Low cost and low power automatic liquid dispensers

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of dispensers for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis to compress a dome pump and a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump. During operation, when a refill unit is located within the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes a roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the roller passes over the resilient dome pump to dispense liquid, and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes to draw in liquid.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump comprising:
 a plurality of rollers that rotate about a substantially common axis;   a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump;   wherein when a refill unit is located within the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes a roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the roller passes over the resilient dome pump, and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of  claim 1  further comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between the resilient dome pump and the rollers when the rollers pass over the resilient dome pump. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of  claim 2  wherein a portion of the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by a hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of  claim 1  wherein the common axis is a vertical axis. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of  claim 1  wherein each roller also rotates about its own central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of  claim 1  further comprising a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of  claim 1  further comprising a direct current motor and gearing configured to move the rollers about the central axis. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of  claim 6  further comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between the resilient dome pump and the rollers when the rollers pass over the dome pump. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser for dispensing a liquid comprising:
 a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis;   a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump;   wherein the refill unit is located in the dispenser such that rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes the rollers to compress the resilient dome pump as each roller passes over the resilient dome pump and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes.   
     
     
         10 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of  claim 9  further comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between the resilient dome pump and the rollers. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of  claim 10  wherein a portion of the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by a hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of  claim 9  wherein the common axis is vertical. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of  claim 9  wherein each roller also rotates about its own central axis. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of  claim 9  further comprising a direct current motor and gearing to move the rollers about the central axis. 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump comprising:
 a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis;   a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump;   an intermediary plate configured to be moved by the rollers as the rollers rotate;   wherein when a refill unit is located within the holder and movement of the intermediary plate by the rollers causes the resilient dome to compress and pump a liquid.   
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the common axis is a vertical axis. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein each roller also rotates about its own central axis. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 15  further comprising a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 15  further comprising a direct current motor and gearing to move the rollers about the central axis. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by a hinge.