EP1258568A1

EP1258568A1 - Wash stations and method of operation

Info

Publication number: EP1258568A1
Application number: EP02018622A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Charles S. Allen; Daniel C. Shaw; Lee S. Adler
Original assignee: Sloan Valve Co
Current assignee: Sloan Valve Co
Priority date: 1995-06-07
Filing date: 1996-06-07
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-07
Also published as: HK1015842A1; DE69630031T2; JP3751639B2; CN1193367A; DE69638124D1; ATE250172T1; ATE457390T1; CA2222528A1; CA2222528C; EP1258568B1; EP0830482A1; JPH11507420A; CN1076773C; KR19990022445A; EP0830482B1; KR100397440B1; WO1996041058A1; MX9709545A; DE69630031D1

Abstract

A wash station comprises a sink and a water dispensing faucet operably associated with the sink for selectively dispensing water thereto. A first sensor is operably associated with the sink for determining the presence of a user. An electrically operated valve is in flow communication with the faucet for causing water to be selectively supplied thereto and operably associated with the first sensor for being actuated thereby. A soap dispensing faucet is operably associated with the sink for selecting dispensing soap. A second sensor is operably associated with the soap dispensing faucet for determining the presence of a user in operable association with the soap dispensing faucet. A pump is in operable association with a soap supply, in fluid communication with the soap dispensing faucet, and in operable connection with the second sensor for causing soap to be selectively supplied to the soap dispensing faucet upon detection of a user by the second sensor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many diseases are spread from one person to another through contact, whether direct or indirect. Direct contact causes the contagium to be transmitted from the carrier to another, who may become infected and/or pass the contagium on to yet another. Nosocomial infections are particularly prevalent with medical personnel, who may come into contact, knowingly or not, with infectious diseases. Indirect contact occurs when the carrier touches some article, thereby depositing the contagium and permitting it to be contacted by another coming into contact with the article. Many contagia are spread by contact, directly or indirectly with the hands.
Some contagia can be destroyed through the use of water and cleansing agents, such as soaps, antiseptic agents, and the like. Hospital personnel may receive training in the proper method of washing hands, as a means for minimizing the spread of nosocomial infections. Many communities likewise require that individuals handling food wash their hands prior to handling food.
Many hospitals have a wash station which is utilized for the washing of hands. The wash station has a valve, possibly foot or leg operated, for controlling water flow from a faucet to a sink. A source of cleansing agent, such as a liquid soap, is also provided, as are folded paper towels for drying the hands. Hot air dryers are normally not provided in a hospital environment, because the flow of air has a tendency to spread the contagia. Wash stations suffer from numerous drawbacks, such as improper quantity of soap, a need to touch a valve or other potentially contaminated site, and the excessive use of water while the washing operation takes place.
The disclosed invention refers to a wash station, suitable for both hospital and food-handling establishments according to the preamble of claim 1. The wash station has infrared sensors for detecting the presence of a user, and a desire for that user to initiate a hand washing operation. Once a potential user is detected, then a control system causes a sufficient quantity of water to be dispensed in order to permit the hands to be wet. A predetermined amount of soap sufficient to cleanse the hands is then dispensed, and a further quantity of water is dispensed in order to permit the hands to be rinsed. Finally, a selected length of roll toweling is dispensed. Such a wash station is known from US-A-5,031,258.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent in view of the following description and drawings of the above described invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1: is a perspective view of an embodiment of the wash station of the invention; and
FIG. 2: is a block diagram illustrating the control system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Wash station W, as best shown in FIG. 1, has a cabinet 10 and a vertical support 12. The cabinet 10 and support 12 may, as shown, be separate structural elements, or they may be integral or the support 12 might be part of a wall or the like. Also, while we prefer that cabinet 10 and vertical support 12 be manufactured from stainless steel, those skilled in the art will understand that other compositions might be appropriate, such as when wash station W is in a restaurant environment.
Sink 14 is mounted to top 16 of cabinet 10. Also mounted to top 16 is an infrared sensor 18, a water spout 20, and a selector switch 22. Cabinet 10 may have handles 24 and 26, permitting doors 28 and 30 to be opened.
An electrically operated roll towel dispenser 32 is mounted to vertical support 12. Dispensing means 32 has an infrared sensor 34, which may be a passive infrared detector, as compared with the active infrared detector of the sensor 18. Also disclosed in FIG. 1 is a length of toweling 36 extending from dispenser 32, as well as display 38 which indicates the number of uses of wash station W. While we prefer the use of paper towels, it is merely necessary that a continuous length of tearable drying material be dispensed from dispenser 32. Sheet towels should not be used, because they run the risk of contact with the possibly contaminated dispenser.
A soap spout 312 is adjacent water dispensing spout 20, and is secured to top 16. Spout 312 has a nozzle 314 which lies above sink 14, and through which soap, bactericide, or a suitable anti-microbial agent is dispensed. The soap supplied to nozzle 314 is supplied from any suitable pump. Preferably the pump is a peristaltic pump.
Incorporated into spout 312 is an active infrared sensor system for actuating the pump in order to cause soap to be dispensed. Lenses 316 and 318 are provided for transmitting the infrared signal, and for receiving the reflected signal, respectively. Soap will not be dispensed until the user has triggered the sensor system of spout 312 by placing his or her hand in operative relationship for indicating by reflection of the light that soap is desired. Thus, a user placing his or her hands under water spout 20 will cause water to be dispensed for so long as those hands are so positioned, and the wash station W will not be placed into the "hand washing" mode until the sensor of spout 312 is actuated.
There are occasions when there is a need for water to be dispensed from water spout 20 for an extended period, such as to fill a pitcher or the sink 14. In those instances, however, the user may not wish or be able to maintain his or her hands suitably positioned relative to sensor 18 for maintaining water flow. Push button 320 is therefore provided, optionally at towel dispenser 32, for this purpose. The push button 320 may be a suitable button which stays locked until pushed again, or time controlled or otherwise, so that water will flow to water spout 20 for so long as the push button 320 is actuated.
Wash stations such as those disclosed herein will typically be located in places in which they will be confronted by potential users of varied backgrounds and training. The wash station should be able to be used properly by all of these individuals in order to permit maximization of its benefits. For this reason, an alphanumeric display 322 is provided in order to provide information for the user, such as instructions for use. The display 322 may be incorporated into the towel dispenser 32, or may be otherwise located. The alphanumeric display thus is readily observed by the user, and may not only provide instructional information but other information, such as time elapsed, time to next step, etc., which will help to keep the user at the wash station W3 for the duration of the hand wash cycle. Additionally, the display 322 may also be used to provide information to the hospital, for example, on total number of uses, total number of proper uses, and other information permitting the hospital to determine that the wash station W is being properly used and how frequently used.
FIG. 2 illustrates the control system of the wash station W. As illustrated therein, a controller, which may be a microprocessor or programmable controller, has inputs from the water sensor 18, the soap sensor 316, 318, and the towel dispenser sensor 34. Towel dispenser sensor 34, in this embodiment, preferably is an active infrared sensor. The outputs from the controller are to the valve, such as either or both valves 52 and 54, the pump, such as peristaltic pump 160, and towel dispenser 32.
Typically a user will approach the wash station W and place his or her hands under water spout 20, there permitting sensor 18 to detect the presence of a user. As a result, controller will cause the valve to the water spout 20 to be operated, with the result that water will flow thereto. Water will continue to be dispensed for so long as the sensor 18 detects a user. Alternatively, water will continue to be dispensed for so long as push button 320 is operated.
Should the user desire to wash his or her hands, then they must first be wet with water. This is done by having the hands placed under the water spout 20 within the operating range of sensor 18. The user next places at least one hand under spout 314 within the operating range of the sensor acting through lenses 316 and 318. Actuation of the soap sensor in this way sends a signal which communicates to the controller that it should switch from the water dispensing mode in which it normally is placed to the second or hand washing mode. It is thus the dispensing of the soap which switches the controller into the hand washing mode.
Once in the hand washing mode, then the control of water and soap is based upon a preprogrammed sequence generally known for example from US-A-5,031,258. Specifically a Thus, the pump is actuated to dispense soap through nozzle 314, while the flow of water to water spout 20 is stopped. Once the hands have had sufficient time to be lathered, then water is again dispensed through water spout 20. Once sufficient water is dispensed, then the water valve closes, and towel 36 is dispensed from dispenser 32 by virtue of its electric motor.
The alphanumeric display 322, which may be a CRT screen, liquid crystal display, or the like, is also actuated by the controller to provide information to the user. Thus, for example, display 322 may initially be set to display to the user that wash station W is in the water only mode. Once soap is dispensed by the controller being switched to the hand washing mode, then the display may inform the user the step then underway, how much time remains until initiation of the next step, and similar information.
In addition to the above, alphanumeric display 322 may also provide other sorts of information having the intent of keeping the user at the wash station W for the duration of the hand washing cycle. An individual may e reluctant to appear to be taking instructions from wash station W or may become impatient during the hand washing sequence. Thus, display 322 may provide information such as hand washing frequency, general purpose information such as about the importance of hand washing, or even more general information about current events. The purpose is to keep the user at the wash station W so that the hand washing sequence will be satisfactorily completed.

Claims

A hand-washing station including

a sink (14);

a water spout (20) operably associated with said sink (14) and connected to a water source with an electrically operated valve (52) disposed therebetween for selectively supplying water to the water spout (20);

a soap-dispensing spout (312) operably associated with said sink (14) and connected to a soap supply (68) with a pump (160) interposed therebetween for selectively supplying soap to the soap-dispensing spout (312); and

a towel dispenser (32) for automatically dispensing a towel;

wherein a first sensor (18) is associated with the water spout (20) for detecting the presence of a user and a second sensor (316, 318) is associated with the soap-dispensing spout (312) and wherein an electronic controller is in operative communication with said first sensor (18), the second sensor (316, 318), the electrically operated valve (52), the pump (160) and the towel dispenser (32) to operate said valve (52) in a water-dispensing mode for supplying water to the water spout (20) when and for so long as a user is detected within the operating range of the first sensor (18) and to switch to a hand-washing mode when presence of a user is detected by the second sensor and to actuate the towel dispenser to dispense a towel therefrom,
characterized in that a push button (320) is associated with said water spout (320) for causing water to be dispensed from the water spout (20) for so long as the push button (320) is actuated, thereby enabling water to be dispensed from said water spout (20) for an extended period even when the user's hands are not within the operating range of said first sensor (18) and said second sensor (316, 318), and that said water spout (20) is provided adjacent said soap dispensing spout (312) and separated thereof on the sink (14).
Hand-washing station according to claim 1, wherein said push button (322) includes means for staying locked after being actuated a first time until being actuated a second time.
Hand-washing station according to any preceding claim, wherein said push button (322) is provided at said towel dispenser (32).
Hand-washing station according to any preceding claim, further including a display (322) to inform the user how much time remains of said water dispensing when the station is in said hand-washing mode.
Hand-washing station according to claim 4, wherein said display is an alphanumeric display (322) and is proximate of said water spout (20) or said soap-dispensing spout.
Hand-washing station according to any preceding claim, wherein said first and second sensor (18, 316, 318) are infrared sensors.
Hand-washing station according to any preceding claim, wherein said first sensor (18) is remote from said soap-dispensing spout.
Hand-washing station according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is located vertically beneath said sink (14) in electrical communication with said first and second sensor (18, 316, 318).
Hand-washing station according to any preceding claim including a third sensor (34) mounted on said towel dispenser (32) for causing towel to be dispensed when said third sensor (34) detects the user.