Reservoir Assembly with Breakaway Switch Contact for Single-Use Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensers face issues with refilling, leading to product waste and unsatisfactory patron experience due to improper timing of reservoir replacement.
Innovation Solution
A reservoir assembly with a connecting member housing and container housing featuring a switch contact surface in a weakened region that breaks away upon initial installation, preventing erroneous resetting of the dispense count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance personnel replace reservoirs before they are empty, then product availability is maintained, but product waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch mechanism provides feedback by detecting when a reservoir is properly installed and resetting the dispense count to zero. This feedback system enables maintenance personnel to accurately track product usage and determine the optimal time for reservoir replacement, avoiding both premature replacement (waste) and delayed replacement (unavailability).
2Loss of substance
If maintenance personnel do not replace the product reservoir in a timely manner, then product waste is reduced, but no product is available for restroom patrons
Solution Approach 1:
The switch mechanism provides feedback by detecting when a reservoir is properly installed and resetting the dispense count to zero. This feedback system enables maintenance personnel to accurately track product usage and determine the optimal time for reservoir replacement, avoiding both premature replacement (waste) and delayed replacement (unavailability).
3Adaptability or versatility
If the switch contact surface is reusable, then the device can be reinstalled multiple times, but the dispense count may be erroneously reset
Solution Approach 1:
The switch contact surface on the container housing is designed as a disposable element located in a weakened region. Upon initial installation, it makes contact with the protrusion member to reset the dispense count, then breaks away permanently. This ensures the reset function occurs only once per reservoir installation, preventing erroneous resets during subsequent removals and reinstallations, while still allowing the reservoir to be removed and discarded when empty.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch contact surface is designed to be discarded after a single use. The weakened region causes it to break away after initial contact, ensuring the reset function is performed exactly once when the reservoir is first installed. This single-use design eliminates the risk of multiple resets while maintaining the ability to remove and replace reservoirs as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A reservoir assembly for use with a liquid dispenser. The reservoir assembly includes a connecting member housing having a reservoir connecting surface and a switch, wherein the reservoir connecting surface has a first switch contact surface disposed within a first protrusion member. The assembly also includes a container housing that is configured to be removably attached to the connecting member housing. The container housing includes a main container and a connecting member housing surface that includes a second switch contact surface configured in a first weakened region. After contact of the first switch contact surface and the second switch contact surface, the protrusion member is configured to engage the first weakened region such that the first weakened region breaks away from the connecting member housing surface such that first switch contact surface and second switch contact surface are unable to make contact.