Touchless lid dispenser apparatus and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for dispensing disposable beverage lids are inefficient and prone to contamination, as customers often struggle to reach stacked lids and must handle them with their hands, leading to increased risk of germ transmission and unsanitary conditions.
Innovation Solution
A touchless lid dispenser system that uses sensors to detect a user's hand and automatically dispense lids through a housing opening, eliminating the need for direct hand contact with the lid stack and incorporating a mechanism to separate and deliver lids without manual handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lids are dispensed in a vertical stack for customer self-service, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination risk increases due to frequent hand contact
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical dispensing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the lid stack and the customer. The mechanism includes a hopper holding the lid stack, a picker that separates individual lids, and a conveyor that delivers lids to the customer without direct contact. This intermediary system eliminates hand contact with the lid stack while maintaining easy access for customers.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing system enables customer self-service through automated operation. Sensors detect when a customer approaches and automatically activate the lid dispensing mechanism. The system serves itself by automatically picking and delivering lids without requiring employee intervention or direct customer contact with the storage stack.
2Ease of operation
If lids are presented in a tray or hopper, then ease of operation is improved, but lids become disordered and require two hands to separate
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical action of separating lids with two hands is replaced by an automated mechanical system. The lid picker uses a controlled mechanical mechanism with fingers or grippers that automatically separate and pick individual lids from the stack, eliminating the need for customers to use two hands and preventing lid disarray.
Solution Approach 2:
A mechanical intermediary device (the lid picker) is introduced between the lid storage and the customer. This device maintains orderly presentation of lids in the hopper while automatically performing the separation function, thus simplifying customer interaction without requiring complex manual manipulation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If employees manually place lids on cups, then contamination risk is reduced, but productivity decreases due to manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where customers initiate lid dispensing automatically through sensor detection. This eliminates the need for employee intervention while maintaining contamination control, as the automated mechanism handles lid distribution. The system increases productivity by rapidly dispensing lids on demand without manual handling bottlenecks.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual employee handling is replaced by an automated mechanical dispensing system. The mechanism includes sensors for detection, a picker for lid separation, and a conveyor for delivery, all operating automatically to increase speed and maintain hygiene standards without requiring employee contact with lids.
4Ease of operation
If multiple customers handle the lid stack, then ease of operation is improved, but germ transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
A physical barrier and mechanical intermediary system is introduced between multiple customers and the lid stack. The enclosed hopper and automated picker mechanism allow unlimited customer access while preventing any direct contact with the lid stack, thus maintaining hygiene reliability even with multiple users.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid stack is enclosed within a hopper structure that acts as a protective shell or barrier. This enclosure prevents germs from multiple customers from contaminating the lids while still allowing the automated mechanism to function and deliver lids to customers who remain outside the enclosed space.
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 system reduces contamination risks and improves convenience by allowing for hands-free lid dispensing, ensuring hygiene and ease of use, while maintaining efficiency in handling multiple lid sizes.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor senses the presence of a user's hand and the actuator is enabled in response to the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A lid dispensing system includes a housing, a sensor, and a dispenser. The sensor senses objects outside the housing. Once sensed, a dispenser within the housing coveys a lid outside the housing. A method for dispensing lids is also disclosed. The method includes sensing objects outside a housing, separating a lid from a stack of lids, and conveying lids to a position outside the housing.