WO2021257008A1

WO2021257008A1 - New generation, uv sterilized, microcomputer controlled water and soap armature, which has single sensor and single center output, and its working system

Info

Publication number: WO2021257008A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hicran H. ARIKAN SIMSEKLI
Original assignee: Gül Pres Döküm Sanayi Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2020-06-16
Filing date: 2020-06-16
Publication date: 2021-12-23

Abstract

It is related to the New Generation, UV Sterilized, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature, and its working system, which has Single Sensor and Single Center Output, and which is also designed to assure hygienic hand washing in hospital rooms, surgery rooms, doctor's offices, schools, dormitories, hotels, shopping malls, gas stations, houses, cafes, restaurants and in similar areas.

Description

New Generation, UV Sterilized, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature, which has Single Sensor and Single Center Output, and its working system

The technical field in which the invention is included:

Our invention relates to the New Generation, UV Sterilized, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature, and its working system. This has Single Sensor and Single Center Output. And this is also designed to assure hygienic hand washing in hospital rooms, surgery rooms, doctor's offices, schools, dormitories, hotels, shopping malls, gas stations, houses, cafes, restaurants and in similar areas.

State of the art;

Particularly in open areas, in order to reach water without touching the armature and to assure hygiene, while photocell water armatures are preferred, manual pump soap dispensers are commonly used.

On one hand photocell armatures are used for hygiene purposes, on the other hand non- hygienic manual soap dispensers are preferred.

Every kind of touch-operated armature and soap dispenser infects bacteria and viruses on their surfaces.

It is possible to say that both armatures and soap dispensers will cause more hygienic problems, considering that their hands are dirty in the first contact of the person who touches to use armatures and soap dispensers.

Someone who washes hands without following the correct hand washing instructions can leave the place by taking the bacteria and viruses that are not on his body. Even if the correct hand washing instructions are followed, hands get dirty again when touched to close the handle of the armature after hand washing.

Since the surface of armature and manual soap pumps are moist and since we touch them with our dirty hands, they are not hygienic. They are very convenient places for the spread of infectious diseases. Even though the photocell controlled soap dispensers are designed without contact, the hand washing comfort in this product is low. Since its soap container is small, people contact reflexively to see whether the soap runs out or not. Since the engine that pumps the soap has little power, soap comes quite late. Therefore, insufficient service operations are carried out for hygienic hand washing. As for the photocell-controlled soap dispenser model hanging on the wall, soap residues are poured onto the countertop. Apart from this, because the soap container is insufficient, due to the fast running soap, a row is formed in front of the soap dispenser in the public areas. Or, in order to find the filled soap dish, multiple attempts are made or involuntary contact occurs by violating social distance. This situation also leads loss of time. While the user should wash his dirty hand as soon as possible, it may cause to infect it many places involuntarily.

Besides, in the existing techniques, the armatures and soap dispensers are mounted separately. An additional hole must be drilled in the countertop or on the wall for soap dispensers. This situation not only causes permanent deformation in the space but also increases and extends the installation workmanship.

Along with the developing technology, there are also systems that deliver water and soap from the same armature. In these systems, two separate sensors work for water and soap. It is designed as if two different protocols are attached together. While it is necessary to trigger one sensor for soap, it is necessary to trigger another sensor for water. In these systems, water and soap are managed from two different sensors. This can cause confusion for the user.

In these systems, the outlet points of soap and water are different from each other. In this case, the risk of soap activation when using water or water activation when using soap is not covered. Again, in these systems, the container reserved for soap is not sufficient.

Since the motor used in all soap dispensers with sensor is low, there is a waiting period for the soap to reach the user. In this case, hand washing comfort decreases. Hygiene is a very important issue for human health, and the first step of personal hygiene is to wash hands with an approved protocol. In order to wash properly, before or after hand washing, you should not touch anything at risk of being unhygienic. After getting the right amount of soap, hands should be washed for the right amount of time. So, it is needed that the armature should prompt everyone to hand washing in the same and accurate way. However, current technologies do not support this. In the inventions similar to our invention, even if the outlets of water and soap are on the same body, it flows from two different centers. The disadvantage of this situation is the possibility of confusion of the user.

Again, in similar inventions, two different sensors for water and soap are positioned on the body in remote locations. In case the sensors are independent of each other and both sensors are activated, the sensors can work autonomously, and they can deliver water when soap is not desired, and soap when water is not desired.

In similar inventions, systems that deliver foam-free soap instead of foam soap are used. This is the waste of water and time due to the need to re-water for foamless liquid soap. In addition, since the viscosity of the foamless soap is high, the soap leaves residue at the exit point and causes clogging. In similar intentions, the soap container is preferred to be small. At the same time, in order to fill the soap when the soap runs out, it is troublesome to remove and install the tank (the one which is installed by threading) that is under the product. Our invention eliminates these problems.

The object of the invention;

Our invention aims to assure hygienic hand washing with New Generation, UV Sterilized, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature, which has Single Sensor and Single Center Output, in hospital rooms, surgery rooms, doctor's offices, schools, dormitories, hotels, shopping malls, gas stations, houses, cafes, restaurants and in similar areas.

Figures to help explain our invention;

Figure 1- New Generation Single Sensor, Single Center Output, UV Sterilization, Microcomputer Controlled Water and Soap Armature

Figure 2- The front view of the soap container + its side view in microcomputer of New Generation Single sensor, Single Center Output, UV Sterilization, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature

Figure 3- The side view of the soap container + its front view in microcomputer of New Generation Single sensor, Single Center Exit, UV Sterilization, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature soap chamber side view + microcomputer front view Parts in the figure;

1- Soap flow indicator

2- Water flow indicator

3- Sensor controlling water, soap and UVC leds

4- UVC leds

5- Soap outlet nozzle

6- Water outlet nozzle

7- Soap foaming water and soap router

8- Soap and air inlet

9- Water inlet

10- Armature body

11- Soap and airway

12- Waterway

13- Infrared receiver

14- Container fullness level conductor

15- Level conductor

16- Soap reduction level measuring conductor

17- Soap container 18- Batery box 19. Microcomputer

20- Solenoid Valve

21- Flex hose

22- Solenoid valve microcomputer inlet

23- Soap pump motor microcomputer input

24- Soap pump motor

25- Air pump motor

26- Soap pump motor output

27- Soap container filling nozzle

28- Air pump motor output

29- Microcomputer solenoid valve outlet

30- Microcomputer IR receiver circuit output

31- Sensor output that provides control of microcomputer water, soap and UVC leds

32- Microcomputer Soap pump motor microcomputer output

33- Microcomputer Armature Adapter input

34- Soap container wall shelf

35- Water pressure sensor

36- Water pressure sensor output

37- Water pressure sensor adapter body Detailed description of the invention:

• Our invention includes soap and water, which are foamed with water and air, as well as a design that ensures UVC led (4) lamps are located in the same center.

In the special outlet design of the product, water and foamy soap flow from the same center and without mixing. UVC led (4) lamps are located in the same center. In this way, the armature also cleans the interior of the sink where it is located. Thus, it destroys microorganisms that can reproduce in the sink over time. This destroys viruses that are caught on the surface and at risk of contamination.

Thanks to this design, soap residues are prevented after the soap delivers out from the same center with water. This prevents the product from clogging and bad appearance. The foaming design in single soap dispenser systems has a rather complicated structure. While this structure is expected to become more difficult when combined with the idea that water and UVC (ultraviolet) led (4) lamps are in the same center, an innovative hybrid design has been obtained.

• In our invention, there is a single sensor (3) system that manages water and soap and UVC led (4) lamps.

Thanks to a single sensor (3), information is transferred from a single channel to the microcomputer (19). Thus, errors such as the activation of soap while taking water or the activation of water while taking soap are prevented. And, thanks to the single sensor (3) control, maximum optimization is achieved between detection and response time. UVC light is a type of light that should not touch the eyes and skin. Therefore, the related leds can only be turned on via the mobile application. Thanks to the mobile application, UVC leds (4) will not be harmful to people as they will be controlled remotely. However, it is activated when the luminaire is not used (at nights).

Thus, it cleans the sink and the environment in which it is located. If required, it runs for a specified period with the mobile application and shuts off by itself. The activation of UVC leds (4) is controlled by the sensor working for soap and water continuously informing the microcomputer (19). During the use of the luminaire, the single sensor (3) detects movement and UVC leds (4) are never activated.

• Our invention can be controlled by remote control with infrared receiver. In addition, it has the feature of controlling separately with its own mobile application software with the Wi-Fi module in the microcomputer (19).

• Our invention offers the option of using in 4 different modes for different hand washing habits thanks to the special software in the Microcomputer (19). Usage modes can be controlled either from the remote control or from the mobile device (phone, tablet, etc.) on which the application is downloaded.

• Our invention offers 3 different usage options in soap consumption for different needs. And soap consumption modes can be controlled either from the remote control or from the mobile device (phone, tablet, etc.) on which the application is downloaded.

• Economical soap consumption: Delivers 1-1.5 g soap for each use.

• Normal soap consumption: Delivers 2- 2.5 g soap for each use.

• Luxury soap consumption: Delivers 3- 3.5 g soap for each use.

• In our invention, when the soap in the soap container decreases / the soap reaches a critical level, the led light on the front of the product flashes. Thus, the product informs the user that the products of which the soaps are about to run out of should be filled. Soap consumption modes can be controlled either from the remote control or from the mobile device (phone, tablet etc.) on which the application is downloaded.

• Our invention keeps in mind how much soap the product uses and how much water is consumed. And, It shares this information with the user via the mobile application. Thus, it becomes an armature that keeps its own statistics.

• In addition, thanks to the RFID card reader located on the microcomputer (19) in our product, the frequency of hand washing of staff can be monitored in the enterprises (Cafe, Restaurant, etc.) where the staff should regularly wash hands due to their job. Thus, the information can be stored on how much soap the staff uses, how much water they use, how long they wash hands, and how many times they do not. This information can also be stored on the Internet.

• Our invention has a design that delivers out soap faster than single battery or electric soap dispensers. A powerful DC 12 motor has been added to the design on the container. (This high performance engine has never been used for this purpose so far and no such design has been made.)

• Our invention transmits information to the microcomputer (19) when the pressure drops below 0.5 Bar thanks to the water pressure sensor that measures the water pressure in case of any water failure. This ensures that the microcomputer 19 does not deliver out soap in case the water is cut off and this stops the soap system. Thus, in case the water is cut off, it prevents the suffering and waste that may stem from that it cannot be delivered out soap.

• In our invention, 2.6 It soap dispenser is included into the design. Thus, soap filling periods are minimized.

• In our invention, the soap container (17) is placed on a special rack. It is designed to be easily removable for easy filling. Other parts such as microcomputer (19), solenoid valve (20) are fixed to the same rack independently from the soap container (17).

• Thanks to our invention, it is possible to measure the depth of the sink to which the armature is installed after it is mounted on the sink where to be used. According to this measure, it interprets soap and water regions according to the algorithm in its software. This allows our model to adjust itself specifically for the sink where to be used.

• Thanks to the sensor (3) that controls the water, soap and UVC leds, it gives out soap or water when the hand is extended under the armature. Level sensors have not been used in armatures so far. Thanks to the sensor (3) which makes continuous level measurement, the armature becomes available in different usage modes.

• MODE1; There is no repeat and ranking limit for soap and water use. Gives out soap when the hand is extended from the soap area. It gives out water when the hand is extended from the water area.

• MODE2; Once soap unlimited water. It gives out soap when the hand is first appeared under the armature without separation of soap or water zone. Then he gives out water every time.

MOD3; It gives out soap when the hand is first appeared under the armature, without separation of soap or water zone. Then he gives out water.

MOD4; There is no repeat and ranking limit for soap and water use. Gives out soap when the hand is extended from the soap area. Since he knows that soap is taken, when the hand is extended from the water area, he gives out water only 20 seconds later. If the hand is extended from the soap area within 20 seconds, it can deliver out soap. It is aimed to acquire hygienic hand washing habits with the restriction of 20 seconds.

While the armature supplies water, the water flow indicator (2) on its front surface lights up. While the armature gives out soap, the soap flow indicator (1) on the front surface lights up. The sensor (3) that manages the water, soap and UVC leds is connected to the sensor output (31), which controls the microcomputer (19) of the water, soap and UVC leds. Depending on the mode selection made from the mobile application and / or remote control, for soap it is assured to be delivered out soap and for water it is assured to be delivered out water. Continuous measurement is done. When buying soap or water, UV LEDs (4) never come into play.

UVC leds (4) work only with control or software. If soap or water intake continues, UVC leds (4) will not be activated. The soap comes out through the soap outlet nozzle (5), the water comes out through the water outlet nozzle (6). This happens without mixing each other.

The soap and air entering separately through the soap and air inlet (8) are mixed with air and they are foamed. It does not mix with the water with soap frother and the water entering through the soap router (7) and the water inlet (9). It directs the soap to the nozzle (5). Soap is filled into the soap container (17) through the soap container filling nozzle (27).

Thanks to this design, water or soap comes out of the armature body (10) without coming into contact with the armature body (10), passing through the soap and air way (11) and the water path (12). The product can be controlled by the infrared receiver (13), microcomputer (19) and IR receiver circuit output (30) connection. The amount of soap to be used can be changed. Product modes can be changed. As the infrared receiver 13 is controlled, information is sent to the microcomputer 19. Microcomputer (19) takes the relevant changes into effect.

If it is not desired to fill the soap container (17) of each armature one by one in the public areas, it is possible to fill them through a larger container. For this, the information about that each container is filled, is transmitted to the microcomputer (19) by the container fullness level conductor (14).

In order to ensure this transmission, the container fullness level conductor (14) works together with the level conductor (15).

Whether filling operation is performed from a large container or manually, when the soap is at a critical level, the soap reduction level measuring conductor (16) informs the microcomputer (19) that the soap is decreasing. This informs the user by flashing the soap flow indicator (1) on the front surface of the armature in a different color. The same information is also displayed on the mobile application.

If the electricity is cut off, it can receive energy from the battery box (18). This battery box operates both the soap pump motor (24) and the solenoid valve (20) as well as the UVC leds (4).

The water inlet to the armature is through the flexible hose (21) and the solenoid valve (20). The microcomputer (19) commands through the connection of the solenoid valve microcomputer inlet (22) and the microcomputer solenoid valve outlet (29).

Microcomputer (19) sends command via the soap pump motor microcomputer input (23) and microcomputer soap pump motor microcomputer output connection. Thanks to the air pump motor (25) inside the microcomputer (19), it pumps air through the air pump motor output (28) in order to foam the soap. The microcomputer (19) pumps the soap into the soap container (17) through the soap pump motor output (26).

It is through connection of Microcomputer Armature Adapter input (33).

The soap container (17) is fixed on the wall shelf (34) by hanging it on the wall.

When the water pressure sensor (35) is mounted on the water pressure sensor adapter body (37), it constantly measures the water pressure and informs the microcomputer (19). When the microcomputer (19) receives the information that the pressure of the water decreases when the water is cut off, the water does not operate the soap pump motor (24) and the air pump motor (25) until the pressure increases (until the water cuts out). The connection of the water pressure sensor (35) with the microcomputer (19) is assured with the water pressure sensor output (36). Application of the invention to industry;

This is related to the New Generation, UV Sterilized, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature, which has Single Sensor and Single Center Output, and which is also designed to assure hygienic hand washing in hospital rooms, surgery rooms, doctor's offices, schools, dormitories, hotels, shopping malls, gas stations, houses, cafes, restaurants and in similar areas. This may also be integrated to the smart home systems.

Our model, which aims to provide complete hygiene, is preferred due to its innovations and advantages.

Claims

1- The invention relates to the New Generation, UV Sterilized, Microcomputer controlled Water and Soap Armature, which has Single Sensor and Single Center Output, and which is also designed to assure hygienic hand washing in hospital rooms, surgery rooms, doctor's offices, schools, dormitories, hotels, shopping malls, gas stations, houses, cafes, restaurants and in similar areas. It has the feature of;

- In our invention, water and foamy soap flow from the same center and without mixing in the special outlet design; UVC led (4) is located in the same center; destroying microorganisms in the sink, viruses which are at risk of contamination and attached to the surface; containing a hybrid design that prevents the occurrence of soap residue in and around the soap outlet, with the use of water every time;

- Other parts such as microcomputer (19), solenoid valve (20) are fixed independently on the same rack; It is a removable feature that facilitates filling operation with the installation on a special shelf; There is a 2.6 It -31t soap container (17) that provides minimization of soap filling periods;

- Preventing errors such as the activation of soap while taking water or the activation of water while taking soap; ensuring maximum optimization between detection and response time; controlling the activation of the UVC leds (4), by continuously informing the microcomputer (19) for soap and water; providing 3 different usage options with 4 different usage modes such as MODI, MOD 2, MOD3, MOD4 by making continuous level measurement; having a single sensor (3) system that manages water and soap and UVC led (4) lamps;

- It can be controlled by remote control thanks to the infrared receiver; having its own mobile application software that allows it to control with the Wi-Fi module in the microcomputer (19);

- Offering 3 different usage options in 4 different modes for different hand washing habits and for different soap consumption; usage modes can be controlled either from the remote control or from the mobile device (phone, tablet etc.) on which the application is downloaded; and the Microcomputer (19) has a special software which ensures it; - When the soap in the soap container is low / soap is at a critical level, the product has a flashing LED on the front; notifying the user that the soap is about to run out; having the ability to control soap consumption modes either from the remote control or from the mobile device (phone, tablet etc.) on which the application is downloaded;

- Keeping information about how much soap is used and how much water is consumed; and maintaining its own statistics by sharing this information with the user through the mobile application;

- Following the hand washing frequency of staff in the enterprises in which they should regularly wash their hands (cafe, restaurant, etc.) due to their work, thanks to the RFID card reader located on the microcomputer (19); and thus, storing information about how many times staff washes their hands, how long they wash their hands and how much water they spent;

- Having a powerful DC 12 motor which is located on the container which assures delivering out soap faster than the other single battery or electric soap dispensers;

- When it falls below 0.5 bar, it transmits information to the microcomputer (19), in case the water is cut off, it ensures that the microcomputer (19) does not give out soap thanks to the water pressure sensor that measures the water pressure and this stops the soap system.

- It may be characterized with being specific to the sink where to be used; that's after mounting on the sink where to be used, by measuring the depth of the sink and by interpreting the soap and water regions according to this measure thanks to the algorithm in its software;

2- It is related to the armature in claim 1 and It has the feature of;

• For soap and water use, MODI, which gives soap when the hand is extended from the soap region without repeat and ranking limit, and gives water when the hand is extended from the water zone;

• Having one usage for soap and unlimited usage for water; without soap or water zone separation; MOD2, which gives soap and then gives water every time, when the hand is first appeared under the armature;

• No soap or water zone separation; MOD3, which gives soap when the hand first appears under the luminaire and then gives water; • Having MOD 4, which aims to acquire hygienic hand washing habits, thanks to its 20 seconds restriction; which doesn’t have any limit to repeat and ranking for soap and water use; which gives out soap when the hand is extended from the soap region; which gives out water only 20 seconds later after the hand was extended from the water area since it is known that soap was taken,; which gives out soap, if the hand is extended from the soap area within 20 seconds; Having a single sensor (3), which provides usability in different usage modes; which is detecting movement during the use of armature; which never starts up UVC leds (4) and measures continuously; which controls water, soap and UVC led (4) lamps;

3- It is related to the armature in claim 1 and It has the feature of;

- while delivering out water, the water flow indicator (2) on its front surface lights up; while giving out soap, the soap flow indicator (1) on the front surface lights up; connecting the sensor (3), which controls water, soap and UVC leds, to the sensor output (31), which controls the microcomputer, water, soap and UVC leds; According to the choice of the mode made via the mobile application and / or control, it ensures that the soap flows when the soap is requested and the water flows when the water is requested; it ensures that the UVC led (4) never activates while taking soap or water by measuring continuously;

- The soap comes out through the soap outlet nozzle (5), water comes out through water outlet nozzle (6); that is without mixing each other.

- The soap and air entering separately through the soap and air inlet (8) are mixed with air and they are foamed. It does not mix with the water with soap frother and the water entering through the soap router (7) and the water inlet (9). It directs the soap to the nozzle (5).

- the water or soap leave the armature body (10) without touching the armature body (10) by passing through the soap and airway (11) and the waterway (12); Infrared receiver (13) can be controlled by the connection of microcomputer (19) and IR receiver circuit output (30); The amount of soap to be used can be changed through the product modes;

When the infrared receiver (13) is controlled, information is sent to the microcomputer (19); microcomputer (19) puts into use the relevant changes;

- thanks to the container fullness level conductor (14) and the level conductor (15); transmitting to the microcomputer (19) the information that the container is full; - when soap reaches a critical level, the soap reduction level measuring conductor (16) informs the microcomputer (19) that the soap is low; by flashing the soap flow indicator (1) on the front surface of the armature in a different color, it informs the user, and it displays the same information on the mobile app;

- In case of power failure, for energy, it receives energy from the battery box (18); and this battery box operates both the soap pump motor (24) and the solenoid valve (20) as well as the UVC leds (4);

- The water inlet to the armature is through flex hose (21) and solenoid valve (20); and microcomputer (19) sends commands through the connection of the solenoid valve microcomputer inlet (22) and the microcomputer solenoid valve outlet (29);

- The microcomputer (19) sends commands through output connection between soap pump motor via microcomputer input (23) and soap pump motor microcomputer outlet;

- Thanks to the air pump motor (25) inside, in order to foam the soap, the microcomputer (19) pumps air through the air pump motor outlet (28);

- The microcomputer (19) pumps the soap in the soap chamber (17) through the soap pump motor outlet (26);

- It is characterized that when the water pressure sensor (35) is mounted on the water pressure sensor adapter body (37), it constantly measures water pressure; and it informs the microcomputer (19) to which it connects with the water pressure sensor outlet (36); when the water is cut off; the microcomputer (19) receives information that the water pressure is low; and since the water is cut off, it stops the soap pump motor (24) and the air pump motor (25) until the pressure increases (until the water cut-off ends);