Electrically operated dispensing apparatus and disposable container useable therewith

An apparatus for dispensing flowable material having a disposable, flexible container for holding flowable material to be dispensed, releasing means integrated with and disposable with the container for releasing a predetermined amount of flowable material from the disposable container when the releasing means is actuated, a disposable jacket in which is disposed said flexible container, said releasing means extending through a wall of the jacket so as to be located outside said jacket so that said releasing means can be actuated, actuating means when electrically energized for actuating the releasing means to release the predetermined amount of material and energizing means responsive to an input signal for energizing the actuating means;

• characterized in that at least one disposable receptacle is disposed within the jacket adjacent to, and disposable with the jacket and container, said receptacle receiving at least one electrical battery to electrically energize the dispensing apparatus and in which the apparatus further comprises means for providing an electrical connection to the at least one receptacle through a wall of said jacket.

A disposable device for holding flowable material which is to be released by a dispensing apparatus having an electrically energized actuating means, said disposable device comprising structure for forming a disposable, flexible container for holding flowable material to be dispensed, the container having an opening extending into the interior of the container, releasing means integrated with the container disposed adjacent the opening therein for releasing a predetermined amount of flowable material from the disposable container when the releasing means is actuated by the electrically energized actuating means, a disposable jacket in which is disposed said flexible container, further characterized by structure forming at least one receptacle disposed within the jacket adjacent to, and disposable with the container for receiving at least one electrical battery in the receptacle to electrically energize a dispensing apparatus having means for providing an electircal connection to the at least one receptacle, said jacket including means for permitting said electrical connection to be made to said at least one receptacle within the jacket.

A system for initiating operation of a dispensing apparatus in response to the proximity of a portion of the body of a user of the dispensing apparatus without the portion of the body of the user contacting the dispensing apparatus, the dispensing apparatus having actuating means for dispensing material when electrically energized, comprising activating means for activating the actuating means with electrical energy, said activating means including sensing means adapted to be mounted on the dispensing apparatus for sensing electromagnetic radiation applied thereto when said activating means is enabled, and means responsive to a change in electromagnetic radiation sensed by the sensing means when the activating means is enabled and a portion of the body of a user is proximate to the sensing means without the portion of the body of the user contacting the dispensing apparatus for applying electrical energy to the actuating means, characterized by enabling means adapted to be mounted on the dispensing apparatus and responsive to the proximity of a portion of the body of a user of the dispensing apparatus to the enabling means without the portion of the body of the user contacting the dispensing apparatus for enabling the activating means.

An apparatus for controlling the operation of a device for dispensing material having releasing means for releasing material to be dispensed and actuating means for actuating the releasing means to release the material characterized by means responsive to an input signal for actuating the actuating means for a predetermiend cycle of operation of the releasing means;

• and disabling means responsive to the occurrence of a predetermined number of input signals within a predetermined time interval for preventing operation of the actuating means subsequent to the occurrence.

An apparatus for dispensing flowable material having a disposable container for holding flowable material to be dispensed, means integrated with the container for releasing a predetermined amount of flowable material from the disposable container when the releasing means is actuated, actuating means when electrically energized for actuating the releasing means to release the predetermiend amount of material, said actuating means comprising an electrical motor, further characterized by braking means responsive to the advancement of the motor for braking said motor after the release of a predetermined amount of material.