Touchless optically controlled dispenser

Abstract

An automatically controlled apparatus whose operation is controlled at least in part by the input of a signal that an object is sensed in a selected positioned relative the apparatus, the apparatus having an emitter to emit electromagnetic radiation and a sensor to sense electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter which is reflected off an object suitably positioned relative the apparatus, the improvement comprising a carriage member mounted to the apparatus for relative pivoting about a pivot axis, the emitter and sensor carried by carriage member, the emitter being generally directional emitting radiation to emanate outwardly from the emitter generally along a longitudinal emission axis, the sensor being generally directional and sensing radiation which emanates generally along a longitudinal sensing axis terminating in the sensor, the emission axis and the sensing axis generally disposed in a common plane which includes the horizontal axis.

1 . An automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing material onto a hand of a user when the hand is suitable positioned under a dispensing outlet for the material to be dispensed, the improvement comprising:
 the dispensing apparatus having a backplate for mounting to a vertical wall,   the dispensing apparatus protruding forwardly from the backplate,   the dispensing outlet spaced in a forward direction from the backplate,   the dispensing outlet dispensing material vertically downwardly from the dispensing outlet along a dispensing axis which is fixed relative the backplate,   the dispensing apparatus having an emitter to emit electromagnetic radiation and a sensor to sense electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter which is reflected off a user hand suitably positioned under the outlet,   a carriage member mounted to the dispensing apparatus fixed against movement relative the dispensing apparatus other than for relative pivoting about a pivot axis which is horizontal and extends normal to the forward direction side to side of the dispensing apparatus,   the emitter and sensor carried by carriage member,   the emitter being generally directional emitting radiation to emanate outwardly from the emitter generally along a longitudinal emission axis,   the sensor being generally directional and sensing radiation which emanates generally along a longitudinal sensing axis terminating in the sensor,   the emission axis and the sensing axis generally disposed in a common plane which includes the pivot axis,   the carriage member mounted to the dispensing apparatus for pivoting about the pivot axis between a plurality of different positions relative the backplate,   wherein pivoting the carriage member between different of said positions places the common plane at different angular orientations relative to the dispensing axis.   
     
     
         2 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the dispenser has the carriage mounted at an under side of the dispenser to direct the plane downwardly and forwardly with the common plane to intersect with a user's hand when positioned at a selected position. 
     
     
         3 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the emission axis and the sensing axis converge to intersect at a convergence point in the plane below the dispenser. 
     
     
         4 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the emitter and sensor are spaced from each other in a direction measured parallel to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         5 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the emission axis is at a fixed emitter angle relative to the pivot axis and the sensing axis is at a fixed sensing angle relative to the pivot axis, the sensing angle is equal to the emitter angle. 
     
     
         6 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein
 pivoting the carriage member locates an intersection of the dispensing axis with the common plane at different relative heights below the dispensing outlet. 
 
     
     
         7 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the emitter and sensor are spaced from each other in a direction measured parallel to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         8 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  including an angular positioning mechanism to releasably lock the carriage member at a different angular positions relative the pivot axis. 
     
     
         9 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  including a positioning member rearwardly coupled to the carriage and manually engageable by a user to pivot the carriage member to different angular positions relative the pivot axis. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the positioning member comprises a lever member when coupled to the carriage projects from the carriage member radially relative the pivot axis for manual engagement under the dispensing apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein further comprising:
 a reservoir assembly including a reservoir containing material to be dispensed, an activation unit, and a pump mechanism activatable by the activation unit to dispense material from the reservoir out of the outlet opening, 
 a control mechanism to permit operation of the dispensing apparatus when the sensor senses radiation from the emitter. 
 
     
     
         12 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         13 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         14 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         15 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         16 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         17 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         18 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         19 . In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter,
 the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertop surface. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a dispenser in combination as claimed in  claim 12  comprising:
 pivoting the carriage member about the pivot axis to one of the plurality of different positions relative the backplate selected such that electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter reflects off the upwardly directed surface of the countertop is not directed to the sensor.