Rotating Fluid Dispenser with UV Sanitization and Counterweight Door

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fluid dispensing devices in outdoor environments face issues with hygiene due to exposure to atmospheric agents and vandalism, and existing solutions with closing doors often cause user inconvenience, hermetic seal problems, and inadequate sanitization capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A rotating container with a dispensing compartment that can be actuated by pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric means, allowing for safe sanitization and protection from external agents, with a UV lamp for sanitization treatment and automatic closure to prevent exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the dispensing compartment is closed by a door pushed by a spring, then hygiene is improved by protecting the dispensing compartment from external agents, but user convenience deteriorates as the user must keep the door open with one hand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure to atmospheric agentsVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful spring force is extracted from the door mechanism. Instead of using a spring to push the door closed, the patent uses a counterweight system that balances the door's weight, eliminating the spring's disturbing effect on user operation while maintaining the door's protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The door's operational parameters are changed by introducing a counterweight that modifies the force balance. The counterweight compensates for the door's weight and spring force, allowing the door to move smoothly without requiring the user to overcome strong spring pressure, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining hygiene protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If the door is made larger to accommodate a larger dispensing compartment, then the dispensing capacity is improved, but the spring size and user inconvenience increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing compartment sizeVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A counterweight is introduced to balance the increased door weight resulting from larger dispensing compartment dimensions. The counterweight compensates for the additional weight, ensuring that the door remains easy to operate despite its larger size, thus allowing increased dispensing capacity without sacrificing user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Ease of operation

If the door remains open for extended periods, then user access is improved, but the risk of vandalism and dirt exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessVSAvoidvandalism and dirt exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A feedback mechanism is implemented through the counterweight-spring system that automatically returns the door to its closed position after use. The system provides tactile feedback to the user and automatically closes the door, ensuring that even if the user forgets or leaves it open, the door returns to the protected state, thus preventing vandalism and dirt exposure while maintaining easy access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the gasket is exposed to atmospheric agents and frequent actuations, then the door's sealing function deteriorates over time, but maintaining a closed door system is necessary for hygiene

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene protectionVSAvoidgasket efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight system is designed to minimize the force required to open and close the door, reducing the mechanical stress on the gasket before it fails. By balancing the door's weight and reducing spring pressure, the preliminary design prevents excessive force from being applied to the gasket during normal operation, extending its service life while maintaining the closed-door hygiene protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables safe and efficient dispensing with automatic sanitization and protection from external factors, ensuring high hygiene standards and preventing exposure to dirt and vandalism.

Implementation Method 1

at least one UV lamp (11) faces which is adapted to perform the sanitization of the dispensing compartment (14)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet radiation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3220366B1Device for dispensing fluids such as water and the like

Publication Date: 2022.05.25 DKR DRINKATERING

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AI summary

A device (1) for dispensing fluids, such as water, milk and the like, comprising a container (2) provided with a dispensing compartment (14) and adapted to accommodate bottles (15) for containing a product; the container (2) being provided with a dispensing nozzle (32) or dispensing the product into the bottle (15); and a front panel (16) apted to allow access to the dispensing compartment (14) by a user; the container (2) is adapted to be turned by movement means (4), in order to pass from a condition in which the dispensing compartment (14) faces the front panel (16) and can be accessed from the outside of the device to a condition in which the dispensing compartment (14) rotates about its own axis so as to move the dispensing compartment so that it is directed toward the inside of the dispensing device, thus preventing access by a user.