U.S. patent application number 13/792018 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for low cost and low power automatic liquid dispensers.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOJO Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Keith A. Pelfrey. Invention is credited to Keith A. Pelfrey.
Application Number | 20140103072 13/792018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50474492 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140103072 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pelfrey; Keith A. |
April 17, 2014 |
LOW COST AND LOW POWER AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSERS
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of dispensers for dispensing a liquid from
a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump are
disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a plurality of rollers
that rotate about a common axis to compress a dome pump and a
holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient
dome pump. During operation, when a refill unit is located within
the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes a
roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the roller passes
over the resilient dome pump to dispense liquid, and the resilient
dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes
to draw in liquid.
Inventors: |
Pelfrey; Keith A.;
(Wadsworth, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pelfrey; Keith A. |
Wadsworth |
OH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GOJO Industries, Inc.
Akron
OH
|
Family ID: |
50474492 |
Appl. No.: |
13/792018 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61714264 |
Oct 16, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/214 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 43/00 20130101;
A47K 5/1208 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/214 |
International
Class: |
B65D 37/00 20060101
B65D037/00 |
Claims
1. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has
a container and a resilient dome pump comprising: a plurality of
rollers that rotate about a substantially common axis; a holder for
holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump;
wherein when a refill unit is located within the holder, rotation
of the rollers about the common axis causes a roller to compress
the resilient dome pump as the roller passes over the resilient
dome pump, and the resilient dome pump expands to its original
position once the roller passes.
2. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that
has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 further
comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between
the resilient dome pump and the rollers when the rollers pass over
the resilient dome pump.
3. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that
has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 2 wherein a
portion of the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by
a hinge.
4. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that
has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 wherein the
common axis is a vertical axis.
5. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that
has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 wherein each
roller also rotates about its own central axis.
6. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that
has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 further
comprising a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome
pump.
7. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that
has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 further
comprising a direct current motor and gearing configured to move
the rollers about the central axis.
8. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that
has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 6 further
comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between
the resilient dome pump and the rollers when the rollers pass over
the dome pump.
9. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid comprising: a plurality of
rollers that rotate about a common axis; a refill unit having a
container and a resilient dome pump; wherein the refill unit is
located in the dispenser such that rotation of the rollers about
the common axis causes the rollers to compress the resilient dome
pump as each roller passes over the resilient dome pump and the
resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the
roller passes.
10. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 further
comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between
the resilient dome pump and the rollers.
11. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 10 wherein a
portion of the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by
a hinge.
12. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 wherein the
common axis is vertical.
13. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 wherein each
roller also rotates about its own central axis.
14. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 further
comprising a direct current motor and gearing to move the rollers
about the central axis.
15. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has
a container and a resilient dome pump comprising: a plurality of
rollers that rotate about a common axis; a holder for holding a
refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump; an
intermediary plate configured to be moved by the rollers as the
rollers rotate; wherein when a refill unit is located within the
holder and movement of the intermediary plate by the rollers causes
the resilient dome to compress and pump a liquid.
16. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the common axis is a vertical
axis.
17. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein each roller also rotates
about its own central axis.
18. The dispenser of claim 15 further comprising a refill unit
having a container and a resilient dome pump.
19. The dispenser of claim 15 further comprising a direct current
motor and gearing to move the rollers about the central axis.
20. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the intermediary plate is
connected to the dispenser by a hinge.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional utility patent application claims
priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 61/714,264 filed on Oct. 16, 2012, and entitled LOW COST
AND LOW POWER AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSERS. This application is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to dispensers and
more particularly to low cost and low power electronic automatic
dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer
dispensers, provide a user with a predetermined amount of liquid
upon actuation of the dispenser. As a general matter, it is usually
preferable to reduce the space taken up by the pumping within the
overall dispenser system and to reduce the energy required to
operate the dispenser to increase battery life for electronically
activated dispensers.
SUMMARY
[0004] Exemplary embodiments of dispensers for dispensing a liquid
from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump
are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a plurality of
rollers that rotate about a common axis to compress a dome pump and
a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a
resilient dome pump. During operation, when a refill unit is
located within the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common
axis causes a roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the
roller passes over the resilient dome pump to dispense liquid and
the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the
roller passes to draw in liquid.
[0005] Additional embodiments may include a plurality of rollers
that rotate about a common axis and a refill unit having a
container and a resilient dome pump. The refill unit is located in
the dispenser such that rotation of the rollers about the common
axis causes the rollers to compress the resilient dome pump as each
roller passes over the resilient dome pump and the resilient dome
pump expands to its original position once the roller passes.
[0006] Other embodiments may include a dispenser for dispensing a
liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome
pump. These embodiments include a plurality of rollers that rotate
about a common axis, a holder for holding a refill unit having a
container, a resilient dome pump and an intermediary plate
configured to be moved by the rollers as the rollers rotate. When a
refill unit is located within the holder, movement of the
intermediary plate by the rollers causes the resilient dome to
compress and pump a liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description and accompanying drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art refill unit having a
dome pump;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary dispenser 200 with
its front cover removed;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary dispenser 200 with
its front cover removed and refill unit 100 installed;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of the exemplary
dispenser 200; and
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of another exemplary
dispenser 500.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art refill unit 100. The prior
art refill unit 100 includes a collapsible container 120 and a dome
pump 140. Dome pump 140 includes an outlet nozzle 160. Prior art
refill unit 100 is a common refill unit for soap dispensers.
Disposable refill units may contain a supply of a liquid. In
various embodiments, the contained liquid could be for example a
soap, a sanitizer, a cleanser, a disinfectant or some other liquid.
In some embodiments, described in more detail below, the liquid may
be foamable. The container may be a collapsible container and can
be made of thin plastic or a flexible bag-like material. In other
embodiments, the container may be formed by a rigid housing member,
or have any other suitable configuration for containing the
foamable liquid without leaking.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an exemplary low-cost,
low-power electronic dispenser 200 for prior art refill unit 100.
The housing 202 of the dispenser 200 contains one or more actuating
members (not shown) to activate the pump 140. As used herein,
actuator or actuating members or mechanisms include one or more
parts that cause the dispenser 200 to move liquid, air or foam. An
actuator is not illustrated herein because there are many different
kinds of pump actuators which may be employed in the dispenser 200.
The actuator of the dispenser 200 may be any type of actuator such
as, for example, a manual lever, a manual pull bar, a manual push
bar, a manual rotatable crank, an electrically activated actuator
or other means for actuating the pump 140. In a preferred
embodiment, an electronic actuator is used and includes sensor 220
to provide for a hands-free dispenser system with touchless
operation.
[0015] Dispenser 200 may be wall mounted, mounted on a stand or
free standing. The front housing (not shown) of exemplary dispenser
200 has been removed for purposes of clarity. Any front housing
structure may be used including a front housing that contains a
window so that a user may see whether the dispenser 200 contains
liquid or whether the dispenser 200 is empty. Dispenser 200
includes a rear housing 202. Secured to rear housing 202 is a motor
208, a drive gear set 210 and a plurality of rollers 206 rotatably
secured to first and second plates 204, 205.
[0016] The plates 204 and 205 rotate about a central axis. The
rollers 206 are rotatably mounted to plates 204 and 205 and also
rotate about the common central axis. In addition, in some
embodiments, each roller 206 rotates about its own central axis.
The gearing 210 and plates 204, 205 are secured to the housing 202
by support members (not shown for purposes of clarity). In
addition, housing 202 includes a sensor 220. Sensor 220 monitors
the area below and/or in front of the dispenser 200 to determine
whether an object such as, for example, a hand is present. In
addition, housing 202 includes a power circuit 230 that may include
batteries and a circuit board to control operation of dispenser
200.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a prospective view of dispenser 200 with a refill
unit 100 installed therein. Refill unit 100 may be held in place by
any means (not shown) such as, for example, a receptacle, a cage, a
bracket, a strap or the like. Preferably, refill unit 100 slides
downward into a receptacle and may be removed by tilting the refill
unit 100 outward and lifting it upward. Dome pump 140 aligns with
the plurality of rollers 206.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary dispenser
200 without refill unit 100 installed in the dispenser 200. As can
be best seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, during operation when an object
(not shown) is detected by sensor 220, control circuitry 230
provides power to motor 208 causing motor 208 to rotate and move
gear train 210. Gear train 210 causes upper plate 204 and lower
plate 205 to rotate about center point C. As upper plate 204 and
lower plate 205 rotate, rollers 206 pass over and depress the dome
of dome pump 140. Depressing the dome of dome pump 140 causes the
contents of dome pump 140 to be expelled out of nozzle 160. Once a
roller 206 passes the dome of dome pump 140, the dome expands and
refills the dome pump 140. After one or more compressions of the
dome pump 140, the motor 208 is stopped. A sensor (not shown) may
be used to stop motor 208 when rollers 206 are positioned off of
the dome of dome pump 140. Rotation of rollers 206 to compress the
dome of dome pump 140 utilizes less energy than is required to
directly compress the dome with an actuator, such as a plunger.
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary cross-section of a dispenser
500 that is similar to dispenser 200. Dispenser 500 includes a
movable plate 520 that is secured to the dispenser by a hinge 522.
When a refill unit 100 is installed in dispenser 500, movable plate
520 prevents rollers 506 from contacting the dome of dome pump 140.
Rather, as rollers 506 rotate around center point C, the rollers
506 strike movable plate 520 which depresses the dome of dome pump
140. Utilizing movable plate 520 to compress dome pump 140 allows
the rollers 506 to compress dome pump 140 more efficiently and with
less force, which reduces the energy consumption even further. In
addition, the stress on the dome of dome pump 140 is reduced.
[0020] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art.
Moreover, elements described with one embodiment may be readily
adapted for use with other embodiments. Therefore, the invention,
in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the
representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and
described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details
without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicants'
general inventive concept.
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