Apparatus for dispersing scents into the environment

An apparatus for rotating a disk having a plurality of scent elements supported thereon, the apparatus comprising:

• a platter having a hub extending upwardly therefrom, said hub configured to removably engage the disk in a predetermined rotational position and defining an axis of rotation;
• a motor coupled to said platter for rotating said platter about said axis of rotation;
• a first ring disposed on said platter concentric with said hub, said first ring having at least one notch formed therein to rotate about said axis of rotation through a first circular path;
• a second ring disposed on said platter concentric with said first ring, said second ring having a plurality of notches formed therein to rotate about said axis of rotation through a second circular path;
• a first sensor arranged adjacent to a first point on said first circular path and generating a first signal when said notch of said first ring is rotated to said first point;
• a second sensor arranged adjacent to a second point on said second circular path and generating a second signal when a notch of said plurality of second ring notches is rotated to said second point;
• and
• a control unit coupled to said first sensor, said second sensor and said motor, said control unit controlling current delivered to said motor to operate said motor and altering said current upon receiving said first signal from said first sensor and said second signal from said second sensor.

A device for playing a cartridge having a plurality of scent elements supported on a rotatable disk, said device comprising:

• a housing having a cavity for receiving the cartridge and being formed with an air intake and an exhaust port;
• a blower assembly mounted within said housing for generating an airflow by drawing air in through said air intake over said cavity and out through said exhaust port;
• a heater for healing a scent element when a cartridge is positioned within said cavity;
• a spring for biasing said heater toward the cartridge when the cartridge is positioned within said cavity;
• a platter having a body defined by a perimeter and a center, a hub connected to said body at said center to define an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to said airflow generated by said blower and being configured to removably engage the rotatable disk of the cartridge in a predetermined rotational position, a first position indicator disposed on said body, and a second position indicator disposed on said body;
• a motor mounted within said housing and coupled to said platter for rotating said platter about said axis of rotation so that said first position indicator rotates through a first circular path and said second position indicator rotates through a second circular path;
• a first sensor for generating a first signal when said first position indicator is rotated to a first point;
• a second sensor for generating a second signal when said second position indicator is rotated to a second point;
• and
• a control unit coupled to said first sensor, said second sensor and said motor, said control unit controlling current delivered to said motor in response to said first signal from said first sensor and said second signal from said second sensor.