Electronic liquid dispenser
AssigneeHealthpoint, Ltd.
InventorsRex A. Hidle, H. Paul Dorman, Martin E. Smith, Earl R. Boyer, Stuart Daley, Shawn B. Gentry
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a method, apparatus and system for electromechanical liquid dispensing. The system includes a bottle for holding liquid to be dispensed, the bottle having an inlet port and an outlet port, a one-way outlet valve on the outlet port through which liquid is dispensed from the bottle, and an electronic control system for controlling dispensement of the liquid from the outlet port such that a controlled quantity of liquid is dispensed.
Claims20
A liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid from a bottle having an inlet port and the outlet port, and a one-way outlet valve on the outlet port through which the liquid is dispensed from the bottle, comprising:
- an air manifold fluidly connected to the inlet port;
- an air pump fluidly connected to the air manifold for providing compressed air;
- a solenoid in operative contact with the air manifold for releasing air from the air manifold;
- and
- an electrical control system electrically connected to the air pump and the solenoid for controlling dispensing of the liquid.
A liquid dispensing system, comprising:
- a bottle for holding liquid to be dispensed, and having an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a one-way outlet valve on the outlet port through which liquid is dispensed from the bottle;
- an electronic control system for controlling dispensement of the liquid from the outlet port such that a controlled quantity of the liquid is dispensed.
A method of dispensing liquid from a bottle, the bottle having an inlet port and an outlet port with a one-way valve operatively associated therewith, the method comprising:
- detecting an object proximate the outlet port through a proximity detection system;
- pumping air through the inlet port so as to pressurize air within the bottle and thereby dispense a first flow of liquid through the outlet valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.