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

• US 7,611,030 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph S. Kanfer
• Original Assignee: Joseph S. Kanfer
• Inventors: Waterhouse, Paul, O'Toole, Martin, Van Deman, Bruce J., Reynolds, Aaron R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US10/549,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20060243740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/2, 222/23, 222/25, 222/52, 222/325, 222/63, 222/113, 222/207, 222/214, 222/333, 222/181.1, 222/183, 222/181.3, 222638-639, 333/482
• US Class Current: 222/1
• 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 the container, wherein actuation of the valve dispenses the fluid. An apparatus position indicator is associated with the container and an object sensor is positioned near the valve. The object sensor monitors an area below where the valve dispenses when open and upon detection of an object opens the valve. Initial positioning of the apparatus triggers the apparatus position indicator to generate an appropriate signal until the object sensor is properly positioned and permanently secured. A control circuit in cooperation with a hidden switch allows programming of lighting indicators, dispense cycle size, and dispense quantities. The control circuit also provides for overload protection, motor braking and RF shielding. And an anti-vandal feature prevents excessive use of the apparatus.

Claims

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

a) providing a fluid dispenser, an apparatus position indicator carried by said fluid dispenser, and an object sensor carried by said fluid dispenser;

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) if necessary, repeating steps c) and d) until said apparatus position indicator provides an indication that the prospective mounting location is a proper mounting location.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

marking a position of said fluid dispenser'"'"'s proper mounting location; and

permanently installing said fluid dispenser at said position.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

installing a container in said fluid dispenser.

4. 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 the 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 the fluid;

e) a processor coupled to said object sensor and said pump actuator to control at least one operating feature maintained thereby; and

f) a hidden switch carried by the apparatus, wherein actuation of said hidden switch places said processor in an operational feature mode that enables modification of said at least one operating feature.

5. The apparatus accordingly to claim 4, 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.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, 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.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, 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.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein entry into said operational feature mode allows selection of a size of said dispense mechanism.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, 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.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

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

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said object sensor is disabled while said timer is running.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said object sensor is re-enabled upon either expiration of said timer or re-actuation of said hidden switch.

13. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein entry into said operational feature mode allows a modification associated with a type of the fluid in said container.

14. 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 the fluid to be dispensed;

c) a pump actuator mechanism coupled to an 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 the fluid; and

d) a timer associated with said dispense mechanism, said timer being utilized to disable said dispense mechanism to mitigate excessive dispensing of the fluid.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the dispense mechanism is disabled after a predetermined time period if a predetermined number of dispense events occur within said predetermined period of time.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said dispense mechanism is re-enabled upon completion of a second period of time.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined period of time is about 15 seconds.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second period of time is about 45 seconds.

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

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

a container carrying a supply of fluid;

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

a pump actuator mechanism, 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 the fluid and wherein said pump actuator mechanism converts rotational motion to linear motion to cycle said dispense mechanism;

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;

said pump actuator mechanism having a motor for cycling said pump actuator mechanism, said motor having a drive input; and

a position sensor coupled to said pump actuator mechanism to detect an end of dispense cycle, and generate a brake input signal when said end of dispense cycle is detected;

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

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

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

a container carrying a supply of fluid;

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

a pump actuator mechanism, 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 the fluid and wherein said pump actuator mechanism converts rotational motion to linear motion to cycle said dispense mechanism;

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, wherein said cycle signal is used to drive a motor and said pump actuator mechanism; and

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.

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

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

a container carrying a supply of fluid;

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

a pump actuator mechanism, 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 the fluid and wherein said pump actuator mechanism converts rotational motion to linear motion to cycle said dispense mechanism; and

a control circuit having a processor to receive said object signal, said control circuit comprising a sensor circuit for said object sensor, and a systems circuit for said processor, wherein said sensor circuit and said systems circuit are maintained on their own respective circuit boards to minimize interference therebetween, and wherein said processor generates a cycle signal received by said pump actuator mechanism to actuate said dispense mechanism.

22. The apparatus according to said claim 21, wherein each said respective circuit board functions as a shielded backplane.

23. An apparatus for dispensing a measured quantity of fluid comprising:

a housing adapted to carry a container that carries a supply of fluid;

a dispense mechanism adapted to be coupled to the container to control an amount of the fluid to be dispensed;

an object sensor carried by said housing;

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 the fluid, wherein said pump actuator mechanism shuts down if said object sensor detects excessive use.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a dispense timer having a dispense time period; and

a disable timer having a disable time period, wherein both said dispense timer and said disable timer are associated with said pump actuator mechanism such that during said dispense time period if a predetermined number of dispense events are detected, said pump actuator mechanism is disabled for said disable time period.