Pure Water Dispenser Foot Control for Contamination-Free Flow Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pure water supplying machines require manual adjustment of flow rate through hand or finger operations, which can lead to contamination during ultra trace analysis, especially when frequent adjustments are needed.
Innovation Solution
A pure water supplying machine equipped with a foot controller that adjusts the flow rate of pure water discharge via a foot-operated valve, allowing for operation without hand or finger contact, and includes control modes to maintain the desired flow rate even after the foot is released.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation (hand or finger) is used to adjust flow rate, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A foot controller is introduced as an intermediary device between the user and the valve control system. The foot controller generates signals that are transmitted to the control unit, which then adjusts the valve opening degree. This intermediary mechanism allows flow rate adjustment without direct hand or finger contact with the pure water system, thereby eliminating contamination risk while maintaining operational ease.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If foot controller requires continuous operation to maintain flow rate, then contamination risk is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is programmed to automatically maintain the valve opening degree based on the last received signal from the foot controller. Once the user presses the foot controller to set a desired flow rate, the control unit remembers this setting and continues to maintain it without requiring continuous foot pressure. This self-service functionality allows the system to autonomously sustain the selected flow rate, reducing user burden while preserving contamination-free operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If proportional control valve is used, then flow rate adjustability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical proportional control mechanisms with a simpler system consisting of a foot controller and electronic control unit. Instead of using sophisticated mechanical devices to achieve proportional valve control, the invention uses foot-activated switches or sensors that generate electrical signals. The control unit processes these signals and actuates the valve accordingly, substituting complex mechanical proportioning mechanisms with simpler electronic control while maintaining full flow rate adjustability.
Data Source
AI summary
A pure water supplying machine that is connected to a pure water production device to supply pure water in response to a request by a user, includes: a valve installed in a flow path of pure water to a discharge unit that discharges pure water; a foot controller that is operated by a foot of a user to generate a signal indicating an operation amount; and a control unit that receives the signal from the foot controller and controls the valve to have an opening degree corresponding to the operation amount.