System for monitoring hand cleaning compliance

• US 8,249,295 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raymond C. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Raymond C. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Raymond C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fitzpatrick, Atiba O
• Application Number:
  US12/400,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20100155416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 3405731-5734, 206205-210, 222/1, 222 30- 39, 222/52, 222/405, 134/113, 134/56.R, 134/57.R, 137/552.7
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A system to allow employers to monitor employee handwashing or hand sanitization compliance in a facility with a plurality of touchless dispensers for metering a cleanser, disinfectant or lotion on the hands of a user. A detector associated with each dispenser triggers operation of the dispensing mechanism and sends a signal to a local controller which date and time stamps the dispensing act. The controller sends a report to a central computer which identifies the dispenser and the date and time of each dispensing act. The reports from the several dispensers is stored in a database for management review. On receipt of a signal from the detector, the controller may also trigger operation of a preferably touchless input device to identify the user. Data collected by the input device is relayed to the central computer through the controller. The central computer is programmed with an algorithm for matching the data collected by the input device with data previously collected and identified with the user. During the dispensing processes, the controller may signal an output device that indicates to the user that the system is working.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring hand cleaning compliance comprising:

a plurality of touchless dispensers for metering a cleanser, disinfectant or lotion on the hands of a user,

each of said touchless dispensers having a discharge port and a touchless detector which triggers operation of a dispensing mechanism and sends a signal to a controller to date and time stamp the dispensing act when an unidentified user places his or her hands under the discharge port,

a touchless input device co-located with each dispenser for acquiring identification information about the user upon receipt of a signal from the touchless dispenser, said input device sending a signal to the controller which sends a report which identifies the dispenser and the date and time of the dispensing act and the user identification information to a central computer, said central computer identifying the user with an algorithm appropriate to the information acquired by the input device, said central computer storing the identity of the user if identified in a database along with the identity of the dispenser and the date and time of the dispensing act for management review.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification information is biometric data.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a microphone which collects audio data and the algorithm in the central computer identifies the user with a voice recognition algorithm.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a camera which collects video or image data and the algorithm in the central computer identifies the user with a facial, body or apparel recognition algorithm.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a camera which collects video or image data and the algorithm is a hand geometry recognition algorithm.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a retinal scanner and the algorithm is a retinal scan algorithm.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the input device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) card reader and the algorithm is a RFID algorithm.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein an output device is co-located with each dispenser for providing feedback to the user acknowledging the dispensing act along with the name of the user if identified.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is comprised of one or more blinking lights.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is an LED display.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is a video monitor.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is an audio speaker.