Patent ID: 8261942

Claim:
A liquid dispenser comprising: a liquid container defining a liquid-storing space that is adapted to store a liquid therein; a liquid-driving unit defining a liquid passage and having a movable part, said liquid passage having an inlet that is in liquid communication with said liquid-storing space, and an outlet that is disposed outwardly of said liquid container, said movable part being movable between first and second positions for driving an amount of the liquid from the liquid-storing space to pass through said inlet and said outlet; and a part-driving unit including a power-driven gear set, and a rack engaging and driven by said gear set and connected to said movable part for driving movement of said movable part between the first and second positions; a mounting casing; a motor mounted on said mounting casing; a control circuit coupled to said motor for controlling operation of said motor; a first sensor mounted on said mounting casing and coupled to said control circuit for controlling operation of said control circuit to control activation of said motor; a second sensor mounted on said mounting casing and coupled to said control circuit for controlling operation of said control circuit to control direction of rotation of said motor; and wherein said second sensor is a light sensor, said gear set including a pinion, said movable part being movable together with said rack in a first direction between the first and second positions, said rack having a toothed plate that engages said pinion, and a light-blocking plate that extends from an end of said toothed plate in a transverse direction relative to said toothed plate and that is formed with upper and lower holes which are aligned in the first direction, said second sensor being aligned with said upper hole in a second direction transverse to the first direction when said movable part is disposed at the first position, and being aligned with said lower hole in the second direction when said movable part is disposed at the second position.