EP4417098A1 - Device for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfecting fluid for hands - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfection fluid for hands, with a housing (20) which has a cavity (22) into which a container (40) for holding the fluid can be introduced, wherein the container (40) is connected to a pumping and dosing unit (50) with which the fluid can be conveyed out of the container (40) and dispensed, and with an electrically driven actuating device (30) for actuating the pumping and dosing unit (50), wherein the device (10) has at least one solar module (60) for supplying energy to the electrically driven actuating device (30).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfection fluid for hands.

Such devices are known, for example, from EP 3 650 128 A1 and the EN 10 58 272 A1 and are used in a variety of ways. For example, in craft businesses where the craftsmen regularly get their hands dirty, such devices are used to dispense a cleaning fluid, particularly soap, in order to clean the hands. However, since frequent hand washing is a strain on the skin in the hand area, such devices are also used to dispense care products, for example in the form of hand cream. This can prevent skin diseases. The use of such care products can even be prescribed for certain businesses.

Another very important area of application for such devices is in healthcare facilities, particularly hospitals, nursing homes and doctor's offices. There, the devices are used to dispense disinfectant fluids to reduce the spread of pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

Such devices have a pump and dosing unit. The fluid released is collected with the other hand and then massaged into the skin in the hand area with both hands. Devices are known in which the pump and dosing unit are driven by a contactless drive unit. so that no contact with the device is necessary. This significantly reduces the risk of passing on pathogens.

To supply power to such devices, it is known to connect them to a power grid using a cable. However, this requires a lot of cabling. In particular, a power socket is often not available in the vicinity of the location where the device is to be installed. Alternatively, it is also known to equip such devices with batteries or accumulators, but these must be replaced regularly or recharged outside the device. There is a risk that the device will not be permanently ready for use during a replacement.

The object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfection fluid for hands, which has improved usage behavior.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a device for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfection fluid for hands, with the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The device according to the invention for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfection fluid for hands, with a housing which has a cavity into which a container for holding the fluid can be introduced wherein the container is connected to a pump and dosing unit with which the fluid can be conveyed out of the container and dispensed, and to an electrically driven actuating device for actuating the pump and dosing unit, is characterized in that the device for supplying energy to the electrically driven actuating device has at least one solar module. The solar module makes it possible to generate the required energy directly on the device.

Preferably, the solar module is arranged on the top of the housing in order to be able to use the incident light as effectively as possible.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the solar module has a surface which is essentially flush with an outer surface of the housing. This can improve the cleanability of the device. Furthermore, this can reduce the risk of injury to a user due to protruding edges.

The device preferably has at least one energy storage device, in particular an accumulator or a supercapacitor. Since the necessary light is not usually present at every time when a user wants to carry out a dispensing process with the device and the actuating device has to trigger such a dispensing process, such energy storage devices enable the energy generated by the solar module when there is appropriate light to be stored. Supercapacitors are electrochemical capacitors which, compared to accumulators of the same weight, have a significantly lower energy density but a significantly higher power density. so that they can be charged and discharged much faster than rechargeable batteries.

Preferably, the device has exactly two energy storage devices, in particular two accumulators or supercapacitors, which are connected in series. It has been found that the required energy can be reliably provided with such an arrangement.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a control circuit, in particular in the form of a battery management system, is arranged between the at least one solar module and the at least one energy storage device. Since the voltage generated in the solar module varies depending on the intensity of the incident light, such a battery management system can be designed to compensate for these voltage fluctuations. Furthermore, such a battery management system can be designed to control whether the voltage generated should be used directly to actuate the actuating device or, if appropriate, other components of the device or to charge the energy storage device. It is also possible for such a battery management system to be designed to transfer individual components of the device to a standby mode in order to minimize energy consumption, in particular power consumption. Furthermore, such a battery management system can be designed to protect the energy storage device from damage caused by overcharging by switching off the at least one solar module in the event that the energy storage device(s) is fully charged and no fluid dispensing process is to be carried out.

The device advantageously has a motion sensor, wherein the at least one solar module is designed to supply energy to the motion sensor. The motion sensor can be designed, for example, as an ultrasonic sensor or proximity sensor and enables a contactless triggering of a dispensing process of the fluid. If the motion sensor detects the approach of a user, in particular the hand of a user, the electric drive of the actuating device for actuating the pump and dosing unit can be triggered in order to dispense the fluid. The energy required for the motion sensor is provided in particular by the at least one solar module. The motion sensor is preferably permanently activated in order to be able to trigger a dispensing process at any time.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the device has a monitoring unit with which device-related and/or user-related data can be recorded and stored, wherein the at least one solar module is designed to supply energy to the monitoring unit. Processes that the device carries out can be controlled or regulated by means of the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit can, for example, record when fluid has been dispensed from the device. Furthermore, the monitoring unit can specify and log the amount of fluid to be dispensed. This information is an example of device-related data. In addition, as explained below, user-related data can be entered using a display or users can be identified using a user recognition device, which can be assigned to a dispensing process. In this way, the dispensing process can be assigned to a specific user of the device. This assignment can be made in the The monitoring unit stores the data and reads it out for documentation purposes via an appropriate interface. This makes it possible to provide evidence of whether a certain person has actually carried out the prescribed hand disinfection, for example. The monitoring unit is also powered by at least one solar module in order to further improve the device's self-sufficiency.

The device preferably has a display that interacts with the monitoring unit for entering and displaying the user-related data and/or the device-related data, wherein the at least one solar module is designed to supply energy to the display. A display represents an easy-to-use component for a user. The display is also supplied with energy in particular by means of the at least one solar module in order to further improve the self-sufficiency of the device.

The device advantageously has a user recognition device with which the identity of the user of the device can be determined, wherein the at least one solar module is designed to supply energy to the user recognition device. For documentation purposes and to prove whether a certain user has carried out the prescribed hand disinfection, it is useful to assign a certain dispensing process of the fluid to a user of the device in question. This can be done by means of an input using the display. However, the user recognition device can simplify and shorten the determination of the user's identity. In addition, the user recognition device can be designed in such a way that contact with the display, for example, is not necessary. whereby the transmission of pathogens can be counteracted. The power supply of the user recognition device is also provided in particular by means of the at least one solar module in order to further improve the self-sufficiency of the device.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the device comprises a transmitting and receiving unit for exchanging data with external units, wherein the at least one solar module is designed to supply energy to the transmitting and receiving unit. As mentioned, device-related and/or user-related data can be stored with the monitoring unit. However, in order to process this data further, it is desirable to read this data. For this purpose, for example, a suitably configured reading device can be used, which must be connected to the device. In the present embodiment, however, the device comprises a transmitting and receiving unit with which the stored data can be transmitted wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth or WLAN, to an external unit. The data exchange can take place at regular intervals or quasi-continuously. In the latter case, the state of the device can be determined almost in real time. Exceptional events that require certain measures can thus be initiated promptly, thereby preventing the device from being down for a longer period of time. The transmitting and receiving unit is also supplied with energy in particular by means of the at least one solar module in order to further improve the device's self-sufficiency.

Particularly preferably, the entire energy requirement of the device can be covered by means of the at least one solar module in order to be able to provide a completely self-sufficient device.

It is possible to provide one or more solar modules. It is also possible to provide a separate solar module for each component of the device that requires energy, or to supply one or more of the components with energy using one or more solar modules.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Abgabe eines Fluids mit einem Gehäuse und einem daran angeordneten Solarmodul,

Fig. 2

einen Ausschnitt einer Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie F-F in Figur 2,

Fig. 4

eine teilweise geschnittene perspektivische Ansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 mit teilweise entferntem rückseitigen Gehäuse und

Fig. 5

eine Rückansicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 4.

The invention is explained in more detail using an embodiment shown in the figures.

Fig.1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for dispensing a fluid with a housing and a solar module arranged thereon,

Fig.2

a section of a side view of the device according to Figure 1 ,

Fig.3

a section along the line FF in Figure 2 ,

Fig.4

a partially sectioned perspective view of the device according to Figure 1 with partially removed rear housing and

Fig.5

a rear view of the device according to Figure 4 .

The Figures 1 to 5 show various views of an embodiment of a device 10 for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfection fluid for hands, with a housing 20 which has a cavity 22. The housing 20 has an opening 21, in particular on a front side, through which the cavity 22 is accessible. The opening 21 can be closed by means of a closure cover 24. The housing 20 can be made of a opaque plastic or metal, for example stainless steel. The closure cover 24 can also be made of an opaque plastic or metal, for example stainless steel, but alternatively also of a transparent plastic. The closure cover 24 can be pivotally mounted on the housing 20 or can also be inserted in a locking manner into corresponding recesses arranged on the housing 20.

A container 40 for holding the fluid can be introduced into the cavity 22, the container 40 being connected to a pumping and dosing unit 50 with which the fluid can be pumped out of the container 40 and dispensed. The connection between the container 40 and the pumping and dosing unit 50 can be detachable or non-detachable. Figure 1 shows the container 40 with the pump and dosing unit 50 only in an abstract manner. The structure and functioning of such a pump and dosing unit 50 are basically known. When actuated, the pump and dosing unit 50 can be used to convey fluid through a suction pipe 55 extending into the container 40 to a dispensing opening 54 and to dispense it from there, in particular into a user's hand held under the dispensing opening 54.

The pump and dosing unit 50 can be actuated by means of an actuating device 30. If the actuating device 30 is used, a dispensing process of fluid is effected through the dispensing opening 54. If the actuating device 30 no longer exerts force, the pump and dosing unit 50 can be returned to the starting position.

The actuating device 30 is electrically driven. For this purpose, the device 10 can be equipped with a drive unit 35 with which the actuating device 30 can be moved to exert a force on the pump and dosing unit 50. To activate the drive unit 35, the device 10 can have a motion sensor 36, which can be designed, for example, as an ultrasonic sensor or a proximity sensor. When an approach is detected, the pump and dosing unit 50 is actuated by means of the actuating device 30 and a dispensing process of the fluid is effected.

The device 10 can have a monitoring unit 80 with which device-related and/or user-related data can be recorded and stored. Processes that the device 10 carries out can be controlled or regulated by means of the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit 80 can comprise a circuit board 81, which is arranged in particular in the housing 20, for example in a further cavity 26 separate from the cavity 22.

The device 10 can have a display (not shown in the present embodiment) that interacts with the monitoring unit 80 for entering and displaying the user-related data and/or the device-related data. Alternatively or additionally, the device 10 can have a user recognition device (not shown) with which the identity of the user of the device can be determined.

The device can further comprise a transmitting and receiving unit 90 for data exchange with external units, with which the stored data can be transmitted to an external unit, in particular wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth or WLAN. The data exchange can take place at regular intervals or quasi-continuously. The transmitting and receiving unit 90 and receiving unit 90 can also be arranged on the circuit board 81. External units can be designed, for example, as a smartphone, as a transponder, as a barcode or the like. Such an external unit can in particular enable user recognition. The external unit can also be designed as a server of a hospital, a doctor's office or a factory, which can communicate with the device 10, for example, via a WLAN network in order to be able to centrally collect and evaluate device- and user-related data.

The device 10 has at least one solar module 60 for supplying the electrically driven actuating device 30 with electrical energy, which is arranged in particular on an upper side 20a of the housing 20. There can be a single or several solar modules 60. The solar module 60 has a surface 60a which can be substantially flush with an outer surface 20c of the housing 20. The solar module 60 can, as shown in particular in Figure 3 recognizable, partially or completely sunk into a recess 20b on the outside of the housing 20.

The at least one solar module 60 can also serve to supply electrical energy to one or more other electronic components of the device 10, for example the motion sensor 36, the monitoring unit 80, the display, the usage detection unit and/or the transmitting and receiving unit 90. In particular, the entire energy requirement of the device 10 can be covered by means of the at least one solar module 60.

The device 10 can have at least one, in the present embodiment exactly two, energy storage devices 70, in particular an accumulator or a supercapacitor, in which energy generated by the at least one solar module 60 can be temporarily stored when it is not needed directly in the device 10 to supply the actuating device 30 or other electronic components such as the motion sensor 36, the monitoring unit 80, a display, a usage detection unit or a transmitting and receiving unit 90 with electrical energy.

A control circuit 100, in particular in the form of a battery management system, is arranged between the at least one solar module 60 and the at least one energy storage device 70. The control circuit 100 can be arranged in particular on the circuit board 81. The circuit board 81 is connected to the at least one solar module 60 via electrical lines 83. The circuit board 81 is also connected to the at least one energy storage device 70 via electrical contacts 85.

Since the voltage generated in the solar module varies depending on the intensity of the incident light, such a battery management system can be designed to compensate for these voltage fluctuations. Furthermore, such a battery management system can be designed to control whether the voltage generated is to be used directly to actuate the actuating device 30 or possibly other components of the device 10, for example to supply electrical energy to the motion sensor 36 or the transmitting and receiving unit 90, or to charge the at least one energy storage device 70. It is also possible for such a battery management system to be designed to control individual electronic components of the device 10, for example the transmitting and receiving unit 90, into a standby mode in order to minimize energy consumption, in particular power consumption. Furthermore, such a battery management system can be designed to protect the energy storage device 70 from damage caused by overcharging by switching off at least one solar module 60 in the event of a full charge of the energy storage device(s) 70 and provided that no fluid dispensing process is to be carried out.

List of reference symbols

10

device

20

Housing

20a

Top

20b

Recess

21

opening

22

cavity

24

Locking cover

26

cavity

30

Actuating device

35

Drive unit

36

Motion sensor

40

Container

50

Pump and dosing unit

54

Delivery opening

55

Intake manifold

60

Solar module

60a

surface

70

Energy storage

80

Monitoring unit

81

Board

83

electrical line

85

electrical contact

90

Transmitting and receiving unit

100

Control circuit

Claims (12)

Device (10) for dispensing a fluid, in particular a cleaning, care or disinfection fluid for hands, with a housing (20) which has a cavity (22) into which a container (40) for holding the fluid can be introduced, wherein the container (40) is connected to a pumping and dosing unit (50) with which the fluid can be conveyed out of the container (40) and dispensed, and with an electrically driven actuating device (30) for actuating the pumping and dosing unit (50),
characterized in that the device (10) for supplying energy to the electrically driven actuating device (30) has at least one solar module (60). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the solar module (60) is arranged on an upper side (20a) of the housing (20). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the solar module (60) has a surface (60a) which is substantially flush with an outer surface (20c) of the housing (20). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the device (10) has at least one energy store (70), in particular an accumulator or a supercapacitor. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the device (10) has exactly two energy stores (70), in particular two accumulators or supercapacitors. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that a control circuit (100), in particular in the form of a battery management system, is arranged between the at least one solar module (60) and the at least one energy storage device (70). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the device (10) has a motion sensor (36), wherein the at least one solar module (60) is designed to supply energy to the motion sensor (36). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the device (10) has a monitoring unit (80) with which device-related and/or user-related data can be recorded and stored, wherein the at least one solar module (60) is designed to supply energy to the monitoring unit (80). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the device (10) has a display cooperating with the monitoring unit (80) for entering and displaying the user-related data and/or the device-related Data, wherein the at least one solar module (60) is designed to supply energy to the display. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the device (10) has a user recognition device with which the identity of the user of the device (10) can be determined, wherein the at least one solar module (60) is designed to supply energy to the user recognition device. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the device (10) comprises a transmitting and receiving unit (90) for data exchange with external units, wherein the at least one solar module (60) is designed to supply energy to the transmitting and receiving unit (90). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the entire energy requirement of the device (10) can be covered by means of the at least one solar module (60).

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