FR3119612A3 - DISTRIBUTION STATION FOR A HYGIENE PRODUCT AND RECYCLABLE OR BIODEGRADABLE SHEETS SUITABLE TO BE IMPREGNATED WITH SUCH A PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a terminal for dispensing a hygiene product which comprises a hollow body (10) comprising an upper storage compartment (C1) containing a batch of sheets made of a wiping material capable of being impregnated with hygiene product, a technical compartment (C2) in which is arranged a technical product dispensing module, a product dispensing compartment (C3) accessible through an opening (11) in the side wall of the body, a compartment ( C4) for waste which is accessible through an orifice (29) formed in the bottom of the compartment (C3) for storing used sheets, and a lower storage compartment (C5) which houses a reservoir of the product to be dispensed, and wherein the body (10) is closed by a plate (16) which has a sheet dispensing slot (13) which carries a support (36) of the batch of sheets; and the vertical body (10) comprises an actuation zone (46) for controlling the dispensing of at least one dose of hygiene product. Figure for abstract: 2

Description

DISTRIBUTION STATION FOR A HYGIENE PRODUCT AND RECYCLABLE OR BIODEGRADABLE SHEETS SUITABLE TO BE IMPREGNATED WITH SUCH A PRODUCT

Technical field of the invention

The invention proposes a terminal for dispensing a hygiene product capable of being used in particular for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and the dispensing of sheets or wipes capable of being impregnated with such a product.

The invention proposes in particular, but not exclusively, an autonomous terminal whose basic design is modular in order to allow its adaptation with a view to its use as a terminal for the automatic distribution of products such as disinfectants, solvents, fungicides, antiseptics, bactericides, sterilants, cosmetics etc., in particular products for preventing the appearance in the hospital environment of diseases such as nosocomial diseases.

The terminal allows for example the distribution of a disinfectant, a solvent, a fungicide, an antiseptic, a bactericide, a sterilant, which can be in gel or in solution, and generally in a state that allows it to flow.

Technical background

According to a known design, such an automatic distribution terminal for hand disinfection is installed at the entrance to reception areas, at the entrance to elevators, in emergency services, in offices for professional use and in particular in "open space", etc. and it comprises in particular a reserve of product to be dispensed which comprises an outlet for delivering the product contained in the reserve to controlled means for metered dispensing of a determined quantity of the product.

These means comprise a control sensor capable of detecting the presence of a user of the distribution terminal, and for example an infrared system.

An example of the design of such a terminal is for example described and represented in the document FR-A3-3029765.

An improved version of such a terminal is the subject of a utility certificate application FR2010594 filed on October 16, 2020 under priority of application FR2002588 filed on March 17, 2020.

Furthermore, it is also known to use such hygiene products for cleaning surfaces, instruments, etc. by means of cleaning wipes which are marketed for this purpose in the form of so-called “pre-impregnated” wipes.

Such single-use disposable wipes are made of plastic materials and they are non-recyclable and virtually non-biodegradable.

Due to their increasingly widespread use, particularly in times of epidemics or pandemics, we end up, for example, in Europe in the annual discharge of several tens of thousands of tonnes of waste.

Thus, in areas open to the public or for collective use, it appeared necessary to be able to provide people with a distribution terminal which makes it possible to replace the use of pre-impregnated wipes by resorting to sheets or wipes.

cut or pre-cut, folded and stacked or in a roll, of a wiping material capable of being impregnated with a hygiene product, in particular sheets of cellulose wadding or paper, while making available to users the means allowing them to ensure the best possible respect for the environment, particularly with regard to the management of sheets and wipes after use.

The invention proposes a terminal for dispensing a hygiene product of modular design which comprises a vertical body in the form of a hollow column comprising successively, from top to bottom:
- an upper storage compartment containing:
-- either a tank containing the hygiene product to be dispensed;
-- Either a set of sheets of a wiping material capable of being impregnated with the hygiene product, in particular cellulose wadding or paper;
- A technical compartment in which is arranged a technical module for dispensing the hygiene product;
- A hygiene product dispensing compartment which is accessible to a user through a side access opening formed in the side wall of the vertical body;
- A waste compartment which is accessible through an orifice formed in a lower bottom wall of the dispensing compartment;
- A lower storage compartment which, when the upper storage compartment contains a batch of sheets, contains a reservoir of the hygiene product to be dispensed.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

- the vertical body is closed by an upper closure plate which may include a slot for dispensing sheets contained in the upper storage compartment;
- The terminal may comprise a support for the batch of sheets which is carried by the upper closing plate;
- the upper storage compartment is separated from the technical compartment by an intermediate plate which may comprise an orifice which is capable of being crossed by a connector for connecting a reservoir of hygiene product to be dispensed contained in the upper storage compartment to a power input of a technical distribution module arranged in the technical compartment;
- the side wall of the vertical body may comprise an area for actuating a switch controlling the dispensing of at least one dose of hygiene product which is connected to a technical dispensing module arranged in the technical compartment;
- the technical distribution module can house an electric distribution pump and a control unit which is connected to at least one control member able to be actuated by a user or able to detect the presence of a user of the distribution terminal ;
- the technical dispensing module may comprise a dispensing outlet for at least one dose of product through an orifice formed in an upper wall of the dispensing compartment, and at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a hand a user of the terminal in the distribution compartment which is connected to the control unit of the technical distribution module;
- said at least one sensor may be an infrared sensor;.

The invention also proposes a terminal for dispensing a hygiene product according to the invention, which comprises a vertical body in the form of a hollow column comprising successively, from top to bottom:
- an upper storage compartment containing a batch of sheets of wiping material capable of being impregnated with the hygiene product, in particular cellulose wadding or paper;
- A technical compartment in which is arranged a technical module for dispensing the hygiene product;
- A hygiene product dispensing compartment which is accessible to a user through a side access opening formed in the side wall of the vertical body;
- A waste compartment which is accessible through an orifice formed in a lower bottom wall of the distribution compartment to store used sheets of said batch of sheets;
- a lower storage compartment which contains a reservoir of the hygiene product to be dispensed,
and in which:
- The vertical body is closed by an upper closing plate which comprises a slot for dispensing sheets contained in the upper storage compartment, and which carries a support for the batch of sheets;
- And the side wall of the vertical body comprises a zone for actuating a switch controlling the distribution of at least one dose of hygiene product which is connected to the technical distribution module arranged in the technical compartment.

Brief descriptions of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which will follow for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

- the is a three-quarter front perspective view of an embodiment of a terminal according to the invention in the state of use according to a first mode;

- the is a schematic cross-section through a median vertical and longitudinal plane of the terminal shown in ;

- the is an exploded perspective view of the main internal components of the terminal shown in Figures 1 and 2;

- the is a partial perspective view from below and in section through a median horizontal plane of the dispensing compartment;

- the is a partial perspective view from above and in section through the median horizontal plane of the dispensing compartment;

- the is a view analogous to that of which represents the dispensing terminal according to the invention adapted for the automatic dispensing of a hygiene product on the hands of a user, according to a second mode of use.

Detailed description of the invention

For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures whose longitudinal axes L and transverse T extend in a horizontal plane.

By convention, the longitudinal axis L is oriented from front to rear.

In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numerals.

First embodiment of the invention
at
There is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a terminal B for automatically dispensing at least one dose of hygiene product to a user who can introduce a sheet or a wipe into a compartment C3 for dispensing hygienic product which is cylindrical and horizontal and which opens horizontally into the front face of terminal B.

According to this first mode, the terminal of modular design according to the invention is implemented to allow the simultaneous distribution or provision of doses of a hygiene product and sheets or wipes capable of being impregnated by the user with one or more doses of such a product.

Terminal B comprises a vertical body 10 which rests on the ground via a base 12.

The vertical body 10 is a hollow cylindrical column of circular section which is for example made of sheet metal cut, bent and welded.

At its upper part, the vertical body 10 includes a rear door 14 for secure access to the interior of the terminal.

The rear door 14 extends here angularly over approximately one third of the circumference and vertically over approximately the upper half of the height of the terminal 10.

Internally, the vertical body 10 of the terminal B is divided vertically into several adjacent compartments Ci and it is closed at its upper end by upper closing plate 16 which is for example fixed by welding.

The vertical body 10 comprises a first compartment C1 called the upper storage compartment which is delimited vertically by the upper closure plate 16 and by a first intermediate horizontal plate 18 which is here a sheet metal disc which is here fixed inside the body vertical 10 on internal radial legs (not shown) of the vertical body 10.

The vertical body 10 then comprises a second compartment C2 called the technical compartment which is delimited vertically by the first intermediate plate 18 and by a second intermediate horizontal plate 20 of generally semi-circular outline delimited by a transverse rear edge.

The vertical body 10 then comprises a third compartment C3 called the product distribution compartment which is delimited vertically by the second intermediate plate 20 and by a third intermediate horizontal plate 22 which is here a sheet metal disc which is here fixed inside the vertical body 10 on internal radial legs (not shown) of the vertical body 10.

Each of the second and third intermediate plates 20 and 22 has a pair of transversely opposite through holes 21 which are aligned vertically in pairs.

The vertical body 10 then comprises a fourth compartment C4 called waste compartment which is delimited vertically by the third intermediate plate 22 and by a fourth intermediate horizontal plate 24 which is here a sheet metal disc which is here fixed inside the vertical body 10 on internal radial legs (not shown) of the vertical body 10.

Finally, the vertical body 10 then comprises a fifth compartment C5 called the lower storage compartment which is delimited vertically by the fourth intermediate plate 24 and by a fifth intermediate horizontal plate 26 which is here a sheet metal disc which is here fixed inside of the vertical body 10 on internal radial legs (not shown) of the vertical body 10.

At its center, the fourth intermediate plate 24 comprises a central gripping hole 25 and, at its periphery, two passage cutouts 27 in quarter moons and transversely opposed.

In addition to the second and third intermediate plates 20 and 22, the product distribution compartment C3 is delimited by a horizontal cylindrical shaft 28 whose rear longitudinal end is closed by a welded vertical plate 30 and whose front longitudinal end is open and is arranged vertically opposite a cutout formed in the vertical body 10 which constitutes a front opening 11 for access to the interior of the shaft 28 and therefore to the interior of the distribution cavity C3.

At its lower part, the was 28 has a central circular cutout 29 which is arranged opposite a circular cutout 23 of the same size formed in the third intermediate plate 22.

At its upper part, the was 28 is truncated and is closed by the second intermediate plate 20.

Between the first and third intermediate plates 18 and 22, there is provided a vertical partition 32 which closes to the rear the zone comprised vertically between the first and third intermediate plates 18 and 22. Thus, even when the rear door 14 is open, the latter does not give access to the technical compartment C2, nor to the housing 34 formed at the rear of the vertical plate 30 which is able to house a power supply battery 35 and which can only be accessed vertically by removing the first intermediate plate 18.

To allow communication between the technical compartment C2 and the distribution compartment C3, inside the shaft 28, the second intermediate plate 20 comprises in particular a rectangular central cutout 19 and holes 31.

According to this first mode, to allow the distribution of sheets or wipes suitable for being impregnated by the user, the upper closure plate 14:
- has a cut-out central slot 13 through which at least one sheet or wipe, not shown, protrudes outside terminal B to be apprehended by the user, and
- carries under its lower face 15 a support 36 for a batch (not shown) of sheets or wipes capable of being dispensed through the slot 13 of the upper closure plate 14. The sheets or wipes are cut or pre-cut, folded and stacked .

The support 36 essentially consists of a horizontal plate 38 on which a box (not shown) can be placed which, in a known manner, contains a stack of sheets or wipes.

The horizontal plate 38 is fixed by welding under the lower face 15 of the upper plate 14 by two vertical uprights 40, each of which has a vertical slot 42 at its upper part.

In a known manner, instead of a box of sheets or wipes, it is possible to mount on the support 34 a roll (not shown) of precut sheets or wipes which is rotatably mounted around a horizontal shaft. whose ends are received in opposite and aligned slots 42.

According to this first mode, to allow the distribution of a hygiene product, a reservoir or container (not shown) of hygiene product to be distributed is stored in the lower storage compartment C4 and it is connected, by pipes passing through the cutouts 27 and the passage holes 21, to a technical module (not shown) for the controlled distribution of the product contained in the tank.

The technical module is arranged in the technical compartment C2 inside which it is positioned here by a technical partition 44 so that its dispensing orifice is positioned facing the rectangular central cutout 19 of the second intermediate plate 20.

Thus, hygiene product can be dispensed inside the dispensing compartment C3.

To cause this distribution, the user controls the technical module by means of a control member which is a control switch or which is connected to a control switch for the distribution of at least one dose of hygiene product which is connected to the technical distribution module arranged in the technical compartment C2.

The technical distribution module houses an electric distribution pump and a control unit which is connected to the control unit.

The control device or the actual control switch is arranged or is accessible in an actuation zone 46 which is arranged in the side wall of the vertical body 10, here in line with the technical compartment C2.

Thus, after having taken at least one sheet from the upper part of the terminal B, the user introduces it inside the distribution compartment C3, then he acts with his other hand on the control member in the zone actuation 46 to cause the distribution of the hygiene product on the sheet or the wipe that it holds below the rectangular central cutout 19 of the second intermediate plate 20.

After performing a cleaning and/or disinfection operation, the user can introduce the used sheet or wipe into the lower storage compartment C4, through the central circular cutout 29 of the shaft 28 and the circular cutout 23 of the third intermediate plate 22.

The lower storage compartment C4 constitutes a waste storage area which can be emptied by accessing it through the rear door 14.

To facilitate waste collection operations, it is possible to house a removable bin in the lower storage compartment C4.

According to a design variant (not shown) of this first embodiment of the invention, the control of the distribution of the hygiene product on the sheet or the wipe can be triggered by a sensor for detecting the presence of the hand of the user of the terminal when the latter introduces it, with the sheet, into the distribution compartment C3. The detection sensor can then be integrated into the technical distribution module and it is connected to a control unit of the technical distribution module which is integrated into the technical distribution module MT.

Second embodiment of the invention

According to this second mode, the terminal of modular design according to the invention is implemented to allow only the dispensing of doses of a hygiene product.

The modular general design of terminal B according to the invention makes it easy to produce and implement terminals B capable of being implemented according to this second mode of implementation or else according to the first mode of implementation described above. .

As can be seen at the , the upper storage compartment C1 here contains a removable reservoir R for storing a hygiene product to be dispensed and it no longer contains leaves.

Thus, the upper closure plate 16 no longer carries a support for a batch of sheets.

The tank R here comprises four feet 50 which rest on the upper face, the intermediate plate 18.

Replacing or filling tank R is done by accessing compartment C1 from the rear via rear access door 14.

The intermediate plate 18 has an orifice 51 which is offset radially forward in the longitudinal direction.

Schematically in the technical compartment C2 a technical distribution module MT of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape which comprises in particular a horizontal upper wall 52 which is adjacent to the lower face of the first intermediate plate 18 and a horizontal lower wall 54 which is adjacent to the top of the second intermediate plate 20.

In its lower wall 54, the technical distribution module MT comprises an outlet orifice 56 for dispensing at least one dose of product which opens opposite the window 29 of the second intermediate plate 20.

In its lower wall 54, the technical distribution module MT also has two holes 58 for the passage of light beams from a sensor for detecting the presence of a hand of a terminal user in the distribution compartment C3.

The detection sensor integrated into the technical distribution module MT is not shown and it is connected to a control unit of the technical distribution module MT not shown and integrated into the technical module of distribution MT.

Each hole 58 is aligned with an associated hole 31 of the second intermediate plate 20.

The means for detecting the presence of a user and for producing a distribution order signal intended for the control unit of the technical distribution module MT can be of any type and for example light wave sensors, sound waves, electromagnetic waves, etc.

In addition to the detection sensor and the control unit, the technical distribution module MT incorporates an electric distribution pump connected to the control unit which is connected to the detection sensor.

In its upper wall 52, the technical distribution module MT is provided with a tubular connector 60 which extends vertically through the orifice 51 of the first intermediate plate 18 and whose lower end is received in an inlet of supply of the technical distribution module MT itself connected to an input of the distribution pump.

The upper end section of the tubular connector 60 extends vertically and it is designed to be received in a sealed manner in a connecting tube, or in a hole, complementary to the reservoir R.

The upper face of the reservoir R may include a filler cap 62.

According to a variant not shown, the reservoir can be a flexible bag of product to be dispensed.

Under the circular central cutout 29 of the was 28 and the circular cutout 23 of the third intermediate plate 22, one can fix a dish 64 for recovering hygiene product falling into the lower waste storage compartment C4.

The main "sheet" components of terminal B are preferably made of stainless steel.

Terminal B can thus be made of incombustible materials and classified M0 for fires.

Claims (9)

Terminal (B) for dispensing a hygiene product of modular design which comprises a vertical body (10) in the form of a hollow column successively comprising, from top to bottom:
- an upper storage compartment (C1) containing:
-- either a tank containing the hygiene product to be dispensed;
-- Either a set of sheets of a wiping material capable of being impregnated with the hygiene product, in particular cellulose wadding or paper;
- a technical compartment (C2) in which is arranged a technical module for dispensing the hygiene product;
- a compartment (C3) for dispensing the hygiene product which is accessible to a user through a side access opening (11) formed in the side wall of the vertical body (10);
- a waste compartment (C4) which is accessible through an orifice (29) formed in a lower bottom wall of the distribution compartment (C3);
- A lower storage compartment (C5) which, when the upper storage compartment (C1) contains a batch of sheets, contains a reservoir of the hygiene product to be dispensed. Terminal (B) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the vertical body (10) is closed by an upper closing plate (16) which includes a slot (13) for dispensing sheets contained in the upper compartment (C1) of storage. Terminal according to Claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a support (36) for the batch of sheets which is carried by the upper closing plate (16). Distribution terminal (B) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper storage compartment (C1) is separated from the technical compartment (C2) by an intermediate plate (18) which includes an orifice (51) which is capable of being crossed by a fitting (60) for connecting a reservoir (R) of hygiene product to be dispensed contained in the upper storage compartment (C1) to a supply inlet of a technical distribution module (MT) arranged in the technical compartment (C2). Terminal according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the side wall of the vertical body (10) comprises a zone (46) for actuating a switch controlling the dispensing of at least one dose of product hygiene which is connected to a technical distribution module arranged in the technical compartment (C2). Distribution terminal (B) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the technical distribution module houses an electric distribution pump and a control unit which is connected to at least one control member able to be actuated by a user or capable of detecting the presence of a user of the distribution terminal (B). Dispensing terminal (B) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the technical dispensing module comprises an outlet for dispensing at least one dose of product through an orifice formed in an upper wall (20) of the compartment (C3) distribution, and at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a hand of a user of the terminal (B) in the compartment (C3) of distribution which is connected to the control unit of the technical module (MT) of distribution. Distribution terminal (B) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said at least one sensor is an infrared sensor. Terminal (B) for dispensing a hygiene product according to claim 3, which comprises a vertical body (10) in the form of a hollow column comprising successively, from top to bottom:
- an upper storage compartment (C1) containing a batch of sheets made of a wiping material capable of being impregnated with the hygiene product, in particular cellulose wadding or paper;
- a technical compartment (C2) in which is arranged a technical module for dispensing the hygiene product;
- a compartment (C3) for dispensing the hygiene product which is accessible to a user through a side access opening (11) formed in the side wall of the vertical body;
- a waste compartment (C4) which is accessible through an orifice (29) formed in a lower bottom wall of the distribution compartment (C3) for storing used sheets of said batch of sheets;
- a lower storage compartment (C5) which contains a reservoir of the hygiene product to be dispensed,
and in which:
- the vertical body (10) is closed by an upper closing plate (16) which has a slot (13) for dispensing sheets contained in the upper storage compartment (C1), and which carries a support (36) for the batch leaves;
- and the side wall of the vertical body (10) comprises a zone (46) for actuating a switch controlling the distribution of at least one dose of hygiene product which is connected to the technical distribution module arranged in the technical compartment (C2).