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US 12,535,062 B2Granted
Electrically actuated pump
AssigneeWorld Club Supply Corp.
InventorPhilip D. Lowance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Automatic electric actuation of the pumping mechanism of a liquid dispenser apparatus is provided by configuring a hollow tube to cooperate with an electromagnetically driven actuator and further configuring the hollow tube to inter-fit with a stem of a liquid dispensing pump. Actuation of the actuator may, for example, drive the pump stem downwardly to cause a pumping action. Suitable actuators include, for example, solenoids, voice coil actuators and stepping motors.
Claims5
A liquid dispenser apparatus comprising:
- a pump;
- and
- a stepper motor spaced apart from the pump and having a hollow tube positioned therein, the motor and hollow tube being configured such that the motor drives the hollow tube up and down in response to supply of a plurality of electrical pulses thereto;
- the hollow tube extending between the stepper motor and the pump and being constructed to inter-fit with a stem of the pump such that driving the hollow tube up and down creates a pumping action;
- and
- wherein the pump is mounted in the liquid dispenser apparatus and the stepper motor is installed in the liquid dispenser apparatus above and spaced apart from the pump.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.