Patent Description:
A dispenser that automatically dispenses and supplies a cosmetic or the like stored in a storage tank has been known (Patent Document <NUM>).

International Publication No. <CIT> and <CIT>, which discloses a perfume sprayer comprising a body, a first transmission unit, a second transmission unit and a control circuit. The body has a bracket disposed inside the body for receiving a plurality of bottles, and the bottles have releasing units and contain distinct perfume. The first transmission unit is engaged to the bracket. The second transmission unit is disposed at beneath of the bracket, wherein one end of the driving element pivotally connects to a pushing element. The control circuit is coupled to the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit for controlling the bracket rotation in a predetermined time, to achieve function of multi perfumes spray respectively.

<CIT> discloses an automated system for compounding pharmaceutical agents for injection treatment of a patient including a housing enclosing an interior space; an inventory structure having a plurality of chambers for individually holding one or more pharmaceutical agent containing single use capsules. Each capsule has a volume capacity of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> liquid; The automated system further comprises means for selecting capsules in accordance with predetermined pharmaceutical agents contained in said capsules; means for moving the selected capsules to a processing area; means for sequentially transferring a controlled quantity of the predetermined pharmaceutical agent with direct fluid communication from each selected capsule to a product container under positive or negative pressure; and means for automatically discarding spent capsules from which the pharmaceutical agents have been removed after a single use.

According to the conventional art, however, it is necessary to prepare a mechanism for dispensing a liquid object according to the number of storage tanks. Furthermore, liquid objects are dispensed from the storage tanks onto different places, thus increasing an area in which the liquid objects are dispensed.

An embodiment of the present invention has an object of providing a liquid object dispenser that dispenses the liquid objects of multiple containers onto the same place.

A liquid object dispenser according to the disclosure includes a body, multiple containers, a transfer table including multiple container accommodating parts accommodating the multiple containers, the transfer table being able to relatively transfer the container accommodating parts to a replacement position in the body at which the containers are replaced and to a dispensing position in the body at which the stored liquids of the containers accommodated in the container accommodating parts are dispensed, and a liquid object dispensing part configured to cause the stored liquids of the containers accommodated in the container accommodating parts at the dispensing position to be dispensed.

It is possible to dispense the liquid objects of multiple containers onto the same place.

An embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below using the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is an overall configuration diagram of an example of a liquid object dispensing system <NUM> according to this embodiment.

The liquid object dispensing system <NUM> according to this embodiment includes a liquid object dispenser <NUM>, an information processing terminal <NUM>, and a server apparatus <NUM>. The liquid object dispenser <NUM>, the information processing terminal <NUM>, and the server apparatus <NUM> are connected via a network <NUM>. The liquid object dispenser <NUM> will be described later. The information processing terminal <NUM> is, for example, a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. The information processing terminal <NUM> transmits user information, etc., to the server apparatus <NUM>. The server apparatus <NUM> is an information processor (computer) that executes processes as a server. The server apparatus <NUM> manages a user of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> and the state of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. Furthermore, the server apparatus <NUM> determines the manner in which the liquid object dispenser <NUM> is caused to operate, based on user information, etc., transmitted from the information processing terminal <NUM> and weather information, etc., open to the public.

According to the liquid object dispensing system <NUM> of this embodiment, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> receives information on the operation of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> (operation information) from the server apparatus <NUM> via the network <NUM>. The liquid object dispenser <NUM> executes processes based on the received operation information. Furthermore, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> transmits the results of the processes executed based on the received operation information to the server apparatus <NUM>. The server apparatus <NUM> updates information on the state of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>, etc..

According to <FIG>, the liquid object dispenser <NUM>, the information processing terminal <NUM>, and the server apparatus <NUM>, one each, are connected to the network <NUM>, but their respective numbers are not limited to those of <FIG>. For example, multiple liquid object dispensers <NUM> and multiple information processing terminals <NUM> may be connected to the single server apparatus <NUM>. Furthermore, the processes of the server apparatus <NUM> may be distributed between or among and executed by multiple server apparatuses <NUM>. Moreover, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> may be caused to operate independently without being connected to the network <NUM>.

Next, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> is described.

<FIG> is an overall view of an example of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> according to this embodiment. <FIG> is a top view (plan view) of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>.

The liquid object dispenser <NUM> includes an upper surface part <NUM>, an upper housing <NUM>, a lower housing <NUM>, and a bottom surface part <NUM>. The liquid object dispenser <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape. The lower housing <NUM> includes a hand insertion part <NUM>. Furthermore, the lower housing <NUM> includes an extraction opening <NUM> and a human body sensor <NUM> above the hand insertion part <NUM>. A user inserts a hand into the hand insertion part <NUM>, and the human body sensor <NUM> detects the hand. In response to detection of the hand by the human body sensor <NUM>, a stored liquid (liquid object) stored in a below-described container <NUM> is dispensed from the extraction opening <NUM>. The liquid object dispenser <NUM> includes a container lid <NUM>. The container lid <NUM> is provided over the upper surface part <NUM> and the upper housing <NUM>. The user opens the container lid <NUM> to replace the below-described container <NUM> that is exposed through an opening exposed by the opened container lid <NUM>. Furthermore, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> includes a button (switch) <NUM> in the upper surface part <NUM>. Once the user presses the button <NUM>, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> starts to operate.

The upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> are an example of a body.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the container <NUM> of an example of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> according to this embodiment.

The container <NUM> 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 <NUM> according to this embodiment includes a body <NUM> and a lid <NUM>. A stored liquid (liquid object) is stored in the body <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is attached to the body <NUM> by screwing or the like. The lid <NUM> includes a flange <NUM>, a push button (pressing member) <NUM>, and a pipe <NUM>. A dispensing opening <NUM> from which the stored liquid (liquid object) is dispensed is provided at an end of the pipe <NUM> opposite to the push button <NUM>. The liquid object (stored liquid) in the container <NUM> is dispensed in response to the pressing of the push button <NUM>.

The container <NUM> includes an RFID tag <NUM> at the bottom surface part of the body <NUM>. The RFID tag <NUM> stores a unique identifier attached to each container <NUM>, information on the product type of the liquid object (stored liquid) stored in the container <NUM>, and the expiration date, the remaining amount, etc., of the liquid object. Because the container <NUM> includes the RFID tag <NUM>, it is possible to manage the use-by date and the amount of use of the liquid object (stored liquid) stored in the container <NUM>, prevent wrong insertion of the container <NUM>, prevent distribution of counterfeit products, and ensure the traceability of the container <NUM> and the liquid object (stored liquid) stored in the container <NUM>.

While the container <NUM> of this embodiment uses the RFID tag <NUM>, means for recording information on the container <NUM> is not limited to RFID tags. For example, a barcode, etc., may also be used.

The container <NUM> of this embodiment is accommodated in a below-described container accommodating part <NUM> of a turntable <NUM> of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> in such a manner that the push button <NUM> faces downward. Specifically, the container <NUM> is inserted into the container accommodating part <NUM> in the direction of arrow I to be accommodated in the container accommodating part <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are perspective views of an example of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> according to this embodiment, illustrating its internal structure. <FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating a state where the upper housing <NUM> and part of the inside of the upper housing <NUM> are removed to expose the turntable <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a state where the containers <NUM> are not accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a state where the containers <NUM> are accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM>.

The liquid object dispenser <NUM> according to this embodiment includes the turntable <NUM> in the upper housing <NUM> and on top of the lower housing <NUM>. The turntable <NUM> rotates on a rotary shaft <NUM> in the direction of arrow A or in a direction opposite to arrow A relative to the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM>. While the turntable <NUM> is used to rotationally transfer the containers <NUM> according to the liquid object dispenser <NUM> of this embodiment, the transfer method is not limited to rotation. For example, a transfer table that horizontally transfers the container accommodating parts <NUM> on a straight line may also be used. Thus, the turntable <NUM> is movable relative to the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM>.

The turntable <NUM> is an example of a transfer table.

The turntable <NUM> includes the container accommodating parts <NUM> that accommodate the containers <NUM>. The container accommodating parts <NUM> are disposed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of a circle having a center at the rotary shaft <NUM>. The turntable <NUM> of this embodiment includes the container accommodating parts <NUM> at five places in total. The container accommodating parts <NUM> are designated as container accommodating parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. The container accommodating part <NUM> accommodates a container <NUM>. Likewise, the container accommodating parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> accommodate containers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. While each container accommodating part <NUM> accommodates a specific container <NUM> according to the above description, each container accommodating part <NUM> may accommodate any container <NUM>. Furthermore, the containers <NUM> are accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM> in such a manner that the pipes <NUM> are on the outer side of the container accommodating parts <NUM> relative to the rotary shaft <NUM> of the turntable <NUM>.

The container accommodating parts <NUM> of the turntable <NUM> include a fixation structure (whose graphical representation is omitted) that fixes the containers <NUM>. The containers <NUM> are fixed by the fixation structure so as not to move in the vertically upward direction of <FIG> when accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM>.

Each container <NUM> revolves relative to the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> as the turntable <NUM> rotates.

<FIG> illustrates top views of an example of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> according to this embodiment, illustrating its internal structure. <FIG> illustrates views of the turntable <NUM> in which the containers <NUM> are accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM> as seen from above. <FIG> illustrates a state where the container <NUM> (the container <NUM>) is positioned over the extraction opening <NUM>. <FIG> is a view of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> of <FIG> as seen from above. The position of the container <NUM> over the extraction opening <NUM> is referred to as dispensing position PosA. According to the liquid object dispenser <NUM> of this embodiment, the five containers <NUM> in total may be accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM>. Therefore, as the turntable <NUM> rotates <NUM>° on the rotary shaft <NUM>, the containers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> sequentially arrive at the dispensing position PosA.

<FIG> depicts a state where the turntable <NUM> has rotated <NUM> degrees in the direction of arrow A from the state illustrated in <FIG> depicts a state where the middle part between the container <NUM> and the container <NUM> is positioned over the extraction opening <NUM>. The position opposite to the dispensing position PosA relative to the rotary shaft <NUM> (the position of the container <NUM> in <FIG>) is referred to as replacement position PosB. In <FIG>, as the turntable <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> rotates <NUM>°, the container <NUM> (<NUM>) also rotates <NUM>° to be positioned at PosB. When the container lid <NUM> is opened, the container <NUM> at the replacement position PosB is exposed to the outside. The user can replace the container <NUM> at the replacement position PosB with another container <NUM>.

Thus, according to the liquid object dispenser <NUM> of this embodiment, the turntable <NUM> is configured to rotate <NUM>° by <NUM>° on the rotary shaft <NUM>. As a result, the containers <NUM> through <NUM> can sequentially be positioned at the dispensing position PosA or the replacement position PosB.

According to the liquid object dispenser <NUM> of this embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the dispensing position PosA and the replacement position PosB are at different positions in a plan view (a top view).

<FIG> is a perspective view of an example of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> according to this embodiment, illustrating the details of its dispensing mechanism <NUM>.

The liquid object dispenser <NUM> includes the dispensing mechanism <NUM> at a position corresponding to the dispensing position PosA on the turntable <NUM>. The dispensing mechanism <NUM> according to this embodiment includes a dispensing motor <NUM>, a speed reducer <NUM>, a cam <NUM>, a slide member <NUM>, and a fixing member <NUM>. The rotating shaft of the dispensing motor <NUM> connects to the speed reducer <NUM>. The speed reducer <NUM> connects to the cam <NUM>. The speed reducer <NUM> decelerates the rotation of the dispensing motor <NUM> to turn the cam <NUM>. The cam <NUM> is a substantially fan-shaped eccentric cam. The cam <NUM> is inserted in a recess <NUM> provided in a surface of the slide member <NUM> facing toward the speed reducer <NUM>. The cam <NUM> turns to contact the inner surface of the recess <NUM> to slide the slide member <NUM> up and down. The fixing member <NUM> is a member that fixes the slide member <NUM> while holding the slide member <NUM> in such a manner as to slide the slide member <NUM> up and down.

The turntable <NUM> transfers the container <NUM> to the dispensing position PosA. The position of the push button <NUM> of the container <NUM> at the dispensing position PosA coincides with the position of an end portion <NUM> of the slide member <NUM> in a top view. When the slide member <NUM> slides toward the container <NUM> (upward), the end portion <NUM> of the slide member <NUM> contacts the push button <NUM> of the container <NUM> to press the push button <NUM> of the container <NUM> toward the body <NUM> of the container <NUM>. The body <NUM> and the lid <NUM> of the container <NUM> are immovably fixed by a fixing structure that is not depicted. Accordingly, as the push button <NUM> of the container <NUM> is pressed, the stored liquid (dispensing liquid) stored in the container <NUM> is dispensed. The liquid object dispenser <NUM> controls the amount of the stored liquid (dispensing liquid) by the number of times the push button <NUM> is pressed.

The dispensing mechanism <NUM> is an example of a liquid object dispensing part.

<FIG> is a functional block diagram of an example of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> according to this embodiment.

The liquid object dispenser <NUM> includes the control device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> controls the operation of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. The control device <NUM> includes a device control part <NUM>, a communication control part <NUM>, a rotation control part <NUM>, a dispensing control part <NUM>, a position detecting part <NUM>, a dispensing detecting part <NUM>, an input/output part <NUM>, and an RFID control part <NUM>.

The device control part <NUM> controls the entire device.

The communication control part <NUM> controls communications between the liquid object dispenser <NUM> and the information processing terminal <NUM> and the server apparatus <NUM>. The communication control part <NUM> controls a communication part <NUM> provided in the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. The communication part <NUM> performs communications with the information processing terminal <NUM> and the server apparatus <NUM> via the network <NUM> based on the control of the communication control part <NUM>. The communication part <NUM> 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 <NUM> controls the rotation of the turntable <NUM>. The turntable <NUM> is connected to a rotation motor <NUM>. The rotation control part <NUM> controls the rotation of the turntable <NUM> by controlling the rotation of the rotation motor <NUM>.

The rotation motor <NUM> is an example of a drive part, and the rotation control part <NUM> is an example of a control part.

The dispensing control part <NUM> controls the dispensing of the liquid object (stored liquid). The dispensing control part <NUM> controls the dispensing of the liquid object (stored liquid) by controlling the rotation of the dispensing motor <NUM> of the dispensing mechanism <NUM>.

The position detecting part <NUM> detects whether a predetermined container <NUM> is at a predetermined position, for example, the dispensing position PosA or the replacement position PosB. The position detecting part <NUM> detects the position of a predetermined container <NUM> from the detection result of a position detector <NUM> provided in the liquid object dispenser <NUM>.

The dispensing detecting part <NUM> detects whether the liquid object (stored liquid) has been dispensed from the container <NUM> at the dispensing position PosA. The dispensing detecting part <NUM> detects whether the liquid object (stored liquid) has been dispensed from the detection result of a dispensing detector <NUM> provided in the liquid object dispenser <NUM>.

The input/output part <NUM> receives an input from the user and outputs information to the user. The input/output part <NUM> detects the depression of the button <NUM> to receive an input from the user. Furthermore, the input/output part <NUM> controls the light emission of an LED provided in the liquid object dispenser <NUM> by controlling an LED driver part <NUM> to output information to the user.

The RFID control part <NUM> controls the input and output of information recorded in the RFID tag <NUM> of the container <NUM>. The RFID control part <NUM> controls an RFID reader writer <NUM> provided in the liquid object dispenser <NUM> to read information from and write information to the RFID tag <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

The functions of the control device <NUM> 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 <NUM> may be distributed between or among multiple processors, or other functions may be incorporated into the control device <NUM>.

The server apparatus <NUM> determines the type and amount of a liquid object dispensed from the liquid object dispenser <NUM> 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) <NUM> of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> performs transmission to the server apparatus <NUM>, and the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information on the type and amount of a liquid object to be dispensed (dispensing liquid information) to the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. When the user inserts her/his hand into the hand insertion part <NUM>, the liquid object dispenser <NUM> dispenses one or more types of liquid objects corresponding to the containers <NUM> housed in the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. The liquid object dispenser <NUM> dispenses each liquid object based on the amount in the dispensing liquid information.

The device control part <NUM> of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> identifies the container <NUM> from which to dispense a liquid object among the containers <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) accommodated in the liquid object dispenser <NUM>, from the dispensing liquid information received from the server apparatus <NUM>. The device control part <NUM> calculates the amount of the liquid object to dispense, namely, the number of times the push button <NUM> is pressed, with respect to the identified dispensing container <NUM>.

In response to the insertion of the user's hand into the hand insertion part <NUM>, the device control part <NUM> rotationally transfers the container accommodating part <NUM> of the container <NUM> from which to dispense the liquid object to the dispensing position PosA by controlling the rotation control part <NUM>. Next, the device control part <NUM> controls the dispensing control part <NUM> to press the push button <NUM> of the container <NUM> the calculated number of times to dispense the liquid obj ect.

The device control part <NUM> of the liquid object dispenser <NUM> controls the rotation motor <NUM> such that the turntable <NUM> is so rotated as to reduce the total distance of transferring the container accommodating parts <NUM> of the containers <NUM> that perform dispensing to the dispensing position PosA in the case of dispensing the stored liquids of the containers <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates diagrams illustrating the rotation control of the liquid object dispenser <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates diagrams depicting the arrangement of the container <NUM> accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM>.

According to the liquid object dispenser <NUM>, the five containers <NUM> are accommodated in the container accommodating parts <NUM>. It is assumed that the container <NUM> of J is at the dispensing position PosA in the initial state. Here, it is assumed that the liquid objects of the containers <NUM> with diagonal lines, specifically, the containers <NUM> of J, K and N, are dispensed.

<FIG> is a diagram of the case where the turntable <NUM> is rotated in the direction of arrow A such that the containers <NUM> of J, K and N are at the dispensing position PosA in order of the containers <NUM> of J, K and N. In the case of turning to the next container <NUM>, the turntable <NUM> rotates <NUM> degrees (= <NUM> ÷ <NUM>). In the case of <FIG>, the turntable <NUM> rotates <NUM> degrees (= <NUM> + <NUM> × <NUM>) in total.

<FIG> is a diagram of the case where the turntable <NUM> rotates in the direction of arrow A so that the container <NUM> at the dispensing position PosA switches from the container <NUM> of J to the container <NUM> of K, and rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow A so that the container <NUM> at the dispensing position PosA switches from the container <NUM> of K to the container <NUM> of N. In the case of <FIG>, the turntable <NUM> rotates <NUM> degrees (= <NUM> + <NUM> × <NUM>) in total.

According to the liquid object dispenser <NUM> of this embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the rotation motor <NUM> is controlled such that the turntable <NUM> is so rotated as to reduce the total angle of rotating, that is, the total distance of transferring, the container accommodating parts <NUM> of the containers <NUM> that perform dispensing to the dispensing position PosA.

Thus, by reducing the total angle of rotation of the turntable <NUM>, it is possible to reduce time for rotating the containers <NUM>. As a result, the wait time of the user before all liquid objects are dispensed can be reduced.

Thus, employment of the turntable <NUM> including the container accommodating parts <NUM> and the dispensing mechanism <NUM> by the liquid object dispenser <NUM> makes it possible to dispense liquid objects without increasing the dispensing mechanism <NUM> or the dispensing detector <NUM> even when the number of containers <NUM> increases.

Furthermore, because each container <NUM> dispenses a liquid object at the dispensing position PosA, the dispensed liquid objects of the containers <NUM> are dispensed onto the same place.

Furthermore, because the container <NUM> is replaced at the replacement position PosB, the container accommodating part <NUM> with respect to which the replacement is performed can be clearly identified to the user. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent wrong insertion of the container <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A liquid object dispenser (<NUM>) comprising:
a body;
a plurality of containers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a turntable (<NUM>) including a plurality of container accommodating parts (<NUM>) accommodating the plurality of containers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the turntable (<NUM>) being able to relatively transfer the container accommodating parts (<NUM>) to a replacement position (PosB) in the body at which the containers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are replaced and to a dispensing position (PosA) in the body at which stored liquids of the containers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) accommodated in the container accommodating parts (<NUM>) are dispensed; and
a liquid object dispensing part configured to cause the stored liquids of the containers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) accommodated in the container accommodating parts (<NUM>) at the dispensing position (PosA) to be dispensed,
wherein the containers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) include respective pipes (<NUM>), and
wherein the pipes (<NUM>) are on an outer side of the container accommodation parts (<NUM>) relative to a rotary shaft (<NUM>) of the turntable (<NUM>).