Patent Publication Number: US-2022214471-A1

Title: Liquid object detector and liquid object detecting method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to liquid object detectors and liquid object detecting methods. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A dispenser that automatically dispenses and supplies a cosmetic or the like stored in a storage tank has been known (Patent Document 1). 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2016/029104 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     According to the conventional art, however, whether a liquid object has actually been dispensed from the storage tank in which the liquid object is stored is not detected and is unclear when the liquid object is dispensed from the dispenser. 
     An embodiment of the present invention has an object of providing a device and a method that can stably detect the dispensing of a liquid object in a liquid object dispenser. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     A liquid object detector according to the disclosure includes a liquid object dispensing part, a sensor configured to detect a liquid object dispensed by the liquid object dispensing part, and a sensor moving part configured to move the sensor in a direction crossing a dispensing direction of the liquid object. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     It is possible to stably detect the dispensing of a liquid object in a liquid object dispenser. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an overall configuration diagram of an example of a liquid object dispensing system according to this embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an overall view of an example of a liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a container of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment, illustrating its internal structure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment, illustrating its internal structure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates top views of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment, illustrating its internal structure. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment, illustrating the details of a dispensing mechanism. 
         FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the part of a dispensing detector of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of the dispensing detector of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment. 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below using the accompanying drawings. 
     &lt;Liquid Object Dispensing System  1 &gt; 
       FIG. 1  is an overall configuration diagram of an example of a liquid object dispensing system  1  according to this embodiment. 
     The liquid object dispensing system  1  according to this embodiment includes a liquid object dispenser  100 , an information processing terminal  200 , and a server apparatus  300 . The liquid object dispenser  100 , the information processing terminal  200 , and the server apparatus  300  are connected via a network  400 . The liquid object dispenser  100  will be described later. The information processing terminal  200  is, for example, a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. The information processing terminal  200  transmits user information, etc., to the server apparatus  300 . The server apparatus  300  is an information processor (computer) that executes processes as a server. The server apparatus  300  manages a user of the liquid object dispenser  100  and the state of the liquid object dispenser  100 . Furthermore, the server apparatus  300  determines the manner in which the liquid object dispenser  100  is caused to operate, based on user information, etc., transmitted from the information processing terminal  200  and weather information, etc., open to the public. 
     According to the liquid object dispensing system  1  of this embodiment, the liquid object dispenser  100  receives information on the operation of the liquid object dispenser  100  (operation information) from the server apparatus  300  via the network  400 . The liquid object dispenser  100  executes processes based on the received operation information. Furthermore, the liquid object dispenser  100  transmits the results of the processes executed based on the received operation information to the server apparatus  300 . The server apparatus  300  updates information on the state of the liquid object dispenser  100 , etc. 
     According to  FIG. 1 , the liquid object dispenser  100 , the information processing terminal  200 , and the server apparatus  300 , one each, are connected to the network  400 , but their respective numbers are not limited to those of  FIG. 1 . For example, multiple liquid object dispensers  100  and multiple information processing terminals  200  may be connected to the single server apparatus  300 . Furthermore, the processes of the server apparatus  300  may be distributed between or among and executed by multiple server apparatuses  300 . Moreover, the liquid object dispenser  100  may be caused to operate independently without being connected to the network  400 . 
     &lt;Liquid Object Dispenser  100 &gt; 
     Next, the liquid object dispenser  100  is described. 
       FIG. 2  is an overall view of an example of the liquid object dispenser  100  according to this embodiment.  FIG. 2(A)  is a top view (plan view) of the liquid object dispenser  100 .  FIG. 2(B)  is a front view of the liquid object dispenser  100 .  FIG. 2(C)  is a side view of the liquid object dispenser  100 .  FIG. 2(D)  is a perspective view of the liquid object dispenser  100 . 
     The liquid object dispenser  100  includes an upper surface part  101 , an upper housing  102 , a lower housing  103 , and a bottom surface part  104 . The liquid object dispenser  100  has a substantially cylindrical shape. The lower housing  103  includes a hand insertion part  105 . Furthermore, the lower housing  103  includes an extraction opening  106  and a human body sensor  107  above the hand insertion part  105 . A user inserts a hand into the hand insertion part  105 , and the human body sensor  107  detects the hand. In response to detection of the hand by the human body sensor  107 , a stored liquid (liquid object) stored in a below-described container  500  is dispensed from the extraction opening  106 . The liquid object dispenser  100  includes a container lid  108 . The container lid  108  is provided over the upper surface part  101  and the upper housing  102 . The user opens the container lid  108  to replace the below-described container  500  that is exposed through an opening exposed by the opened container lid  108 . Furthermore, the liquid object dispenser  100  includes a button (switch)  109  in the upper surface part  101 . Once the user presses the button  109 , the liquid object dispenser  100  starts to operate. 
     &lt;Container  500 &gt; 
     Next, the container  500  is described. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container  500  of an example of the liquid object dispenser  100  according to this embodiment. 
     The container  500  is, for example, a container that stores a liquid object (stored liquid) such as a cosmetic such as an emulsion or a serum. With respect to emulsions, for example, multiple types of emulsions may be used for morning and for night. With respect to serums, for example, multiple types of serums for anti-oxidation, drying prevention, stress reduction, etc., may be used. 
     The container  500  according to this embodiment includes a body  510  and a lid  520 . A stored liquid (liquid object) is stored in the body  510 . The lid  520  is attached to the body  510  by screwing or the like. The lid  520  includes a flange  521 , a push button (pressing member)  522 , and a pipe  524 . A dispensing opening  526  from which the stored liquid (liquid object) is dispensed is provided at an end of the pipe  524  opposite to the push button  522 . The liquid object (stored liquid) in the container  500  is dispensed in response to the pressing of the push button  522 . 
     The body  510  of the container  500  is an example of a storage part. Furthermore, the container  500  operates as a push pump with the push button  522  of the lid  520 . 
     The container  500  includes an RFID tag  550  at the bottom surface part of the body  510 . The RFID tag  550  stores a unique identifier attached to each container  500 , information on the product type of the liquid object (stored liquid) stored in the container  500 , and the expiration date, the remaining amount, etc., of the liquid object. Because the container  500  includes the RFID tag  550 , it is possible to manage the use-by date and the amount of use of the liquid object (stored liquid) stored in the container  500 , prevent wrong insertion of the container  500 , prevent distribution of counterfeit products, and ensure the traceability of the container  500  and the liquid object (stored liquid) stored in the container  500 . 
     While the container  500  of this embodiment uses the RFID tag  550 , means for recording information on the container  500  is not limited to RFID tags. For example, a barcode, etc., may also be used. 
     The container  500  of this embodiment is accommodated in a below-described container accommodating part  120  of a turntable  110  of the liquid object dispenser  100  in such a manner that the push button  522  faces downward. Specifically, the container  500  is inserted into the container accommodating part  120  in the direction of arrow I to be accommodated in the container accommodating part  120 . 
     &lt;Turntable  110 &gt; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views of an example of the liquid object dispenser  100  according to this embodiment, illustrating its internal structure.  FIGS. 4 and 5  are diagrams illustrating a state where the upper housing  102  and part of the inside of the upper housing  102  are removed to expose the turntable  110 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a state where the containers  500  are not accommodated in the container accommodating parts  120 .  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a state where the containers  500  are accommodated in the container accommodating parts  120 . 
     The liquid object dispenser  100  according to this embodiment includes the turntable  110  in the upper housing  102  and on top of the lower housing  103 . The turntable  110  rotates on a rotary shaft  112  in the direction of arrow A or in a direction opposite to arrow A relative to the upper housing  102  and the lower housing  103 . While the turntable  110  is used to rotationally transfer the containers  500  according to the liquid object dispenser  100  of this embodiment, the transfer method is not limited to rotation. For example, a transfer table that horizontally transfers the container accommodating parts  120  on a straight line may also be used. Thus, the turntable  110  is movable relative to the upper housing  102  and the lower housing  103 . The turntable  110  is an example of a transfer table. 
     The turntable  110  includes the container accommodating parts  120  that accommodate the containers  500 . The container accommodating parts  120  are disposed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of a circle having a center at the rotary shaft  112 . The turntable  110  of this embodiment includes the container accommodating parts  120  at five places in total. The container accommodating parts  120  are designated as container accommodating parts  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  and  125 . The container accommodating part  121  accommodates a container  501 . Likewise, the container accommodating parts  122 ,  123 ,  124  and  125  accommodate containers  502 ,  503 ,  504  and  505 , respectively. While each container accommodating part  120  accommodates a specific container  500  according to the above description, each container accommodating part  120  may accommodate any container  500 . Furthermore, the containers  500  are accommodated in the container accommodating parts  120  in such a manner that the pipes  524  are on the outer side of the container accommodating parts  120  relative to the rotary shaft  112  of the turntable  110 . 
     The container accommodating parts  120  of the turntable  110  include a fixation structure (whose graphical representation is omitted) that fixes the containers  500 . The containers  500  are fixed by the fixation structure so as not to move in the vertically upward direction of  FIG. 5  when accommodated in the container accommodating parts  120 . 
     Each container  500  revolves relative to the upper housing  102  and the lower housing  103  as the turntable  110  rotates. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates top views of an example of the liquid object dispenser  100  according to this embodiment, illustrating its internal structure.  FIG. 6  illustrates views of the turntable  110  in which the containers  500  are accommodated in the container accommodating parts  120  as seen from above.  FIG. 6(A)  illustrates a state where the container  500  (the container  501 ) is positioned over the extraction opening  106 .  FIG. 6(A)  is a view of the liquid object dispenser  100  of  FIG. 5  as seen from above. The position of the container  501  over the extraction opening  106  is referred to as dispensing position PosA. According to the liquid object dispenser  100  of this embodiment, the five containers  500  in total may be accommodated in the container accommodating parts  120 . Therefore, as the turntable  110  rotates 72° on the rotary shaft  112 , the containers  501 ,  502 ,  503 ,  504  and  505  sequentially arrive at the dispensing position PosA. 
       FIG. 6(B)  depicts a state where the turntable  110  has rotated 36 degrees in the direction of arrow A from the state illustrated in  FIG. 6(A) .  FIG. 6(B)  depicts a state where the middle part between the container  501  and the container  502  is positioned over the extraction opening  106 . The position opposite to the dispensing position PosA relative to the rotary shaft  112  (the position of the container  504  in  FIG. 6(B) ) is referred to as replacement position PosB. In  FIG. 6(B) , as the turntable  110  illustrated in  FIG. 6(A)  rotates 36°, the container  504  ( 500 ) also rotates 36° to be positioned at PosB. When the container lid  108  is opened, the container  500  at the replacement position PosB is exposed to the outside. The user can replace the container  500  at the replacement position PosB with another container  500 . 
     Thus, according to the liquid object dispenser  100  of this embodiment, the turntable  110  is configured to rotate 36° by 36° on the rotary shaft  112 . As a result, the containers  501  through  505  can sequentially be positioned at the dispensing position PosA or the replacement position PosB. 
     According to the liquid object dispenser  100  of this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the dispensing position PosA and the replacement position PosB are at different positions in a plan view (a top view). 
     &lt;Dispensing Mechanism  130 &gt; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an example of the liquid object dispenser  100  according to this embodiment, illustrating the details of its dispensing mechanism  130 . 
     The liquid object dispenser  100  includes the dispensing mechanism  130  at a position corresponding to the dispensing position PosA on the turntable  110 . The dispensing mechanism  130  according to this embodiment includes a dispensing motor  131 , a speed reducer  132 , a cam  133 , a slide member  134 , and a fixing member  135 . The rotating shaft of the dispensing motor  131  connects to the speed reducer  132 . The speed reducer  132  connects to the cam  133 . The speed reducer  132  decelerates the rotation of the dispensing motor  131  to turn the cam  133 . The cam  133  is a substantially fan-shaped eccentric cam. The cam  133  is inserted in a recess  1341  provided in a surface of the slide member  134  facing toward the speed reducer  132 . The cam  133  turns to contact the inner surface of the recess  1341  to slide the slide member  134  up and down. The fixing member  135  is a member that fixes the slide member  134  while holding the slide member  134  in such a manner as to slide the slide member  134  up and down. 
     The turntable  110  transfers the container  500  to the dispensing position PosA. The position of the push button  522  of the container  500  at the dispensing position PosA coincides with the position of an end portion  136  of the slide member  134  in a top view. When the slide member  134  slides toward the container  500  (upward), the end portion  136  of the slide member  134  contacts the push button  522  of the container  500  to press the push button  522  of the container  500  toward the body  510  of the container  500 . The body  510  and the lid  520  of the container  500  are immovably fixed by a fixing structure that is not depicted. Accordingly, as the push button  522  of the container  500  is pressed, the stored liquid (dispensing liquid) stored in the container  500  is dispensed. The liquid object dispenser  100  controls the amount of the stored liquid (dispensing liquid) by the number of times the push button  522  is pressed. 
     The container  500  is an example of a liquid object dispensing part. Furthermore, the dispensing mechanism  130  is an example of a pressing part. 
     &lt;Control Device  140 &gt; 
       FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram of an example of the liquid object dispenser  100  according to this embodiment. 
     The liquid object dispenser  100  includes the control device  140 . The control device  140  controls the operation of the liquid object dispenser  100 . The control device  140  includes a device control part  141 , a communication control part  142 , a rotation control part  143 , a dispensing control part  144 , a position detecting part  145 , a dispensing detecting part  146 , an input/output part  147 , and an RFID control part  148 . 
     The device control part  141  controls the entire device. 
     The communication control part  142  controls communications between the liquid object dispenser  100  and the information processing terminal  200  and the server apparatus  300 . The communication control part  142  controls a communication part  180  provided in the liquid object dispenser  100 . The communication part  180  performs communications with the information processing terminal  200  and the server apparatus  300  via the network  400  based on the control of the communication control part  142 . The communication part  180  performs communications through, for example, short-range communications based on Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like, wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communications, mobile communications based on LTE (Long Term Evolution) or the like, etc. 
     The rotation control part  143  controls the rotation of the turntable  110 . The turntable  110  is connected to a rotation motor  113 . The rotation control part  143  controls the rotation of the turntable  110  by controlling the rotation of the rotation motor  113 . 
     The dispensing control part  144  controls the dispensing of the liquid object (stored liquid). The dispensing control part  144  controls the dispensing of the liquid object (stored liquid) by controlling the rotation of the dispensing motor  131  of the dispensing mechanism  130 . 
     The position detecting part  145  detects whether a predetermined container  500  is at a predetermined position, for example, the dispensing position PosA or the replacement position PosB. The position detecting part  145  detects the position of a predetermined container  500  from the detection result of a position detector  150  provided in the liquid object dispenser  100 . 
     The dispensing detecting part  146  detects whether the liquid object (stored liquid) has been dispensed from the container  500  at the dispensing position PosA. The dispensing detecting part  146  detects whether the liquid object (stored liquid) has been dispensed from the detection result of a dispensing detector  160  provided in the liquid object dispenser  100 . 
     The input/output part  147  receives an input from the user and outputs information to the user. The input/output part  147  detects the depression of the button  109  to receive an input from the user. Furthermore, the input/output part  147  controls the light emission of an LED provided in the liquid object dispenser  100  by controlling an LED driver part  170  to output information to the user. 
     The RFID control part  148  controls the input and output of information recorded in the RFID tag  550  of the container  500 . The RFID control part  148  controls an RFID reader writer  190  provided in the liquid object dispenser  100  to read information from and write information to the RFID tag  550  of the container  500 . 
     The functions of the control device  140  are implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) running programs readably stored in a storage that is not depicted. For example, these functions are implemented by the cooperation of hardware and software in a microcomputer including a CPU. The control device  140  may be distributed between or among multiple processors, or other functions may be incorporated into the control device  140 . 
     &lt;Operation of Liquid Object Dispenser  100 &gt; 
     The server apparatus  300  determines the type and amount of a liquid object dispensed from the liquid object dispenser  100  used by a user from personal information such as the age, skin characteristics, skin condition, etc., of the user, the environmental information such as temperature, humidity, and weather of the day of use, time information, etc. When the user depresses the button (switch)  109  of the liquid object dispenser  100 , the liquid object dispenser  100  performs transmission to the server apparatus  300 , and the server apparatus  300  transmits information on the type and amount of a liquid object to be dispensed (dispensing liquid information) to the liquid object dispenser  100 . When the user inserts her/his hand into the hand insertion part  105 , the liquid object dispenser  100  dispenses one or more types of liquid objects corresponding to the containers  500  housed in the liquid object dispenser  100 . The liquid object dispenser  100  dispenses each liquid object based on the amount in the dispensing liquid information. 
     The device control part  141  of the liquid object dispenser  100  identifies the container  500  from which to dispense a liquid object among the containers  500  ( 501 ,  502 ,  503 ,  504 ,  505 ) accommodated in the liquid object dispenser  100 , from the dispensing liquid information received from the server apparatus  300 . The device control part  141  calculates the amount of the liquid object to dispense, namely, the number of times the push button  522  is pressed, with respect to the identified dispensing container  500 . 
     In response to the insertion of the user&#39;s hand into the hand insertion part  105 , the device control part  141  rotationally transfers the container accommodating part  120  of the container  500  from which to dispense the liquid object to the dispensing position PosA by controlling the rotation control part  143 . Next, the device control part  141  controls the dispensing control part  144  to press the push button  522  of the container  500  the calculated number of times to dispense the liquid object. 
     &lt;Dispensing Detector  160 &gt; 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the part of the dispensing detector  160  of the liquid object dispenser  100 . Furthermore,  FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of the dispensing detector of an example of the liquid object dispenser according to this embodiment. 
     The dispensing detector  160  is described. The dispensing detector  160  includes three sensors  161 ,  162  and  163 , a plate  164  on which the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  are placed, a cam plate  165  to move the plate  164 , and a dispensing detector control part  166 . 
     The sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  are described. The sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  of the dispensing detector  160  of this embodiment are arranged in a direction that crosses a direction in which a liquid object is dispensed from the dispensing opening  526  of the container  500  (dispensing direction). 
     Here, the sensor  161  is described. The sensor  161  includes a light emitter part  1611  and a light receiver part  1612 . The light emitter part  1611  includes a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device is, for example, a light-emitting diode. The light emitter part  1611  outputs light emitted by the light-emitting device toward the light receiver part  1612 . The light receiver part  1612  includes a light-receiving device. The light-receiving device is, for example, a photodiode. The light receiver part  1612  receives light output from the light emitter part  1611  at the light-receiving device. An area in which light propagates between the light emitter part  1611  and the light receiver part  1612  is the sensor sensing range of the sensor  161 . 
     The light that the light emitter part  1611  outputs is light of a wavelength absorbed by or reflected from the liquid object. Accordingly, when there is the liquid object in the sensor sensing range between the light emitter part  1611  and the light receiver part  1612 , the output light of the light emitter part  1611  is blocked by the liquid object, so that the amount of light received at the light receiver part  1612  is reduced. Thus, it is possible to detect whether the liquid object is dispensed in the sensor sensing range by the presence or absence of reduction in light. 
     The sensors  162  and  163  are sensors equal to the sensor  161 . That is, the sensors  162  and  163  include respective light emitter parts  1621  and  1631  and respective light receiver parts  1622  and  1632 . The sensors  162  and  163  operate the same as the sensor  161 . 
     Next, the plate  164  on which the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  are placed is described. The plate  164  includes a light emitter part placement part  1641 , a light receiver part placement part  1642 , and an opening  1643 . The light emitter parts  1611 ,  1621  and  1631  of the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  are placed on the light emitter part placement part  1641 . The light receiver parts  1612 ,  1622  and  1632  of the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  are placed on the light receiver part placement part  1642 . The light emitter part placement part  1641  and the light receiver part placement part  1642  are placed across the opening  1643  from each other. Thus, a space above the opening  1643  of the plate  164  serves as the respective sensor sensing ranges of the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163 . The liquid object dispensed from the dispensing opening  526  of the container  500  is dispensed from the extraction opening  106  through the opening  1643 . 
     According to this embodiment, the light emitter parts and the light receiver parts of sensors are placed at different locations on the plate  164 , as on the light emitter part placement part  1641  and the light receiver part placement part  1642 . The arrangement of light emitter parts and light receiver parts, however, may be changed to the extent that the sensors are so placed as to have their sensor sensing ranges above the opening  1643 . For example, the respective light emitter part, light receiver part, and light emitter part of sensors may be placed in order on one side and the corresponding light receiver part, light emitter part, and light receiver part of the sensors may be placed in order on the other side of the opening  1643 . 
     Next, the cam plate  165  that moves the plate  164  is described. 
     The cam plate  165  includes a diagonally formed inclined groove  1651  and a laterally formed lateral groove  1652 . A protrusion  1342  protruding from the slide member  134  of the dispensing mechanism  130  is fit into the inclined groove  1651 . A protrusion  1351  protruding from the fixing member  135  of the dispensing mechanism  130  is fit into the lateral groove  1652 . Furthermore, the top of the cam plate  165  is so held by a holding member  1352  protruding from the fixing member  135  of the dispensing mechanism  130  as not to move upward. 
     When the liquid object dispenser  100  dispenses a liquid object, the slide member  134  of the dispensing mechanism  130  slides upward. The upward slide of the slide member  134  moves the protrusion  1342  of the slide member  134  upward. The protrusion  1342  is fit into the inclined groove  1651  of the cam plate  165 . Therefore, the protrusion  1342  moves upward to move along the inclined groove  1651  of the cam plate  165 . The upward and downward movements of the cam plate  165  are restricted by the protrusion  1351  of the fixing member  135  fit into the lateral groove  1652  and the holding member  1352 . Accordingly, when the protrusion  1342  moves upward, the protrusion  1342  moves along the inclined groove  1651  of the cam plate  165  to move the cam plate  165  in a lateral direction, namely, a direction that crosses the dispensing direction of the liquid object, so that the plate  164  moves in the lateral direction, namely, a direction that crosses the dispensing direction of the liquid object. As a result, the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  provided on the plate  164  move in the lateral direction, namely, a direction that crosses the direction in which the liquid object is dispensed from the dispensing opening  526  of the container  500  (the dispensing direction), which is the same direction as a direction in which the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  are arranged. 
     The plate  164  is an example of a retaining member that retains sensors. The cam plate  165  and the dispensing mechanism  130  is an example of a sensor moving part. Furthermore, the dispensing detector  160  is an example of a liquid object detector. 
     Thus, according to the dispensing detector  160  of this embodiment, the plate  164  is interlocked with the dispensing mechanism  130  that dispenses a liquid object from the container  500 , specifically, the slide member  134  that presses the push button  522  of the container  500  to cause a liquid object to be dispensed. 
     &lt;Operation and Effects&gt; 
     According to the dispensing detector  160  of this embodiment, the dispensing detector  160  has the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  that detect whether a liquid object has been dispensed arranged in a direction that crosses a direction in which the liquid object is dispensed from the dispensing opening  526  of the container  500  (dispensing direction). Because of this, for example, in the case where the sensor  162  is supposed to detect a liquid object, even when, for example, the dispensing direction shifts because of adhesion of the liquid object to the dispensing opening  526  to be off the sensor sensing range of the sensor  162 , it is possible to detect the liquid object with the sensor  161  or  163 . Accordingly, by having multiple sensors provided in a direction that crosses the dispensing direction of a liquid object as the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163 , it is possible to stably detect the liquid object. 
     Furthermore, the plate  164  of the dispensing detector  160  of this embodiment moves in directions that cross a direction in which the liquid object is dispensed from the dispensing opening  526  of the container  500  (dispensing direction) and are the same as directions in which the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  are arranged (the directions of arrow M in  FIG. 9 ). 
     By moving the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163  by moving the plate  164 , it is possible to detect the liquid object even when the dispensing direction of the liquid object shifts to be between the sensors  161  and  162  or the sensors  162  and  163 . Accordingly, by moving the sensors  161 ,  162  and  163 , it is possible to detect the liquid object with more stability. 
     According to the liquid object dispenser  100  of this embodiment, the dispensing mechanism  130  that presses the container  500  that constitutes a push pump and the cam plate  165  that moves the plate  164  are interlocked, thereby making it possible to move the sensors to the dispensing of a liquid object. This makes it possible to stably detect the liquid object. 
     Furthermore, by coordinating the liquid object and the movement of the sensors, it is possible to move the sensors to the dispensing of the liquid object, so that it is possible to stably detect the liquid object. 
     According to the liquid object dispensing system  1  of this embodiment, the server apparatus  300  manages the state of the liquid object dispenser  100 . For example, the server apparatus  300  manages the remaining amount of a liquid object stored in the container  500  of the liquid object dispenser  100 . Use of the dispensing detector  160  of this embodiment makes it possible to accurately manage the remaining amount by detecting the dispensing of the liquid object. 
     The present invention is described above based on an embodiment. The present invention, however, is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various variations may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. 
     For example, the number of sensors of the dispensing detector  160  is not limited to three. The number of sensors of the dispensing detector  160  may be two or four or more. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               100  liquid object dispenser 
               130  dispensing mechanism 
               160  dispensing detector 
               161  sensor 
               162  sensor 
               163  sensor 
               164  plate 
               165  cam plate 
               500  container 
               510  body 
               520  lid