Touchless Cutlery Dispensing With Protected Food-Contact End
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utensil dispensers face challenges in providing a hygienic, convenient, and economical method for dispensing disposable utensils, as they often become soiled, lack user convenience, and result in wasteful packaging.
Innovation Solution
An automatic utensil dispenser with a touchless sensor system that triggers an automated dispensing mechanism, allowing utensils to be dispensed sequentially from a stacked array, with the food-contact end protected until retrieval, and a design that minimizes contamination and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manually operated dispensers are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but hygiene is compromised due to soiled trays and touched handles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated sensor-triggered mechanism. A sensor detects when a user approaches or gestures, automatically activating the dispensing mechanism without requiring physical contact with handles, knobs, or trays. This eliminates the hygiene issues of manual operation while maintaining ease of use through automatic activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser system serves itself by automatically detecting user needs through sensors and initiating the dispensing action without human intervention. The system monitors the collection tray status and utensil availability, automatically managing the dispensing process to maintain hygiene while providing convenient service.
2Reliability
If pre-sealed pouches are used, then hygiene is maintained, but cost increases and waste occurs due to excess utensils
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the utensil storage into individual units within the dispenser. Instead of using a single pre-sealed pouch containing multiple utensils, the system stores utensils in a stacked array where each utensil is individually accessible. This allows users to take only the number of utensils needed, eliminating waste from excess utensils in pouches while maintaining hygiene through the sealed storage chamber.
3Reliability
If automated dispensing mechanism is implemented, then hygiene is improved through touchless operation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual operation mechanisms with a simpler sensor-based automated system. The sensor-triggered actuator mechanism eliminates the need for manual handles, knobs, and tray management components, reducing mechanical complexity while improving hygiene through touchless operation.
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
The solution ensures hygienic handling and convenient dispensing of utensils, reducing waste and maintaining hygiene by using a touchless system and protecting the food-contact end, while also being economical in operation.
Implementation Method 1
a touchless sensor for generating a signal in response to a user
Data Source
AI summary
A hygienic automatic electric utensil dispenser for use in eating establishments such as hospitals, schools, or other areas where large number of people are eating food in a central area. The dispenser can be refilled using prepackaged stacked plastic utensil in a self-sealing plastic bags without the user ever touching the utensil during the refilling process. The dispenser delivers the utensil in a sanitary method using a plurality of sensors.