WO2009115774A2

WO2009115774A2 - Water dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2009115774A2
Application number: PCT/GB2009/000675
Authority: WO
Inventors: Naresh Sharma
Original assignee: Filup Ltd
Priority date: 2008-03-15
Filing date: 2009-03-12
Publication date: 2009-09-24
Also published as: GB2458373A; GB0804884D0; WO2009115774A8; WO2009115774A3; GB0904369D0

Abstract

A bottle is filled with water at a bottle reception station of a water dispensing apparatus (1). A nozzle (5) coupled to a source of water is positioned spaced from the mouth of a bottle such that a bottle or the user cannot contact the nozzle. Thus, water may be dispensed through the nozzle and into a bottle without making contact with any surface of the apparatus. The bottle reception station includes a receptor (6), defining an orifice into which the mouth of a bottle is inserted. A nozzle is coupled to a source of water via a feed mechanism that has an operable state in which water may issue from the nozzle and an inoperable state. A first control is for user operation from a first state to a second state. A second control is a detector for the mouth of a bottle, inserted through the orifice is provided.

Description

WATER DISPENSING APPARATUS

Background

This disclosure relates to water dispensing apparatus.

Bottled water is both convenient and safe. Indeed, in some parts of the world where mains water supply is either non-existent or unsafe, bottled water may represent the only safe source of potable water.

However, bottled water is relatively expensive and carries a substantial environmental penalty. The bottles of water must be transported from a bottling plant to each vending site at a cost to the environment. While used bottles, whether of glass or plastics, may in theory be recycled, the recycling process involves an environmental cost, and a substantial proportion of used plastics bottles simply go to landfill or are left as litter, and may take many years to degrade.

In countries where the mains water supply is both reliable and safe, some people are known to fill re-fillable plastics water bottles from their home water supply. However, they would be reluctant to do so from a publicly available supply for risk of contamination. In many places in the developed countries, public supplies are unavailable because of this risk of contamination and because of the further risks of spillage, mess and of accidents caused by people slipping on wet surfaces. On the other hand, in less developed countries, unreliable and unsafe public supplies at a standpipe may be all that is available, other than expensive bottled water.

The embodiments of water dispensing apparatus described in detail below have arisen from work seeking to overcome the various problems discussed above.

Summary of the Inventio

In accordance with a first aspect of this disclosure, a water dispensing apparatus for filling a user's bottle with water on demand at a bottle reception station comprises a nozzle coupled to a source of water and positioned in confronting relation to, but spaced from, the open mouth of a bottle located at said station such that a said bottle cannot make contact with said nozzle, said nozzle position also being inaccessible to manual touch by a user, whereby water may be dispensed from said source through said nozzle and into a said bottle without making contact with any surface of the apparatus with which a bottle or its user may make contact.

In a second and alternative aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a water dispensing apparatus for filling a user's bottle on demand, the apparatus comprising: a bottle reception station including a receptor defining an orifice into which the open mouth of a user's bottle is inserted; a nozzle upstream of the receptor orifice with respect to the flow of water, the nozzle being coupled to a source of water via a feed mechanism that has an operable state in which water may issue from the nozzle and an inoperable state; a first control remote from said receptor and adapted for user operation from a first state to a second state; and a second control in the form of a detector adapted to detect an object, such as the mouth of a bottle, inserted through said orifice; a change of state of said feed mechanism from inoperable to operable requiring both operation of said first control from its first state to its second state and operation of said second control.

The first control is preferably a coin operable mechanism requiring a user to prepay for water, the second state being detection of the required payment, but may be a push button control where no charge is made for water, the second state being when the button has been pressed. Alternatively, the first control may be an electronic control triggered by a cashless payment method such as a credit or debit card, or a prepayment card of some form such as the Oyster™ card used on London Transport, or by payment via a mobile phone.

Preferred embodiments may have one or more of the following features: There is a third control comprising a detector adapted to detect movement of said receptor, as by a bottle pushed by a user thereagainst with the bottle mouth inserted through said orifice; a change of state of said feed mechanism from inoperable to operable requiring both operation of said first control from its first state to its second state and simultaneous operation of said second and third controls. The second control is a light gate, preferably an infra-red (IR) light gate, adapted to be breached by a bottle mouth. Alternatively, the second control is an air flow detector adapted to detect an interruption of air flow through the receptor when a bottle is inserted thereinto. The receptor is generally cone shaped. The generally cone shaped receptor is constrained for sliding movement in the axial direction of the cone when pushed by a user's bottle, and is adapted to trigger a microswitch at its limit of travel to provide the third control. Where there is no third control, there may be a push-button separate from the first control for initiating water flow when the second control is also activated. Surfaces of the receptor with which the user or a bottle may make contact are periodically disinfected with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, preferably from UV light emitting diodes (LEDs). Surfaces of the receptor with which the user or a bottle may make contact are coated with a photocatalytic germicidal coating such as one including nano particles of titanium dioxide. The UV LEDs produce UV radiation with a wavelength causing photocatalytic excitation of titanium dioxide. A short period of UV radiation follows each dispensing cycle. Hard sanitation by an extended period of UV radiation is performed during idle periods. An idle period is initiated when no human presence is detected by proximity sensors within three metres, and terminated if a human presence is detected. Human presence is detected as a moving IR source by a plurality of passive IR detectors. The apparatus includes a window through which a user can see the nozzle and the open mouth of their bottle within a fill chamber. A spillage detector is adapted to stop dispensing of water when a spillage is detected. Any spillage is removed from view by a user by hidden drains. The sound of moving water is played to a user as their bottle is filled. The said sound is the amplified sound of the dispensed water filling the user's bottle. Sound is picked up by a microphone mounted on the inner surface of the receptor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Reference is now made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of water dispensing apparatus; Fig. 2 shows a front elevational view of the water dispensing apparatus; Fig. 3 shows an overall perspective view of the water dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 4 shows a somewhat schematic medial sectional view illustrating certain principal features of the water dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing how the nozzle and receptor may be mounted in a water dispensing apparatus; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with parts shown in phantom to illustrate a bottle being filled;

Fig. 7 is a view looking through a receptor of the water dispensing apparatus towards the water nozzle; Fig. 8 is a logic flow diagram illustrating two modes of operation of the water dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a logic flow diagram for the vending mode of the water dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the water circuit of the water dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 11 illustrates the input and output connections to a microprocessor for controlling the water dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 4 for an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 5 for the embodiment of Fig. 12; and Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 6 for the embodiment of Figs. 12 and

13.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figs. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of water dispensing apparatus 1 , which may be a stand-alone apparatus requiring periodic replacement or refilling of an internal water tank., or may be plumbed into the mains water supply. The apparatus 1 is electrically operated, and so will require a source of power. The apparatus has a robust external casing 2 with a screen 3, which may be lit to attract custom and to give instructions for use, although use of the apparatus is largely intuitive as explained below. The casing 2 includes a transparent window 4, through which a nozzle 5 and a receptor 6 are visible within a fill chamber 7. Receptor 6 takes a generally partial cone shaped form in this embodiment with both the wide 8 and narrow 9 ends of the cone section being open. A portion of the front of the casing is recessed at 10 to define a bottle receiving station leading into the wide end 8 of receptor cone 6, which thus effectively defines an upwardly narrowing orifice opening into the fill chamber 7 for receiving therethrough the open mouth of a user's water bottle to be filled. Transparent window 4 allows the user to see the open mouth and shoulder of their bottle pushed upwardly through the narrow end 9 of cone receptor 6, and to see water being dispensed from nozzle 5 into that open end within the fill chamber 7. However, the nozzle 5 is spaced from receptor cone 6 and the narrow end 9 of the cone is sufficiently narrow that the bottle mouth cannot reach the nozzle and a user also cannot reach the nozzle manually through the orifice. Water is dispensed into the open mouth of a bottle from the nozzle at a distance. These features are important in preventing cross contamination, especially when combined with the features of a germicidal coating and UV disinfection, as explained in detail below.

We have found that best results are obtained with the axis of the cone making an angle of preferably between 35° and 70° to the horizontal. We have also found that best results are obtained with a generally cone shaped receptor in which the cone has a curved flared profile that increasingly widens towards its wider end in the manner of a loudspeaker horn rather than forming a true frustum. However, other shapes would also be feasible.

Receptor cone 6 is preferably formed from a generally inert metal such as stainless steel. Inert plastics materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene or nylon may also be used. Use of a commercially available thermoplastic rubber, such as that available under the SUPRENEJ^M Brand, would allow a degree of flexibility enabling a better fit around the shoulder of a bottle. Surfaces of cone 6 have a germicidal coating, explained in more detail below and are bathed in ultraviolet (UV) light from UV light emitting diodes (LEDs).

In this embodiment, a light gate 11 comprising an infra-red (IR) LED 12 and an IR detector 13 is positioned within the fill chamber 7 upstream from the narrow end 9 of cone 6 so that a bottle mouth pushed through the narrow end will breach the light gate, thereby detecting presence of a bottle. Alternatively, as described below with reference to Figs. 12 to 14, interruption of an air flow may be used to detect a bottle.

A drainage surface 14 is positioned between and below the nozzle 5 and cone 6 to receive any spillage. It is provided with a moisture spill detector 15 coupled to a central microprocessor control 16 (Fig. 11) enabling the water supply to be immediately cut if spillage is detected. A suitable central microprocessor is that available under the trade designation ARM 7. The moisture spill detector 15 may comprise a simple resistive or capacitance sensor constructed from strips 17 of metal foil (Fig. 7) mounted on the wall of the fill chamber 7 behind the cone 6 and positioned to receive spillage from nozzle 5 or overflow from the mouth of a bottle. A suitable such detector is available from Aqualeak as a thin-profile pad sensor, and has strips 17 mounted parallel to each other with a slight spacing so that in the dry state there is a very high resistance between them. The presence of water reduces that resistance (and changes capacitance) between them, triggering the control central microprocessor control 16 to interrupt the flow of water. At the same time a message may be displayed on screen 3 directing the user to adjust the position of the mouth of the bottle and attempt again to fill it. A drain 18 to receive any spillage in the fill chamber defined between the nozzle 5 and cone receptor 6 is positioned where it cannot readily be seen by a user. A further hidden drain 19 is positioned at the bottom of frontal recess 10 to drain any spillage in that region. Recess 10 is deliberately shaped not to appear like a basin and its drain is deliberately hidden from view so that users are not tempted to empty a partially filled water bottle into it. Drains 18 and 19 lead to an evaporation tray 20 with an overflow 21 to a drainage tank 22. However, water feed is controlled to minimise spillage so that in normal use the drainage tank is not brought into use, being present solely as a safe-guard in case of failure of or damage to the system.

Receptor cone 6 is mounted, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to be capable of being pushed by a distance of 15 to 30 mm in the direction of the cone axis by a user pressing the shoulder portion of their bottle 23 (Fig. 6) against its inner surface as the open bottle mouth 24 is pushed upwardly into the orifice and through narrow end 9 of the cone receptor 6. Cone receptor 6 may have a cut-out 25 so that a user can see their bottle within the cone. As shown in Figs, 5 and 6, the outer surface of the cone is provided with a pair of flanges 26 that cooperate with linear guides 27, which here comprise shafts 28 and bushings 29, the shafts extending parallel to the axis of the cone. A microswitch 30 is positioned for one flange to contact it, as shown in Fig. 6, at the upper end of its travel. Closure of microswitch 30 is required to trigger the action of a solenoid valve 31 (Fig. 10) to allow a jet of water from nozzle 5. As the user releases pressure against cone receptor 6, its flange moves away from the microswitch 30, deactivating the solenoid 31 and stopping the water flow. Rather than simply relying upon gravity to return the cone 6 to its lower position, its upward sliding motion may be against the bias of a spring, for example a helical spring (not illustrated) mounted about one shaft 28. The inner surface of the cone receptor 6 is here provided with recesses 32 (best shown in Fig. 7) running into the cone towards its narrower end 9. Within a lower portion of each recess 32 are mounted a bank of UV LEDs 33 adapted to bathe the inner surface of cone 6 with UV light, typically for a period of 5 to 15 seconds after each fill cycle, the germicidal effect of the UV radiation serving to reduce cross-contamination between users. Unlike traditional UV lights, which may require up to 2 minutes to warm up, UV

LEDs with a wavelength of around 280 to 380 run available, for example, from Seoul

Opto Devices, South Korea, are capable of providing a near instantaneous source of intense UV radiation to bathe the inner surface of cone 6 without exposing a user to direct UV radiation.

Fig. 7 also shows a light gate 34 comprising an IR emitter 35 and an IR sensor 36 positioned within upper regions of recesses 28 opposed to each other so that the path for IR radiation established between the emitter and sensor is interrupted by a bottle mouth pushed into the orifice defined by cone 5 to pass through its narrower end into the interior of fill chamber 7. This light gate 34 may be employed in addition to or instead of light gate 11 described above.

A microphone 37 is also shown mounted in an upper part of one recess 28 for a purpose to be explained.

As previously explained, the cone receptor is provided with a germicidal coating. This may comprise a coating of nano-particles of silver or of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). Nano-particles of TiO₂ absorb UV light to produce electron/hole pairs. The wavelength of light needed for photoexcitation of an electron promoted from the valence band to the conduction band for TiO₂ can be shown to be around 380 nm. The electron reacts with an oxygen molecule to form a superoxide anion, while the remaining TiO₂ hole may break water molecules into hydrogen gas and hydroxyl ions. The free radicals produced by the photocatalytic effect of UV radiation on TiO₂ nano particles not only kill bacterial cells but also decomposes the cell itself. The disinfective effect of TiO₂ nano particles has been shown to be three times stronger than chlorine and 1.5 times stronger than ozone. The combined disinfective effect of TiO₂ and UV radiation has been shown by Yong-Suk Chai, Joon-Chul Lee and Byong-Woo Kim of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University to be more than 27 times greater than that resulting from the use of UV radiation alone. A protective film of TiO₂ also provides a self-cleaning surface by becoming antistatic, superoxidative and hydrophilic.

Nano particles of TiO₂ with an average particle size of 10 run are commercially available from Titan PE Technologies, Inc. in a transparent water-based gel that can be sprayed over plastics such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, thermoplastic rubbers and over metals such as stainless steel, and dries in around one hour to provide a scratch- resistant surface with an anticipated lifetime of over five years.

The preferred UV LEDs 33 have a peak wavelength of 280 ran, but with a radiation spectrum extending to around 380 nm. Accordingly, they provide both a primary germicidal effect from direct UV radiation in the UVA spectrum and an additional germicidal effect through photocatalytic action on the TiO₂ coating from UV radiation in the UVC spectrum.

The automatic photocatalytic disinfecting of surfaces of apparatus dispensing liquids for drinking by the provision of a coating of nano particles of TiO₂ and illumination of such surfaces by UV LEDs is believed novel in itself.

Provision is made for additional "hard" sanitation during idle periods (typically at night). Up to four passive IR detectors (PIRs) are mounted on the external casing 2. Suitable such PIRs are available from Nippon Ceramic Company under trade designations KC7783R and PSUP43-12. These act as human absence detectors by detecting lack of a moving IR source (that is: humans) within 3 metres. The PIRs trigger the central microprocessor control 16 to switch on the UV LEDs 32 for a continuous period which may typically be between 5 and 30 minutes to provide a high dose of UV. Control by PIRs ensures that users cannot be exposed to UV radiation reflected from parts of the apparatus during this hard sanitation process.

The microphone 37 is positioned to pick up the sound of water entering a user's bottle. This is amplified and played back to the user via speakers in the casing 2. As the bottle fills, so the sound will change, providing an audible feedback to the user to supplement the visible sign of the bottle filling seen through window 4. These feedbacks encourage the user to release pressure on cone 6 before the bottle overflows, saving spillage. To prevent unwanted audio disturbance, the central microprocessor control 16 activates the audio system only when water is being dispensed, with a typical time lag of 500 milliseconds between release of water from nozzle 5 and activation of the audio system to avoid picking up the sound of bottle manipulation within the cone. Such audio assisted filling of containers such as bottles at a vending station, which is believed novel in itself, is particularly useful in the present apparatus if a user presents with an opaque bottle.

An alternative method of achieving audio assisted filling is to simply play back a prerecorded bubbling water sound to mimic the filling of a bottle, rather than picking up the actual sound with a microphone and playing it.

The sequence of operation of the apparatus may be best understood by reference to Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The apparatus is provided with (preferably, four - as explained above) PIRs giving detection of human presence over an angle of 270° (Step 38, Fig. 8). If motion is detected (Step 39, Fig. 8) during a predetermined period, the apparatus goes into Vending Mode (Step 40) and proceeds with the steps set out in Fig. 9. If no motion is detected during the predetermined period (Step 41), the apparatus goes into Standby Mode (Step 42), in which chiller 43 (Fig. 10) and screen 3 are turned off and UV LEDs 33 are turned on for repeated cycles of hard sanitation as described above.

In the Vending Mode shown in Fig. 9, the apparatus awaits insertion of a coin (Step 44). If a coin of the correct value is detected, the apparatus checks the status of the UV LEDs (Step 45). If they are on (Step 46), implying that Step 72 (below) is being performed, the coin is returned (Step 47). Following coin return, for what ever reason (see below), the apparatus returns to PIR detection (Step 38). On the other hand, if the UV LEDs are off (Step 48), the coin is held (Step 49) while a check is made to see whether the IR sensor light gate 11 and/or 34 is(are) breached, suggesting presence of a bottle. If the gate is not breached, there can be no detected bottle (Step 50) and the coin is returned (Step 47). On the other hand, if breach of the IR light gate suggests that a bottle is detected (Step 51), a check is made as to whether the cone microswitch 30 is triggered. If it is not (Step 52), the coin is again returned (Step 47). On the other hand, triggering of the microswitch 30 (Step 53) results in solenoid valve 31 being opened (Step 54) to enable flow of chilled water (Fig. 10) via an insulated tube 55 to nozzle 5. Referring to Fig. 10, the apparatus 1 is shown coupled to the mains water supply 56 via a stop cock 57 and a fault state shut-off solenoid valve 58 for automatically shutting off water supply in an emergency. Because this embodiment is not gravity fed, the incoming water must have at least a minimum pressure. In the United Kingdom, the minimum rising mains water pressure is 1 bar, which is sufficient for the embodiment described herein, as mains water at this pressure is capable of delivering around 12 litres per minute through a typical 15 mm diameter pipe, while practical embodiments of the apparatus are capable of delivering water at a flow rate of between 2 and 4 litres per minute. However, in locations where the water feed pressure is below 1 bar, a commercially available water pressure booster pump 59 (Fig. 10) is connected in line. Suitable single impeller pumps include those commercially available under the Trademarks Shureflow™ and Flojet™. Water is fed via a sediment filter 60 coupled to a drain 61 and a carbon filter 62 into chiller 43. Suitable such filters are available under the Trademark Omnipure™. From chiller 43 the filtered chilled water passes via dispensing solenoid valve 31 and insulated tube 55 to nozzle 5.

Referring again to Fig. 9, upon opening of solenoid valve 31 (Step 54), a filling timer, a volume sensor and the spillage sensor 15 are activated (Step 63). A suitable in- line volume flow sensor (not shown in Fig. 10) is available from RS Components under trade designation 257-149, and produces 4600 pulses per litre. The pulses are counted by the central microprocessor control 16, and the vending cycle is terminated, as explained below, when 500 ml (2300 pulses) has been dispensed.

If and when spillage is detected by sensor 15 (Step 64), the solenoid valve 31 is closed (Step 65) and the microprocessor control 16 evaluates whether to retry dispensing (Step 66). The system provides for a preset number of retries, here three attempts in all. If there have been less than three attempts to fill since the coin was inserted (Step 67), the sequence returns to check whether the light gate is breached suggesting that a bottle is present, or not. If it is not, the coin is returned (Step 47). If it is (Step 51 , above) then the steps set out above are followed from Step 51 onward. On the other hand, if there have been three filling attempts since the coin was inserted (Step 68), a check is made of the volume dispensed in those attempts. If the volume is less than a set volume, here 400 ml, (Step 69), the coin is again returned (Step 47), while if the cumulative volume dispensed in those three attempts exceeds 400 ml (Step 70), the coin is accepted (Step 71) and the UV LEDs are switched on for a short period (Step 72) to disinfect the cone 6 to reduce risk of cross contamination, as explained above. Following disinfecting, the apparatus returns to PIR detection (Step 38).

Returning to Step 63, provided that no spillage is detected (Step 73), filling continues until either a set volume, here 500 ml, has been dispensed (Step 74) or a set time, here 30 seconds, has elapsed (Step 75). When 500 ml has been dispensed, the solenoid valve 31 is shut, the coin is accepted (Step 71) and UV disinfecting proceeds (Step 72). On the other hand, when 30 seconds have elapsed (Step 76) without a dispensing volume of 500 ml being detected, a check is made of the volume dispensed. If the dispensed volume is less than a set volume (here 400 ml), (Step 69), the coin is again returned (Step 47), while if the volume dispensed exceeds 400 ml (Step 70), the coin is accepted (Step 71) and the UV disinfecting Step 72 initiated, as before.

It will be appreciated from Fig. 9 that for water to be dispensed through nozzle 5, three controls must be activated. A coin must be inserted (Step 44), a bottle must be detected as having been inserted through the orifice (Step 51) and the microswitch 30 must be triggered by cone 6 being pushed upwardly and inwardly by a bottle. The requirement for these three controls to be operable at the same time makes it difficult for someone without a bottle to try to obtain water from the apparatus by dispensing it into their cupped hands, with risk of spillage on the floor.

In alternative arrangements, where no charge is made for water (for example in an office environment), and the coin is not replaced by a token, the coin insert Step 44 may be replaced by a push button. In this case, no coin is held in Step 49, but the check whether or not the IR sensor light gate 11 and/or 34 is(are) breached is still made. The coin return Step 47 is replaced by a return to PIR detection (Step 38). Instead of a coin accept Step 71, the apparatus passes straight to UV disinfecting (Step 72). Where electronic payment is taken as an alternative to payment by coin, the coin hold Step 49 is replaced by a "suspend payment step", which may be accompanied by a "temporary card retain step", while the coin return Step 47 is replaced by a "payment not taken step", accompanied by a "card return step" if the card was temporarily retained, and the coin accept Step 71 is replaced by a "payment taken step" with issuance of a printed receipt, accompanied by a "card return step" if the card was temporarily retained.

In a further alternative, the third control provided by detection of movement of the cone, may be dispensed with, the cone being fixed. There could still be a third control in this fixed cone arrangement, but this would be provided by a push-button operated separately from his any coin or card operation providing the first control.

Provision may be made, where dispensing is interrupted for minor leakage or because of inattention of the user (failing to keep the microswitch 30 triggered by pushing continuously on the cone 5 with their bottle), for the vending timer to be frozen for a short period, say 5 seconds, to see whether the minor leakage ceases and the microswitch 30 is triggered again, in which case dispensing continues.

The presence of a bottle may be detected to provided the second control by means other than the light gate in the above described first practical embodiment. For example, an air flow may be generated, and a bottle detected as an interruption of that airflow causing a pressure build-up, as explained with reference to Figs. 12 to 14.

It will be apparent that in many respects Figs 12, 13 and 14 correspond to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Where appropriate, like reference numerals are employed. Where the embodiment of Figs. 12 to 14 differs from the first described embodiment is in the provision of a fan 77 which sucks air in from an air intake 78 at the rear of the water dispensing apparatus 1 and feeds it via one or more channels 79 into fill chamber 7, from whence it flows through receptor cone 6 and out of the front of the water dispensing apparatus when no bottle is present. However, when a bottle is inserted into the receptor cone (Fig. 14), the result is substantially to occlude the air flow through the receptor cone. The result is a build up of air pressure within fill chamber 7 and back into channel(s) 79. An air pressure switch 80 that operates to complete an electrical circuit is located in a side passage 81 pneumatically coupled to channel 79. Air pressure switches adapted to be triggered by pressure build-up are commonly employed in personal computers, laptops, etc to detect blockage of the cooling fan, which might lead to a dangerous rise of temperature, to provide a warning or to shut down the computer before any damage or loss of data due to such temperature rise may occur. The air volume within the water dispensing apparatus is comparable with that within a conventional casing for a personal computer. Accordingly, any of the fan/pressure detector combinations employed for personal computers may be directly adapted to serve as a bottle detector in an embodiment of our water dispensing apparatus. The air flow detector system may be employed together with a moveable cone arrangement with a limit switch detecting movement of the cone due to presence of a bottle, as in the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14, or with a fixed cone, where interruption of the airflow serves as the sole detector of presence of a bottle.

It will be appreciated that insertion of a bottle into a receptor of generally frustoconical form will substantially completely occlude it whereas insertion of a foreign object such as a user's finger is likely only partially to occlude it. Appropriate calibration of the pressure switch may prevent water being dispensed unless the passage through the cone for air flow is substantially completely occluded.

Claims

1. A water dispensing apparatus for filling a user's bottle with water on demand at a bottle reception station comprising a nozzle coupled to a source of water and positioned in confronting relation to, but spaced from, the open mouth of a bottle located at said station such that a said bottle cannot make contact with said nozzle, said nozzle position also being inaccessible to manual touch by a user, whereby water may be dispensed from said source through said nozzle and into a said bottle without making contact with any surface of the apparatus with which a bottle or its user may make contact.

2. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the bottle reception station includes a receptor, preferably generally frustoconical in form, defining an orifice into which the open mouth of a user's bottle is inserted; and wherein a first control is provided at a position remote from said receptor and adapted for user operation from a first state to a second state, a second control is provided in the form of a detector adapted to detect an object, such as the mouth of a bottle, inserted through said orifice, and the nozzle has a feed mechanism to control water flow through the nozzle, which mechanism has an operable state in which water may issue from the nozzle and an inoperable state, a change of state from inoperable to operable requiring both operation of said first control from its first state to its second state and operation of said second control.

3. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein a third control is provided, the third control comprising a detector adapted to detect movement of said receptor, as by a bottle pushed by a user thereagainst with the bottle mouth inserted through said orifice; and wherein a change of state of said feed mechanism from inoperable to operable requires both operation of said first control from its first state to its second state and simultaneous operation of said second and third controls.

4. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the dispenser is provided with a casing including a window through which a user can see the nozzle and the open mouth of their bottle within a fill chamber.

5. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a spillage detector adapted to stop dispensing of water when a spillage is detected.

6. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein any spillage is received in drains hidden from view.

7. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a sound system comprising a loudspeaker adapted to play the sound of moving water to a user as their bottle is filled.

8. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the sound system comprises a microphone mounted on the inner surface of the receptor, whereby the said sound consists of the amplified sound of the dispensed water filling the user's bottle.

9. A water dispensing apparatus for filling a user's bottle on demand, the apparatus comprising: a bottle reception station including a receptor, preferably generally frustoconical in form, defining an orifice into which the open mouth of a user's bottle is inserted; a nozzle upstream of the receptor orifice with respect to the flow of water, the nozzle being coupled to a source of water via a feed mechanism that has an operable state in which water may issue from the nozzle and an inoperable state; a first control remote from said receptor and adapted for user operation from a first state to a second state; and a second control in the form of a detector adapted to detect an object, such as the mouth of a bottle, inserted through said orifice; a change of state of said feed mechanism from inoperable to operable requiring both operation of said first control from its first state to its second state and operation of said second control.

10. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the first control is selected from: a coin operable mechanism requiring a user to prepay for water, the second state being detection of the required payment; a push button control where no charge is made for water, the second state being when the button has been pressed; and an electronic control triggered by a cashless payment method selected from credit and debit cards, prepayment cards, and payment via a mobile phone.

11. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein a third control is provided, the third control comprising a detector adapted to detect movement of said receptor, as by a bottle pushed by a user thereagainst with the bottle mouth inserted through said orifice; and wherein a change of state of said feed mechanism from inoperable to operable requires both operation of said first control from its first state to its second state and simultaneous operation of said second and third controls.

12. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the second control comprises a light gate, preferably an infra-red (IR) light gate, adapted to be breached by a bottle mouth.

13. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the second control comprises a fan adapted to provide a flow of air through the receptor and a pressure sensitive relay adapted to be triggered by pressure build-up caused by occlusion of said orifice by a bottle.

14. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the receptor is constrained for sliding movement in the axial direction of the cone when pushed by a user's bottle, and is adapted to trigger a microswitch at its limit of travel to provide the third control

15. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, preferably at least one UV light emitting diode, is positioned for periodic illumination of surfaces of the receptor with which the user or a bottle may make contact.

16. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein surfaces of the receptor with which the user or a bottle may make contact are coated with a photocatalytic germicidal coating, preferably a coating comprising nano particles of titanium dioxide, and wherein the UV source produces UV radiation with a wavelength causing photocatalytic excitation of the said coating.

17. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein a control system is provided for the UV source, and is adapted to provide a period of UV radiation following each water dispensing operation, and to provide an extended period of UV radiation during idle periods of the water dispensing apparatus, the control system including at least one proximity sensor adapted to detect human presence within a selected distance, an idle period being determined by the absence of detection of human presence by the at least one proximity sensor, and a said extended period of UV radiation being terminated if a human presence is detected by said at least one proximity sensor.

18. A water dispensing apparatus according to Claim 17, wherein said at least one proximity sensor comprises a plurality of passive IR detectors, human presence being detected as a moving IR source by said plurality of IR detectors.