Abstract:
A dispensing apparatus for delivering fluid or liquid to a container (e.g. a bottle), has a container holding device and a fluid delivery system delivering fluid to a dispensing outlet under control of an actuation member, which causes the fluid delivery system to deliver fluid in response to movement of the actuation member from its start position. A dispensing lock has a first position in which it blocks movement of the actuation member from its start position, and a second position in which it permits movement of the actuation member. A release member that releases the dispensing lock includes a movable release member which is moved by the container, during its insertion into the refill position, so as to release the dispensing lock by bringing the dispensing lock to said second position, thus enabling fluid to be delivered.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/997,854, filed on Jul. 2, 2008, which is a national phase filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2006/030463, filed Aug. 4, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/706,248, filed Aug. 5, 2005, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. Priority to each application is hereby claimed. 
         [0002]    This patent application relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/508,299 filed on Mar. 4, 2003 and EP patent application number 03711374.3 also filed on Mar. 4, 2003, both of which claim priority to EP patent application number 02252051.4 filed on Mar. 21, 2002. The contents of these patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to the field of fluid dispensers, in particular manually operated dispensers having a lock-out feature to prevent operation of the dispenser until a container is properly positioned on the dispenser. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In many organizations, for example in industry, in large kitchens and in large hotels where many rooms need to be cleaned regularly, small containers, such as easily portable bottles, are frequently refilled with cleaning and sanitizing liquids from bulk containers held at a filling station. The dispenser is typically of the type described in EP 0868137. This describes a manually operated dispenser for dispensing measured single shots of fluid from a reservoir into a container positioned beneath the outlet. The containers being filled are typically labeled or colored in order to indicate the liquid which they should contain. There are obvious risks of errors here, that a liquid might be filled into a container for which it was not intended, particularly when many people frequently visit a filling station. Simple color coding systems, whilst helpful, do not remove the possibility of human error. 
         [0005]    Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by electronic automated filling systems, but these tend to be very complex, involving for example the reading of bar code labels. Such systems are expensive, they require expert set-up and maintenance, and are prone to the occurrence of faults. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention seeks to provide a mechanically operated dispensing apparatus which is simple, dependable and low-cost, and which permits the dispensing of a specific liquid into a specific purpose-made container, whilst, at the same time, minimizing the risk of inadvertent filling of containers intended for other liquids and the risk of spillages. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for delivering fluid to a container, the apparatus comprising: 
         [0008]    container holding means for receiving in use a container having a fill port and a container identifier key, the container holding means including mechanical keying means arranged to permit a container with a predetermined identifier key to be completely inserted to a refill position in the container holding means, 
         [0009]    a dispensing outlet for delivering fluid to the fill port of a container at the refill position, 
         [0010]    fluid delivery means for delivering fluid to the dispensing outlet, 
         [0011]    an actuation member movable from a start position and operatively linked to the fluid delivery means to cause the fluid delivery means to deliver fluid in response to movement of the actuation member from the start position, 
         [0012]    a dispensing lock having a first position in which it blocks movement of the actuation member from the start position, and a second position in which it permits movement of the actuation member, 
         [0013]    release means for releasing the dispensing lock including a movable release member which is moved by a container, during its insertion into the refill position in the container retention means, so as to release the dispensing lock by bringing the dispensing lock to the second position, thus enabling fluid to be delivered. 
         [0014]    The mechanical keying means preferably comprises one or more keying elements of predetermined shape and configuration, said elements being arranged for cooperation with a predetermined container identifier key having one or more keying elements of corresponding shape and configuration, thereby permitting the complete insertion of the container into the container holding means. 
         [0015]    In this manner it is possible for the container holding means to allow the full and complete insertion of a certain type of container whilst blocking the insertion of other types, i.e. types which do not carry a specific identifier key. The specific container identifier key of a container intended for complete insertion into the container holding means is typically configured to cooperate in a mating manner with the mechanical keying means of the container holding means. Preferably either the mechanical keying means or the container identifier key includes an array of projections or an array of recesses or a combination of the two for cooperation with a corresponding mating array of projections and/or recesses on the other of these two parts. 
         [0016]    Preferably the movable release member is arranged to be moved by a container during substantially complete insertion of the container into the container holding means. Preferably, the movable release member is located at an end region of a slot of the container holding means, the slot serving to receive a correctly inserted container, so that the container makes contact with and moves the movable release member at the end of its travel in the slot, during insertion. 
         [0017]    The movable release member includes a rotatably or pivotally mounted member or arm arranged and positioned for interaction with an inserted container. The arm is coupled to a shaft or rod that extends toward a dispensing locking mechanism. The release member can also have a second arm arranged and movably positioned to act as the dispensing lock or for interaction with the dispensing lock. 
         [0018]    The pivotally mounted member of the movable release member is preferably located in close proximity to the container holding means. The pivotally mounted member of the movable release member is more preferably located in close proximity to the furthest point of travel into the container holding means of a fully inserted container. 
         [0019]    The shaft of the movable release member is preferably mounted so as to extend substantially entirely in a vertical or near vertical plane. The lever arm is preferably located at one end of the shaft. In some embodiments, lever arms are coupled at substantially opposite ends of the shaft. Rotation of one lever arm causes rotation of the other lever arm via rotation of the shaft. 
         [0020]    The dispensing lock means preferably has at least one locking member that is movable to selectively block movement of an actuation member. In one position, the locking member acts to block movement of the actuation member (i.e. plunger) and thereby prevent actuation of the piston. In a second position, the locking member permits the actuation member to move in response to an externally applied force. 
         [0021]    Preferably the movable locking member is a pivotally mounted arm which is capable of rotation between said first and second positions in response to movement of the release means. In some embodiments, the arm pivots about an axis that is parallel to the shaft. In other embodiments, the arm pivots about an axis that is normal to the shaft. 
         [0022]    The fluid delivery means preferably includes a working chamber and a piston means, the working chamber being selectively communicable with a fluid supply i.e. tank or reservoir within the apparatus and the dispensing passage. The working chamber can be of any convenient shape but will typically take the form of a cylinder or a cylinder of circular cross-section i.e. for cooperation with a circular piston. 
         [0023]    Typically either the piston means or the boundary wall of the working chamber i.e. the cylinder, will be movable relative to the dispensing apparatus, whilst the other will be fixed. Either one or the other is then preferably actuable in response to movement of the actuation member to pressurise fluid in the working chamber for delivery to the dispensing passage. 
         [0024]    The actuation member is preferably at least partially exposed to the exterior of the apparatus. The actuation member is preferably a plunger which is arranged for movement independently of the piston (or working chamber/cylinder, cylinder wall, whichever is movable), said actuation member being movable in response to an externally applied force i.e. when depressed by an operator, to move the piston and thereby pressurise the fluid in the working chamber and deliver fluid from the dispensing passage. 
         [0025]    The actuation member may take other forms such as a button or lever to which force can be applied by an operator. 
         [0026]    It is envisaged that the present invention will be used with any suitable shape, size and type of container with a port suitable for refilling the container and a container identifier key suitable for use with the present dispensing apparatus. It is also envisaged that the containers for use with the dispensing apparatus of the present invention may also include aspects of other recognition systems such as color, shape etc. to visually assist the operator before he makes an attempt at inserting a container into the dispensing apparatus. 
         [0027]    Further aspects of the present invention, together with the organization and operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       INTRODUCTION TO THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a dispenser embodying aspects of the present invention. A bottle is shown being inserted into the dispenser, but the bottle is not fully inserted into the dispenser. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a detail view of a portion of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1  with the bottle fully inserted into the dispenser. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a detail view of a portion of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional top view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1  showing the dispenser in the locked and non-actuated position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a similar view to  FIG. 5  with the dispenser shown in the unlocked and non-actuated position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a similar view to  FIGS. 5 and 6  with the dispenser in the unlocked and actuated position. 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the container holding bracket shown in  FIG. 1  without a container positioned in the bracket. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a similar view to  FIG. 8  with a container being inserted into the bracket, but not yet fully inserted (generally corresponding to  FIG. 1 ). 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a similar view to  FIG. 9  with the container shown fully inserted into the bracket (generally corresponding to  FIG. 3 ). 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a front view of another dispenser embodying aspects of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a partial front cross-sectional view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 11  with the dispensing portion shown in the locked position. 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  with the dispensing portion shown in the unlocked position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limited. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The term “coupled” is used broadly and encompasses both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, and can include electrical connection or couplings, whether direct or indirect. Finally, as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, other alternative mechanical configurations are possible, and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0043]    The fluid dispensing devices shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10  and  11 - 13  each have a fixed frame structure in the form of an enclosed housing  30 ,  34  and a bottle retainer or container holding bracket  2  including a back plate  6  which is either joined or unitary with the housing  30 ,  34 . The housing  30 ,  34  and bottle retainer  2  can be mounted on a vertical wall such as a building wall. The housing generally has a top box  34  which carries a removable or refillable reservoir (not shown) of fluid to be dispensed, and a lower housing portion  30  in which the dispensing mechanism is located. The lower housing portion  30  is located above a dispensing outlet  18 , through which fluid being dispensed is delivered into the filling port  13  of a container located beneath the outlet  18 . 
         [0044]    The reservoir of fluid to be dispensed (not shown) is arranged within the top box  34  and a passage is arranged between the reservoir and the dispensing outlet  18 . Suitable piping arrangements, including valves, can be used to deliver fluid from the reservoir to the outlet  18 . One example of such piping is shown in EP-A-868137, which is hereby incorporated by reference. A suitable actuation assembly  20  can be coupled to the piping to allow for selective dispensing of the fluid. The actuation assembly can include a push button pump assembly, such as the one described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/508,299. Briefly, that type of pump assembly comprises a cylinder and piston, which together define a working chamber, that is connected through a common inlet/outlet passage to another passage. The piston is slidably arranged within the cylinder where it is capable of reciprocal movement. A plunger is slidingly mounted on the outside of the piston sleeve and is also arranged to slide within an aperture in the front wall of the housing. The plunger has a flange being of greater diameter than the aperture to ensure that the plunger cannot be removed from the front wall of the housing and therefore serves to define an outwards end position of the plunger when this is not depressed into the dispensing apparatus. 
         [0045]    The bottle retainer  2  consists of the two forwardly projecting arms  3 ,  3 ′ which are attached to the back plate  6 , forming a slot-like opening  19  into which a bottle  1  can be inserted. The arms  3 ,  3 ′ carry rails  4 ,  4 ′ which are arranged to cooperate with corresponding slots  1   a ,  1   b  in the bottle  1  (the slot lb is disposed in the bottle  1  opposite the slot  1   a ). 
         [0046]    The bottle retainer  2  carries mechanical keying  5  in the form of an arrangement of projections and/or recesses at the base of slot-like opening  19  of retainer  2  for cooperation with an appropriately keyed bottle, as for example described in greater detail in the European patent application EP0675073. A bottle  1  which is intended to be insertable into the retainer  2  carries recesses and/or projections in positions corresponding to the projections at the bottom of opening  19 , whereon other bottles, cannot be fully inserted into the base of opening  19 , which means they cannot reach the refill position. The recesses on the bottle therefore serve as the bottle identifier key and whether or not this matches the projections at the base of opening  19  determines whether a particular bottle type can be fully inserted into a particular dispenser. 
         [0047]    Alternatively, the rails  4 ,  4 ′ can each carry a shaped formation which serves as the mechanical keying of the retainer  2 . In this case a bottle  1  which is intended to be insertable into the retainer  2  carries at the bottom of the slots  1   a ,  1   b  formations intended for mating cooperation with the mechanical keying formations of arms  3 ,  3 ′. The mechanical keying formations can be designed to allow the insertion into the retainer of a particular type of bottle which carries a corresponding mating container identifier key and to block the insertion of other bottles which do not carry the appropriate identifier key. 
         [0048]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the bottle  1  is inserted into the dispensing apparatus in a generally horizontal direction as it moves along the guide rails  4 ,  4 ′. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bottle  1  comes to rest in its final insertion position with its filling port  13  directly beneath the dispensing outlet  18 . The retainer  2 , also includes latches, pips or beads (see  FIGS. 8-10 ) which help to secure the bottle in its fully inserted final position of travel with the dispensing apparatus by engaging with corresponding pips or beads in slots  1   a ,  1   b  on the bottle. 
         [0049]    A locking device  40  prevents actuation of the actuation assembly  20  until the correct bottle is fully inserted into the container holding bracket  2 . The locking device  40  has a locked and unlocked state. In the locked state, the dispenser cannot dispense. In the unlocked state, the dispenser can dispense. The locking device  40  is biased by a spring  47  to the locked position. Accordingly, the locking device will be held in the locked position until moved to the unlocked position. 
         [0050]    The locking device  40  includes a dispensing lock  42  and a release mechanism  44 . The dispensing lock  42  is coupled to the dispensing portion of the housing  30  and is positioned to selectively mechanically prevent movement of the actuation assembly  20 . The release mechanism  44  is coupled to the dispensing lock  42  to move the dispensing lock  42  between a first position ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) in which actuation of the actuation assembly  20  is prevented and a second position ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) in which actuation is allowed. The release mechanism  44  is also coupled to the container holding bracket  2  and positioned to detect when a container is fully inserted into the bracket  2 . 
         [0051]    The dispensing lock  42  of the illustrated embodiment includes a moveable arm  43 . The arm  43  of this embodiment pivots or rotates. However, the arm  43  can move in other manners in other embodiments. The arm  43  rotates between a first position ( FIG. 5 ) in which actuation of the dispenser is prevented and a second position ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) in which actuation of the dispenser is allowed. In some embodiments, the arm is part of a locking plate having an additional arm  45  for receiving motion (directly or indirectly) from the release mechanism  44 . As illustrated, a linkage  46  can extend between a portion of the release mechanism  44  and the additional arm  45  of the locking plate. 
         [0052]    The locking arm  43  of the dispensing lock interferes with the relative movement of the plunger and the cylinder of the activation mechanism  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , a plate or flange  48  is coupled to the actuator  20 . As long as the locking arm  43  is in blocking position relative to the plate  48 , the plate  48  and actuator  20  cannot move towards a dispensing position. However, the locking arm  43  can be moved to a position where it no longer blocks the movement of the plate  48  and actuation of dispenser is allowed. In one particular embodiment, the locking arm  43  aligns with an aperture in the plate  48  to allow the plate to move to a dispensing position. However, in other embodiments, the locking arm  43  can also be moved away from the plate  48  such that the plate  48  will be allowed to move. When the locking arm  43  is moved to the dispensing position, the plate  48  can then slide inward with the actuator  20 . The plate  48  described in this paragraph can be a stand alone part within the dispenser or it can be a part that serves other functions as well. For example, it can be part of the actuator  20 , a flange  21  coupled to the actuator  20 , and the like. 
         [0053]    Release mechanism  44  of this embodiment includes an arm  50  coupled to a shaft  52 , wherein the shaft  52  extends along the back plate  6  and is coupled to the dispensing lock  42 . The arm  50  of the release mechanism  44  is rotatable between a first position ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) corresponding to the locked state of the dispensing lock  42  and a second position ( FIG. 10 ) corresponding to the unlocked state of the dispensing lock  42 . The arm  50  of the release mechanism  44  moves in response to the correctly keyed bottle being fully inserted into the container holding device  2 . This is best shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  8 - 10 . The arm can be directly contacted by the container or as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the container can contact and move a plate  54  that in turn contacts the arm  50 . The arm  50  is then pivoted about a pivot point  51  on the container holding device  2 . Since the arm  50  is coupled to the shaft  52 , this movement causes the shaft  52  to rotate. 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, such as the one illustrated, a second arm  57  is coupled to the other end of the shaft  52 . This arm  57  is rotated by rotation of the shaft  52 . This arm  57  is also coupled to this dispensing lock  42  to selectively move the dispensing lock  42  to the unlocked position upon insertion of a container into bottle holder  2 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , this arm  57  can be coupled to the locking lever via one or more linkages or other mechanical connections. As illustrated, the arm  57  is connected to linkage  46 , which is coupled to the locking plate. In other embodiments, the arm can be directly connected to the dispensing lock  42  or it can act on the dispensing lock via other actuation elements, such as gears, cams, springs, and the like. Furthermore, since the arm  57  is not necessary, one or more of these elements can be directly coupled to the shaft or can be acted upon by another type of actuation element coupled to the shaft. 
         [0055]    The operation of the dispensing lock  42  and release mechanism  44  is as follows. As shown in  FIGS. 3-5  and  8 - 10 , the plate  54  is biased to a forward position when a container is not positioned between or fully inserted into the forward projecting arms  3 ,  3 ′ of the container holding device  2 . As the bottle is fully inserted, it contacts the plate  54  and pushes the plate  54  back toward the back plate  6 . The plate  54  is pushed against a biased force of a spring  55 . Since the arm  50  of the release mechanism  44  is positioned adjacent the plate  54 , movement of the plate  54  also causes movement of the arm  50 . As the plate  54  translates backwards toward the back plate  6 , the arm  50  is rotated counter-clockwise (with reference to  FIGS. 8-10 ). This causes the shaft  52  to rotate, which also causes the dispensing lock  42  to unlock. Specifically, rotation of the shaft causes the locking arm  43  to move to the unlocked position. As such, the actuator can be moved to allow fluid to be dispensed. 
         [0056]    Once the bottle is filled, it can be removed from the container holding device  2 . As the bottle is removed, the plate  54  translates toward the front of the dispenser under the bias force of the spring  55 . As such, the arm  50  of the release mechanism  44  can be biased to the rest position shown in  FIG. 8 . The arm  50  can be biased by a separate spring directly coupled to the arm or by one of the springs already utilized in the dispenser. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a spring within the dispensing portion of the housing can provide sufficient force to cause the release mechanism arm to rotate. Specifically, the spring  47  can act on the lever arm of the dispensing lock  42 , which will cause rotation of shaft  52  and arm  50 . A third embodiment of the dispensing apparatus is illustrated in  FIGS. 11-13 . This dispenser has many features that are similar to the features of the previous embodiment. 
         [0057]    Accordingly, similar features will be given similar reference numerals and will not be discussed below. Although features may be identified as being similar, it does not mean that these features are identical or perform in the exact same manner. Due to the many similar features between this embodiment and the previous embodiment, generally only the differences or new features to this embodiment will be discussed below. 
         [0058]    With respect to functionality, the main differences between these two embodiments are found with the dispensing housing  30 , and more specifically, with the dispensing lock  42 . The dispensing lock  42  of this embodiment operates under the same principle as the previous embodiments by blocking the actuating mechanisms  20 . However, the dispensing lock  42  is configured differently. 
         [0059]    The dispensing lock  42  of  FIGS. 1-10  had a lever arm  43  that pivoted about an axis that was normal to the actuator&#39;s  20  direction of movement. The dispensing lock  42  of this embodiment ( FIGS. 11-13 ) has a lever arm  43  that is pivoted about an axis that is substantially parallel to the actuator&#39;s  20  direction of movement. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the locking lever  43  is pivotable about pivot point  56 , which has an axis that is substantially parallel to the actuator&#39;s  20  direction of movement. A portion of the lever  43  blocks the movement of the actuator  20  along its guide rails in the locked position as shown in  FIG. 12 . Once the lever  43  is pivoted to the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 13 , the lever  43  no longer blocks the actuator  20 . As discussed in the previous embodiment, the lever  43  is pivoted by movement of the release mechanism  50  due to the insertion of a container  1  into the container holding device  2 . As long as the container remains in the container holding device  2 , the lever  43  will remain pivoted toward the unlocked position to allow fluid to be dispensed. 
         [0060]    The lever  43  can be moved many different ways. For example, rotation from the shaft can be transferred via a set of gears or another lever  57  coupled to the shaft  52  can push against lever  43  upon insertion of the container  1  into the container holding device  2 . Upon removal of the container  1  from the container holding device  2 , a spring or bias element can cause the lever  43  to return to the locked position. 
         [0061]    The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, various alternatives to the certain features and elements of the present invention are described with reference to specific embodiments of the present invention. With the exception of features, elements and manners of operation that are mutually exclusive of or are inconsistent with each embodiment described above, it should be noted that the alternative features, elements, and manners of operation described with reference to one particular embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments. 
         [0062]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.