Electric Soap Dispenser Pump Control for Continuous, Drip-Free Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric soap dispensers often fail to provide a continuous stream of soap, require priming, and have issues with power efficiency and soap discharge adjustment, leading to inconsistent performance and potential clogging.
Innovation Solution
An electric soap dispenser with a housing, power supply, reservoir, pump, and electronic control unit that allows for adjustable soap discharge, includes a trigger sensor and button for activation, and features a reversible pump to prevent dripping, along with power-saving sensor activation and a clog-clearing mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pump operates in traditional single-direction mode, then the structure is simple, but the soap discharge is intermittent and causes dripping
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates in periodic forward and reverse cycles, switching direction at regular intervals to maintain continuous soap flow. The control unit alternates the pump between forward pumping mode and reverse suction mode, creating a periodic action that prevents dripping while maintaining discharge consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
During the reverse operation phase, the pump discards the forward motion and recovers soap that would otherwise drip from the nozzle by suctioning it back into the system. This discarding and recovering mechanism eliminates waste and maintains discharge reliability.
2Loss of time
If the sensor operates continuously, then the response time is fast, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor operates periodically rather than continuously, activating at scheduled intervals to detect hand presence. The control unit manages sensor activation in cycles, turning it on only when needed for detection and keeping it off during idle periods, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining acceptable response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is activated in advance of actual soap dispensing needs based on predicted usage patterns. The system performs preliminary detection cycles before actual hand washing events are certain to occur, allowing the sensor to be turned off during confirmed idle periods while maintaining readiness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the button is added for manual operation, then the user can dispense continuous soap, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The button serves multiple functions: it can be pressed for single-dose dispensing, held for continuous dispensing, and used in combination with sensor detection. This multi-functionality allows the button to adapt to various user needs without requiring separate controls for each operation mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The button's function dynamically changes based on the duration and pattern of pressing. A brief press triggers one type of dispensing, while a sustained press triggers another type, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to user intent without complex programming or multiple physical controls.
4Productivity
If the pump runs at full power continuously, then the soap discharge speed is high, but the battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates in periodic bursts rather than continuously, alternating between high-power pumping phases and low-power or idle phases. The control unit manages duty cycles that allow the pump to deliver high discharge rates when needed while resting periodically to conserve battery energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump delivers excessive soap flow during active dispensing phases to ensure adequate supply, then stops completely during idle phases. This partial operation pattern provides high productivity when needed while accepting zero productivity during battery-saving periods, optimizing the balance between discharge rate and battery life.
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 continuous soap dispensing, improved power efficiency, adjustable soap output, and reduced clogging, enhancing user convenience and device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a pump (18) disposed in the housing, the pump having an inlet connected to the outlet of the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor (34) supported by the housing and driving the pump, the electric motor being powered by the power supply
Implementation Method 3
A trigger sensor can be configured to detect the presence of an object
Data Source
AI summary
An electric soap dispenser that includes sensors for detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can be configured to dispense an amount of liquid soap, for example, upon detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can include various features for enhancing the performance thereof. For example, the dispenser can include an additional button for manual operation of the pump. Additionally, the dispenser can detect the voltage of a power supply and compensate for a drop in voltage of the power supply so as to produce more uniform dispensations of the liquid product.