[0001] The present disclosure relates, in general, to self-propelled robots, and more specifically, relates to an apparatus for dispensing disinfectant automatically on non-living objects

BACKGROUND
[0002] Technology helps in our day-to-day life to cover basic hygiene needs. The sanitizer dispenser can manage to sanitize the objects.Currently, all are facing an epidemic situation, and usage of sanitizers is increasing day by day. People use sanitizers to sanitize hands and also used to sanitize everything that they touch in his/her day-to-day life. In a small area, people can manage to sanitize with pumps, however it can be difficult to sanitize the same area every time.
[0003] One of the most serious sanitation problems concerns the need for simple, economical and efficient means for ensuring that the indoor and outdoor environments are sufficiently cleansed.In particular, effective environment sanitizing is needed for people working in a clinical environment.
[0004] Recently, a few of the sanitizers known in the art may include electric sanitizer spray gun, electric sanitizer disinfectant and the like. However, these sanitizersare not automated, to use these sanitizers, the userneed to go personally at every place to spray the disinfectant.Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a cost-effective apparatus that can dispense the sanitizer effectively by solving the aforementioned problems.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0005] Anobject of the present disclosure relates,in general, to self-propelled robots, and more specifically, relates to an apparatus for dispensing disinfectant automatically on non-living objects.
[0006] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can decontaminate the non-living/immovable objects from microorganisms effectively.
[0007] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can be portable in nature.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can be automated to use the sanitizer at every place.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can be deactivated to restrict the supply of sanitizer based on determination of movable objects/living objects in the proximity of the apparatus.
[0010] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can reduce the spread of infection effectively.
[0011] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can be operated automatically without human intervention.
[0012] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can effectively determine the immovable objects to decontaminate the objects.
[0013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that can be safe, reliable and can eliminate human error.
[0014] Yet another object of the present disclosureis to providean apparatus thatcan be user-friendly.

SUMMARY
[0015] The present disclosure relates, in general, to self-propelled robots, and more specifically, relates to an apparatus for dispensing disinfectant automatically on non-living objects.
[0016] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for decontamination of objects, the apparatus including:a housing including a container adapted for storage of the liquid sanitizer, a projection element including a lid configured on top portion of the housing, the lid configured to be projected by operation of a switch provided on the housing of the apparatus, one or more nozzles configured on the lid, the one or more nozzles operable to allow passage of the liquid sanitizer from the container to the objects, one or more sensors configured in the housing, the one or more sensors adapted for detection of objects, anda microcontroller operatively coupled to the one or more sensors, the microcontroller configured toreceive, from the one or more sensors, a first set of attributes pertaining to a plurality of movable objects, and receive a second set of attributes pertaining to a plurality of immovable objects, wherein, based on determination of the second set of attributes, the microcontroller is configured to operate the one or more nozzles to allow dispensation of predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizer, the predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizer determined as being required to decontaminate the immovable object.
[0017] In an embodiment, the movable objectsmay include any or a combination of human beings and animals.
[0018] In another embodiment, the immovable objects may include any or a combination of table, chair, sofa, and electronic equipment.
[0019] In another embodiment, the one or more sensors may include grid-eye sensor and ultrasonic sensor.
[0020] In another embodiment, the grid eye sensor can be adapted to detect movement of the movable objects.
[0021] In another embodiment, the grid eye sensor can be adapted to detect the movable objects in the proximity of the apparatus.
[0022] In another embodiment, the microcontroller, upon detection of movable objects, configured to deactivate the one or more nozzles to restrict the dispensation of the liquid sanitizer.
[0023] In another embodiment, a power source can be located in the housing to supply power to the apparatus.
[0024] In another embodiment, the one or more nozzles can be configured on the side portion of the housing.
[0025] In another embodiment, the one or more wheels can be configured on bottom side of housing, the one or more wheels adapted to move the apparatus
[0026] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further illustrate aspects of the present disclosure. The disclosure may be better understood by reference to the drawings in combination with the detailed description of the specific embodiments presented herein.
[0028] FIGs. 1A -1C illustrate exemplary representation of an apparatus for decontamination of objects, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG.2 illustrate exemplary view of functional components of the apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0031] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0032] The present disclosure relates,in general, to self-propelled robots, and more specifically, relates to an apparatus for dispensing disinfectant automatically on non-living objects.The apparatus can prevent and reduce the spread of infectious diseases, viruses, bacteria, and other types of harmful organic micro-organisms in the environment.The present disclosure can be described in enabling detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIGs. 1A -1C illustrate exemplary representation of an apparatus for decontamination of objects, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0034] Referring to FIG.1A,an apparatus 100 (also referred to as self-propelled robots 100) can be configured to decontaminate the objects from microorganisms. The apparatus 100 may include housing 102, a projection element 104, (also interchangeable referred to as foldable pipe 104, herein), a lid 106, one or more nozzles 108, a switch110 and one or more sensors 112.The projection element 104 may include lid 106 configured on top portion of the housing 102, the lid 106 can be configured to be projected by operation of the switch 110 provided on the housing 102 of the apparatus 100.
[0035] In another embodiment, the one or more nozzles 108 can be configured on the lid 106, the one or more nozzles 108 operable to allow passage of the liquid sanitizer from the container to the objects. The one or more nozzles 108 can also be provided on the side portion of the housing 102.The one or more nozzles 108 may be of varying cross-sectional area, and it can be used to direct or modify the flow of sanitizer and can be frequently used to control the rate of flow, speed, direction, mass, shape, and/or the pressure of the sanitizer. The one or more nozzles 108 can have a standard size opening to allow the desired amount of sanitizer. to be directed at the desired spot.
[0036] In another embodiment, the one or more sensors 112 can be configured in the housing 102, the one or more sensors 112 can be configured for detection of objects. The one or more sensors 112 can detect the movable objects, immovable/motionless objects and also detect the direction of movement. When any human being comes in a range of apparatus 100, the one or more nozzles 108 can be deactivated to spray sanitizer, thus the risk of infection can be reduced
[0037] In another embodiment, a microcontroller 118 can be operatively coupled to the one or more sensors 112 as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the microcontroller 118 can be configured to receive, from the one or more sensors 112, a first set of attributes of objects, the first set of attributes pertaining to one or more movable objects. The movable objectsmay include living objects such as human beings, animals and the like.
[0038] In another embodiment, the microcontroller 118 can receive a second set of attributes of the objects, the second set of attributes pertaining to one or more immovable objects, the the immovable objects may include non-living objects that may include any or a combination of table, chair, sofa, electronic equipment and the like. The microcontroller 118, based on determination of the second set of attributescan be configured to operate the one or more nozzles 108 to allow dispensation of predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizer, the predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizer determined as being required to decontaminate the immovable object.
[0039] For example, the apparatus 100 can identify object then after identifying objects by moving the apparatus 100 in the desired direction,the apparatus 100 can spray the sanitizer by identifying the size of immovable objects, the one or more nozzles 108 can allow the spraying of predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizer, the predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizer determined as being required to decontaminate the immovable object and if that object is any living being then the apparatus 100 restrict the one or more nozzles 108 to spray the sanitizer to that object.
[0040] In another embodiment, the apparatus 100 may include one or more wheels 116that can be configured on bottom side of housing 102 as illustrated in FIG 1B, the one or more wheels 116adapted to move the apparatus 100 in desired direction. Thehousing 102 may include a container 114 adapted for storage of liquid sanitizer, the liquid sanitizer can be adapted to decontaminate the objects from microorganisms. The apparatus 100 may also include a charging unit 120 adapted to charge the apparatus 100.
[0041] In another embodiment, the foldable pipe 104as illustrated in FIG. 1C, may include the lid 106 that can be configured on top portion of the housing 102, the lid 106 can be projected in thefoldable pipe 104 outward and inward, by operation of the switch 110 provided on the housing 102 of the apparatus 100.The lid 106 can open automatically, and then can detect the objects by moving in different directions.The one or more nozzles 108can get activated after identifying the objects to spray the disinfectant. Thus, the disinfectant solution can kill dangerous germs like bacteria, viruses, parasites and the like effectively. The apparatus 100 can deactivate the one or more nozzles 108 to restrict the supply of sanitizer based on determination of movable objects/living objects in the proximity of the apparatus.The apparatus 100 can be operated automatically without human intervention.
[0042] FIG.2 illustrate exemplary view of functional components of the apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] Referring to FIG.2, the functional components 200 of the apparatus 100 can be configured to decontaminate the objects from microorganisms.The apparatus 100 can be safe, reliable and can eliminate human error. Furthermore, the apparatus 100 can be user friendly and is designed to be operated automatically.The functional components 200 may include many of the same components introduced in FIG.1A toFIG.1C above. Those components that are unchanged in this embodiment retain their original element number and are not reintroduced.
[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more sensors 112 can be grid-eye sensor 202 and ultrasonic sensor 204. The grid eye sensor 202 can be used to identify movable objects such as humans and animals and can detect the directions of their movements. If the apparatus 100 identifies any moveable object then the one or more nozzles 108 restrict the spray of solution on the movable objectsas it may cause many health issues. The one or more nozzles 108 can get activated after identifying the immovable object with the help of ultrasonic sensor 204.
[0045] In an example implementation, the switch 110 on the apparatus 100 can be operated manually from the power button at the front portion of the apparatus 100, the lid 106 can be open automatically, and then it can start finding the objects by moving in different directions.The one or more nozzles 108can get activated after identifying an object with the help of ultrasonic sensor 204. After identifying the object, the one or more nozzles 108can disperse the solution (disinfectant solution) on the object. Further, the grid eye sensor 202 can be used to identify movable objects such as humans and animals also the sensor can detect the directions of their movement. If the apparatus 100 identifies any moveable object (living beings) then the nozzles 108restrict the spray of solution on moveable object.
[0046] The grid-eye sensor 202 enables detection of multiple persons, identification of positions and direction of movement, almost independent of ambient light conditions without disturbing privacy as with conventional cameras. The ultrasonic sensors 204 can measure distance by using ultrasonic waves,the sensor head emits an ultrasonic wave and receives the wave reflected back from the target. The ultrasonic sensors 204 measure the distance to the target by measuring the time between the emission and reception.
[0047] The microcontroller 118, upon detection of movable objects, configured to deactivate the one or more nozzles 108 to restrict the dispensation of the liquid sanitizer.The apparatus 100 can be utilized for indoor and outdoor virus prevention, the apparatus 100 may include an automatic disinfectant spray currently used to fight against virus such as coronavirus (COVID-19). The apparatus 100 can be used in large-scale and small-scale environments such as hospitals, bus stops, railway stations, shopping malls and other crowded public places and sterilise surfaces with a cost-effective and safe technology.
[0048] The microcontroller 118can include processor that can be in communication with each of a memory, and input/output devices.The processor may include a microprocessor or other devices capable of being programmed or configured to perform computations and instruction processing in accordance with the disclosure. Such other devices may include microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSP), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application-specific assimilated circuits (ASIC), discrete gate logic, and/or other assimilated circuits, hardware or firmware in lieu of or in addition to a microprocessor.
[0049] The apparatus 100 may further include a power source 206 to provide power supply to the apparatus 100. The power source 206 may include either individually or in combination of, any of the following: main power, solar or photoelectric power, disposable or rechargeable batteries, adaptor etc. Energy from the power source 206 can be used to provide operating power to the apparatus, to enable operation of other components of the apparatus 100.
[0050] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus 100 of the disclosure may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, it will be clear that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as described in the claims.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0051] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can decontaminate the non-living/immovable objects from microorganisms effectively.
[0052] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can be portable in nature.
[0053] The present disclosure provides an apparatusthat can be automated to use the sanitizer at every place.
[0054] The present disclosure provides an apparatusthat can be deactivated to restrict the supply of sanitizer based on determination of movable objects/living objects in the proximity of the apparatus.
[0055] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can reduce the spread of infectioneffectively.
[0056] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can be operated automatically without human intervention.
[0057] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can effectively determine theimmovable objects to decontaminate the objects.
[0058] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can be user-friendly.
[0059] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can be safe, reliable and can eliminate human error.

Claims:1. An apparatus (100) for decontamination of objects, the apparatus comprising:
a housing (102) comprising a container (114) adapted for storage of the liquid sanitizer;
a projection element (104) comprising a lid (106) configured on top portion of the housing, the lid configured to be projected by operation of a switch (110) provided on the housing of the apparatus;
one or more nozzles (108) configured on the lid,the one or more nozzlesoperable to allow passage of the liquid sanitizerfrom the container to the objects;
one or more sensors(112) configured in the housing, the one or more sensorsadapted for detection ofobjects; and
a microcontroller (118) operatively coupled to the one or more sensors, the microcontroller configured to:
receive, from theone or more sensors, a first set of attributesof objects, thefirst set of attributes pertaining to a plurality of movable objects; and
receive, from the one or more sensors, a second set of attributesof objects, the second set of attributespertaining to a plurality of immovable objects,
wherein, based on determination of the second set of attributes, the microcontroller is configured to operate the one or more nozzles to allow dispensation of predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizer, the predetermined quantity of the liquid sanitizerdetermined as being required to decontaminate the immovable object.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable objects comprise any or a combination of human beings and animals.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the immovable objects comprises any or a combination of table, chair, sofa, and electronic equipment.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors (112) comprises grid-eye sensor (202) and ultrasonic sensor (204).
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the grid eye sensor (202) is adapted to detect movement of the movable objects.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grid eye sensor (202) is adapted to detect the movable objects in the proximity of the apparatus.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein the microcontroller (118), upon detection of movable objects, configured to deactivate the one or more nozzles to restrict the dispensation of the liquid sanitizer.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a power source (206)is located in the housing to supply power to the apparatus.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more nozzles (108) are configured on the side portion of the housing.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more wheels (116) are configured on bottom side of housing, the one or more wheels adapted to move the apparatus.