# US 11,897,752 B2 · Touchless foot paddle operated dispensers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,752 B2 - Document ID: US11897752B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/545,811 - Filed: 2021-12-08 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-19 - Assignees: PepsiCo, Inc. - Applicants: PepsiCo, Inc. - Inventors: Rahul Sadashiv Kamble; Amandeep Singh Gulati; Vipin Arora - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897752B2 ## CPC - B67D 1/1234: {to determine the total amount} - B67D 1/1405: {Control taps} - B67D 1/06: Mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters (shop or bar counters per se A47F9/00) - B67D 1/0888: {Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)} - B67D 1/124: {the flow being started or stopped by means actuated by the vessel to be filled, e.g. by switches, weighing} - F16K 31/46: for remote operation - G07F 13/06: with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof - B67D 2001/1483: {electrically or electro-mechanically operated} - B67D 2210/00094: Ergonomics - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A dispenser having a pedal actuator. The dispenser includes a valve operatively connected to a nozzle and which moves from a closed position to an open position to dispense an item, a first actuator operatively connected to the nozzle, and a second actuator located below the first actuator and operatively connected to the nozzle. The dispenser can be electro-mechanical and can include components capable of retrofitting onto existing dispensers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dispenser, comprising: a housing; a nozzle arranged on the housing for dispensing an item; a valve operatively connected to the nozzle and configured to move from a closed position to an open position to dispense the item; a mechanical actuator operatively connected to the valve actuator; a first actuator operatively connected to the nozzle and the mechanical actuator, the first actuator arranged on the housing below the nozzle, wherein the first actuator is configured to be depressed by a container from a first position to a second position to dispense the item into the container; a platform arranged on the housing and located below the first actuator; and a second actuator operatively connected to the nozzle and the mechanical actuator, the second actuator arranged on the housing below the platform, wherein the second actuator is depressed from a first position to a second position to dispense the item. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an electrical actuation operatively connected to the valve actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the second actuator is configured to be depressed by a foot action and comprises at least one of a pedal or a button. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle dispenses the item while at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator is depressed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle dispenses the item for a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle dispenses a predetermined amount of the item. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle dispenses the item after the item is selected and dispensing is authorized. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is touchless. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is configured to retrofit onto an existing dispenser. ### Claim 10 A dispensing system, comprising: a dispenser comprising a housing; a nozzle operatively connected to a valve of the dispenser and arranged on the housing for dispensing an item; a valve actuator configured to open the valve for dispensing the item; a mechanical actuator operatively connected to the valve actuator; a first dispensing actuator operatively connected to the valve actuator and arranged on the housing below the nozzle, the first dispensing actuator comprising a pedal configured to be actuated by a foot action, wherein the first dispensing actuator is depressed from a first position to a second position to dispense the item; and a second dispensing actuator operatively connected to the valve actuator and arranged on the housing above the first dispensing actuator, wherein the second dispensing actuator comprises at least one of a button or a lever configured to be depressed by a container from a first position to a second position to dispense the item into the container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dispensing system of claim 10, further comprising: a control unit, wherein the first dispensing actuator is configured to send an electrical signal to the control unit, and wherein the control unit is configured to send an electrical signal to the valve actuator to open the valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the first dispensing actuator is operatively connected to the mechanical actuator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the first dispensing actuator is biased toward the first position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the second dispensing actuator is operatively connected to the mechanical actuator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The dispensing system of claim 10, further comprising: a second dispenser for dispensing an accessory of the item, the accessory comprising at least one of a straw, a lid, or a container sleeve; and a third dispensing actuator operatively connected to the second dispenser comprising a pedal configured to be actuated by a foot action, wherein the second dispensing actuator is depressed from a first position to a second position to dispense the accessory. ### Claim 16 A method of dispensing an item with a dispenser, comprising: providing a first actuator comprising a pedal, the first actuator configured to be actuated by a foot action and to be depressed from a first position to a second position; providing a second actuator configured to be depressed by a container from a first position to a second position to dispense the item into the container; opening a valve operatively connected to a nozzle of the dispenser in response to actuating the first actuator or the second actuator; operatively connecting the first actuator and the second actuator with a mechanical actuator to open the valve; and dispensing the item by the nozzle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: locating the second actuator above the first actuator, the second actuator configured to be depressed from a first position to a second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein a force to depress the first actuator is lower than a force to depress the second actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: authorizing dispensing by confirming at least one of identity and payment after an item is selected for dispensing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second actuator comprises a lever.