APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS INTO A CONTAINER

• US 20160200463A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Vincent Spencer, Alfred, Hodges, Paul, Awty, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 11,189,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/015 with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/16 Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/02 by volume
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0064 for processing of food articles cooking vessels A47J37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/18 for washing or drying persons

Abstract

A machine for dispensing a vaporizable vaporisable liquid into a container for use in an electronic inhalation device is disclosed. The machine comprises a reservoir of liquid, a dispensing port to receive an empty container to be filled, and a dispensing mechanism fluidly connected to the reservoir for dispensing a quantity of liquid from the reservoir to a container received in the dispensing port. The machine also comprises a controller connected to the dispensing mechanism to control operation thereof, and a user-operable interface connected to the controller for a user to actuate the machine. Also disclosed is a method of operation of such a machine and a system of a plurality of such machines.

Claims

1. A machine for dispensing a vaporizable vaporisable liquid into a container for use in an electronic inhalation device, the machine comprising:

a reservoir for containing liquid,

a dispensing port to receive an empty container to be filled;

a dispensing mechanism fluidly connected to the reservoir for dispensing a quantity of liquid from the reservoir to a container received in the dispensing port, a controller connected to the dispensing mechanism to control operation thereof; and

a user-operable interface connected to the controller for a user to actuate the machine,

wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a first duct configured to draw air out of the container to create a reduced pressure therein, and a second duct through which liquid from the reservoir is conveyed into the container and is drawn into the container by the vacuum created therein, and

wherein the user-operable interface is operable by a user to affect payment for supply of a quantity of the liquid from the reservoir and the machine is configured to dispense a quantity of liquid from the reservoir in response to a payment operation by a user via the user-operable interface.

2. A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a magazine of empty liquid containers and a delivery mechanism configured to deliver an empty container from the magazine for subsequent insertion into the dispensing port and filling with liquid.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein the delivery mechanism is configured to delivery an empty container from the magazine into the dispensing port.

4. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning mechanism configured to clean a container received in the dispensing port prior to filling the container with liquid from the reservoir.

5. A machine according to claim 4 wherein the cleaning mechanism comprises an ultrasonic emitter.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing port is configured to receive and fill containers of varying configurations.

7. A machine according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of dispensing ports configured to receive and fill containers having different configurations.

8. A machine according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of reservoirs containing different liquids, wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to selectively dispense liquid from the plurality of reservoirs to the dispensing port.

9. A machine according to claim 8 wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to mix liquid from two or more of the plurality of reservoirs and dispense the mixed liquid to the dispensing port.

10. A machine according to claim 9 comprising at least three reservoirs respectively containing nicotine, a dilutent, and a flavorant, and wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to mix different ratios of the nicotine, dilutent, and flavorant as the mixed liquid to be dispensed.

11. A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a container marking mechanism configured to mark a container filled with liquid from the dispensing mechanism with information related to the dispensed liquid.

12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein the marking mechanism comprises a label printer configured to print a label with information relating to the dispensed liquid and adhere the label to the container.

13. A machine according to claim 11 wherein the marking mechanism comprises a printer configured to print information relating to the dispensed liquid directly onto the container.

14. A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a container detector associated with the dispensing port and connected to the controller, and configured to detect whether a container is received within the dispensing port, and the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism not to dispense liquid if no container is received in the dispensing port.

15. A machine according to claim 14 wherein the container detector is configured to determine a type of container received within the dispensing port and the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense an appropriate amount of liquid in dependence on the detected container type.

16. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a flow meter connected to the controller and wherein the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense a pre-determined quantity of liquid as measured by the flow meter.

17. A machine according to claim 8, wherein each of the reservoirs is fluidly connected to the dispensing mechanism by a supply pipe, and wherein each supply pipe includes a flow meter connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense specific quantities of liquid from the reservoirs as measured by the flow meters.

18. A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless receiver connected to the controller and configured to receive a signal transmitted from a user-operated wireless device, and wherein the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism in response to the received signal.

19. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured only to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense liquid from the reservoir to a container upon verification of at least one user identification criterion.

20. A machine according to claim 19 wherein the controller is configured only to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense liquid from the reservoir to a container upon verification of minimum age information for a user.

21. A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a seal label applicator configured to automatically apply a seal label over an opening in a container after being filled with liquid.

22. A machine according to claim 21 wherein the seal labels applied by the seal label applicator are tamper-evidencing seal labels.

23. A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a memory unit connected to the controller.

44. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said machine is a vending machine.

24. A method of operating a machine for dispensing a vaporizable liquid into a container for use in an electronic inhalation device, the method comprising:

receiving a dispensing instruction via a user-operable interface connected to a controller, the controller actuating a dispensing mechanism to dispense a quantity of liquid from a reservoir of the machine to a dispensing port and into a container held in the dispensing port, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a first duct which draws air out of the container to create a reduced pressure therein, and a second duct through which liquid from the reservoir is conveyed into the container and is drawn into the container by the vacuum created therein; and

using the user-operable interface to affect payment for supply of a quantity of the liquid from the reservoir and dispensing a quantity of liquid from the reservoir in response to a payment operation.

25. A method according to claim 24 further comprising actuating a delivery mechanism to deliver an empty container from a magazine of empty liquid containers for subsequent insertion into the dispensing port and filling with liquid.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the delivery mechanism delivers an empty container from the magazine into the dispensing port.

27. A method according to claim 24, further comprising cleaning a container received in the dispensing port by actuation of a cleaning mechanism, prior to filling the container with liquid from the reservoir.

28. A method according to claim 27 comprising performing the cleaning operation by an ultrasound generating device.

29. A method according to claim 24, wherein the machine comprises a plurality of reservoirs containing different liquids, wherein the method comprises dispensing liquid from the plurality of reservoirs to the dispensing port according to a user selection.

30. A method according to claim 29 comprising mixing liquid from two or more of the plurality of reservoirs and dispensing the mixed liquid to the dispensing port.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the machine comprises at least three reservoirs respectively containing nicotine, a dilutent, and a flavorant, and wherein the method comprises mixing different ratios of the nicotine, dilutent, and flavorant as the mixed liquid to be dispensed.

32. A method according to claim 24 further comprising actuating a container marking mechanism to mark a container filled with liquid from the dispensing mechanism with information related to the dispensed liquid.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the marking mechanism comprises a label printer and the method comprises printing a label with information relating to the dispensed liquid for adherence onto the container.

34. A method according to claim 32 wherein the marking mechanism comprises a printer and the method comprises printing information relating to the dispensed liquid directly onto the container.

35. A method according to claim 24 wherein the machine further comprises a container detector associated with the dispensing port and connected to the controller, wherein the method comprises detecting whether a container is received within the dispensing port, and the controller controlling the dispensing mechanism not to dispense liquid if no container is received in the dispensing port.

36. A method according to claim 35 comprising determining a type of container received within the dispensing port and the controller controlling the dispensing mechanism to dispense an appropriate amount of liquid in dependence on the detected container type.

37. A method according to claim 24 wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a flow meter connected to the controller and wherein the method comprises controlling the dispensing mechanism to dispense a pre-determined quantity of liquid as measured by the flow meter.

38. A method according to claim 29, wherein each of the reservoirs is fluidly connected to the dispensing mechanism by a supply pipe, and wherein each supply pipe includes a flow meter connected to the controller, the method comprising controlling the dispensing mechanism to dispense specific quantities of liquid from the reservoirs as measured by the flow meters.

39. A method according to claim 24 wherein the machine further comprises a wireless receiver connected to the controller, the method comprising receiving a signal transmitted from a user-operated wireless device, and the controller controlling the dispensing mechanism in response to the received signal.

40. A method according to claim 24 comprising verifying a user identification criterion and only dispensing liquid from the reservoir to a container upon verification of at least one user identification criterion.

41. A method according to claim 40 wherein the at least one user identification criterion verification comprises verification of minimum age information for a user.

42. A method according to claim 24 wherein the machine comprises a seal label applicator and the method comprises automatically applying a seal label over an opening in a container after being filled with liquid.

43. A method according to claim 24 comprising applying tamper-evidencing seal labels to a container.

45. A method according to claim 24, wherein said machine is a vending machine.

46. A system comprising:

a plurality of machines for dispensing a vaporizable liquid into a container for use in an electronic inhalation device, each of the plurality of machines comprising

a reservoir for containing liquid,

a dispensing port to receive an empty container to be filled,

a dispensing mechanism fluidly connected to the reservoir for dispensing a quantity of liquid from the reservoir to a container received in the dispensing port, a controller connected to the dispensing mechanism to control operation thereof, and

a user-operable interface connected to the controller for a user to actuate the machine,

wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a first duct configured to draw air out of the container to create a reduced pressure therein, and a second duct through which liquid from the reservoir is conveyed into the container and is drawn into the container by the vacuum created therein, and

wherein the user-operable interface is operable by a user to affect payment for supply of a quantity of the liquid from the reservoir and the machine is configured to dispense a quantity of liquid from the reservoir in response to a payment operation by a user via the user-operable interface;

each of the plurality of machines connected to a server, wherein each of the plurality of machines is configured to send data relating to the dispensing operations of the respective machine to the server.

47. A system according to claim 46 wherein each of the plurality of machines within the system is configured to transmit to the server data relating to the quantity of liquid dispensed from, or remaining in, the machine reservoir(s).

48. A system according to claim 46 wherein each of the plurality of machines within the system is configured to transmit to the server data relating to user selections of liquids to be dispensed.

49-52. -52. (canceled)