EP0078181A1 - Distributeur de liquide - Google Patents

Distributeur de liquide Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0078181A1
EP0078181A1 EP82305710A EP82305710A EP0078181A1 EP 0078181 A1 EP0078181 A1 EP 0078181A1 EP 82305710 A EP82305710 A EP 82305710A EP 82305710 A EP82305710 A EP 82305710A EP 0078181 A1 EP0078181 A1 EP 0078181A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flexible container
fluid dispenser
container
outlet means
fluid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP82305710A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
John R. Acklin
Lee W. Bush
George A. Rauk
Joseph J. Danna
John L. Devitt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Calgon Corp
Original Assignee
Calgon Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Calgon Corp filed Critical Calgon Corp
Publication of EP0078181A1 publication Critical patent/EP0078181A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K5/00—Holders or dispensers for soap, toothpaste, or the like
    • A47K5/06—Dispensers for soap
    • A47K5/12—Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap
    • A47K5/1217—Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Definitions

  • the invention relates to fluid dispensers, in particular, for dispensing detergents.
  • dispensers for dispensing detergent for hand-washing are desirable to ensure that no harmful micro-organisms will be spread by contact with handles, buttons or other devices to cause operation of the dispenser.
  • Detergent dispensers requiring no manual contact for their operation are particularly desirable in hospital operating rooms and similar places where sanitary conditions must be maintained.
  • a fluid dispenser comprising a flexible container for containing fluid and having outlet means for the fluid, characterised by means associated with the flexible container for squeezing the flexible container; a valve mechanism to close the outlet means and operable to open the outlet means; and proximity detector means in close association with the outlet means and effective to operate the valve mechanism for a time interval when an object passes beneath the detector means.
  • the flexible container may be made of any suitable material which will contain the flowable contents.
  • a flexible bag made of plastics or rubber is preferred.
  • squeezing means with a low energy requirement can be provided by depressing the flexible container by means of a weight to provide the pressure necessary for flow at a practical rate.
  • Such a weight preferably associated with the top of the flexible container, should be of sufficient magnitude to minimize pressure fluctuations and allow a constant rate of flow of fluid irrespective of the volume of fluid in the container. This reduces the amount of energy required to operate the dispenser and facilitates the usage of batteries.
  • the outlet means is preferably a resilient tube outlet, which will allow the flowable contents, preferably a liquid, to be discharged.
  • the outlet means is integrally connected to the flexible container and both the container and the outlet means are disposable. In this way, the entire liquid-contacting dispensing pathway can be discarded when the container has become empty. This pathway is then renewed when a new, full container is placed in the dispenser.
  • the valve mechanism is preferably a simple pinch valve, using a thin- walled rubber tube attached to the flexible container.
  • the tube passes through a pair of solenoid-operated jaws which are opened for the length of time needed to dispense a desired quantity of liquid, then closed to prevent further flow.
  • valves are also suitable.
  • the valve may be an inexpensive plastics structure which may be discarded along with the flexible container. It may also be corrosion resistant. Simple poppet and movable-flap valves are examples.
  • the valve mechanism may be operated by any electrical source, however, batteries are preferred because of the general absence of electrical outlets in many applications where the dispenser could be used.
  • a movable plastics jaw is attached to a spring mechanism which extends the jaw toward a similar, stationary jaw. When fully extended, the movable jaw rests against the stationary jaw. When a tube is placed between the two jaws, the tube is pinched closed when the pinch mechanism is extended by the spring mechanism. When actuated electrically, the movable jaw is retracted away from the fixed jaw, in effect opening the pinch valve.
  • the resilient tube may be bent to provide a kink seal.
  • the minimum angle to provide a kink seal is defined for each resilient material and can be accomplished by any suitable mechanism that can bend the tube to the required angle.
  • the detector is an infrared light-emitting diode (LED) and a phototransistor.
  • the infrared LED emits short pulses of light.
  • the phototransistor receives background light and reflected light from the infrared LED. The phototransistor is set so that when a set amount of reflected light is received, the pinch mechanism is disengaged for a set time interval.
  • Means may be associated with the flexible container to provide a signal when the flexible container is empty or nearly empty. In the alternative, this may be associated with the optional weight. When the weight falls to a certain level, the empty container signal is activated.
  • a proximity fluid dispenser 1 has a backplate 3 whereby the dispenser 1 can be mounted on a wall.
  • a low-soap indicator 2 is visible from the outside of the dispenser.
  • the LED driver is a separate circuit.
  • a pulse oscillater applies very short (150 microseconds) pulses, at a rate of about 20 per second to a power amplifier.
  • the integral-lens infrared LED 7 is aimed below the dispenser toward an approaching hand.
  • Reflected infrared pulses plus some ambient light, are picked up by the phototransistor 6.
  • the composite signal (infrared + ambient (or background 50 Hz light)) is amplified by an amplifier and applied through a background light discriminator and a pulse collector.
  • the background light discriminator biasses out the background 50 Hz noise, passing the infrared pulses as positive spikes to the pulse collector.
  • 6v d.c. appears at a. trigger terminal of a one-shot timer.
  • Pulse length (and pinch-valve-open- time) is adjustable from under 1 second to several seconds.
  • a non-repeat circuit prevents another trip immediately following the first one. The non-repeat circuit shorts out the input of the pulse collector as soon as the solenoid pulse begins, and this condition persists for a set time period.
  • the low-soap indicator 2 can be a microswitch operated by the container pressure plate 11 as the flexible container 19 becomes nearly empty (thin). Then, every time the solenoid 15 operates, the low-soap indicator light (LED) 2 comes on.
  • the infrared LED 7 emits pulses of infrared light and, when an approaching hand intersects the pulsating light, infrared light is reflected and picked up by the phototransistor 6.
  • a pulse is sent to the solenoid 15 which moves the jaw 16 away from the stop plate 17 so that fluid contained in the flexible container 19 is discharged through the resilient tube outlet 4 into the hand positioned below it.
  • the jaw 16 is disengaged for a preset period of time. In one embodiment, if the hand remains projected in the path of the infrared pulses, the cycle will repeat itself after a short delay period.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
EP82305710A 1981-10-28 1982-10-27 Distributeur de liquide Withdrawn EP0078181A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US31577981A 1981-10-28 1981-10-28
US315779 1981-10-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0078181A1 true EP0078181A1 (fr) 1983-05-04

Family

ID=23226019

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82305710A Withdrawn EP0078181A1 (fr) 1981-10-28 1982-10-27 Distributeur de liquide

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0078181A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS5883919A (fr)
AU (1) AU8969282A (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3446136A1 (de) * 1984-12-18 1986-06-26 Dr. Wachter Kurmittel Gmbh, 5427 Bad Ems Handgeraetschaft zur koerperpflege und/oder koerperreinigung
WO1987000743A1 (fr) * 1985-08-02 1987-02-12 Louis Hoffman Associates Inc. Procede et dispositif de distribution de substances pouvant s'ecouler
US4666099A (en) * 1985-11-15 1987-05-19 Scott Paper Company Apparatus for dispensing sheet material
GB2244473A (en) * 1990-05-31 1991-12-04 Shiau Guey Chuan Automatic cleaning fluid dispenser
GB2284800A (en) * 1993-12-17 1995-06-21 Gomer John Williams Automatic soap dispenser
EP0468062B1 (fr) * 1990-07-09 1997-11-05 Carex Inc. Distributeur de fluides contrÔlé électroniquement
US7523885B2 (en) 2006-10-31 2009-04-28 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Hands-free electronic towel dispenser with power saving feature

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2642510B2 (ja) * 1990-11-02 1997-08-20 キャレックス・システムズ・インコーポレイテッド 電子制御された流体ディスペンサー

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3273752A (en) * 1965-02-11 1966-09-20 Geza E Horeczky Photo-electric controlled dispenser
US3327901A (en) * 1963-12-13 1967-06-27 Jet Dispenser Corp Dispenser
US3434628A (en) * 1967-01-23 1969-03-25 Bernard A Ceraldi Automatic soap dispenser
FR2016862A1 (fr) * 1968-09-03 1970-05-15 Handtmann Albert Metallg
DE2341259A1 (de) * 1973-08-16 1975-03-06 Gss Ges Fuer Sanitaere Spender Spender fuer fluessigkeiten, insbesondere fuer seife
US4036406A (en) * 1974-06-03 1977-07-19 Georgia-Pacific Corporation Dispenser for liquids

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3327901A (en) * 1963-12-13 1967-06-27 Jet Dispenser Corp Dispenser
US3273752A (en) * 1965-02-11 1966-09-20 Geza E Horeczky Photo-electric controlled dispenser
US3434628A (en) * 1967-01-23 1969-03-25 Bernard A Ceraldi Automatic soap dispenser
FR2016862A1 (fr) * 1968-09-03 1970-05-15 Handtmann Albert Metallg
DE2341259A1 (de) * 1973-08-16 1975-03-06 Gss Ges Fuer Sanitaere Spender Spender fuer fluessigkeiten, insbesondere fuer seife
US4036406A (en) * 1974-06-03 1977-07-19 Georgia-Pacific Corporation Dispenser for liquids

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3446136A1 (de) * 1984-12-18 1986-06-26 Dr. Wachter Kurmittel Gmbh, 5427 Bad Ems Handgeraetschaft zur koerperpflege und/oder koerperreinigung
WO1987000743A1 (fr) * 1985-08-02 1987-02-12 Louis Hoffman Associates Inc. Procede et dispositif de distribution de substances pouvant s'ecouler
US4722372A (en) * 1985-08-02 1988-02-02 Louis Hoffman Associates Inc. Electrically operated dispensing apparatus and disposable container useable therewith
US4666099A (en) * 1985-11-15 1987-05-19 Scott Paper Company Apparatus for dispensing sheet material
US4786005A (en) * 1985-11-15 1988-11-22 Scott Paper Company Apparatus for dispensing sheet material
GB2244473A (en) * 1990-05-31 1991-12-04 Shiau Guey Chuan Automatic cleaning fluid dispenser
EP0468062B1 (fr) * 1990-07-09 1997-11-05 Carex Inc. Distributeur de fluides contrÔlé électroniquement
GB2284800A (en) * 1993-12-17 1995-06-21 Gomer John Williams Automatic soap dispenser
US7523885B2 (en) 2006-10-31 2009-04-28 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Hands-free electronic towel dispenser with power saving feature

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5883919A (ja) 1983-05-19
AU8969282A (en) 1983-05-05

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB LI NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19840410

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: DEVITT, JOHN L.

Inventor name: ACKLIN, JOHN R.

Inventor name: RAUK, GEORGE A.

Inventor name: DANNA, JOSEPH J.

Inventor name: BUSH, LEE W.