Rotatable Compartment Dispenser for Single-Use Detergent Pieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soap dispensers face issues such as incomplete removal of liquid soap, ecological concerns with plastic refills, and complex handling, especially when dealing with solid soap that can be affected by water vapor, leading to hygiene and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser device with a rotatable housing insert featuring multiple compartments, allowing each spherical detergent piece to be dispensed individually by rotating the insert, ensuring each piece is used for a single washing process, and using bio-based materials for the housing to enhance hygiene and sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid soap is used in dispensers, then dispensing is convenient and hygienic, but the soap cannot be completely removed and refilling requires plastic packaging which is ecologically problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of the detergent from liquid to solid pieces, which can be completely dispensed without residue. This parameter change eliminates the problem of incomplete removal and allows for complete consumption of the detergent supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses individual disposable detergent pieces instead of refillable liquid soap containers. Each piece is designed for single use and can be completely dispensed, eliminating the need for plastic refill packaging and the ecological problems associated with it.
2Loss of substance
If solid soap is used in dispensers, then complete dispensing is possible, but water vapor can penetrate through outlets and soften the soap making it unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the solid detergent into individual pieces with hydrophobic coating, stored in separate compartments. This segmentation prevents water vapor from affecting all detergent at once and allows complete dispensing of each piece without softening.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a protective environment for the solid detergent pieces through hydrophobic coating and sealed compartments that prevent water vapor penetration. This inert environment maintains the usability of the solid detergent until dispensing.
3Productivity
If traditional bars of soap are used, then multiple uses are possible, but they can become contaminated by multiple users leading to hygiene concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the detergent supply into multiple individual pieces, each intended for single use by one user. This segmentation eliminates cross-contamination between users while maintaining productivity through multiple individual units.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses individual disposable detergent pieces that are used once and discarded. This approach eliminates hygiene concerns associated with shared soap bars while providing sufficient productivity through multiple individual units for multiple users.
4Ease of operation
If a rotatable housing insert with multiple compartments is used, then individual detergent pieces can be dispensed hygienically, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular components (housing body, rotatable insert, housing cover) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This modular segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity while enabling hygienic individual piece dispensing through the rotatable compartment mechanism.
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 device provides a hygienic and efficient dispensing of detergent pieces, eliminating concerns about soap residue and water vapor effects, while promoting ecological sustainability through bio-based materials and minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
By rotating the housing insert through a magazine angle, exactly one spherical or ball-like, solid or soft piece of the surfactant is drawn into the compartment by gravity.
Implementation Method 2
Each of these pieces of the washing-active substance has a piece size such that the piece of the washing-active substance is suitable for exactly one washing process
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a dispenser device (50) for the controlled dispensing of individual, spherical or spherical, solid or wax-soft pieces of a washing-active substance, which can be filled into the dispenser device (50), to a user. Each piece of the washing-active substance has a specific size, such that the piece of washing-active substance is suitable for exactly one washing process, in particular of the user's body or a body part. The dispenser device (50) comprises a multi-part housing (51) that can be attached to a wall or a surface and has a round housing cross-section. The housing (51) is formed in multiple parts and comprises a housing body (52), a housing insert (53) that can be detachably inserted into the housing body (52) and rotatably mounted in the housing body (52), and a housing cover (54) that can be arranged on the housing body (52) and/or on the housing insert (53).The housing insert (53) has several compartments (60) around its circumference. Two adjacent compartments (60) are separated by a partition. Each compartment (60) has an inlet opening (61) on its inner side in a radial direction, through which exactly one piece of the surfactant enters the compartment (60) by rotating the housing insert (53) around a magazine angle (α) and by gravity. An outlet opening (62) is provided on the outer side in a radial direction, through which exactly one bar of soap is ejected from the compartment (60) by rotating the housing insert (53) around a magazine angle (α) and by gravity.The housing body (52) is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape with a circular or nearly circular wall surface (55) and an annular housing mantle (57) adjoining the circumference of the circular wall surface (55), wherein a dispenser opening (58) is provided in the annular housing mantle (57), through which exactly one piece of the washing-active substance is dispensed from the dispenser device (50) by rotating the housing insert (53) about the magazine angle (α). On the inner side of the wall surface (55) a ring-segment-shaped sealing agent (59) is spaced radially from the area of the housing shell (57) in which the dispenser opening (58) is arranged, wherein at least the insert compartment (60) from which a piece of the washing-active substance leaves the dispenser device (50) by rotating the housing insert (53) can be sealed with the sealing agent (59).