Timed Dispenser with Contact Time Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-traffic environments like hotels, cleaning agents are often used inefficiently as they are wiped away before the recommended contact time, leading to inadequate sanitizing and waste of the chemical product.
Innovation Solution
A timed dispenser system that includes a container for chemical products, a dispense mechanism, an actuation sensor, a timing module, and an indicator, which ensures the chemical product remains on the surface for the required contact time and tracks usage data for analysis and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cleaning agents are applied and wiped away quickly, then productivity is improved, but the sanitizing effectiveness deteriorates and chemical product is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically initiating a timer when cleaning agent is dispensed, before the user completes the cleaning process. This timer ensures the chemical product remains on the surface for the required contact time, preventing premature removal and ensuring sanitizing effectiveness while allowing the user to maintain productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user through visual indicators (LED lights) that show the remaining contact time. This feedback mechanism helps users understand how long the cleaning agent needs to remain on the surface, enabling them to plan their cleaning actions accordingly and avoid premature removal, thus maintaining both productivity and sanitizing effectiveness.
2Productivity
If cleaning agents are applied and wiped away before contact time, then productivity is maintained, but chemical product is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The timer is activated immediately upon dispensing the chemical product, before the user applies or wipes it. This preliminary timing action ensures the full contact time is accounted for, preventing premature wiping that would waste chemical product while maintaining cleaning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator provides real-time feedback on the remaining contact time, allowing users to see exactly how long the chemical product needs to remain on the surface. This feedback prevents unnecessary wiping before contact time expires, thereby reducing chemical product waste while maintaining cleaning efficiency.
3Device complexity
If manual monitoring of contact time is used, then device complexity is low, but time management precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically timing the contact period without requiring user intervention or external monitoring. The timer starts automatically when cleaning agent is dispensed and provides visual feedback, eliminating the need for manual time tracking while maintaining simple device architecture. This achieves precise contact time management without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical time tracking with an automated electronic timer system. This substitution provides precise contact time measurement without requiring complex mechanical monitoring mechanisms, achieving accurate time management while keeping the overall system simple and easy to implement.
Data Source
AI summary
A chemical product dispenser includes one or more timing features. The chemical product may include cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, or other chemical products typically dispensed using a conventional spray bottle or other chemical product applicator used in the cleaning industry. The timed dispenser includes a timer and one or more indicators that are activated when one or more predetermined periods of time (such as a contact time or cure time) have elapsed. A timed dispenser audit system further monitors and analyzes use of the timed dispensers throughout one or more facilities, and may generate reports based on the analysis.