Water dispensing system

• US 5,133,393 A
• Filed: 09/18/1990
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pure Drinking Water Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pure Drinking Water Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: McGinnis, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US07/584,297
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 141/369-374, 141/311 R, 141/312, 141/165, 141/166, 141/177, 141/269, 141/227, 141/228, 141/378, 141/18, 141/21, 248/297.2, 211/79, 312/306
• US Class Current: 141/372
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/54 Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/04 without applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/124 the flow being started or stopped by means actuated by the vessel to be filled, e.g. by switches, weighing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

A water dispensing apparatus has a locator for retaining a container in vertical alignment with a discharge tube to allow water to be directed into the container. The locator has a movable carriage which is vertically guided by an upright track. The carriage is moved to actuate a switch and allow a second manually operated switch to be actuated to commence the water dispensing cycle. A solenoid is energized to open a valve whereby water flows from the tube into the container.

Claims

1. A dispenser for discharging liquid into a container having a top opening comprising:

a housing, container locator means mounted on the housing, tube means mounted on the housing adjacent the container locator means, the container locator means having a pair of outwardly directed members including U-shaped portions located in general vertical concentric alignment with opposite sides of the tube means, each member having an inner end, adapted to retain the top opening of a container in general vertical alignment with the tube means to allow liquid to flow from the tube means into the container, means movably mounting the container locator means on the housing allowing the container locator means to move from a down position to an up position relative to the housing, the means movably mounting the container locator means on the housing includes support means secured to the inner ends, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the support means, and a generally upright track secured to the housing, the track having opposite upright sides with channels accommodating the rollers, and switch means actuated by movement of the container locator means from an open position to a closed position whereby when the container locator means is moved from the down position to the up position, the switch means moves from its open position to a closed position to allow liquid to be dispensed from the tube means into the top opening of the container, the switch means has an actuator extending into one of the channels, one of the rollers engageable with the actuator to hold the switch means in the open position when the container locator means is in the down position.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the tube means has a passage, the U-shaped portions curve outwardly relative to each other defining an opening, the opening located in vertical alignment with the passage.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 including:

manually operated second switch means mounted on the housing operable to commence the dispensing of liquid from the tube means when the first switch means is in the closed position.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein:

the first switch means is a normally closed switch, the first switch being in the closed position when the container locator means is in the up position.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the housing is a generally rectangular box having side walls and a back wall joined to top and a bottom wall defining an inner chamber, the tube means extending downwardly relative to the top wall toward the chamber, said generally upright track being secured to the back wall.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein:

the bottom wall has a plurality of holes to allow excess liquid to drain from the housing.

7. A dispenser for discharging liquid into a container having a top opening comprising:

a housing, container locator means mounted on the housing, tube means mounted on the housing adjacent the container locator means, the container locator means having means adapted to retain the top opening of a container in general vertical alignment with the tube means to allow liquid to flow from the tube means into the container, means movably mounting the container locator means on the housing allowing the container locator means to move from a down position to an up position relative to the housing, and switch means actuated by movement of the container locator means from an open position to a closed position whereby when the container locator means is moved from the down position to the up position, the switch means moves from its open position to the closed position to allow liquid to be dispensed from the tube means into the top opening of the container, the housing is a generally rectangular box having side walls and a back wall joined to top and bottom walls defining an inner chamber, the tube means extending downwardly relative to the top wall toward the chamber, the means movably mounting the container locator means on the housing including a generally upright track secured to the back wall, and support means movably mounted on the track, the container locator means having inner ends secured to the support means whereby the track guides the support means and container locator means between the up and down positions, the track has opposite upright sides with channels, the channels accommodating the rollers rotatably mounted on the support means, the switch means including an actuator extending into one of the channels, one of the rollers engageable with the actuator to hold the switch means in the open position when the container locator means is in the down position.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein:

the switch means is a normally closed switch, the switch moving to the closed position when the roller is moved out of engagement with the actuator.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 including:

a manually operated second switch means mounted on the housing operable to commence the dispensing of liquid from the tube means when the first switch is in the closed position.

10. A water dispenser for filling a container having an open top with water comprising:

a housing having a top wall, bottom wall joined to side walls and a back wall defining an inner chamber for accommodating a container, tube means mounted on the top wall extended into the chamber, the tube means having a passage, container locator means mounted on the back wall adapted to retain the open top of the container in vertical alignment with the passage, carriage means secured to the container locator means, track means mounted on the back wall accommodating the carriage means, the carriage means movably mounted on the track means to allow the container locator means to move from a down position to an up position relative to the back wall, first switch means mounted on the back wall adjacent the track means, the carriage means engageable with the first switch means to hold the first switch means in an open position, the first switch means moving to a closed position when the carriage means is moved out of engagement with the first switch means, electric operated control means to control the flow of water through the tube means, and second switch means operable to connect a source of electric power to the control means whereby when the first switch means is in the closed position and the second switch means is actuated, the control means is operated to commence the dispensing of water from the tube means.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein:

the container locator means comprises a pair of rods, each rod having an outwardly curved middle section adapted to engage opposite sides of a top portion of the container adjacent the open end, the middle sections located in general vertical alignment with opposite sides of the tube means.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein:

the rods having outer ends terminating into a handle located outwardly from the middle sections.

13. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein:

the carriage means comprises support rods having opposite ends, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on opposite ends of the support rods, the track means comprising a generally upright track, the track having upright sides with U-shaped channels for accommodating the rollers.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein:

the first switch means includes an actuator that extends into one of the channels, one of the rollers engageable with the actuator to hold the first switch means in the open position when the container locator means is in the down position.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein:

the first switch means is a normally closed switch, the switch moving to the closed position when the roller is moved out of engagement with the actuator.

16. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein:

the second switch means comprises a manually operated switch, the control means comprising a solenoid operated valve.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 including:

means operable to filter water discharged from the tube means.

18. The dispenser of claim 10 including:

means to measure the quantity of water dispensed from the tube means.

19. A dispenser for discharging liquid into a container having a top opening comprising:

a housing, container locator means mounted on the housing, liquid discharge means mounted on the housing adjacent the container locator means, the container locator means having means adapted to retain the top opening of a container in general vertical alignment with the liquid discharge means to allow liquid to flow from the liquid discharge means into the container, upright track means mounted on the housing, carriage means connected to the container locator means movably mounted on the track means to allow the container locator means to move from a down position to an up position relative to the housing, a normally closed switch means having an actuator engagable by the carriage means to hold the switch means in its open position to prevent dispensing off liquid when the container locator means is in the down position, said switch means moves from an open position to a closed position when the carriage means moves away from the actuator to allow liquid to be dispensed from the liquid discharge means into the top opening of the container.

20. The dispenser of claim 19 wherein:

the container locator means comprises a pair of outwardly directed rods, the means adapted to retain the top opening of a container in alignment with the liquid discharge means comprising U-shaped portions of the rods located in general vertical concentric alignment with opposite sides of the liquid discharge means.

21. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein:

the tube means has a passage, the U-shaped portions curve outwardly relative to each other defining an opening, the opening located in vertical alignment with the passage.

22. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein:

each member has an inner end secured to the carriage means, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the carriage means, and the track means having opposite upright sides with channels accommodating the rollers.

23. The dispenser of claim 19 wherein:

the housing is a generally rectangular box having side walls and a back wall joined to top and bottom walls defining an inner chamber, the liquid discharge means extending downwardly from the top wall into the chamber, the generally upright track being secured to the back wall, the container locator means having inner ends secured to the carriage means whereby the track guides the carriage means and container locator means between the up and down positions.

24. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein:

the container locator means comprises a pair of rods extending outwardly from the carriage means, the means adapted to retain the top opening of a container in alignment with the liquid discharge means comprising U-shaped portions of the rods located in general vertical concentric alignment with opposite sides of the liquid discharge means.

25. The dispenser of claim 24 wherein:

the liquid discharge means has a passage, the U-shaped portions curve outwardly relative to each other defining an opening for accommodating a top portion of the container, the opening located in vertical alignment with the passage whereby when the top portion extends through the opening, the top opening of the container is in vertical alignment with the passage.

26. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein:

the bottom wall has a plurality of holes to allow excess liquid to drain from the housing.