Supervisory unit washing facility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitation, cosmetics, and cleaning facilities lack advanced automation and user-friendliness, leading to inefficiencies in water usage and consumable distribution, particularly in low flow-rate applications where consumables are rinsed away quickly, resulting in reduced effectiveness and increased consumption.

Innovation Solution

A facility with a low through-flow rate water supply system integrated with a consumable unit and a closed-loop control unit that measures and adjusts operation parameters, allowing for precise mixing and dispensing of consumables, such as body care products or cleaning agents, based on flow rate, user input, and cycle modes, while also enabling remote monitoring and data analysis for optimized operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a low through-flow rate is used to reduce water consumption, then water efficiency is improved, but the consumable is rinsed away quickly reducing cleaning effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater consumptionVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect when the user has finished washing and automatically adjusts the flow rate accordingly. During the washing phase, a higher flow rate ensures effective cleaning, while after detection of washing completion, the flow rate is reduced to conserve water. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by dynamically adjusting water flow based on actual need rather than maintaining a consistently low flow rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The facility dynamically changes its operation mode between a first mode (higher flow rate) during active washing and a second mode (lower flow rate) after washing completion. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to provide sufficient water flow when needed for effective cleaning while minimizing water consumption during idle periods, thereby resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and water efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If automation is increased to improve user-friendliness and efficiency, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-friendlinessVSAvoidautomation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The facility is equipped with sensors that automatically detect user presence and washing completion, eliminating the need for manual operation. The system self-adjusts water flow rates and consumable dispensing based on detected user actions, providing hands-free operation. This self-service capability improves ease of operation while keeping the automation complexity manageable by using simple detection mechanisms rather than complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical controls are replaced with sensor-based detection systems that automatically sense user presence and washing completion. This substitution uses optical or capacitive sensors combined with electronic control to replace what would otherwise require manual mechanical intervention, improving ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through the use of standard sensor technologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3563004B1Supervisory unit washing facility
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 GJOSA SA
  • EP3563004B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3563004B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3563004B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention is in the field of facilities used for sanitation, cosmetics, and private or industrial cleaning. A facility (1) according to the invention comprises a water supply (17, 18), an outlet unit (6), a consumable unit (30) and a control unit (20). The facility (1) is a low through-flow rate facility. The control unit (20) comprises a sensor (16.1-16.5) adapted to measure at least one value, a user interface unit (21) adapted to enter a set-point and a closed loop control unit (22) configured to adapt an operation parameter of the facility (1) in consideration of the set-point.