EP0940110B1 - Dispenser with warning device for the level of the content - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of dispensers of the type comprising a housing which contains at least one movable element and a fixed element and for which each user intervention moves the movable element relative to the fixed element to release a quantity of a product contained in the housing of the distributor.

The hygiene sector is more particularly concerned by such dispensers for which the housing contains for example a liquid reservoir or powder, the movable element being a handle on which the user exerts a support, to cause the displacement of said handle to a fixed stop, this which releases a dose of liquid or powder contained in said reservoir.

Such distributors are very widely used to deliver solutions or sanitizing gels, liquid soap ... or other hand cleaning lotions, in the medical or paramedical field, in the food industry, in toilets, hospital, etc., in all places where hygiene, in particular that of the hands is necessary. In fact, the number of deaths per year in France, due to the spread of infectious germs in hospitals (so-called nosocomial diseases), 40% of which are caused by ailments carried out, mainly by the staff themselves. Hand washing, which can be contaminated by contact with a sick person or a contaminated device, must therefore be practiced systematically by doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, etc.

For this purpose, lotion dispensers of the type described above are used. However, these devices have the disadvantage of not providing the user information on the level of the contents of the tank, especially when the latter is empty or almost empty.

In some dispensers, the cover covering the tank has a slot vertical which allows to visualize the height of the product inside a tank to transparent or translucent walls, but does not allow precise indication on the lowest levels. In the latter case, the user does not know if he has received in his hands, which he may even have previously rinsed or wet, a dose complete with disinfectant or cleaning product. In addition, if he makes this gesture mechanical several times or tens of times a day, it does not necessarily lend pay attention to the actual level of the tank. He can then deceptively believe his hands perfectly cleaned or disinfected, while impurities or germs remain

The problem to be solved is therefore to indicate in a sensitive manner to the user when he actuates the dispenser handle that he has not received the planned dose, or that there are only a few doses left and also to inform the service maintenance that the tank must be recharged.

US-A-5397028 describes an automatic dispenser for liquid disinfectant by spray on the user's hands. An I R sensor emits an electrical signal to trigger a downward movement of the disinfectant bottle by ejecting a product dose, signal associated with a counter. This device requires two sources power supply, a light source I R, and cells Photoelectric. Such a device certainly allows the user to avoid touching the distributor, but is complex and is not adaptable to existing devices.

The device must also be able to be used in distributors where the movable element is a coil, the fixed element comprising two flanges serving to support for said coil, on which is wound a strip of flexible material pulled by the user to unwind said strip, for example of paper or other absorbent material, intended for wiping. The problem to solve is in this case also to inform the user that there is only a short length of tape left absorbent material, and also the service responsible for changing the reel.

The system should preferably adapt to existing distributors, and be simple, inexpensive, efficient and reliable.

This problem is solved by the distributor according to the invention, comprising a housing containing at least one mobile element and one fixed element and for which each user intervention moves the movable element relative to the element fixed to release a quantity of a product contained in the dispenser box, and comprising means for counting the number of movements of the element movable relative to the fixed element associated with means for transmitting a signal of the content level of the dispenser, when the number of trips counted reaches a predetermined value.

• un capteur qui détecte chaque déplacement de l'élément mobile par rapport à l'élément fixe,
• un micro-contrôleur qui totalise le nombre de déplacements et génère un signal lorsque la somme de ces déplacements atteint ou dépasse une valeur seuil prédéterminée.

According to the invention, the counting and transmission means are

• a sensor which detects each movement of the mobile element relative to the fixed element,
• a microcontroller which totals the number of movements and generates a signal when the sum of these movements reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Preferably, the sensor consists of a magnet and a reed switch flexible (I.L.S.), respectively integral with the mobile element and the fixed element. The microcontroller is a chip which contains software managing all the logic of the circuit It increments the number of trips and compares the sum of these displacements for example to the total number of objects or theoretical doses contained in the tank. The generated signal can be triggered at each new displacement of the movable element, beyond the threshold value reached.

This signal can advantageously be an audible signal. In this case, the signal emitted by the microcontroller is transmitted to a transducer, for example an element piezoelectric which transforms any signal received from the microcontroller into a signal acoustic. Preferably, the distributor housing contains and serves as a support to a refillable tank containing a product. The mobile element is then by example a handle on which the user presses to cause movement from said handle to a stop which constitutes the fixed element, which releases a quantity of product contained in said tank. The said product can be an object, a liquid or powder.

The device according to the invention therefore emits a signal warning the user that the tank is empty or almost empty, that is to say allowing the person to leave which actuates the handle of its mechanical and unconscious manipulation so that it realize that the dose delivered will be missing or incomplete.

Advantageously, the sensor can also be sensitive to the duration of the support in abutment on the handle. For example, a short press on the handle may correspond to a “request” from the user who wishes to obtain an object or a dose of product, and prolonged pressure on a reset of the device counting, when the tank is replaced or filled by staff maintenance.

Such a device, comprising counting and transmitting means, can thus adapt to existing distributors without major modification. He can be entirely carried by the housing and therefore completely independent of the tank rechargeable. In particular, it can be easily adapted to dispensers with of a reservoir forming part of a finished liquid product cartridge, in its lower part, by a flexible tip, inserted between the handle and the stop, on which presses the user through the handle to release a dose of liquid.

The device according to the invention can also be advantageously adapted to paper towel dispensers or dividable fabric, rolled, which are often found next to the hand cleaning dispensers.

In this type of distributor, the housing contains a coil on the core of which is wound up with a strip of absorbent material, for example paper or fractionable tissue.

The fixed element comprises two flanges serving as support for said coil, which therefore constitutes the movable element. The user pulls on the tape to cause the rotational movement of the coil relative to said flanges, unwinding the said band. Preferably, the flexible reed switch and the magnet are respectively secured to one of the flanges and to the end of the core located at near the said flange.

Advantageously, the flexible material is paper or a material absorbent, intended for wiping.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble, en coupe, d'un distributeur de liquide selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus, en coupe selon A-A, du distributeur selon la figure 1, au repos,
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus, en coupe selon A-A, du distributeur selon la figure 1, en position activée,
• les figures 4a, 4b et 5a, 5b représentent, en vue de trois quart, un second mode de réalisation de l'invention, selon deux variantes (respectivement figures 4 et figures 5),
• la figure 6 est un schéma du circuit électronique utilisé dans les distributeurs selon les figures 1 à 5.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of two embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples, and represented in the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is an overall view, in section, of a liquid dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a top view, in section along AA, of the dispenser according to FIG. 1, at rest,
• FIG. 3 is a top view, in section along AA, of the dispenser according to FIG. 1, in the activated position,
• FIGS. 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b show, with a view to three-quarters, a second embodiment of the invention, according to two variants (respectively Figures 4 and Figures 5),
• FIG. 6 is a diagram of the electronic circuit used in the distributors according to FIGS. 1 to 5.

First embodiment:

In Figure 1 is schematically a liquid distributor, according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This dispenser has a housing vertical 1 in plastic material, fixed to a wall or a wall 2, the part of which upper, L-shaped in Figure 1, is used to support a cartridge 3 (shown in dotted lines). Said cartridge 3 consists of a reservoir 4 in which the product is found here in the form of liquid, which flows under the action gravity, towards the neck 5, extended, in its lower part, by a nozzle 6 flexible whose lower end 7 corresponds to an orifice 8 in the lower part of the case 1. The flexible tip 6 is inserted between a pusher 9 fixed on the inner face concave of a handle 10 and a stop 11 constituted here by a sort of fork 12, terminated towards the rear by two reinforcing legs 13a and 13b, coming to bear on the wall 2 when the housing 1 is hung on it, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

A cover 15 fixed to the housing 1 for example by clips, covers and hides the tank 4.

A hinge 14, located at the lower front end of the "L" of the housing 1 allows the articulation of the handle 10 relative to the housing 1.

When the user of the dispenser presses said handle 10 in the direction of arrow f, the pusher 9 secured to the handle 10 presses and compresses the flexible end piece 6 of the liquid cartridge 3, in abutment against the vertical wall central 12a of the fork 12 (see Figure 3). This compression expels a dose of liquid downwards, through the lower end 7 of the nozzle 6 and the orifice 8 of the case 1.

According to the invention, a magnet 20 is placed inside the pusher 9, at near its rear end 9a, and an electronic circuit board 21 is arranged in the free space 22 located between the two reinforcement tabs 13a and 13b, near the central vertical wall 12a. This electronic board 21 contains a switch with flexible blades (I.L.S.) which changes state each time the magnet 20 approaches from him at a sufficiently short distance d. This distance d is close to the sum thicknesses of the central vertical wall 12a of the fork, thicknesses of walls of the nozzle 6 of the cartridge 3, and of the wall of the posterior end 9a. It can vary between 0.5 and 5 cm.

The electronic circuit board 21 is provided with a microcontroller which adds the number of relay state changes and compare this sum to a threshold value preprogrammed corresponding to the total number of theoretical doses contained in the reservoir 4. When the threshold value is reached or exceeded, the microcontroller generates a signal transmitted to a transducer 22 associated with it (or placed elsewhere on said housing 1 of the distributor, or even outside the distributor). The transducer here is a piezoelectric element. The signal emitted is an audible signal which indicates to the user, when he presses the handle 10, that the tank 4 is empty or almost empty, and therefore it will not receive any dose of product or incomplete dose.

Said signal can also be transmitted, via an electrical circuit, to the distributor maintenance personnel.

The diagram of the electronic circuit used is shown in Figure 6.

The electronic circuit board 21 is fitted with a C / 1 PIC-type microcontroller 12C508 which is on the one hand connected to a quartz Q1 and capacitors C1 and C2 allowing to adapt the impedance for the oscillator of the microcontroller, connected the flexible reed switch (I.L.S.), magnetic detection relay, and secondly to a piezoelectric transducer BZ1 which it controls, for the generation of the signals sound.

The circuit further comprises a silicon diode D1, capacitors C1, C2, C3 and a resistance R1 of 100 k Ohm. A BT1 battery (or battery) can power the circuit (VDD not shown in the diagram).

When replacing the cartridge 3, the cover 15 is separated from the housing 1 and the cartridge (reservoir 4 with its nozzle 6) is removed. The pusher 9, integral with the handle 10, tilts and comes into direct contact with the vertical wall 12a of the stop. This rapprochement brings the magnet 20 into contact with the relay of the electronic circuit board, for a period longer than a "normal" press (for delivery of a dose of product), which resets the chip.

The power supply of the device can for example come from batteries, the housing of which is provided in the housing 1. ²

The dispenser presented in this example concerns the distribution of doses of produced in liquid or gel form, but the dispenser according to the invention applies also to distributors of powder, or even of objects delivered to the unit by approximation and / or support of a control means on a stop, such as by example, in the field of hygiene, papers or wipes "hand towels".

As presented in the introductory part of this description, the device according to the invention is particularly useful in hospitals, in the rooms of care, toilets, laboratories ..., and can be used in all types of industries where the user needs to be informed of the level of the contents of the tank, when are delivered unit doses of product (or single items), such as agro-food, chemical, biological industries, etc.

Second embodiment:

Figures 4 and 5 show diagrammatically two variants of a second mode of realization of the invention.

In this embodiment, the dispenser comprises a housing 1, of which only the rear face 30 is shown here, fixed to a wall or a wall 2. On this face 30 are joined two flanges 31 and 32 parallel and of the same height which serve to both horizontal support and rotational guide of a coil 33.

The coil 33, positioned between the two flanges 31 and 32, has a core 34 cylindrical on which is wrapped a strip 35 of paper or absorbent cloth

According to a first variant of this embodiment (Figure 4), the core 34 can be made of solid material (see fig. 4a) and present to each of its two ends an axial protuberance 36 which is housed in a slot corresponding 37 provided in each of the flanges 31 and 32.

As shown in FIG. 4b, the core can also be provided with two end discs 38 for holding the absorbent material therebetween strip shape 35 wound on the cylindrical core 34.

In these two cases (fig. 4a and 4b) according to the invention, the magnet 20 is placed at a of the ends of the core 34, on the flat lateral face (FIG. 4a) or on the surface of one of the side discs 38. The electronic circuit board 21 containing a reed switch flexible is disposed nearby on the outer face of the corresponding flange 31, 32.

According to a second variant of this second embodiment of the invention, the cylinder constituting the core 34 of the coil 33 is hollow, over all of its length, or a few centimeters at each of its ends. The inside diameter of the core, at its ends corresponds, apart from play, to two circular protrusions 39 placed on the internal faces opposite the two flanges 31, 32 for wedging in translation the core 34 of the coil 33. In this case, the magnet 20 is preferably placed inside the hollow cylinder forming the core 34, near one of the ends (see FIG. 5b), the relay I.L.S. being positioned on the external face of the corresponding flange 32, like the variant previous (Figure 4a).

For these two variants, the electronic circuit can be identical to that shown in Figure 6 and described above.

When the user wishes, for example, to wipe his hands, he will pull on the strip 35 of absorbent material, causing the rotation of the coil 33, therefore the core 34 around its axis. At each turn, the magnet 20 positioned on the lateral face of the core 34 will alternately move away from the switch 21, then approach it by causing a change of state of this relay. The associated microcontroller will increment each turn and trigger a signal when the total number of revolutions will reach the predetermined threshold value corresponding to the total length of the strip 35 of absorbent material.

Such a device can be adapted to any distributor of absorbent material, by example of the hand towel or toilet paper type.

It can also be used, in addition to hygiene, in any type of industry where the user can be warned, thanks to the audible or visual signal, of the approach of the end of the strip wound on the reel, thus allowing its quick replacement.

One of the main advantages of the device according to the invention comprising the counting means, and the means of transmitting a signal, is that it can be inserted without problem inside the housing of existing distributors. It is so more protected from untimely handling, especially if the case is locked.

In the liquid dispenser presented in one of the examples above, the two means (counting and emission) are even independent of the tank, i.e. that they can stay permanently inside the case.

Claims (13)

1. Dispenser comprising a casing (1) containing at least a moving element and a fixed element and for which each intervention on the part of the user moves the moving element with respect to the fixed element to release an amount of a product contained in the dispenser casing, and comprising means of counting the number of movements of the moving element with respect to the fixed element which are associated with means of emitting a warning signal for the level of the content in the dispenser, when the number of movements counted reaches a predetermined value, characterized in that the counting and emitting means are:

   a sensor which detects each movement of the moving element with respect to the fixed element,

   a microcontroller which sums the number of movements and generates a signal when the sum of these movements reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
2. Dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is made up of a magnet and of a switch with flexible blades.
3. Dispenser according to Claim 2, characterized in that the magnet and the flexible-blades switch are secured respectively to the moving element and to the fixed element.
4. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal emitted by the microcontroller is transmitted to a transducer.
5. Dispenser according to Claim 4, characterized in that the transducer is a piezoelectric element which converts any signal received from the microcontroller into an acoustic signal.
6. Dispenser according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the casing acts as a support for a refillable container (4), the moving element being a handle (10) on which the user presses to cause the said handle (10) to move (f) as far as a stop (11) which constitutes the fixed element, this releasing a quantity of the product contained in the said container (4).
7. Dispenser according to Claim 6, characterized in that the product contained in the container (4) is an object.
8. Dispenser according to Claim 6, characterized in that the product contained in the container is a dose of liquid or of powder.
9. Dispenser according to Claim 8, characterized in that the container (4) containing liquid forms part of a cartridge (3), the lower part of which ends in a flexible endpiece (6) inserted between the handle (10) and the stop (11), against which end piece the user presses via the handle (10) to release a dose of liquid.
10. Dispenser according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the sensor is also sensitive to the time for which the handle (10) is pressed.
11. Dispenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the moving element is a roll, the fixed element comprising two cheeks serving to support the said roll on the core of which is wound a strip of a flexible material which the user pulls in order to rotate the roll with respect to the two said cheeks, unrolling the said strip.
12. Dispenser according to Claim 11, characterized in that the flexible-blades switch and the magnet are secured respectively to one of the cheeks and to the end of the core situated near the said cheek.
13. Dispenser according to either one of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the flexible material is an absorbent material or paper intended for wiping.

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