Patent Application
20130075420
The present invention generally relates to a fluid dispenser having a deactivation/reactivation means for a cleaning/maintenance mode.
Users of public restroom facilities often desire that all of the fixtures in the restroom operate automatically without being touched by the user's hands. This desire is generally due to the increased user awareness of the degree to which germs and bacteria may be transmitted from one person to another in a public restroom environment. As a result, many public restrooms are being transitioned to “hands-free” or “no-touch” restrooms, where all of the fixtures, including toilet and urinal units, hand washing faucets, soap dispensers, towel dispensers and door opening mechanisms, are automatic and operate without being touched by a user. It is believed by many users that hands-free or no-touch public restroom facilities reduce the opportunity for transmission of viruses and bacteria which may result from contact with fixtures in a public restroom.
In office buildings and other similar upscale buildings, the building owner or manager many times wants to offer upscale public restroom facilities to match the buildings décor. One way the building owner or manager can provide an upscale public restroom is to provide in-counter soap dispensers, rather than wall mounted units or on-counter dispensers. In-counter soap dispensers generally have a dispensing nozzle above the counter. Typically, in-counter soap dispensers have a reservoir, which holds the soap, and pump to move the soap from the reservoir to the nozzle. The reservoir and pump are generally mounted underneath the counter. In-counter soap dispensers are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,342, U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,651 and U.S. Patent Application Publication US2009/0166381 A1.
However, these in-counter soap dispensers present a problem to the cleaning crews charged with cleaning the restrooms where the in-counter automatic dispensers are located. Since the automatic dispensers are designed to dispense the soap from the nozzle when a user's hand is detected underneath the nozzle, when the cleaning crew cleans the sink, the automatic soap dispenser dispenses soap, usually to the sink the cleaning crew is trying to clean. As a result, it is difficult for the cleaning crew to effectively clean the sink or the nozzle of the dispenser.
To overcome this problem, many cleaning crews will disconnect the power supply to the automatic dispenser to prevent unwanted shots of soap from being dispensed into the sink during cleaning. However, disconnecting the power supply presents other problems. The automatic soap dispenser could be damaged during disconnecting of the power supply, for example the battery compartment cover could be broken, the power cord could become frayed, the cleaning crew could forget to reconnect the power supply after cleaning or a combination thereof. In addition, in office buildings and other public restroom facilities, there are generally 2 or more sinks with the automatic soap dispensers. Disconnecting the power supply for each automatic soap dispenser and reconnecting the power supply adds time to the cleaning of the restrooms. Further, there is always the chance that cleaning crew will not reconnect the power supply, which could result in users of the restroom facilities without soap to wash their hands.
There is a need in the art for a quick and easy way for a cleaning crew to shutdown the automatic soap dispenser for a short period of time and where the soap dispenser automatically returns to the dispensing mode after the period of time. This will facilitate the cleaning of the restroom facility by saving the cleaning crew the time and burden of disconnecting and reconnecting the power supply to the automatic soap dispensers. The present invention solves this problem in the art.
Generally stated, the present invention provides an easy to maintain automatic fluid dispenser having a deactivation/reactivation means which will deactivate the dispenser for a period of time and will automatically reactivate the dispenser.
In an embodiment of the present invention, provided is an electronic fluid dispenser. The electronic fluid dispenser has a reservoir for holding a fluid to be dispensed; a pump having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the pump draws the fluid from the reservoir through the inlet and expels the fluid through the outlet; a dispensing tube directly or indirectly connected to the outlet of the pump; a nozzle which is adapted to receive the dispensing tube and to dispense the fluid to a user; a motor and an attenuator in communication with the motor, wherein the attenuator activates the pump to dispense the fluid from the dispenser when the motor is activated. In addition, the fluid dispenser has a processor in communication with the motor; a sensor to detect the presence of a user, where the sensor in communication with the processor such that when the sensor detects the presence of a user, the sensor provides an input to the processor. The dispenser also has a switching means for deactivating the fluid dispenser. This switching means is in communication with the processor such that when the switching means is activated, the switching means provides an input to the processor, and the processor is configured to cease the dispenser from dispensing the fluid for a period of time when the processor receives the input from the switching means.
In another aspect of the present invention, provided is a method of deactivating a fluid dispenser for a period of time. The method has the steps of a) providing a fluid dispenser having a motor, a pump, a sensor, a processor and a switching means; b) activating the switching means; c) sending a signal from the switching means to the processor; and d) having the processor deactivate the fluid dispenser for a period of time when the signal is received from the switching means.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the switching means may be a mechanical switch or an electronic switch. Examples of mechanical switches include, for example, push button switches and toggle switches. Examples of electronic switches include, for example, a touch screen, a sensor, a pattern recognition program, a remote transmitter with a wireless receiver.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the processor may be programmed to cease operation of the dispenser for a set period of time, such as 15 seconds to 10 minutes, typically between 20 seconds and 5 minutes, or more typically between 30 seconds and 3 minutes.
In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the processor can be programmed to cease operation of the dispenser until another event occurs prior to the end of the time period. An example of this embodiment, the processor my adjust the range of the sensor from a short range sensor to an extended range sensor. When the sensor no longer detects activity in the sink or the time period has lapsed, the dispenser reverts back to it dispensing operation.
The present invention provides an easy to maintain fluid dispenser which will allow a cleaning or maintenance personal to clean the sink and surrounding countertops without the dispenser dispensing the fluid during the cleaning process.
It should be noted that, when employed in the present disclosure, the terms “comprises”, “comprising” and other derivatives from the root term “comprise” are intended to be open-ended terms that specify the presence of any stated features, elements, integers, steps, or components, and are not intended to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.
In the following detailed description of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which show by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that mechanical, procedural, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
The dispenser of the present invention may be an in-counter dispenser or a above-counter dispenser. The above-counter dispenser may be a wall mounted dispenser such that the fluid is conveyed to the delivery spout via a delivery tube between the pump and the nozzle. Generally, however, the present invention will be more useful in in-counter dispensers. Therefore, the present invention will described in terms of the in-counter dispenser which is mounted through the counter in a restroom or other facility where hand cleaning or sanitizing may be needed.
To gain a better understanding of the present invention, attention is directed to the Figures of the present specification.
The dispenser fixture 12 includes an under-counter portion 24 having a mounting system 25 securing the dispenser fixture 12 to the counter. The mounting system 25 has an elongated tube 26, which is a generally elongated hollow tube, extending through a hole defined in counter 11. By “hollow”, it is intended that a tube has a passage or channel (not shown in
The under-counter portion 24 also has a connecting member 30, located at the distal end 26D of the elongated tube 26. The connecting member 30 is removably connected to the distal end 26D of the elongated tube 26 at a top end of the connecting member 30. The connecting member 30 supports a reservoir assembly 32 which contains the fluid which is to be dispensed from the dispenser apparatus 10. The reservoir assembly 32 is removably connected to the connecting member 30 to the lower end 31 of the connecting member, also referred to as the reservoir assembly connecting surface, such that the reservoir assembly 32 can be removed and replaced when the fluid has been expended from the reservoir assembly 32.
The dispensing apparatus 10 further has a motor housing 202 which is positioned between the distal end 26D of the elongated tube 26 and the connecting member. The motor housing 202 may also contain the control electronics which controls the automatic nature of the dispensing apparatus 10. Attached to the motor housing is a power supply housing 204, which holds the power supply or transformer used to power the automatic dispensing apparatus 10 of with the scope of the present invention.
Referring to
The reservoir assembly 32 has a dispensing tube 119 which extend out of the dispenser assembly. The dispensing tube 119 is generally an elongated tube which carries the fluid to be dispensed from the pump 114 (shown in
Located within the main container 121 is a pump 114, shown in
As shown in
As is shown in
To gain a better understanding of an exemplary pump that may be used in the present invention, attention is again directed to
An engaging element or attenuator 126 is in communication to the pump's piston assembly 61. Typically, the attenuator 126 will be physically connected to the piston assembly 61. In the illustrated embodiment, attenuator 126 is configured has a cylindrical portion 79, and a disc-shaped flange 80. It is generally the cylindrical portion 79 which is connected to the piston 61 of the pump 114. Typically, the attenuator 126 is generally located near the central axis of the reservoir assembly 32, which provides advantages discussed below. Other features of the attenuator 126 are an upper structure 127 and a lower structure 128 which are connected by a connecting structure 129. The upper structure has a top surface 132. Reciprocative movement of attenuator 126 will cause piston assembly 61 to move within the pump cylinder 66. Piston assembly 61 is normally urged into an upward position (rest position), shown in
As is stated above, the pump assembly 114 shown in
Pump device 114 is further provided with additional check valves 84, 85 and 86 to ensure proper flow of the liquid through the pump. Check valve 86, located at the base of pump cylinder 66, allows the liquid 22 to be drawn into a lower liquid chamber 69, through the inlet 141 of the pump when the inner piston 64 moves in an upward direction (charging stage). When inner piston 64 moves in a downward direction (discharging stage), check valve 85 allows the liquid 22 to be passed into an upper liquid chamber 90 from the lower liquid chamber 69. In addition, check valve 84 allow fluid to exit the upper pump chamber 90 into the mixing chamber 92. Both check valves 84 and 85 are opened at the same time and close at the same time. In the mixing chamber 92, air from the air chamber 68 is mixed with the liquid 22 from the upper liquid chamber 90. The mixing of the air and liquid creates a foam fluid which is forced through a porous member 93. The porous member 93 is in the form of a porous net or screen-like structure to create uniformity in the foam bubbles of the fluid. The fluid is then force through the outlet 142 of the pump 114. While a variety of different check valve configurations are contemplated, the illustrated embodiment utilizes common ball and seat valves. Other configuration of these elements may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Other structures and functional elements, such as seals and gaskets may be used in the pump device to the pump form leaking or improve the function of the pump. As is stated above, the pump 114 is described as a foaming pump; however, a foaming pump is one specific embodiment of the present invention. Non foaming pumps may also be used in the dispenser of the present invention as a second embodiment.
The fluid leaving the outlet 142 of the pump 114 is transported to the elongated tube 119 via a flexible tube 96. Generally, the outlet 142 of the pump 114 typically moves with the piston assembly 61. To counter act this movement, the outlet 142 of the pump 114 a flexible tube 96 has a first end 97 attached to the pump outlet 142. The second end 98 of the flexible tube 96 is attached to an inlet 162 of a stationary member 174, is shown in
A suck back mechanism 116 may be optionally included within the dispenser. Suck back mechanisms are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/329,904, filed on Dec. 8, 2008, which is incorporated by reference, and provides a means to prevent the dispenser from dripping into the sink between uses. Generally, the suck back mechanism 116 is separate and distinct element from the pump 114. Also the suck back mechanism 116 has at least one resilient member 161 capable of storing fluid which may be connected to the stationary member 174. The resilient member 161 is generally hollow structures having an opening 172 located near the portion of resilient member 161 which is to be positioned at or near the stationary member 174. The hollow portion 173 of the hollow structure allows the resilient member 161 to store the fluid. Generally, the suck back mechanism 116 operates by forcing the hollow structure of the resilient member 161 is to collapse, thereby forcing the fluid within the hollow portion 173 out of the hollow portion. Then the resilient member 161 is allowed to its original shape and size, which creates a vacuum, which causes the fluid to be refilled in the resilient member. Generally, at the end of the discharging stage of the pump 114, undispensed fluid remains between the dispensing end 118 and the second opening 163 of the stationary member 174. A portion of the undispensed fluid is drawn into resilient member 161, which prevents the undispensed portion from dripping out of the dispensing end 118 of the dispensing tube 119 and helps prevent stringing of the fluid dispensed to the user with the undispensed fluid. The suck back mechanism 116 may operate independently from the pump 114 or may operate in conjunction with the pump 114. When operated separately from the pump, the suck back mechanism does not rely upon the recovery means 143 of the pump. When operated in conjunction with the pump, the pump's recovery means 143 assists recovery of the resilient members during the charging stage of the pump. The first opening 162 of the stationary member 174 is connected to the outlet 142 of the pump 114.
Optionally, one further element that may be present is a filling port 23, as is shown in
To activate the actuator 126 to dispense the fluid from the dispenser apparatus 10, an actuator rod 130 contacts the top surface 132 of the actuator 126, as is shown in
As the actuator rod 130 depresses the actuator 126, the actuator 126 depresses the piston assembly 61, including both the outer tubular piston 62 and the inner tubular piston 64 of the pump, transitioning the pump 114 from the rest stage to the discharging stage. Depressing the resilient members 161, when present, also causes any fluid within the hollow portion 173 to be expelled from the resilient members 161 into the passage 175 and towards the dispensing end 118 of the dispenser. In addition, fluid is expelled from the pump 114 through the outlet 142 of the pump 114 into the flexible tube 96, which carries the passage 175. The fluid enters the passage 175 and joins the fluid expelled from the resilient member 161, when present. The fluid is also expelled from the delivery spout 20 of the dispenser 10. At the end of the actuator's 126 depressing the resilient member 161, when present, and the piston assembly 61 of the pump 114, the pump recovery means 143 causes the pump to transition from the discharging stage to the charging stage. During the charging stage of the pump 114, the actuator 126 is returned to its rest position, shown in
In the present invention, the dispenser assembly 10 is a hands-free dispenser. As such, dispenser assembly 10 is electronically actuated by an electronic means such as a motor. In one embodiment, the sensor 21 is selected such that the sensor 21 is able to detect a user's hands under the spout 20. The sensor 21 may be an IR sensor or other similar type of sensors could sense a user's hands under the spout 20. When the sensor 21 detects a user's hands under the spout 20, the sensor 21 sends a signal to the control circuitry that a user has requested a dose of the fluid by placing their hands under the spout. The control circuitry in turn sends a signal to a motor 210, shown in
In a particular embodiment, the sensor 21 is electrically connected to a control panel (not shown) having control circuitry 500, shown in
Typically, the power supply housing 204 may be separated from the motor housing so that the power supply may be replaced when needed. That is, the power supply is disconnectable and reconnectable to the motor housing 202. To ensure that power is transferable from the power supply 205 in the power supply housing 204 to the motor housing 202, electrical contact points may be used on both the motor housing 202 and power supply housing 204. These electrical contact points are in complementary positions, meaning that when the power supply 205 in the power supply housing 204 is attached to the motor housing 202, an electrical connection is made. The power supply 205 powers the entire unit, including the sensor 21, control circuitry 500, including the processor and the motor 210.
The power supply 205 for the fluid dispensing system of the present invention may include disposable DC batteries (not shown). Alternatively, the power supply 205 may be a closed system which requires that the entire power supply be replaced as a single unit. Although not shown in the figures, an AC to DC adapter/transformer may be utilized to provide an alternate source of power to the fluid dispenser. This embodiment may be particularly useful wherein the fluid dispenser is mounted in close proximity to an AC outlet or when it is desirable to power multiple dispensers from a centrally located transformer of suitable configuration and power. The number of batteries used to power the motor will depend on the motor selected for the dispenser. Disposable batteries useable in the present invention include 9 volt batteries, 1.5 volt batteries, such as D-cell or C-cell batteries, or other similar batteries. The exact type of battery selected for use is not critical to the present invention so long as the power supplied to the motor is compatible for the motor. For applications where the fluid dispenser will be used under low usage situations, rechargeable batteries could be used. If the dispenser is to be used in a bright light situation, the batteries could be solar rechargeable batteries.
Once the processor 510 receives the input from the sensor, the processor sends power to the motor 210, which in turn actuates the pump. To gain a better understanding of a possible configuration of the motor housing 202, attention is now directed to
Numerous ways may be used to transfer power from an activated motor 210 to the motor driven actuator rod 130. For example, the motor 210 may drive a series of wheels, gears or other energy transmission means to the actuator rod 130 which extends and contacts the actuator 126. In one embodiment of the present invention, which is intended to be an exemplary means that may be used to drive the actuator rod 130, the drive wheel 213 has a post or shaft 214 extending from one area of the gear body near the periphery 215, as is shown if
As is shown in
As is mentioned above, the shaft 214 also has a horizontal movement 326 in the horizontal axis 2. This horizontal movement is essentially unwanted. To account for the horizontal movement, the shaft is allowed to move horizontally in the horizontal axis 2 along the channel 322 in the actuator guide member. Therefore, the channel 322 controls the essentially unwanted horizontal movement 326 of the shaft 214.
The hands-free fluid dispensing systems may also have additional features. For example, dispensing head 18 may have indicator lights to signal various events, such as, recognition of a user, low battery, empty soap reservoir, or other conditions such as a motor failure. Examples of such lights include low power consumption lights, such as LED (light emitting diodes).
In the present invention, the control circuitry 500 contains a processor 510 which has an on-board clock. The processor 510 is in communication with both the sensor 21, through the sensor circuit 512 and the motor 210, through the motor circuit. A general diagram of a control circuit 500 which may be used in the present invention is shown in
In the present invention, there is a switching means which serves to deactivate the fluid dispenser. The switching means is in direct or indirect communication with the processor 510. When the switching means is activated, the switching means sends a signal to the processor 510 and the processor 510 is configured to deactivate or cease operations of the dispenser by stopping the dispenser from dispensing a fluid for a period of time. This deactivation of the dispenser will be referred to herein after as a “cleaning mode” or a “maintenance mode”. The switching means is typically a switch 517, shown in
In addition, the control circuit 500 may optionally have a switching circuit 516 which may be part of the switching means. The switching circuit 516 is in direct connection with the processor 510. As shown in
The processor 510 has an on-board clock function which can be used to determine the period of time in which the dispenser 10 will remain in the cleaning/maintenance mode. Generally, the processor 10 will be programed or configured to keep the dispenser 10 in the cleaning/maintenance mode for a set period of time. For example, the processor 510 determines the lapsed time between the switch activation requests for the cleaning/maintenance mode to the end of the designated time. During this time period, the dispenser is disabled and will not be able to dispense soap. Typically, the time period will be set for a period of time it will typically takes to clean a sink and the surrounding countertop. Typically the time period will be set to a period of time between about 15 seconds to about 10 minutes, more typically between about 20 second and 5 minutes and most typically between about 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Larger countertops and sinks will typically lead to longer to clean so the actual time may be set on the size of the area to be cleaned and the general speed of the cleaning crew.
Essentially any processor having a clock function may be used. Suitable processors include processors such as the 89LPC922 from available from Phillips. Other similar processors may be used in the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Generally, the dispenser 10 will have a means to adjust the set period of time, such as switches or variable resistors to adjust the set period of time. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the time period may be set by the amount of time in which the IR receiver 21R his blocked or based on the pattern inputted into IR receiver 21R. For example, if the IR receiver 21R is blocked for 3 seconds, the cleaning mode will last for 3 minutes; if the IR receiver 21R is blocked for 5 seconds, the cleaning mode will last for 5 minutes and so on. In this embodiment of the present invention, the generally the maximum amount of time will be about 10 minutes. It is further noted that the amount of time the IR receiver 21R is blocked in seconds does not necessary translate to the time the dispenser is in the cleaning mode in minutes on a 1 second:1 minute ratio. However, it is an easy translation for the cleaning crew to use to activate the cleaning mode. As such, for example, 4 seconds of blocking time could be a cleaning mode time of 2 minutes, 3, minutes, or 10 minutes, depending on the set-up of the dispenser. When a pattern is used to activate the cleaning/maintenance mode, the pattern should be such that it is a pattern that would not occur during normal use of the dispenser.
In an alternative embodiment, rather than shutting the dispenser down for a set period of time when the cleaning/maintenance mode is activated, the range of the sensor 21 could be changed from a close proximity to and extended range proximity sensor. This can be done by increasing the power to the IR transmitter 21T. Generally, the increase range of the sensor 21 will be increased to include the entire sink, rather than just under the nozzle 18. While set in the extended range proximity sensor, the sensor and the sensor circuit will continue to look for the cleaning crews hand or cleaning implements in the sink or countertop region in front of the nozzle. Once the cleaning crews hands or cleaning implements are not detected in the sink for a period or the surrounding areas for a set period of time, the dispenser automatically reverts back to the dispensing mode, converting the sensor 21 back to a close proximity sensor, such that the dispenser will dispense the fluid when the user's hand. Generally, if the sensor, while on the extended range, does not detect a cleaning crew's hand or cleaning implement, for a period of about 1 minute, the dispenser 10 will revert back to the dispensing mode. The actual time period could be longer or shorter, for example 30 seconds or 2 minutes. Again, the clock on the processor 510 can be used to measure this time period. Further, if this embodiment is used, it may be advantageous to place an upper time limit of about 10 minutes on the cleaning/maintenance mode, in case the sensor range is longer than the area of the sink. This aspect of the present invention is discussed in more detail below and is shown in
In a further aspect of the present invention, the processor may be configured to limit the number of times the dispenser 10 can be placed in the cleaning/maintenance mode in a 24 hour period. This will prevent users from disabling the system through intention or unintentional actions. For example, the processor could be configured to limit the number of cleaning/maintenance modes to 4, 5, 6 or more times in a 24 hour period. The actually number of times could be determined by each individual restroom based on typically number of cleaning that restroom receives in a given day.
The switch 517 of the switching means could be located on the nozzle 18, shown in
In the present invention, the fluid dispensed from the dispenser may be a variety of fluids. Generally, the fluid dispensed will be a hand cleaning fluid, such as liquid soap, a liquid sanitizer, a gel soap, a foam soap precursor, a foaming sanitizer precursor or other similar hand cleaning or sanitizing liquid formulations. It is noted in the case of foaming soap precursor, or a foaming sanitizer precursor, these formulations are liquids before a foaming pump will convert these fluid to a foam.
Other features can include product recognition, where the reservoir assembly 32 has a product identification feature which can communicate with the control circuitry to identify the product being dispensed, or other features such as the size of the fluid pump in the reservoir assembly, the type of pump (fluid or liquid). The control circuitry would have a means to receive the product identification information. Exemplary product identification means includes RFID, optical sensor such as a bar code reader and other similar means.
Another feature which may be present in the fluid dispenser of the present invention is additional switches which may set the fluid dispenser to only dispense a single shot, or a double shot of the fluid being dispense. This type of functionality is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/00127291, entitled “Fluid Dispenser, published Jun. 2, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other switches or adjustments that could be used in a variable resistance switch which could be used to adjust and change the time period in which the dispenser 10 remains in the cleaning/maintenance mode.
The fluid dispensers of the present invention will generally delivery as much fluid soap necessary for a hand cleaning event. Generally, the amount of fluid will be up to about 3 ml or more of the fluid, depending on the nature of the hand cleaning or sanitizing fluid. For industrial applications, the upper limit for the amount of fluid being dispensed could be higher than 3 ml. For most hand washing events, the amount of the fluid will be less than 2 ml, and generally less than 1 ml. In a particular embodiment, the amount of the precursor delivered by the fluid dispenser is between about 0.45 ml and about 0.8 ml and more particularly, between 0.45 ml and 0.55 ml.
The present invention also relates to a method of deactivation a fluid dispenser for a period of time. The process includes
When deactivated, the fluid dispenser is in a cleaning/maintenance mode which will prevent the dispenser from dispensing a fluid from the dispenser. The deactivation can be set to a preset length of time or can be such that other events occur prior to the end of the preset length of time to revert the dispenser back to the dispensing mode. When the cleaning/maintenance mode is a preset length of time generally the period of time will be between 15 seconds and 10 minutes; more typically between about 20 seconds and 5 minutes and most typically between about 30 seconds and 3 minutes. As described above, the dispenser is deactivated by deactivating the motor, and/or the sensor. In one aspect of the present invention, the processor deactivates the fluid dispenser by deactivating the sensor circuit for the set period of time when a signal is received from the switching mean.
To gain a better understanding of this aspect of the present invention attention is directed to
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the processor activates the sensor in such a way that the sensor increases the range, as described above. To gain a better understanding of this aspect of the present invention attention is directed to
If an object is detected in sink or surrounding counter area, then the dispenser may remain in the cleaning mode 640 until an object is not detected in the sink or the surrounding counter area. In another aspect of the present invention, Ian object is detected, then the dispenser may optionally do a further time check. The processor then checks the lapse time Tc 673 from the time the dispenser was placed in the dispensing mode as compared to a preset time Ts 674. If the lapse time Tc is greater than the preset time Ts, then the dispenser resumes the dispensing mode 610. If the lapse time Tc is less than preset time Ts, then the processor retains the dispenser in the cleaning/maintenance mode 640 and the processer processor repeat steps 651 and 661 until the Tc is greater than Ts, if an object is still detected. When Tc is greater than Ts and the object is still detected, to account for the lapse time, the dispenser resumes the dispensing mode 610 to ensure that there is not an undesired malfunction with the transmitter 21T being in the extended range. In this embodiment of the present invention Ts is the preset length of time described above in which the processor will keep the dispenser in the cleaning/maintenance mode.
As is described above, the switching means may be activated by many different methods. In one aspect of the present invention the switching means may be activated by inputting a pattern into the sensor 21, and the processor 510 is configured to recognize the pattern which will cause the processor to deactivate the fluid dispenser by placing the dispenser into the cleaning mode. Another method, the switching means maybe activated by blocking the sensor for a duration of time, and the processor is configured to recognize the duration of time as a signal to deactivate the dispenser. In this aspect of the invention, the processor is configured to deactivate the dispenser in the cleaning mode for a period of time proportion to the period of time in which the sensor is blocked.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, it is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof, which are intended to define the scope of the invention.
