Apparatus for hands-free dispensing of a measured quantity of material

• US 20060243740A1
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph S. Kanfer
• Original Assignee: Joseph S. Kanfer
• Inventors: Van Deman, Bruce J., Waterhouse, Paul, O'Toole, Martin, Reynolds, Aaron R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,611,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1208 by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically dispensing a fluid includes a container adapted to carry a supply of fluid, and a valve connected to said container, wherein actuation of said valve dispenses the fluid. Also included is an apparatus position indicator proximally associated with the container and an object sensor positioned near the valve. The object sensor monitors an area below where the valve dispenses when open and upon detection of an object opens said valve. Initial positioning of the apparatus triggers the apparatus position indicator to generate an appropriate signal until said object sensor is properly positioned. Once positioned the device may be permanently secured. A control circuit within the apparatus also allows programming of lighting indicators, dispense cycle size, and dispense quantities. The control circuit also provides for overload protection, motor braking and RF shielding.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically dispensing a fluid comprising:

a) a container adapted to carry a supply of fluid;

b) a valve connected to said container, wherein actuation of said valve dispenses the fluid;

c) an apparatus position indicator proximally associated with said container;

d) an object sensor positioned near said valve, wherein said object sensor monitors an area below where said valve dispenses when open and upon detection of an object opens said valve; and

e) wherein initial positioning of the apparatus triggers said apparatus position indicator to generate an appropriate signal until said object sensor is properly positioned.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus position indicator includes at least one illumination device that illuminates when said object sensor is properly positioned.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus position indicator includes at least one illumination device that illuminates until said object sensor is properly positioned.

4. A method for installing an automated fluid dispenser, comprising:

a) providing a fluid dispenser for carrying a container, a valve connected to said container wherein actuation of said valve dispenses a fluid carried by said container when installed, an apparatus position indicator carried by said fluid dispenser, and an object sensor positioned near said valve;

b) connecting a power source to at least said apparatus position indicator and said object sensor;

c) positioning said fluid dispenser in at least one prospective mounting location;

d) emitting from said object sensor a test signal to ensure proper positioning of said fluid dispenser; and

e) repeating steps c) and d) until said apparatus position indicator provides a positive indication of said fluid dispenser'"'"'s placement.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

marking a position of said fluid dispenser'"'"'s positive placement; and

permanently installing said fluid dispenser at said position.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

installing said container in said fluid dispenser.

7. Apparatus for dispensing a measured quantity of fluid, comprising:

a) an object sensor;

b) a container carrying a supply of fluid;

c) a dispense mechanism coupled to said container to control an amount of fluid to be dispensed;

d) a pump actuator mechanism coupled to said object sensor, wherein detection of an object by said object sensor cycles said pump actuator mechanism to engage said dispense mechanism which dispenses a measured quantity of fluid; and

e) a hidden switch carried by said container, wherein actuation of said hidden switch enables a processor to enter an operational feature mode.

8. The apparatus accordingly to claim 7, further comprising:

at least one illuminating indicia connected to said processor wherein entry into said operational feature mode is indicated by said at least one illuminating indicia.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least two lights, wherein said lights are sequentially illuminated to indicate where an object should be placed for receipt of the fluid; and

wherein entry into said operational feature mode allows enablement or disablement of said at least two lights.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein entry into said operational feature mode allows selection of a number of cycles of said pump actuator mechanism to control an amount of dispensed fluid upon detection of an object.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein entry into said operational feature mode allows selection of a size of said dispense mechanism.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a low level indicator connected to said processor,

wherein entry into said operational feature mode allows selection of a number of cycles of said pump actuator mechanism to control an amount of dispensed fluid upon detection of an object,

wherein entry into said operational feature allows selection of a size of said dispense mechanism, and

wherein said processor calculates when the fluid in a given size of container will be depleted to a predetermined level based upon said number of cycles and size of said dispense mechanism.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a timer connected to said processor, said timer initiated upon actuation of said hidden button to allow for servicing of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said object sensor is disabled while said timer is running.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said object sensor is re-enabled upon either expiration of said timer or re-actuation of said hidden switch.

16. Apparatus for dispensing a measured quantity of fluid, comprising:

a) a container carrying a supply of fluid;

b) a dispense mechanism coupled to said container to control an amount of fluid to be dispensed;

c) a pump actuator mechanism coupled to said object sensor, wherein detection of an object by said object sensor cycles said pump actuator mechanism to engage said dispense mechanism which dispenses a measured quantity of fluid; and

d) a timer having a predetermined period of time, said timer associated with said dispense mechanism, said timer actuated upon dispensing of said dispense mechanism, said dispense mechanism disabled if a predetermined number of dispense events occur within said predetermined period of time.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said dispense mechanism is re-enabled upon completion of a second period of time.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined period of time is about 15 seconds and said predetermined number of dispense events is about 5.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said second period of time is about 45 seconds.

20. Apparatus for dispensing a measured quantity of fluid, comprising:

a) an object sensor which generates an object signal upon detection of an object;

b) a container carrying a supply of fluid;

c) a dispense mechanism coupled to said container to control an amount of fluid to be dispensed;

d) a pump actuator mechanism coupled to said object sensor, wherein detection of an object by said object sensor cycles said pump actuator mechanism to engage said dispense mechanism which dispenses a measured quantity of fluid and wherein said pump actuator mechanism converts rotational motion to linear motion to cycle said dispense mechanism; and

e) a control circuit having a processor to receive said object signal, wherein said processor generates a cycle signal received by said pump actuator mechanism to actuate said dispense mechanism.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a motor carried by said pump actuator mechanism, wherein a motor drive input signal is generated by said processor;

a motor sensor coupled to said pump actuator, said motor sensor detecting a position of said motor and generating a brake input signal when said motor position is detected,

wherein generation of said brake input signal connects said motor drive input signal to ground to effectively brake said motor.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a motor carried by said pump actuator mechanism, wherein a motor drive signal is generated by said processor to actuate said motor and said pump actuator mechanism;

an overload circuit carried by said control circuit, wherein if said overload circuit detects a voltage value in excess of a predetermined threshold, an overload signal is generated and received by said processor which in turn stops generation of said motor drive signal.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said control circuit comprises:

a sensor circuit for carrying said object sensor; and

a systems circuit for carrying said processor, wherein said sensor circuit and said systems circuit are maintained on their own respective circuit boards to minimize interference therebetween.

24. The apparatus according to said claim 23, wherein each said respective circuit board functions as a shielded backplane.