Automatic fluid dispenser and method

A dispenser for dispensing flowable materials, comprising;

• a housing having a bottom opening;
• a nozzle position generally over said bottom opening;
• a container disposed in said housing and retaining a fluid under pressure, said container having a tubing in fluid communication with the interior of said container at one end thereof and extending outwardly of said container and engaging said nozzle at the other end;
• a frame movably connected to and disposed generally in said housing and including engaging means for engaging said container;
• biasing means for biasing said container against said frame and ensuring that a valve at the interior end of said tubing remains normally closed;
• and
• moving means for moving said frame such that a downward force is exerted on said container by said frame and pushes said container downward relative to said housing a sufficient distance to press said tubing against said nozzle where both said tubing and said nozzle are stationary relative to said housing such that the downward movement of said container relative to said tubing causes said valve to open and thereby the fluid is dispensed out through said nozzle and said bottom opening.

A fluid dispensing method, comprising the steps of:

• providing a container containing a fluid and having a tubing in fluid communication with the interior of said container at one end thereof and extending outwardly of said container and engaging a stationary nozzle at the other end;
• sensing the presence of an object in a dispensing zone associated with said nozzle;
• in response to said sensing step, energizing an electromagnet and thereby generating a magnetic force which draws a frame against the container;
• and
• pushing said container downward relative to said stationary nozzle thereby pressing said tubing against said nozzle such that the relative downward movement of said container to said tubing causes a valve at the interior end of said tubing to open and thereby the fluid is dispensed from the container through the nozzle and onto the object in the dispensing zone.

A spray dispenser for spraying flowable materials from a container, comprising:

• a dispenser housing including positioning means for positioning therein a container holding therein flowable material under pressure and having a spray nozzle;
• a tubing in fluid communication with the interior of said container at one end thereof and extending outwardly of said container and engaging said spray nozzle at the other end;
• proximity sensing means for sensing the presence of an object in a detection zone, corresponding to a dispensing zone of the flowable material out the nozzle with the container positioned in said dispenser housing, and generating a signal in response thereto;
• an actuating member;
• and
• an electromagnet operated by a circuit actuated by the signal from said sensing means, said electromagnet when energized causing relative downward movement of said actuating member thereby pushing said container downward relative to said spray nozzle which is stationary relative to said housing and thereby pressing said tubing against said nozzle such that the relative downward movement of said container to said tubing causes a valve at the interior end of said tubing to open, allowing the flowable materials under pressure to be sprayed out through the nozzle onto the object in the detection zone.

A dispenser for dispensing flowable materials from a container, comprising:

• a dispenser housing including positioning means for positioning therein a container holding flowable material and having a nozzle;
• a tubing in fluid communication with the interior of said container at one end thereof and extending outwardly of said container and engaging said spray nozzle at the other end;
• proximity sensing means for sensing the presence of an object in a detection zone, corresponding to a dispensing zone of the flowable material out the nozzle with the container positioned in said dispenser housing, and generating a signal in response thereto;
• an actuating member;
• and
• an electromagnet operated by a circuit actuated by the signal from said sensing means, said electromagnet when energized causing relative downward movement of said actuating member and said container;
• wherein said actuating member comprises a magnetic frame normally biased against the container, and when said electromagnet is energized, said frame is drawn downward by said energized electromagnet so as to exert pressure on the container, thereby pushing said container downward relative to said spray nozzle which is stationary relative to said housing and thereby pressing said tubing against said nozzle such that the relative downward movement of said container to said tubing causes a valve at the interior end of said tubing to open, and thereby the flowable material is dispensed out through the nozzle onto the object in the detection zone.

A sprayable material dispenser, comprising:

• a support assembly;
• a container containing pressurized sprayable material and supported by said support assembly in an upside-down orientation;
• a nozzle having a conical opening, a cylindrical opening in a nozzle upper portion and internal threads in said cylindrical opening;
• tubing having an externally threaded end which mates tightly through several complete turns with said internal threads and is thereby secured to said nozzle and in fluid communication with said conical opening, said tubing having opening spaced from said threaded end;
• and
• valve means for selectively blocking fluid communication of said tubing opening with the interior of said container in a valve normally closed position and for communicating said tubing opening with the interior of said container in an alternative valve opened position wherein the material from said container is sprayed out through said conical opening;
• and
• sensing means for sensing the presence of an object in a dispensing zone of said nozzle and, when the object is sensed, for thereby actuating a pushing means that causes downward movement of said container relative to said stationary nozzle thereby pressing said tubing against said nozzle such that the relative downward movement of said container to said tubing causes said valve means to open and thereby the fluid is dispensed from the container through the nozzle and onto the object in the dispensing zone.