How Do Automatic Soap Dispenser Work?

Sanitiser automating soap dispenser
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How Do Automatic Soap Dispenser Work?

Automation has been the catchword for modern times – it seems there is virtually no device that could not benefit from a healthy dose of self-reliant activity to spare the human race the indignity and strenuous exercise of pushing a button.

Whereas some might turn their noses up at this apparently irreversible trend towards reliance on machines in all aspects of our daily existence, there are some places where automation is not only reasonable but strongly advisable as well. One such example is the public washroom.

Automation becomes especially relevant and handy in this environment because it minimises the chances of person-to-person transmission of germs. The array of modern gadgets for the washroom includes automatic lights, self-flushing toilets, automatic hand dryers, touch-free water faucets and sensor-activated doors, and they are joined by the humble automatic soap dispenser.

 

Components of an Automatic Soap Dispenser

Any automatic device that is designed to run upon human input requires three essential components. These are:

  • A sensor – the mechanism by which the device understands that it is required to perform an action.
  • A delivery system – the method the device uses to supply.
  • A protective casing – this may be considered an essential component in order for the device to comply with Occupational Health & Safety requirements.

The Mechanism

The sensor of an automatic soap dispenser can be designed to detect four basic types of input when a solid object like a hand is placed in the right position:

  1. Infrared sensors – a beam of infrared light is broken.
  2. Ultrasound sensors – the flow of ultrasonic waves is broken.
  3. Microwave sensors – the microwaves bounce back faster to the sensor when impeded.
  4. Photo sensors – a decrease in light intensity is detected.

When the sensor is triggered, it then relays a message via internal circuitry to the delivery system. In the case of an automatic soap dispenser, the delivery system will consist of:

  1. A bottle/tank of liquid soap.
  2. A tube to transfer the soap to the waiting hand.
  3. An electronic or physical system to control the amount of soap dispensed.

The first two are self-explanatory, and the third is the most complicated part of the assembly. In an electronic system, a predetermined amount of fluid is transferred by activating a pump for a preset duration. In the mechanical variation, a special type of pump called a peristaltic pump is used after being activated for one cycle that delivers the stipulated amount of soap.

The dispenser itself may be mounted on a wall or on a counter as best suits your users’ needs.