumping, as the pump leverages elastic recovery of the tube to assist in the return stroke.
4Ease of operation
If a sensor-based automatic activation system is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is designed to detect various types of input signals (motion, proximity, or touch) and translate them into a universal activation command for the pump. This multi-functional sensing approach allows the system to operate easily through multiple interaction modes while maintaining relatively simple device architecture by using a single integrated control circuit that handles different sensor types, thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 system provides precise control over dispensation volume and reduces germ transmission risk by allowing touch-free operation, ensuring accurate and efficient dispensing of liquid soap based on object distance, enhancing hygiene in public washrooms.
Implementation Method 1
The pump is a peristaltic pump... Each of the plurality of rollers is configured to rotate about the rotor rotational axis and its respective roller rotational axis... The motor is configured to drive the pump to cause the liquid to move through the flexible tube
Data Source
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AI summary
Various soap dispensers are disclosed. Certain embodiments include a housing, reservoir, pump, motor, sensor, electronic processor, and nozzle. In some embodiments, the pump comprises a peristaltic pump. In certain embodiments, the sensor can be configured to generate a signal based on a distance between an object and the sensor. In certain embodiments, the electronic processor can be configured to receive the signal from the sensor and to determine a dispensation volume of the liquid, such as based on the distance between the object and the sensor. The processor can be configured to control the motor to dispense approximately the dispensation volume of the liquid.