GB2425388A

GB2425388A - Monitoring of hand washing

Info

Publication number: GB2425388A
Application number: GB0508202A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor John Lawson
Original assignee: Rentokil Initial UK Ltd
Current assignee: Rentokil Initial UK Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-22
Filing date: 2005-04-22
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: GB0508202D0

Abstract

A washroom has means to detect the presence of a user by way of entry and exit sensors 3 and 2 and to monitor the use of hand washing apparatus. A soap dispenser 6 includes a sensor 11 and a transmitter to signal that the dispenser has been used, indicating that hands have been washed in a basin 5. An alarm is operated if the user exits without having used the dispenser. Individual users are identified though an identification unit 18 communicating with an identity tag.

Description

Monitoring apparatus The invention relates to monitoring apparatus which

so operates as to monitor the use of equipment in a monitored region. The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to the monitoring of use of re-chargeable dispensers, such as dispensers for soap or towels or alcohol hand sanitizers, in washrooms or other areas where hands are cleaned.

The invention provides a monitoring apparatus which so operates as to monitor the use of dispenser equipment in a monitored region, where use of the dispenser equipment is expected of persons entering the monitored region before leaving the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, in operation, signalling its use to the monitoring apparatus which includes: monitoring means which, in operation, senses a person crossing a boundary of the monitored region, senses the use of the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, and provides information indicative of the results of the sensing actions, a control means which, in operation, receives the information from the monitoring means and provides an output indicative of whether, in respect of a person crossing a boundary of the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region has been used and output means which is controlled by the control means and, in operation, provides an output indication of the control means.

Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides a monitoring apparatus which so operates as to monitor the use of dispenser equipment in a monitored region, where use of the dispenser equipment is expected of persons entering the monitored region before leaving the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, in operation, signalling its use to the monitoring apparatus which includes: monitoring means which, in operation, senses the use of the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, senses the departure of a person from the monitored region, and provides information indicative of the results of the sensing actions, a control means which, in operation, receives the information from the monitoring means and provides an output indicative of whether, in respect of an exit of a person from the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region has been used, and output means which is controlled by the control means and, in operation, provides an output indication from the control means.

Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides a monitoring apparatus which so operates as to monitor the use of dispenser equipment in a monitored region, where use of the dispenser equipment is expected of persons entering the monitored region before leaving the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, in operation, signalling its use to the monitoring apparatus which includes: monitoring means which, in operation, senses the entry of a person into the monitored region, senses the use of the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, senses the departure of a person from the monitored region, and provides information indicative of the results of the sensing actions, a control means which, in operation, receives the information from the monitoring means and provides an output indicative of whether, in respect of one entry and one exit of a person in relation to the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region has been used, and output means which is controlled by the control means and, in operation, provides an output indication from the control means.

In one arrangement, the apparatus so operates as to record the occurrences of the use of the dispenser equipment and the occurrences of a person crossing a boundary of the monitored region.

In another arrangement, the apparatus so operates as to provide information indicating the occurrences of the use of the dispenser equipment as a proportion of the occurrences of the crossing of a boundary of the monitored region.

In yet another arrangement, persons authorised to cross a boundary of the monitored region wear identity tags and the apparatus so operates as to record the identities of persons crossing a boundary in relation to the use of the dispenser equipment.

Preferably, the apparatus so operates as to record the time of day of the occurrences of persons crossing a boundary of the monitored region and the time of day of occurrences of the use of the dispenser equipment.

Preferably, the output means, in operation, provides a visual indication.

Preferably, the output means, in operation, provides an auditory indication.

Preferably, the output means, in operation, provides a data output signal.

In one arrangement, the dispenser equipment includes a soap dispenser and, additionally or alternatively, the dispenser equipment includes a handtowel dispenser or an alcohol hand-sanitizer dispenser and, preferably, the dispenser equipment is rechargeable.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a monitoring installation including one form of the monitoring apparatus installed in a washroom; Fig.2 is a diagrammatic representation of a monitoring installation including another form of the monitoring apparatus installed in a washroom; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a soap dispenser belonging to a monitoring installation either as represented in Fig. I or Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a flow chart representation of the manner of operation of a basic form of the monitoring apparatus; Fig. 5 is a flow chart representation of the manner of operation of a form of the monitoring apparatus providing more functions than the basic form; and Fig. 6 is a flow chart representation of the manner of operation of a form of the monitoring apparatus providing yet more functions than the basic form.

Referring to Fig. 1, a monitoring installation includes a monitoring apparatus and a soap dispenser 6 installed in a washroom including a door 1 and a washbasin 5.

The monitoring apparatus includes a monitor unit 4 which accommodates an entry sensor 3, an exit sensor 2 and an output alarm device 12. The monitor unit 4 also accommodates a control logic device 10, a receiver device 8 and an identification unit 18.

The soap dispenser 6 includes a sensor I I and a transmitter device 7. The sensor 11 is connected to the transmitter device 7 and, when the soap dispenser 6 is used, the incidence of use as detected by the sensor 11 is transmitted by the transmitter device 7 to the receiver device 8 by energy emission represented by the link 9 in the drawing.

The entry sensor 3 is connected to the control logic device 10 and the entry of a person into the washroom is detected by the entry sensor 3 and the incidence of the entry is recorded by the control logic device 10.

The soap dispenser 6 is located conventionally in relation to the washbasin 5 and use of the soap dispenser 6 is expected to be in conjunction with the washing of hands at the washbasin 5. The use of the soap dispenser 6 is detected by the sensor 11 and the incidence of the use is signalled by the transmitter device 7 to the receiver device 8, which is connected to the control logic device 10. The incidence of the use of the soap dispenser 6 is recorded by the control logic device 10.

The exit of a person from the washroom is detected by the exit sensor 2 which is connected to the control logic device 10. On receiving a signal from the exit sensor 2, indicating that a person is leaving the washroom, the control logic device 10 checks its stored information regarding the use of the soap dispenser 6. If the control logic device determines that a person is leaving the washroom and the soap dispenser 6 has not signalled being operated, the control logic device 10 activates the output alarm device 12 which is connected to the control logic device 10.

The identification unit 18 operates in conjunction with an identity tag that would be worn by a person, permitting the identification of the individual wearing the identity tag. The inclusion of identity tag sensing means in the soap dispenser 6 or in the monitor unit 4 enables the signalled use of the soap dispenser 6 to be associated with the individual wearing the identity tag, providing more precise information as to the relationship between the use of the soap dispenser 6 and an individual detected as leaving the washroom. The identification unit 18 is an optional component of the monitoring apparatus.

A door 1 as shown in Fig. 1 may serve as an entry port. Alternatively, a passageway leading to the vicinity of the soap dispenser 6 may serve as an entry port, the monitoring apparatus being positioned to monitor a region of the passageway.

Signalling between the transmitter device 7 of the soap dispenser 6 and the receiver device 8 may be by either a wired or a wireless connection. A wired connection would include a length of cable whereas a wireless connection may be by way of radio- frequency antennas, an infra-red transmitter-receiver pair or a pressure- wave transmitter- receiver pair, for example, electro-acoustic transducers.

The output alarm device 12 may provide an auditory output, a voice message or a visual indication that a person is leaving the washroom and the soap dispenser 6 has not been operated.

Although shown as being included in the monitor unit 4, the control logic device 10 may be separately housed, especially if it is advantageous to provide it with ambient conditions differing from those suitable for other components of the monitoring apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 2, an alternative monitoring installation includes an alternative monitoring apparatus and a soap dispenser 6 installed in a washroom including a door I and a washbasin 5.

The monitoring apparatus includes a monitor unit 4 which accommodates an exit sensor 2 and an output alarm device 12. The monitor unit 4 also accommodates a control logic device 10, a receiver device 8 and an identification unit 18. That is, the monitoring apparatus of Fig. 2 does not include an entry sensor corresponding too the entry sensor 3 of Fig. 1.

As in the case of Fig. 1, the identification unit 18 is optional and, when included, serves the same purpose as in a monitoring installation in accordance with Fig. 1.

As in the case of Fig. 1, in the monitoring installation represented by Fig. 2, the soap dispenser 6 includes a sensor 11 and a transmitter device 7. The sensor 11 is connected to the transmitter device 7 and, when the soap dispenser 6 is used, the incidence of use as detected by the sensor 11 is transmitted by the transmitter device 7 to the receiver device 8 by energy emission represented by the link 9 in the drawing.

As is the case with the monitoring apparatus represented by Fig. 1, the control logic device 10 need not be housed in the monitor unit 4.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the soap dispenser 6, shown in Fig. 1, includes a soap reservoir 13, connected to a delivery nozzle 15 by way of a delivery mechanism 14 which is activated by means of a plunger 16, for hand operation. The soap dispenser 6 further includes the sensor 11 which itself includes a fixed element 1 la and an adjacent movable element 11 b, which is attached to and moves with the plunger 16.

The sensor element 1 Ia is connected to an electrical circuit 17 which transmits information, by way of the transmitter 7, relating to operation of the plunger 16, as sensed by the sensor elements I la and 1 lb. The plunger 16 may be either push or pull-operated, enabling the sensor 11 to sense operation of the plunger 16 by the relative movement between the sensor elements 11 a and 11 b. The fixed sensor element 11 a sends a signal (represented by an energy burst 9) each time the plunger 16 of the soap dispenser 6 is operated. When the information regarding the operation of the soap dispenser 6 is received by the monitor unit 4, the information is stored by the monitor unit 4.

An alternative form of soap dispenser is an automatic hands-sensing type which dispenses a measure of soap in response to the presence of a hand under the nozzle 15, in which case the operation of the soap dispenser is detected by an electrical circuit linked to the sensor that detects a hand under the dispensing nozzle 15.

In the event of there being a plurality of soap dispensers, each soap dispenser sends a signal to the monitor unit 4 for each operation of the soap dispenser. In the case of a plurality of soap dispensers being present, each soap dispenser may have a respective identity code which is included with the information transmitted to the monitor unit 4.

In the event that the monitor unit 4 is equipped to detect an identity tag worn by a person who enters and leaves the monitored region containing the soap dispenser, the soap dispenser may also include equipment for detecting the identity tag, in which case the information transmitted from the soap dispenser to the monitor unit 4 may include the identity information, enabling the monitor unit 4 to associate the information from the soap dispenser with the individual wearing the identity tag.

The monitor unit 4 detects the exit of people from the monitored region.

Alternatively, the monitor unit 4 may detect both the entry of people into the monitored region and the exit of people from the monitored region.

The monitor unit 4 includes a sensor which detects the exit of people from the monitored region. The sensor that detects the exit of people from the monitored region may, additionally, detect the entry of people into the monitored region. Alternatively, a first sensor may be included for detecting the exit of people from the monitored region and a second sensor included for detecting the entry of people into the monitored region.

The operation of the sensors may be such as to include or be based on the detection of the direction of movement of a person, in the detection of exit from and entry into the monitored region.

The sensor or sensors may include optical, infra-red, radio-frequency or mechanical sensing means for the detection of persons exiting or entering the monitored region. The sensor or sensors may also include sonar sensing means.

In a basic arrangement in which no information is collected as regards the identities of the persons involved, the control logic device 10, through its connection with the sensor or the sensors, maintains records of the number times the soap dispenser has or the soap dispensers have been operated and the number of persons exiting the monitored region, compares the records and activates the output alarm if the number of persons exiting the monitored region exceeds the number of times the soap dispenser has or the soap dispensers have been operated.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart representation of the operation of a first control logic device of the monitoring apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 4, at the first step 41, the first control logic device 10 detects a signal from the soap dispenser 6 indicating that the soap dispenser 6 has been operated.

At step 42, the device assesses whether the operation of the soap dispenser 6 is a single operation of normal duration or a burst of operations of shorter-than-normal durations. Some soap dispenser users may actuate the lever or hands-free mechanism several times in quick succession in order to obtain the desired amount of soap on their hands. Multiple operations of the soap dispenser in rapid succession are treated by the logic device 10 as a single use of the soap dispenser 6 at the detection step 42 and the decision step 43. If, according to the detection step 42, a second operation of the soap dispenser 6 is within 2 seconds of the first operation, then the second operation is ignored, as is indicated by step 43, and a single soap dispenser operation is recorded. The duration of 2 seconds need not be adhered to and a shorter duration, say, I second or 1.5 seconds may be used.

At step 44, the operation of the soap dispenser 6 results in an internal counter of the logic device 10 being incremented by 1 and, subsequently, when, at step 46, the exit of a person from the monitored region is detected, the contents of the counter are checked at step 45. If the contents of the counter exceed 1 the logic device 10 decides, at step 48, that the recorded information indicates that the person exiting the monitored region has used the soap dispenser 6 and provides an output indication to that effect. At step 49, the internal counter of the logic device 10 is decremented by 1 to maintain a correct record.

In the event that, at step 45, the contents of the internal counter of the logic device are found to be zero, the logic device 10 provides, at step 47, an output indication to that effect, in the form of an alarm message that may be auditory, visual or both auditory and visual.

At step 50, the events of steps 47 and 48 are recorded and, at step 52, are downloaded to a central store. An indication of time of day is provided by a clock at step 51.

The logic unit 10 serves to count the number of persons entering or leaving the monitored region containing the soap dispenser 6.The number of entries or exits is compared with the number of operations of the soap dispenser 6. An alarm is triggered if the number of operations of the soap dispenser 6 is fewer than the number of persons entering or leaving the monitored region.

An operation of the soap dispenser 6 serves to set a count of I in an internal counter of the logic device 10. When a person is detected leaving the monitored region containing the soap dispenser 6, the logic device 10 checks its internal counter. If the content of the internal counter is found to be 1 or more than 1, it is decided that the soap dispenser has been used by the person exiting the monitored region and a thank you" message is given, in addition to which the counter contents are decremented by 1. If the content of the internal counter is found to be zero, it is decided that the soap dispenser 6 has not been used by the person exiting the monitored region and an "alarm" message may be given. Both messages may be recorded electronically, together with the time, given by a clock, and this information may be made available to be downloaded to a database.

The logic device 10 may also record the number of people entering the monitored region and the time of day of each entry into the monitored region containing the soap dispenser 6 and the number of occasions on which the alarm was activated along with the time of day of each activation of the alarm. This recorded information may be provided in a form suitable to be downloaded to a display unit. The information may additionally be in a form suitable for transmission to a database, which may be updated as the recorded information changes.

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart representation of the operation of an alternative form of the control logic device 10 of the monitoring apparatus. In this alternative form of the monitoring apparatus, the identities of persons leaving the monitored region containing the soap dispenser 6 are recorded.

Referring to Fig. 5, at step 53, the identity of a person exiting the monitored region is detected and recorded, the information being passed to the data recorder at step 50. The alternative form of monitoring apparatus operating in accordance with Fig. 5 requires that persons exiting the monitored region wear identity tags detectable by the monitoring apparatus. The remaining operational steps of Fig. 5 correspond to those of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart representation of the operation of another alternative form of the control logic device 10 of the monitoring apparatus. In this alternative form, each operation of the soap dispenser 6 increases the "soap use" count by 1 and each exit of a person from the monitored region containing the soap dispenser 6 increases the "exit" count by 1. The accumulated counts are then used to display the percentage of people leaving the monitored region who have used the soap dispenser 6.

Referring to Fig. 6, at step 54, a total score is recorded for the number of operations of the soap dispenser 6 and, at step 56, a total score is recorded for the number of persons exiting the monitored region containing the soap dispenser 6. At step 55, the totals obtained at steps 54 and 56 are converted to a percentage and the result is displayed.

As described above, the monitoring apparatus is used in combination with a soap dispenser in a monitored region. However, the monitoring apparatus is equally applicable to use with other dispensers, for example a towel dispenser or an alcohol hand-sanitizer dispenser. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus could monitor the sequential use of two or more dispensers, e.g. the use of a soap dispenser followed by the use of a towel dispenser and maybe followed by the use of a dispenser for hand sanitizer. Also, the monitored region may be a region in a hospital operating theatre or a monitored region in a corridor, for example leading to a high-risk area in, say, a food factory.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus which so operates as to monitor the use of dispenser equipment in a monitored region, where use of the dispenser equipment is expected of persons entering the monitored region before leaving the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, in operation, signalling its use to the monitoring apparatus which includes: monitoring means which, in operation, senses a person crossing a boundary of the monitored region, senses the use of the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, and provides information indicative of the results of the sensing actions, a control means which, in operation, receives the information from the monitoring means and provides an output indicative of whether, in respect of a person crossing a boundary of the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region has been used and output means which is controlled by the control means and, in operation, provides an output indication of the control means.

2. A monitoring apparatus which so operates as to monitor the use of dispenser equipment in a monitored region, where use of the dispenser equipment is expected of persons entering the monitored region before leaving the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, in operation, signalling its use to the monitoring apparatus which includes: monitoring means which, in operation, senses the use of the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, senses the departure of a person from the monitored region, and provides information indicative of the results of the sensing actions, a control means which, in operation, receives the information from the monitoring means and provides an output indicative of whether, in respect of an exit of a person from the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region has been used, and output means which iscontrolled by the control means and, in operation, provides an output indication from the control means.

3. A monitoring apparatus which so operates as to monitor the use of dispenser equipment in a monitored region, where use of the dispenser equipment is expected of persons entering the monitored region before leaving the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, in operation, signalling its use to the monitoring apparatus which includes: monitoring means which, in operation, senses the entry of a person into the monitored region, senses the use of the dispenser equipment in the monitored region, senses the departure of a person from the monitored region, and provides information indicative of the results of the sensing actions, a control means which, in operation, receives the information from the monitoring means and provides an output indicative of whether, in respect of one entry and one exit of a person in relation to the monitored region, the dispenser equipment in the monitored region has been used, and output means which is controlled by the control means and, in operation, provides an output indication from the control means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, which so operates as to record the occurrences of the use of the dispenser equipment and the occurrences of a person crossing a boundary of the monitored region.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, which so operates as to provide information indicating the occurrences of the use of the dispenser equipment as a proportion of the occurrences of the crossing of a boundary of the monitored region.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein persons authorised to cross a boundary of the monitored region wear identity tags, which so operates as to record the identities of persons crossing a boundary in relation to the use of the dispenser equipment.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, which so operates as to record the time of day of the occurrences of persons crossing a boundary of the monitored region and the time of day of occurrences of the use of the dispenser equipment.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the output means, in operation, provides a visual indication.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the output means, in operation, provides an auditory indication.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the output means, in operation, provides a data output signal.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser equipment includes a soap dispenser.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims ito ii, wherein the dispenser equipment includes a hand-towel dispenser.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims ito 12, wherein the dispenser equipment includes an alcohol hand-sanitizer dispenser.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims ito 13, wherein the dispenser equipment is rechargeable.

15. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 or Figs. 1, 3 and 5 or Figs. 1, 3 and 6, of the accompanying drawings.

16. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs, 2, 3 and 4 or Figs. 2, 3 and 5 or Figs. 2, 3 and 6, of the accompanying drawings.