Soap recycling device and method of operation

A soap recycling device comprising:

• a housing, inside which a solid soap remnant receiving space is defined above a soap remnant receiving surface, wherein said receiving surface comprises a drainage opening;
• at least one heat source arranged above the receiving space, for heating the receiving space;
• at least one UV emitter arranged above said receiving space and beneath said at least one heat source, said at least one UV emitter being horizontally movable along the receiving space;
• a first receptacle, in downward fluid communication with the drainage opening;
• a second receptacle, in downward fluid communication with the drainage opening;
• a directional valve unit, operable to switch between a first position in which downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the first receptacle is not blocked and downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the second receptacle is blocked, and a second position in which downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the first receptacle is blocked and downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the second receptacle is not blocked;
• a processor unit, comprising a storage memory storing computer executable instructions for operating the directional valve unit to switch between the first position and the second position.

A method of operation of a soap recycling device, the soap recycling device comprising:

• a housing, inside which a solid soap remnant receiving space is defined above a soap remnant receiving surface, wherein said receiving surface comprises a drainage opening;
• at least one UV emitter arranged above said receiving space;
• at least one heat source arranged to heat the receiving space;
• a first receptacle, in downward fluid communication with the drainage opening;
• a second receptacle, in downward fluid communication with the drainage opening;
• a directional valve unit;
• a processor unit, comprising a storage memory storing computer executable instructions for operating the directional valve unit to switch between the first position and the second position;
• and
• a user interface;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• a) detecting a user command from the user interface;
• b) switching the at least one heat source to an activated state in which the at least one heat source heats the receiving space;
• c) switching the at least one UV emitter to an activated state in which the at least one UV emitter emits UV radiation towards the receiving space;
• d) selectively operating the directional valve to switch between a first position in which downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the first receptacle is not blocked and downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the second receptacle is blocked, and a second position in which downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the first receptacle is blocked and downward fluid communication from the drainage opening to the second receptacle is not blocked, in dependence of the user command.