LOW COST AND LOW POWER AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSERS
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.
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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 FIELDThe present invention relates generally to dispensers and more particularly to low cost and low power electronic automatic dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONLiquid 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.
SUMMARYExemplary 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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2014
Applicant: GOJO Industries, Inc. (Akron, OH)
Inventor: Keith A. Pelfrey (Wadsworth, OH)
Application Number: 13/792,018
International Classification: B65D 37/00 (20060101);