Sterilizing Assembly for Writing Utensils with Automatic Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilizing assemblies for writing utensils lack an efficient mechanism for on-demand dispensing of sterilized tools, which can contribute to the spread of communicable diseases in environments where frequent use occurs.
Innovation Solution
A sterilizing assembly with a housing featuring a sanitizing unit using ultraviolet light and a dispensing unit that detects hand proximity to automatically provide a sterilized writing utensil, incorporating a motor-driven mechanism for aligning channels to dispense the utensil through a slot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a sterilizing assembly uses manual retrieval of sterilized writing utensils, then the structure can be simple, but it cannot provide on-demand dispensing and contributes to disease spread
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a sensor to detect when a user needs a writing utensil and automatically dispenses one without manual intervention. The motor-driven channel alignment mechanism self-adjusts to position the correct channel with the dispensing slot, enabling automatic on-demand dispensing that reduces disease spread while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical retrieval with an automated system using sensors and motor-driven mechanisms. The sensor detects user presence and triggers the motor to rotate and align channels, substituting manual operation with automated electromechanical control for on-demand dispensing.
2Reliability
If the sterilizing assembly sterilizes utensils continuously, then hygiene is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultraviolet sanitizing unit operates periodically rather than continuously. The sensor detects when a utensil needs sterilization and activates the UV light accordingly, providing effective sterilization when needed while reducing energy consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides feedback about the presence of writing utensils and user actions to the control system. This feedback enables the system to activate sterilization only when necessary, optimizing both reliability of sterilization and energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary continuous operation.
3Ease of operation
If the dispensing unit requires manual alignment of channels, then the mechanism can be simple, but it reduces ease of operation and increases user error
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven mechanism automatically aligns the channels with the dispensing slot without requiring user intervention. The system self-adjusts the channel positions based on sensor input, providing ease of operation while using a relatively simple motor-driven alignment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel alignment mechanism is dynamic rather than static. The motor can rotate the channel assembly to different positions, allowing the system to adapt to different utensil types and sizes. This dynamic adjustment provides ease of operation while maintaining manageable complexity through a single motor-driven component.
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
Effectively prevents the spread of communicable diseases by ensuring writing utensils are sterilized and dispensed hygienically, suitable for high-use settings like doctor's offices, pharmacies, and government offices.
Implementation Method 1
A sanitizing unit (44) engaged to the housing (12) is configured to sterilize a contaminated writing utensil inserted into the housing (12) through the first slot (16)
Data Source
AI summary
A sterilizing assembly for on-demand dispensing of sterilized writing utensils includes a housing, which defines an interior space. The housing has a first slot and a second slot positioned in a top and a bottom thereof, respectively. A sanitizing unit and a dispensing unit are engaged to the housing and are positioned in the interior space. The sanitizing unit sterilizes a contaminated writing utensil inserted into the housing through the first slot. The dispensing unit will dispense a sterilized writing utensil from the housing through the second slot. A sensor engaged to the bottom of the housing detects a presence of a hand proximate to the second slot. The sensor is operationally engaged to the dispensing unit and thus is positioned to signal the dispensing unit to dispense the sterilized writing utensil.