FR3123549A1 - Hand treatment device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Hand treatment device (1) comprising an active cavity (2) for housing the hands and forearms of a user, a double inlet (3) for inserting the hands and forearms of the user into the cavity active, a treatment assembly (4) comprising two brushes (5), an active product dispenser (6), and a blower (7) for drying. FIGURE 1

Description

Hand treatment device and method

The invention relates to a treatment device for the hands and forearms comprising an active cavity for accommodating the hands and forearms of a user, a double entry for inserting the hands and forearms of the user into the cavity active, a treatment unit comprising two rotating brushes and an active product dispenser. The invention also relates to a corresponding treatment method for the hands and forearms.

For a long time, very many types of hand cleaning devices have been designed, according to specific needs. For example, in industrial applications involving frequent handling of lubricants or other dirty products, hand cleaning systems with rotating brushes or high-velocity water jets have been designed. The user places his hands against the brushes and moves his fingers and hands to exert the cleaning action in the various places where he sees dirt.

For example, the document JP11299680 describes a hand washing system using an assembly comprising two rollers actuated in rotation, but without translational movement. The action of the rotating rollers makes it possible to clean the hands effectively insofar as the user takes care to perform the required actions on the entire surface of the hands.

Document WO2016082635 describes a sprayer and blower assembly for spraying the hands and forearms with a cleaning product and then drying the hands, all without contact. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the assembly is mobile so that it can be moved back and forth between the fingers and the forearms.

Thus, in known systems, cleaning depends on the actions and gestures of the user. In general, the user concentrates the cleaning gestures on the places where he sees heavy soiling. The level of quality is therefore random. On the other hand, if the hands of the user carry contaminants, these are highly likely to be transmitted to the next user who will use the machine, for example by contact with the rollers or brushes contaminated by a first user.

None of these machines can truly treat the hands against both dirt and contaminants in a reliable and repetitive manner and in accordance with the standards required, for example, in the field of health or in certain industries applying very strict sanitary protocols. strict.

There is therefore a need for a machine and a process for treating hands that can satisfy all health requirements with certainty.

To overcome these various drawbacks, the invention provides various technical means.

First of all, a first objective of the invention consists in providing a device and a method making it possible to carry out a complete treatment of the hands with washing and disinfection;

Another objective of the invention consists in providing a device and a method making it possible to carry out an automatic treatment of the hands which complies with the standards or prescriptions in force;

Yet another objective of the invention consists in providing a device and a method making it possible to carry out treatment of the hands which is repetitive and reliable;

Yet another objective of the invention consists in providing a device and a method making it possible to carry out serial treatment of the hands of several users, without risk of contamination between the users.

To do this, the invention provides a multi-phase treatment device for the hands comprising:
i) an active cavity for accommodating a user's hands and forearms;
ii) a double entry for inserting the user's hands and forearms into the active cavity;
iii) at least one active product distributor and at least one water distribution nozzle;
iv) a treatment assembly comprising two rotating brushes and a drying blower;
v) said assembly being movable in the active cavity between a position remote from the double inlet of the cavity for treatment of the fingers and a position close to the double inlet of the cavity for treatment of the forearms.

The mobile unit with stationary hands allows standard, reliable treatment to be carried out, with guaranteed repeatability. The quality of cleaning and disinfection does not depend on the gestures of the user, thus ensuring a standardized, repetitive and reliable process.

Advantageously, the assembly is designed to carry out a treatment in two successive phases, namely a washing phase, with injection of washing product and rotation of the brushes at a washing speed, and a disinfection phase with injection of disinfectant product and rotating the brushes at a sanitizing speed, the sanitizing speed being lower than the washing speed. The speed reduction is preferably at least 50%.

The device makes it possible to carry out a double treatment comprising washing followed by disinfection to ensure complete treatment of the hands, without the risk of transmission of contaminants between successive users of the machine. The high rotation speed of the rollers during the cleaning phase allows an efficient and reliable mechanical action for friction cleaning. The reduced rotation speed of the rollers during the disinfection phase makes it possible to apply the disinfectant agent to all the surfaces to be treated while preventing this agent from being projected into the cavity by the centrifugal action of the rotating brushes. Reduced speed is a speed at which spatter is avoided or reduced.

According to an advantageous embodiment, for the washing phase, the active product is a cleaning agent, and for the disinfection phase, the active product is an antimicrobial agent. The device thus provides for the delivery and application of specific active solutions, each being associated with an appropriate mechanical action of the device.

Advantageously, the treatment device also comprises an anti-splash blower arranged at the inlet of the active cavity to produce an air flow preventing splashes towards the user. The protection fan generates an air curtain which blocks most, if not all, of the projections generated by the treatment process, in particular during the washing phase, in which the rollers rotate at high speed, generating projections.

Advantageously, each of the openings of the double entrance includes a support ring for the forearms of the user. The supports make it possible to guarantee a good positioning of the hands and forearms in the cavity and ensure their maintenance in an immobile position.

The invention also provides a multi-phase treatment method for the hands for washing and successive decontamination of the hands and forearms of a user, comprising the following steps:
i) a washing phase in an active cavity of the washing device with injection of water and a cleaning agent then cleaning by friction using rotating brushes rotating at a washing speed and movement of the brushes in the cavity in rubbing the user's hands and forearms;
ii) a rinsing step (preferably by moving the assembly in the cavity);
iii) a disinfection phase in the active cavity of the device with injection of an antimicrobial agent (bactericide and/or fungicide and/or virucide) and disinfection by application of the antimicrobial agent using rotating brushes rotating at a speed of disinfection and movement of the brushes in the cavity with contact of the hands and forearms of the user;
the disinfection rate being lower than the washing rate.

Advantageously, after the rinsing step and before the disinfection phase, the method includes a drying step, for example by moving the fan in the cavity.

As a variant, the method comprises, after the disinfection phase, a step of drying by moving the drying fan in the cavity.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the disinfection phase comprises a waiting step for disinfection. This step allows the antimicrobial agent to act on the one hand on the hands and forearms of the user, and on the other hand on the machine elements, in particular the brushes, to avoid contaminating the user. next.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the method comprises, at least during the cleaning phase, and preferably during the cleaning phase and the disinfection phase, a generation of an anti-splash air net or curtain at the level of the double inlet of the active cavity using a fan arranged to produce a flow of air to capture splashes.

All the implementation details are given in the following description, supplemented by Figures 1 to 6, presented solely for the purpose of non-limiting examples, and in which:

Fig.1

the is a cross-sectional schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a processing device;

Fig.2

the is an enlarged view of the internal cavity;

Fig.3

the shows in perspective the mobile processing unit;

Fig.4

the shows an enlarged view of the cavity during a step of spraying cleaning solution into the cavity;

Fig.5

the shows an enlarged view of the cavity during a step of spraying disinfectant solution into the cavity;

Fig.6

the shows an enlarged view of the cavity during a step of spraying water into the cavity.

Claims (10)

Multi-phase treatment device (1) for the hands comprising:
i) an active cavity (2) for accommodating a user's hands and forearms;
ii) a double entry (3) for inserting the user's hands and forearms into the active cavity;
iii) at least one active product distributor (6) and at least one water distribution nozzle (12);
iv) a treatment assembly (4) comprising two rotating brushes (5) and a drying blower (7);
v) said assembly (4) is movable in the cavity (2) active between a position remote from the double entrance (3) of the cavity for treatment of the fingers and a position close to the double entrance of the cavity for treatment of the front -arm. Treatment device (1) according to Claim 1, in which the said treatment assembly (4) is designed to carry out a treatment in two successive phases, namely a washing phase, with injection of washing product and rotation of the brushes (5) at a washing speed, and a disinfection phase with injection of disinfectant and rotation of the brushes (5) at a disinfection speed, the disinfection speed being lower than the washing speed. Treatment device (1) according to Claim 2, in which, for the washing phase, the active product is a cleaning agent, and for the rinsing phase, the active product is an antimicrobial agent. Treatment device (1) according to claim 1, also comprising an anti-splash fan (8) arranged at the inlet of the cavity (2) active to produce a flow of air preventing splashes towards the user. Treatment device according to Claim 1, in which each of the openings of the double entrance (3) comprises a support ring (11) for the forearms of the user. Multi-phase treatment method for washing and successive decontamination of the hands of a user, comprising the following steps:
i) a washing phase in an active cavity (2) of the washing device with injection of water and a cleaning agent then cleaning by friction using rotating brushes (5) rotating at a washing and displacement speed brushes in the cavity by rubbing the hands and forearms of the user;
ii) a rinsing step;
iii) a disinfection phase in the active cavity of the device with injection of an antimicrobial agent and disinfection by application of the antimicrobial agent using rotating brushes rotating at a disinfection speed and movement of the brushes in the cavity with contact user's hands and forearms;
the disinfection rate being lower than the washing rate. Multi-phase treatment method according to claim 6, comprising, after the rinsing step and before the disinfection phase, a drying step. Multi-phase treatment method according to claim 6, comprising, after the disinfection phase, a drying step. Multi-phase treatment method according to claim 6, in which the disinfection phase comprises a waiting step for disinfection. Multi-phase treatment method according to claim 6, also comprising, at least during the cleaning phase, generation of an anti-splash air curtain at the level of the double inlet of the active cavity using a blower arranged to produce a flow of air for capturing the splashes.