FR3005458A1 - LIQUID DISPENSER ACTUATED BY A TABET PRESSING A EJECTION NOZZLE OF A PRESSURIZED TANK WITH ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR DETECTION AND STORAGE - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid product dispenser comprises a reservoir (5) containing said pressurized liquid and equipped with a nozzle (6) causing by its displacement the opening of a valve releasing the liquid, thanks to an articulated tongue (2) comprising a orifice (9) through which is disposed said nozzle (6). It also includes two detection devices (electromechanical or electronic), one (18) records the pressures exerted on the tongue (2), the other (19) records the withdrawals of the tanks (5), in addition it is endowed an electronic board (24) on which is mounted an electronically controlled housing (22). According to the invention, all the support means (4, 10) receiving and immobilizing said reservoir (5), fastening means (3) able to hold the dispenser in any desired position, and tongue (2), are made in one piece (1) comprising at least one part consisting of a strip of the same material forming a V: a branch thereof constitutes said tongue (2), the other at least one support (10) the tank (5), and the common base (7) connecting these two branches forming the articulation of the tongue (2); which branch, constituting the support (10) of the reservoir (5), is pierced by an orifice (11) receiving it, forms on the opposite side to the common base (7) said fixing means (3), and comprises a second support (4) of the reservoir (5). According to the invention the detection means (18, 20) are provided with sensors (19 and 21) and the electronic box (22) mounted on the plate (24) provided with the intelligence necessary for the detection, storage and communication .

Description

The present invention relates to the addition of an electronic device for detection and storage to the dispenser of a dispenser. The invention relates to the addition of an electronic device for detecting and memorizing the dispenser. liquid operating by a movable tab pressing on an ejection nozzle of a pressure tank described in the patent published under the number EP0870698 A1. The technical sector of the invention is the field of the manufacture of sanitary appliances and the like can be installed in any place where a user may need to disinfect the hands or to moisten a support 15 Or any object capable of ensuring for example a cleaning. One of the main applications of the invention relates to a method of auditing and traceability of a sequence of operations relating to compliance with hand hygiene rules by several operators in a surveillance space. The present invention relates to the field of processes making it possible to recover, on the one hand, hand hygiene monitoring control data in order to analyze the respect of hygiene rules and / or to detect malfunctions in hand hygiene operations for automated audit purposes to ultimately promote good practices and, on the other hand, data relating to the flows or movements of operators within the surveillance space. Such an application is described in the patent application entitled "Kit and method for auditing and traceability of a sequence of operations relating to compliance with hand hygiene rules" published under the number FR12 / 60453 and to which can usefully refer. The operation of the system is based on the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) type detection of tags carried by operators (either on suits or under clogs) passing or stopping on antennas positioned on the ground. The other applications of the invention relate to the production of paper, fabric, cotton, sponge or other similar media that can be operated using the single hand holding said support; which humidifier is intended to be installed in all places where it may be necessary to moisten, with water or a cleaning product or a disinfectant, etc., such a more or less absorbent support which is normally dry such as in sanitary rooms, toilets, toilets, kitchens etc. Such an application is described in the patent of the same present applicant, published under the number EP0870698 A1 and which can be usefully referred to.

Many spaces are indeed subject to hand hygiene rules to limit the transmission of bacteria and / or viruses, between people and / or between people and equipment or food. Failure to comply with these hygiene rules represents a real danger to the health of people, contaminated directly or via a food.

The invention although described in the context of a medical space, such as a medicalized room integrating one or more patient beds, a hospital, a clinic, a medical examination center, a dental office, a hospital medical imaging center, an accommodation for dependent elderly people, a medical center, etc ...., is not limited to this type of environment but can be considered in a place of food preparation, such as a restaurant kitchen, an agri-food factory, a fast food place, etc. In healthcare areas, the agri-food industry or fast-food restaurants have high pathogenic bacteria and transmission of so-called nosocomial diseases, or infections associated with care, or contamination by ingestion, which is mainly due to a lack of rigor in the treatment. respect for the rules of hand hygiene. The transmission of viruses and bacteria is by direct contact, especially by self-contamination or cross-contamination during handling of the patient, or during therapeutic gestures such as the installation of probes or catheters, or various preparations. To fight against such transmissions, it is therefore essential to conduct audits in these medical or other spaces to verify compliance with hygiene rules and malfunctions, to improve behavior and awareness of the 30 operators on this issue. This document teaches in particular the combination between the liquid dispenser and the electronic device. This electromagnetic or electromechanical trigger device is disposed on the back of the articulated tongue of the dispenser and collects a pulse at each movement of the lever arm (when triggering the spray). These pulses are transformed by appropriate electronics into digitized information and are sent to a central office either by Ethernet line or by a radio communication means. The signals addressed make it possible to provide, in connection with a central unit and a control screen, the following functionalities: 1 / the counting of disinfection acts (at each pulse corresponds a precise quantity of distributed SHA) thus a monitoring of consumption of SHA d 'Where optimized management, vial renewal / maintenance, a more detailed analysis of the use by sector. 10, / if the intelligent building is equipped with a personal flow detection and action detection system, it is possible to carry out a dialogue with this system by direct coupling, which offers the possibility of memorizing when and who is served from the SHA distributor. The display of this information in real time in customizable personal forms by professional category having used the determined dispenser and the exact time of use, the consumption made at that moment of hydro-alcoholic solution, where the number of maneuvers remaining before the tank change o the alert that the tank must be changed because having distributed X% of its capacity. , / The external flow and personal detection system with its own intelligence can remind by sound or light that compliance with the hand disinfection protocol has not been respected and therefore encourages the carer to return to the distributor SHA; The hinged tongue and liquid source devices terminating in a nozzle disposed to spray said liquid toward the support to be moistened when the latter is supported on the tongue; the spring or other elastic member bringing the latter back to its rest position when the pressure on the tongue ceases, thus causing the interruption of the spraying remain unchanged. Also known is another patent application FR 35 2712876 describing a liquid cleaning product dispenser or the like having certain elements in common with the aforementioned patent application but with in addition an envelope enclosing both the reservoir and the tongue, delimiting a semi-closed volume within which the user places his fingers to actuate said tongue to an active position, causing the opening of a shutter projecting a jet downwards and therefore in the area where precisely the user has positioned his fingers. Such distributors, as well as many others on the market, have the same basic functions, some of which have also been the subject of patent applications such as US 5044556, 1-1 (2595250). Many of them are fixed in relation to each other, and others are mobile, articulated on axes, with springs, etc., and supports maintain these different parts as well as the pressure tank: this assembly of different pieces of material thus constitutes a rather complex assembly, of complicated and expensive manufacture and assembly, and is relatively fragile since certain mechanical parts often used wear and can even break. The problem posed is therefore to be able to implement the liquid dispenser described in patent EP0870698 A1, but in a simple embodiment, without major modifications. re, having a nice aesthetic to allow its installation in any place, using the least possible parts to manufacture possible, reliable and low cost; while ensuring all the functions necessary for its implementation, namely the holding of the pressurized liquid tank, the triggering of the nozzle of the tank by any tongue-like means that can be operated easily with one hand without having to let go an object that would be held in this hand to moisten it with the liquid contained in the reservoir and allowing the attachment of the assembly on all supports. The liquid product dispenser comprising in a known manner a reservoir containing said pressurized liquid and equipped with a nozzle causing by its displacement the opening of a valve releasing the liquid, at least two support means receiving and immobilizing said reservoir at least one means for fixing the support means adapted to hold the dispenser in any desired position, and a tab articulated with respect to one of the support means and comprising an orifice through which said nozzle is arranged; according to the invention at least all of the support means, the fixing means and the tongue is made in one piece 35 comprising at least a portion consisting of a strip of the same material forming a V, including a branch is said tongue, the other at least one of the tank supports, and the common base connecting these two branches ensures the articulation of the tongue; it is certain that this common base, or more or less rounded edge, in particular according to the chosen material, is not an articulation in the mechanical sense of the term and such that the current devices include: indeed this zone deformable due to the fold of the piece and its elasticity defined below, is not an assembly of separate parts, since it is part of the same room, but it performs the same functions according to a particular embodiment of the present invention. In the remainder of the text below, we will therefore call indefinitely this common base of the two branches of the V-shape, either an edge, an articulation, or a fold. Moreover, the branch constituting one of the supports of the reservoir is pierced with an orifice receiving the portion thereof equipped with the nozzle, forms, on the opposite side to the hinge edge relative to the orifice, said fixing means and comprises at least the second support of the tank. In a preferred embodiment, the branch of the single piece forming one of the supports of the reservoir is bent towards the same side as the hinge edge and is pierced by at least a second orifice which forms a second support of the immobilized reservoir thus in the concave part of said branch, the convex part thereof forming the distributor fixing means. The liquid product dispenser performs the essential functions required and is feasible in one piece, which can be even injected and / or molded in a single operation in the case of plastic material, or folded and cut to size. desired shape from the same strip of a metal type material. Moreover, the shape of the dispenser, in addition to its aesthetic pleasing to the eye, allows to leave part of the reservoir visible to the user who can thus control the type of product contained in said reservoir, if we affix on this visible part all indications in this direction. The installation of the tank in the single piece according to the invention is also very easy requiring no disassembly of parts to open the dispenser and fix the tank inside of it, if not, as the case may be , a temporary deformation of the upper end of the single piece 35 to allow the passage of the tank.

After this review of the details of the device of the patent EP0870698 A1, describe how the associated electronic device operates in relation to the mechanical device. When the tab is pushed by an operator "Opx" to deliver a dose of SHA by pressure on the nozzle head, its back side at the same time presses on a movable head (trigger arm, ball or other mobile device) an electromechanical device connected to an electronics. The pulse thus collected is converted into a signal addressed to the audit and traceability system of a sequence of operations relating to compliance with hand hygiene rules. The central of said system has previously received an attendance signal from the same operator "Opx" via the detection of its tag by the antenna placed on the ground at the foot of the liquid dispenser or SHA. The conjunction of the two signals in an acceptable and parameterizable time interval (order of 10 to 20 seconds) validates the distribution of SHA as in accordance with the procedure in force for the care or work route that the operator "Opx" performs. ". In another embodiment the movement of the tongue is identified by an electronic device (capacitive cell trigger, IR or any other remote detection mode) performing the same functions. This same original pulse generates in parallel at the same time via the associated electronic box two other distinct orders: V The powering up of a light-emitting diode positioned on the board of the electronic box, thereby indicating the presence of the 'Opx' operator on the antenna positioned on the ground in front of the distributor in conjunction with the distribution action of SHA 25 V Taking into account the initial pulse as the counting bit of a SHA distribution act. This count "bit" is sent to a subset of the central unit of the system, called the accounting and storage register, and the accounting result is compared to a maximum registered value (parameterizable) corresponding to the number of 30 limit distributions. SHA that can perform a distribution tank less a reserve of security. V When the limit value is reached the system triggers an alert in the form of a light signal appearing in one of the ad-hoc pictograms provided for this purpose on the screen of the system, but is available to the operational staff for the renewal of a new reservoir. full.

The same type of electromechanical device as used in the foregoing description is used to detect tank renewal sequences. In the so-called standard position, the bulged portion of the tank head presses on a movable head (trigger arm, ball or other mobile device) an electromechanical device connected to an electronic device. During the renewal sequence of a tank, the upper part of the fixing arm is raised to disengage the reservoir from its fixing orifice, the reservoir is removed, the movable head of the electromechanical device is released, thus sending a transformed pulse to a signal addressed to the auditing and traceability system. a sequence of operations relating to compliance with hand hygiene rules. In another embodiment the withdrawal of the reservoir is identified by an electronic device (capacitive cell trigger, IR or any other remote sensing mode) performing the same functions. The coded signal arrives in the accounting and storage register mentioned above and is directed in the renewal part which corresponds to another counter either of pulses of SHA but of tank units changed by associating therewith the moment of change (exact time). A tank unit corresponds to a volume of SHA, so in real time the actual volumes consumed by a distributor in a given service and for a given lapse of time are counted. The description and the figures below represent exemplary embodiments of the invention but have no limiting character: other embodiments are possible within the scope of the scope of this invention, in particular by completing different fixing means for holding the dispenser against a wall or placed on a table, etc. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the dispenser of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is another perspective view of another embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 3 like that of FIG. 2 with respect to the dispenser of FIG. 1. The liquid product dispenser comprises in a manner known as that described in EP0870698 Al. tank 5 containing the pressurized liquid that is to be sprayed to a hand of the user and specifically to the object held by his fingers, which tank is equipped with a nozzle 6 causing its movement from an inactive closed position to an active position, the opening of a valve releasing the liquid; the distributor also comprises: at least two support means 4, 10 receiving and immobilizing said reservoir 5, at least one attachment means 3 of the support means 4 capable of holding the dispenser in any desired position, or preferably, such as shown in the accompanying figures, vertically, but it could also be inclined such as 45 ° for example, - and a tongue 2 articulated relative to one of the support means, which is, in the case the vertical position, the lower support and having an orifice 9 through which is disposed said nozzle 6 such that by moving said tongue 2 around its articulation by pressing the fingers of the user, said orifice 9 presses on the nozzle 6 and allows the ejection a jet of liquid to his fingers. The description of the materials and shapes of the tank support remain the same and are not mechanically affected by the addition of the two detection entities. According to the present invention, at least all of the support means 4, 10, of the fastening means 3 and of the tongue 2 are made in one piece 30 1, comprising at least one part consisting of a band of the same material forming a V: one of the branches thereof constitutes said tongue 2 and the other at least the support 10, qualified as lower in the case of a vertical position of the tank 5, and the common base or edge 7 connecting the two branches ensures and realizes the articulation of the tongue 2. This part repeats the elements constituting the support and their description. The material in which the single piece 1 is made can be made of metal or of plastics material of a thickness and of a quality giving it a minimum rigidity so that the piece 1 retains the shape given while maintaining the tank 5 and its fixing. while being flexible enough to allow articulation of the tongue 2; for this the material in which the single piece is made must meet the following criteria: - be flexible enough to allow the articulation 7 of the tongue 2, - be sufficiently elastic to recall the tongue 2 in its initial position without permanent delôrmation, - Be rigid enough to allow proper holding of the tank 5 especially at the time of use of the dispenser.

One skilled in the art, from these conditions of use and realization, is able to choose and define a material with the desired thickness such as for metals, a thin stainless steel sheet, or for plastics, impact polystyrene or polypropylene.

The branch of the V shape of the single piece 1 and constituting said support 10 of the tank 5, is pierced by an orifice 11 receiving the portion thereof equipped with the nozzle 6; this orifice li has exactly the dimensions of the outer shape of the part of the tank 5 which is therefore immobilized there; this branch 10 forms, on the opposite side to the common base of the branches of the V, that is to say at the edge 7 with respect to the orifice 11, said fixing means 3 and comprises at least the second support 4 of the tank 5; this second support can be constituted as described below and shown by way of example on the two different embodiments of the attached figures. To allow a better support F of the fingers of the user on the tongue 2, the free end 2j of the leg of the single piece 1 forming said tongue 2 is bent on the same side as the base of the V or edge 7 to the ZZ 'axis of the distributor which is also that of the cylindrical form of revolution of the tank 5, for IO rmer a concave surface into which said nozzle 6 opens and thus delimiting the area in which the user 35 positions his fingers, alone or bearing the support he wants to moisten; the curved shape of said tongue is shown curvilinear but could also be a polyhedral surface. The other leg 10 of the V-shaped base shape of the single piece 1 and forming one of the so-called supports of the reservoir 5, is also curved on the same side as the base of the V or edge 7 towards the axis ZZ ' the dispenser and is pierced by at least a second orifice 12 to form a second support 4 of the tank 5; this orifice 12 has dimensions compatible with those outside the reservoir 5 which is slid therein: this is thus guided and immobilized in the concave part of said curved limb 10, the outward facing part, that is to say convex, forming a fastening means 5 of the dispenser. The curved shape of said branch 10 and also that of the entire distributor is represented curvilinear but could also be a polyhedron surface or a combination of the two types of shape, that is to say a succession of a part of planar surfaces separated by more or less rounded edges, and secondly surfa. these curves. The edge 7, the PartiCulation of the tongue branch 2 with the support arm 10, is preferably rounded for a better guarantee of resistance in time since this part is the most solicited of the distributor and an edge too angular could break by fatigue after several hundred uses. The fastening means 3 which is thus a part of said single piece 1 thus has a surface facing the outside of the dispenser: it can be flat or curved, and pierced with orifices 16 allowing a direct and / or final fastening by screws or other means such as in a wall 15; this fastening means 5 can also comprise male or female grooves, not shown in the attached figures, which can cooperate with complementary elements of a separate support which can itself be fixed and independent: such a mounting allows for make the removable dispenser of said support. In another embodiment, said fixing means 3 can be secured to a base for positioning said distributor directly on a table, a carriage, etc., either in a vertical position or in an inclined position, this can be an interesting use. for example to dispense alcohol in the hospital environment to clean instruments or moisten a cotton for example without the staff necessarily having both hands available for it.

In the embodiments shown in all of Figures I to 4 attached, the single piece 1, constituted by these two branches 2, 10 curved towards the same side as the edge 7 which connect them by articulating the one on the other, forms even beyond the base V, necessary to achieve said articulation 7, a W made in a strip of the same material which can be of constant width and thickness or variable. According to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the end 42 of said branch constituting the two supports 4, 10 of the tank 5 and again curved but towards the side corresponding to that of the attachment 5, is in the same direction as that of the basic V-shape; this end 42 comprises on the same side as the edge 7 with respect to the axis ZZ 'a stop 13, either internal, or constituted as shown in the accompanying figure by a disk-shaped orifice, if the reservoir 5 is cylindrical of revolution; this high abutment 13 serves to immobilize a portion of the edge 14 of the bottom of the tank 5 which it then prevents from lifting when the nozzle 6 is urged on. In this embodiment, the concave part of the branch in which is immobilized the tank _5; is open and allows the user to be aware of any inscriptions 17 on the part of the tank that is slipped and thus visible. According to the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4, said branch constituting at least said support 10 of the tank 5 comprises a hollow portion 41> forming said concave portion and having a compatible inner firm and enclosing the outer one of the tank 5; arranged around at least a portion of the orifice 11, said hollow portion 42 constitutes another support for the reservoir 5, which can trap and be in contact with a portion of the surface. this outside of the tank. Such an embodiment of thermo-plastic or injected plastic then sufficiently maintains the reservoir 5 so as not to require the last curvature 42 of the branch 4 with its upper stop orifice 10 such as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 or 2 In this case, the single piece 1 according to the invention can not be made in a single band of folded material, for example as in FIG. 1 or 2, even if it can be manufactured in a single operation, by plastic molding. for example. The concave portion of the branch 10 supporting the reservoir 5 is closed and the inscription 17 to inform the user will be located towards the bottom 14 of the tank 5 to be visible above the single piece 1. In one of the configurations the two electromechanical devices and the central electronic housing equipped with a light-emitting diode control lamp are mounted on the same plate 24, it is secured to the support 7 at its attachment means 3, so that the parts mechanics can always find the same location. The first electromechanical device 18 is installed on the lower part of the plate 24 so that its movable head 19 (trigger arm, ball or other mobile device) can be in contact with the tongue 2 of the support during its movement by the F support of the fingers of the operator. The pressure on the head 10 sends a pulse to the electronics of the system. Releasing the support F releases the movable head 10 and cuts the command signal to the system. The second electromechanical device 20 is installed on the upper part of the plate 24 so that its movable head 21 (trigger arm, ball or other mobile device) can be in permanent contact with the reservoir 5 at the height of its curved portion just below the orifice 11 of the support and above the head 9 of the support (in the inverted position as shown in the drawing). In this case, the device operates in the opposite direction, the tank support on the movable head opens a circuit and sends no signal to the central system. When the reservoir 5 is removed, the moving head 21 is released and the device sends a signal to the central system, signal recognized as removal of the reservoir. The central electronic box 22 is equipped with a light emitting diode triggered when an operator "Opx" is present on a detection antenna positioned on the ground and that the movable head 19 of the electromechanical device 18 has been activated by pressure F. The latter extinguishes when pressure F is no longer exerted.

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. Liquid product dispenser comprising a reservoir (5) containing said pressurized liquid and equipped with a nozzle (6) causing by its displacement the opening of a valve releasing the liquid, at least two support means (4, 10) receiving and immobilizing said reservoir (5), at least 5 means (3) for securing support means (4) adapted to hold the dispenser in any desired position, and a tongue (2) articulated with respect to one of the support means and comprising an orifice (9) through which said nozzle (6) is arranged, characterized in that at least all of the support means (4, 10), the fastening means (3) and the tongue (2) are 10 made in one piece (1), comprising at least one part consisting of a band of the same material forming a V, one branch of which constitutes said tongue (2), the other at least one of the supports (10) of the tank (5) and the common base (7) connecting these two branches ensuring the articulation of the tongue (2), which branch 15 constituting one of the supports (10) of the reservoir (5) is pierced with an orifice (11) receiving the portion thereof equipped with the nozzle (6), forms the opposite side to the edge (7) relative to the orifice (11) said fixing means (3) and comprises at least the second support (4) of the tank (5). Comprising at least two electromechanical motion detection devices (18) and (20) arranged on a common board (24) integral with the support (7) and an electronic box (22). 2. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end of the leg of the single piece (1) forming the tongue (2) is curved towards the same side as the common base (7) and forms a surface 25 concave in which opens said nozzle (6). And that this same tongue (2) is in contact with the movable head (19) of the electromechanical device (18) during the support F of the operator 3. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the branch of the single piece (1) forming one of the supports (10) of the reservoir (5) is bent towards the same side as common base ( 7) and is pierced by at least a second orifice (12), which forms a second support (4) of the reservoir (5) thus immobilized in the concave part of said branch, the convex part thereof forming the fixing means (3) of the dispenser that said fixing means (3) makes it possible to make the support (7) and the plate (24) integral with the electromechanical devices. And that the combined positioning of the orifices (9) and (10) of the support (7) and the plate (24) contributes to permanently positioning the bulged portion of the reservoir (5) against the tongue (21) of the electromechanical device ( 20). 4. Distributor according to claim 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that a pressing operation F conjugated to an operator detection by an independent RFID system sends a signal materialized by a LED-type lamp on the electronic box (22). ). 5. Dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the single piece (1) constituted by its two branches curved on the same side as the common base (7), which connect them by hinging one on the other , forms a "W" made in a strip of the same material. 6. Dispenser according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the end (42) of said branch constituting the two supports (4,10) of the reservoir (5) is bent again but to the side corresponding to that of the fastener (3), in the same direction as that of the basic V-shape, and comprises a stop (13) in which is immobilized a portion of the edge (14) of the tank bottom (5) . 7. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the branch constituting at least one support (10) of the reservoir (5) comprises a hollow portion (4j) having an inner shape compatible with the outer one of the reservoir (5) and arranged around at least a portion of the orifice (11), which hollow portion (42) constitutes another support of the reservoir (5). 8. Dispenser according to any one of claims 6, characterized in that the material in which said single piece is made is injected plastic. 9. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material in which said single piece is made is metallic.