Devices for dispensing fluids

#The present techniques relate to devices for dispensing fluids. More particularly, the techniques relate to a reusable fluid dispenser and a disposable fluid pack for use with the reusable fluid dispenser for dispensing fluids.

#Known spraying devices for spraying fluids such as paint, cleaning products, insecticides, oils, degreasing fluids etc., have a motor and a pump to convey the fluid from a reservoir and out of a fluid nozzle at a predetermined flow rate or pressure. After use, the spraying devices are required to be cleaned thoroughly in order that they may be used in the future with either the same type or a different type of fluid. However, it is often difficult to thoroughly clean the nozzle, fluid reservoir and interconnecting tubes of such devices. Other spraying devices use a pressurised reservoir where the gas pressure is introduced by a hand pump or the reservoir is pre-filled with a fluid under pressure which keeps the fluid in a liquid state at ambient temperature.

#It is also known to provide different fluid packs for use with a motor, for example, in the commercial catering industry, where a concentrate, such as apple juice concentrate, cola flavouring etc., may be provided in a pack with an attached radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. A RFID reader identifies the RFID tag within the pack and also communicates data such as the product type, its dilution ratio, i.e., the ratio at which the concentrate is to be mixed with water, and the flow rate for dispensing the fluid. The RFID reader is read by the motor controller of the motor of a fluid dispenser, which pumps the concentrate, mixed with water, at the appropriate flow rate. However, RFID tags and readers are expensive and therefore are not desirable for use in smaller spraying devices, such as for the domestic markets.

#Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures of which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a device for dispensing fluids;

#FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative exploded view of a device for dispensing fluids;

#Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without these specific details.

#A device for dispensing fluids comprising a reusable fluid dispenser and a disposable fluid pack for use with the reusable fluid dispenser is provided. Multiple different disposable fluid packs may be used with the same reusable fluid dispenser such that multiple different fluids may be dispensed at the same or at multiple different flow rates, without contaminating the reusable fluid dispenser or cross contamination between the different disposable fluid packs. The reusable fluid dispenser comprises a housing, a motor, a power supply, a controller, such as a motor controller printed circuit board (PCB), a decoder and a lens array. The disposable fluid pack comprises a fluid reservoir, a pump and an encoder. When in use, the motor of the reusable fluid dispenser is coupled to the pump of the disposable fluid pack to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir out through an outlet of the pump. The fluid does not contact the components of the reusable fluid dispenser, preventing cross contamination between different fluids. The encoder of each disposable fluid reservoir comprises encoder data defining at least one stop position and a dispensing flow rate for the fluid within the reservoir. The decoder of the reusable fluid dispenser retrieves the encoder data from the encoder when a disposable fluid pack is connected to the reusable fluid dispenser and instructs the motor to rotate the pump of the disposable fluid pack at the rotation speed defined in the encoder data to deliver a target flow rate. Since no expensive RFID or similar components are used, the device is suitable for sale on the domestic market as well as being a low-cost alternative to RFID based systems in the commercial market.

#FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate alternative exploded views of a device 1 for dispensing fluids. The device 1 comprises a reusable fluid dispenser 100 and a disposable fluid pack 200. The reusable fluid dispenser 100 comprises a housing 102, a power supply 104, a motor 106, a controller 114, such as a motor controller PCB, a decoder 110 and a lens array 116. The housing 102 is configured such that the motor 106, controller 114, the decoder 110 and the lens array 116 are disposed within the housing 102. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the power supply 104 is also disposed within the housing 102. However, the power supply 104 is not limited to being disposed within the housing 102. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the power supply 104 is a battery. However, a mains power supply may be utilised in which case a suitable connection to the mains power supply is provided in the housing 102, as opposed to a battery. Alternatively, the power supply 104 may be configured to be removably attached to but project out of the housing 102, similar to rechargeable batteries as known in the art of electric power hand tools. Alternatively, the reusable fluid dispenser 100 may be configured to utilise either or both a battery power supply and a mains power supply.