Fluid level gauge
First Claim
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1. A dispenser comprising:
- a housing,a collapsible bottle containing fluid to be dispensed,a pump mechanism to dispense liquid from the bottle,the bottle having a first end and a second end, the bottle having an outlet opening at the first end, the bottle closed other than for the outlet opening at the first end,on dispensing of liquid through the outlet opening by the pump mechanism, a vacuum is created in the bottle and the bottle collapses as a volume of the bottle decreases and the liquid in the bottle is dispensed,the bottle having a length from the first end to the second end which reduces as the volume of the bottle decreases,in a full condition of the bottle when the bottle is filled with the liquid, the volume of the bottle is a first volume and the length of the bottle is a first length,in a second condition of the bottle, the volume is a second volume less than the first volume and the length is a second length less than the first length,the bottle is coupled to the housing at the first end or the bottle with the first end of the bottle fixed to the housing and the second end of the bottle movable relative to the housing as the length of the bottle reduces as the volume of the bottle decreases,the housing carrying a gauging mechanism to estimate the volume of fluid in the bottle,the gauging mechanism comprising;
an emitter of electromagnetic radiation within a range of wavelengths, and a sensor of electromagnetic radiation within the range of wavelengths,the emitter fixedly carried on the housing to emit the radiation towards the bottle;
the sensor fixedly carried on the housing to receive the radiation from the emitter which is reflected from the bottle,wherein the emitter directs radiation in a direction such that;
(a) when the bottle has a length greater than the second length, the radiation emitted by the emitter engages and reflects off a portion of the bottle proximate the second end of the bottle, and(b) when the bottle has a length equal to or less than the second length, the radiation emitted by the emitter does not engage the bottle.
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Abstract
A fluid level gauging mechanism external of a reservoir bottle in a dispenser which mechanism emits electromagnetic radiation and senses the electromagnetic radiation emitted which passes through the bottle or is reflected from the bottle through a wall of the bottle into the bottle at a first height and senses reflected radiation passing outwardly from the bottle at a second different height.
66 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A dispenser comprising:
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a housing, a collapsible bottle containing fluid to be dispensed, a pump mechanism to dispense liquid from the bottle, the bottle having a first end and a second end, the bottle having an outlet opening at the first end, the bottle closed other than for the outlet opening at the first end, on dispensing of liquid through the outlet opening by the pump mechanism, a vacuum is created in the bottle and the bottle collapses as a volume of the bottle decreases and the liquid in the bottle is dispensed, the bottle having a length from the first end to the second end which reduces as the volume of the bottle decreases, in a full condition of the bottle when the bottle is filled with the liquid, the volume of the bottle is a first volume and the length of the bottle is a first length, in a second condition of the bottle, the volume is a second volume less than the first volume and the length is a second length less than the first length, the bottle is coupled to the housing at the first end or the bottle with the first end of the bottle fixed to the housing and the second end of the bottle movable relative to the housing as the length of the bottle reduces as the volume of the bottle decreases, the housing carrying a gauging mechanism to estimate the volume of fluid in the bottle, the gauging mechanism comprising; an emitter of electromagnetic radiation within a range of wavelengths, and a sensor of electromagnetic radiation within the range of wavelengths, the emitter fixedly carried on the housing to emit the radiation towards the bottle; the sensor fixedly carried on the housing to receive the radiation from the emitter which is reflected from the bottle, wherein the emitter directs radiation in a direction such that; (a) when the bottle has a length greater than the second length, the radiation emitted by the emitter engages and reflects off a portion of the bottle proximate the second end of the bottle, and (b) when the bottle has a length equal to or less than the second length, the radiation emitted by the emitter does not engage the bottle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A dispenser comprising:
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a housing, a collapsible bottle containing fluid to be dispensed, a pump mechanism to dispense liquid from the bottle, the bottle having a first end and a second end, the bottle having an outlet opening at the first end, the bottle closed other than for the outlet opening at the first end, on dispensing of liquid through the outlet opening by the pump mechanism, a vacuum is created in the bottle and the bottle collapses as a volume of the bottle decreases and the liquid in the bottle is dispensed, the bottle having a length from the first end to the second end which reduces as the volume of the bottle decreases, in a full condition of the bottle when the bottle is filled with the liquid, the volume of the bottle is a first volume and the length of the bottle is a first length, in a second condition of the bottle, the volume is a second volume less than the first volume and the length is a second length k;
ss than the first length,the bottle is coupled to the housing at the first end of the bottle with the first end of the bottle fixed to the housing and the second end of the bottle movable relative to the housing as the length of the bottle reduces as the volume of the bottle decreases, the housing carrying a gauging mechanism to estimate the volume of fluid in the bottle, the gauging mechanism comprising; an emitter of electromagnetic radiation within a range of wavelengths, and a sensor of electromagnetic radiation within the range of wavelengths, the emitter fixedly carried on the housing to emit the radiation towards the bottle; the sensor fixedly carried on the housing to receive the radiation from the emitter which is reflected from the bottle, the bottle is coupled to the housing at the first end with the bottle extending vertically from the first end to the second end, in the full condition when filled with the liquid, the second end is located relative the housing at a first height, in the second condition, the second end is located relative the housing at a second height spaced from the first height, the emitter is carried on the housing at an emitter vertical height, and the sensor is carried on the housing at a sensor vertical height, the emitter vertical height is at a height between the first height and the second height and the sensor is carried on the housing at a sensor vertical height between the first height and the second height wherein the emitter directs radiation in a direction such that; (a) when the bottle is coupled to the housing and the botHe has a length greater than the second length, the radiation emitted by the emitter engages and retlects off a portion of the bottle proximate the second end of the bottle, and (b) when the bottle has a length equal to or less than the second length, the radiation emitted by the emitter does not engage the bottle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification