Patent Application
20240306858
Soap and sanitizer dispensers in commercial restrooms are generally either bulk fill systems where several dispensers are feed liquid from a common reservoir or are individually filled. Bulk systems are generally not viewed favorably due to the potential for contamination and bacteria build up in the systems. A great alternative to the bulk systems is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 10,974,951 titled Systems and Methods for Monitoring and Controlling Dispenser Fluid Refill. These systems are refilled individually in a sanitary method that prevents contamination and bacterial build up. These systems, however, require maintenance personnel to be in the restroom filling and maintaining the systems. In high-traffic areas such as, for example, airports and casinos it is difficult for the maintenance personnel to maintain the systems. In addition, the sensors on current touch-free dispensers tend to collect dirt and debris on the sensors, which results in the touch-free dispensers failing to operate.
Exemplary through-the-wall touch-free dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary through-the-wall touch-free dispensers system includes an elongated wall mounting base. The elongated wall mounting base has a length and a width, the length is greater than the width and the wall mounting base is configured such that the length is in the vertical direction when the touch-free dispenser is mounted on a wall. Also included is a spout and a base housing. The spout extends further outward from the wall than the base housing and the base housing extends below the spout. An object sensor is located in the base housing below the spout. A liquid inlet conduit that is configured to extend through at least a portion of the wall is also included. A pump is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet. A reservoir for holding liquid is in fluid communication with the pump. In addition, the dispenser includes control circuitry for causing the touch-free dispenser to dispense fluid.
Another exemplary through-the-wall touch-free soap dispenser includes a liquid reservoir, a liquid feed conduit and a pump. A liquid conduit and an air conduit place the pump in fluid communication with a mixing chamber. A base plate that has an opening therethrough is included. The opening has a height and a width. The height is greater than the width. A spout and base housing are included. The base housing is configured to mount to the base plate. The spout extends outward from the base housing. The spout has an axially extending centerline which is substantially orthogonal to a surface of the base housing. A dispensing nozzle is located near the proximate end. The base housing has a lower portion. An object sensor is located in the lower portion. The mixing chamber is located in the end of the spout. The mixing chamber has an air inlet and a liquid inlet and is in fluid communication with the liquid conduit, the air conduit and the dispensing nozzle. In addition, control circuitry for receiving a signal from the object sensor and causing the pump to dispense a dose of fluid when an object is detected by the object sensor is also included.
Another exemplary through-the-wall touch-free soap dispenser includes a liquid reservoir and a pump that are configured to be located on a first side of a wall. A liquid conduit and a base housing configured for mounting on the wall are also included. A dispensing spout extends outward from the base housing. The base housing extends downward below the dispensing spout. The base housing and the dispenser spout are configured to be located on a second side of the wall. The liquid conduit is configured to pass through the wall. An outlet nozzle is located proximate an end of the dispensing spout. The outlet nozzle is in fluid communication with the liquid conduit. An object sensor is also included. The object sensor located below the dispensing spout. The object sensor includes an emitter and a receiver, which are located along a vertical axis.
To further clarify various aspects of the present disclosure, a more particular description of inventive concepts will be made by reference to various aspects of the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, while the figures can be drawn to scale for some embodiments, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The following description refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific aspects of the present disclosure.
As described herein, when one or more components are described as being connected, joined, affixed, coupled, attached, or otherwise interconnected, such interconnection may be direct as between the components or may be indirect such as through the use of one or more intermediary components. Also as described herein, reference to a “member,” “component,” or “portion” shall not be limited to a single structural member, component, or element but can include an assembly of components, members, or elements. Also as described herein, the terms “substantially” and “about” are defined as at least close to (and includes) a given value or state (preferably within 10% of, more preferably within 1% of, and most preferably within 0.1% of).
“Circuit communication” as used herein indicates a communicative relationship between devices. Direct electrical, electromagnetic and optical connections and indirect electrical, electromagnetic and optical connections are examples of circuit communication. Two devices are in circuit communication if a signal from one is received by the other, regardless of whether the signal is modified by some other device. For example, two devices separated by one or more of the following—amplifiers, filters, transformers, optoisolators, digital or analog buffers, analog integrators, other electronic circuitry, fiber optic transceivers or satellites—are in circuit communication if a signal from one is communicated to the other, even though the signal is modified by the intermediate device(s). As another example, an electromagnetic sensor is in circuit communication with a signal if it receives electromagnetic radiation from the signal. As a final example, two devices not directly connected to each other, but both capable of interfacing with a third device, such as, for example, a CPU, are in circuit communication.
Also, as used herein, voltages and values representing digitized voltages are considered to be equivalent for the purposes of this application, and thus the term “voltage” as used herein refers to either a signal, or a value in a processor representing a signal, or a value in a processor determined from a value representing a signal.
“Signal”, as used herein includes, but is not limited to one or more electrical signals, analog or digital signals, one or more computer instructions, a bit or bit stream, or the like.
“Logic,” synonymous with “circuit” as used herein includes, but is not limited to hardware, firmware, software and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s). For example, based on a desired application or needs, logic may include a software controlled microprocessor or microcontroller, discrete logic, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other programmed logic device. Logic may also be fully embodied as software. The circuits identified and described herein may have many different configurations to perform the desired functions. The exemplary methodologies provide instructions for creating logic to control desired functions.
Values identified in the detailed description may be exemplary and may be different as needed for a particular dispenser and/or refill design. Accordingly, the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein are not limited to the particular values or ranges of values used to describe the embodiments disclosed herein.
As can be seen in
Pump 210 draws in liquid from liquid reservoir 230 through liquid inlet conduit 220 and pumps the liquid up conduit 202 to touch-free dispenser 110 as described in more detail below. Pump 210 draws in ambient air and pumps the ambient air up through conduit 203 to touch-free dispenser 110.
Reservoir 230 may be located below pump 210 or above pump 210. Reservoir 230 may be located on the back side of wall 102 as shown, or located away from the back wall 102, such as, for example, in a closet. Reservoir 230 may feed a single touch-free dispenser 110 or feed one or more touch-free dispensers 110. Preferably, pump 210 is configured to stop pumping liquid if reservoir 230 is empty to prevent drawing air up into conduit 220, which could cause priming issues.
Reservoir 230 may include security measures to prevent unauthorized fluid from being used to fill reservoir 230. Examples of such security measures may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 10,974,951 titled Systems and Methods for Monitoring and Controlling Dispenser Fluid Refill, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
In some instances, touch-free dispenser 110 is a liquid dispenser and the air conduit 203 is not included. In some instances, a one-way valve (not shown) is included in the air conduit 203 proximate mixing chamber 318. The one-way valve (not shown) offers flexibility in that the system may be operated as a foam dispenser by pumping air through the air conduit 203 and liquid through the liquid conduit 202, or may me a liquid only dispenser by pumping liquid through liquid conduit 202 without pumping air through air conduit 203. The one-way valve (not shown) prevents liquid from flowing into the air conduit 203.
In some instances, a one-way valve (not shown) is included in the liquid conduit 202 proximate the mixing chamber 318. This one-way valve (not shown) may be used to prevent liquid in liquid conduit 202 from drying out, and/or air from flowing into the liquid conduit 202.
Touch-free dispenser 110 includes a base housing 304 and a spout 302 that extends outward from the base housing 304. Nozzle 320 is located within spout 302 when assembled. An opening (not shown) is located proximate the end of spout 302 to dispense fluid. Base housing 304 extends below the bottom of spout 302. Base housing has a front surface 313. In this instance front surface 313 is substantially flat. In some instances, front surface 313 is a curved surface.
A hand sensor 309 is located in the base housing 304. The sensor 309 may extend outward from the front surface 313, may be flush with the front surface 313 or may be recessed from the front surface 313. When recessed, preferably a protective cover (not shown) is located over the object sensor 309. The spout 302 does not contain any electronics for the hand sensor 309. Object sensor 309, may be any type of optical sensor, however preferably object sensor 309 is an infrared optical sensor. The infrared optical sensor includes an IR emitter 310 and an IR receiver 312. In this instance, IR emitter 310 is located above IR receiver 312, however, IR emitter 310 may be located below IR receiver 312. IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are arranged in a vertical orientation. IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are arranged in a vertical plane. In some instances, outlet nozzle 320 is also located in the vertical plane.
In this instance base housing 304 has an oval shape and extends outward from the wall mounting base 360. Spout 302 has an axially extending center line ACL. Axially extending centerline ACL is substantially orthogonal to base housing 304. In this instance substantially orthogonal to base housing 304 means that angle 480 is between 80 degrees and 100 degrees. Including in some instances angle 480 is between 85 and 95 degrees. Including in some instances angle 480 is 90 degrees.
As described above IR emitter 310 and an IR receiver 312. In this exemplary embodiment, the IR emitter 310 is located above the IR receiver 312. In some embodiments, the IR receiver 312 is located above the IR emitter 310.
The IR emitter 310 and the IR receiver 312 are arranged in a vertical orientation. In some embodiments, the center of the IR emitter 310, the center of the IR receiver 312 and the center of the dispensing outlet 320 are coplanar.
IR emitter 310 has an alignment axis 422. The IR emitter 310 is secured to base housing 304. In this exemplary embodiment, the IR emitter 310 is mounted at an angle 420 with respect to a horizontal axis. In some embodiments, angle 420 is between about 10 degrees and 45 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 420 is between about 15 degrees and 35 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 420 is between about 18 degrees and 30 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 420 is between about 20 degrees and 25 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 240 is between about 22.5 degrees.
IR receiver 312 has an alignment axis 432. The IR receiver 312 is secured to the upward base housing 304. In this exemplary embodiment, the IR receiver 312 is mounted at an angle 432 with respect to a horizontal axis. In some embodiments, angle 432 is between about 10 degrees and 45 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 432 is between about 15 degrees and 35 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 432 is between about 18 degrees and 30 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 432 is between about 20 degrees and 25 degrees. In some embodiments, angle 432 is between about 22.5 degrees.
In the improved hand sensor, it is preferred that the IR emitter alignment axis 422 and the IR receiver alignment axis 432 intersect. In this exemplary embodiment, the IR emitter alignment axis 422 and the IR receiver alignment axis 432 intersect at an angle of intersection 480. In some embodiments, the angle of intersection 480 is between 10 degrees and 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle of intersection 480 is between 20 degrees and 80 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle of intersection 480 is between 30 degrees and 70 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle of intersection 480 is between 40 degrees and 60 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle of intersection 480 is between 40 degrees and 50 degrees.
IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are preferably spaced apart by as much distance as is feasible. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 10 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 15 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 20 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 25 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 30 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 35 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 40 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 45 mm. In some embodiments, IR emitter 310 and IR receiver 312 are spaced apart by a distance of at least 50 mm.
IR emitter 310 has an IR emission cone 424. Emission cone 424 is preferably symmetrical about alignment axis 422. IR receiver 312 has a detection cone 434. Detection cone 434 is preferably symmetrical about IR receiver alignment axis 432.
As can be seen from
As a result, calibration of the innovative hand sensing technology is not as critical as it is in the prior art systems. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the IR emitter 310, IR receiver 312 and associated circuitry may be hermetically sealed, which was not possible in prior art systems that needed to be recalibrated periodically.
While it may not be critical to calibrate the sensor when the emitter and receiver alignment axes are configured to intersect, the sensors may be calibrated to a maximum distance D, which is shown in
Power supply 504 may be used to power any of the electrical components in the dispenser system, including for example, motor controller 510, sensor 518, processor 506, and any other electrical components required for dispensing products as described herein. In some embodiments, power supply 504 is one or more batteries. In some embodiments, power supply 504 is a connector for connecting to an AC power supply, such as, for example, 120 VAC. Motor controller 510 provides power to motor/pump 512.
Sensor 518 is an IR sensor and includes an IR emitter 520 and an IR receiver 530. IR emitter 520 and IR receiver 530 are connected to IR circuitry 519. In some embodiments, IR emitter 520, IR receiver 530 and IR circuitry 519 are mounted on a circuit board 540. In some embodiments, circuit board 540, IR emitter 520, IR receiver 530, IR circuitry 519 are hermetically sealed because the sensor is to be used in a wet environment, such as, for example, next to a sink. In this exemplary embodiment, the IR emitter 520 and IR receiver 530 are mounted to the circuit board 540 with their alignment axis angles pre-set. The circuitry 518 is located in base housing 304. Preferably spout 302 is devoid of any electronic circuitry.
Sensor 518 is in circuit communications with processor 506. When an object is detected in the detection zone of sensor 518, the processor causes the motor controller 510 to power pump/motor 512 to dispense dose of fluid.
The processor 506 and/or IR circuitry 519 control the sensor 518. In some exemplary embodiments, processor 506 and/or IR circuitry 519 detect “ambient” voltages, which are voltage values on the IR circuitry 520 that are due to ambient light and or ambient light changes. This is done to prevent ambient light and/or changes in ambient light from triggering false dispenses and/or from preventing detection of objects in the detection zone. An exemplary method for dealing with ambient light is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,196 titled Fluid Dispenser Having Infrared User Sensor, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
In addition, it has been discovered that because the emitter alignment axis and the receiver alignment axis intersect, an object being in the detection zone may be accurately detected by a single voltage spike over a set voltage. Accordingly, unlike the prior art, which require an average reading to be over a set limit, the instant configuration may accurately detect the presence of an object much quicker than the prior art sensor technology, without increasing false dispensing.
While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. It is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Unless expressly excluded herein, all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order in which the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.
This application claims priority to and any benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/490,123, filed Mar. 14, 2023, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63490123 | Mar 2023 | US |
