# US 8,740,019 B1 · Foam dispensing systems with multiple liquid supplies, and related refill units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,019 B1 - Document ID: US8740019B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/769,672 - Filed: 2013-02-18 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-18 - Assignees: GOJO Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Nick E. Ciavarella; Michael J. Gallo - Inventors: Nick E. Ciavarella; Michael J. Gallo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740019B1 ## CPC - A47K 5/16: with mechanical drive - A47K 5/1215: {applied by a peristaltic action} - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES ## Abstract An exemplary foam dispenser includes a housing, a plate located in the housing, a first dispensing wheel located proximate the plate. The first dispensing wheel has a plurality of pinch members and is rotatable about an axis. The exemplary dispenser includes a second dispensing wheel located proximate the plate. The second dispensing wheel having a plurality of pinch members and rotatable about the same axis as the first dispensing wheel. Rotation of the first dispensing wheel is configured to pinch a first flexible tube against the plate and to move a first liquid through the first tube; and rotation of the second dispensing wheel is configured to pinch a second flexible tube against the plate and to move a second liquid through the first tube. The exemplary dispenser includes a motor for rotating the first and second dispensing wheels and a motor controller for starting and stopping the motor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foam dispenser comprising: a housing; a plate located in the housing; a first dispensing wheel located proximate the plate; the first dispensing wheel having a plurality of pinch members; the first dispensing wheel rotatable about an axis; a second dispensing wheel located proximate the plate; the second dispensing wheel having a plurality of pinch members; the second dispensing wheel rotatable about the same axis as the first dispensing wheel; wherein rotation of the first dispensing wheel is configured to pinch a first flexible tube against the plate and to move a first liquid through the first tube; and wherein rotation of the second dispensing wheel is configured to pinch a second flexible tube against the plate and to move a second liquid through the first tube; a motor for rotating the first and second dispensing wheels; and a motor controller for starting and stopping the motor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The foam dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of nubs secured to at least one of the first and second dispensing wheels, wherein the nubs are configured to strike a mixing tube of a refill unit installed in the dispenser as the nubs rotate past mixing chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The foam dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pinch members on the first dispensing wheel are aligned with the plurality of pinch members on the second dispensing wheel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The foam dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pinch members are rollers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The foam dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for providing position information to the motor controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The foam dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a refill unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The foam dispenser of claim 6 wherein the refill unit comprises a first container, a second container, a first flexible outlet tube, a second flexible outlet tube and a mixing chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The foam dispenser of claim 7 further comprising a space between the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube for fitting over the plate. ### Claim 9 A refill unit for a foam dispensing system, the refill unit comprising: a first container holding a first liquid; a first outlet tube extending away from the first container; a second container holding a second liquid; a second outlet tube extending away from the second container; the first liquid and the second liquid chemically react when combined with one another; a space between the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube for receiving a plate therebetween; a mixing tube, wherein each of the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube are fluidically connected to the mixing tube, such that a mixing chamber is formed within the mixing tube at a point where the first liquid mixes with the second liquid; and a sealing member to seal the first outlet tube and second outlet tube when the refill unit is not installed in a dispenser; wherein the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube have a flexible portion which is disposed within a pinching region of the foam dispensing system, such that at least one pinching element of the dispensing system successively engages and disengages the flexible portion of the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube, to thereby cause the first liquid and the second liquid to enter the mixing chamber and form a mixture that expands to become a foam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refill unit of claim 9, wherein the first liquid comprises a weak acid and the second liquid comprises a weak base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refill unit of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second liquids further comprises a wax. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The refill unit of claim 9, further comprising an outlet nozzle disposed at a dispensing end of the mixing tube downstream of the mixing chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The refill unit of claim 9, wherein the pinching element successively engages and disengages an outlet tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The refill unit of claim 9, wherein the mixing tube narrows in a region corresponding to the mixing chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The refill unit of claim 9, wherein the mixing tube comprises one or more baffles in a region corresponding to the mixing chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The refill unit of claim 9, further comprising a clipping element, wherein the clipping element interacts with a mating element of the system when the refill unit is properly installed in the system. ### Claim 17 A foam dispensing system comprising: a first container holding a first liquid; a first outlet tube extending away from the first container; a second container holding a second liquid; a second outlet tube extending away from the second container; a mixing tube, wherein each of the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube are fluidically connected to the mixing tube, such that a mixing chamber is formed within the mixing tube at a point where the first liquid mixes with the second liquid; a first dispensing wheel mounted on a shaft defining an axis of rotation for the first dispensing wheel, the first dispensing wheel comprising at least one pinching element disposed on an interior side of the first dispensing wheel which is adjacent to at least one of the first outlet tube, the second outlet tube, and the mixing tube; a second dispensing wheel mounted on a shaft defining an axis of rotation for the second dispensing wheel, the second dispensing wheel comprising at least one pinching element disposed on an interior side of the second dispensing wheel which is adjacent to at least one of the first outlet tube, the second outlet tube, and the mixing tube an actuator for rotating the first and second dispensing wheels around the axis of rotation such that, as the first and second dispensing wheel rotate, the pinching elements successively engages and disengages at least one of the first outlet tube, the second outlet tube, and the mixing tube, to thereby cause the first liquid and the second liquid to enter the mixing chamber and form a mixture that expands to become a foam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The foam dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising a rigid plate member disposed between the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube, and wherein the pinching element of the first dispensing wheel successively engages and disengages at least the first outlet tube, and the pinching element of the second dispensing wheel successively engages and disengages at least the second outlet tube. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The foam dispensing system of claim 17, wherein the pinching elements are selected from the group consisting of a protuberance, a roller, and a spring-loaded projection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The foam dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising a bumper element disposed on the interior side of the first dispensing wheel, wherein the bumper element successively engages and disengages at least one of the first outlet tube, the second outlet tube, and the mixing tube as the first dispensing wheel rotates around the axis of rotation.