Systems, methods, and devices for dispensing fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12172883-B2
Application number	US-202218069155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2022
Priority date	Dec 20, 2022
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

A dispenser may dispense a predetermined amount of fluid from a fluid container. The dispenser may include an actuator that applies a force to a nozzle of the fluid container to open the nozzle for a period of time based. The period of time may be based on the predetermined amount of fluid. The dispenser may include a weight sensor, wherein the weight sensor detects a weight of the fluid in a fluid container. The period of time may be based on the weight of the fluid in the fluid container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid dispenser, comprising:
a first actuator;
a second actuator; and
a sensor, wherein the sensor provides a signal that relates to a fluid in a fluid container,
wherein when a user engages the first actuator, the second actuator is configured to actuate a manual actuator of a mechanical nozzle of the fluid container to open the mechanical nozzle for a period of time to dispense, through a hole in the fluid dispenser, a predetermined amount of the fluid from the fluid container, wherein the period of time is based on the signal from the sensor.

2. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator is a linear actuator.

3. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator applies a force to the mechanical nozzle to open the mechanical nozzle.

4. The fluid dispenser of claim 3 , further comprising a clamp configured to secure the mechanical nozzle in place when the second actuator applies the force to the mechanical nozzle.

5. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein a controller determines the period of time.

6. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a weight sensor, and the signal relates to a weight of the fluid in the fluid container.

7. The fluid dispenser of claim 6 , wherein a controller determines the period of time based on a look up table comprising weights of the fluid in the fluid container.

8. The fluid dispenser of claim 6 , wherein a controller determines the period of time based on a first weight of the fluid in the fluid container and a second weight of the fluid in the fluid container, wherein the first weight of the fluid in the fluid container is the weight of the fluid in the fluid container before the second actuator opens the mechanical nozzle, and the second weight of the fluid in the fluid container is the weight of the fluid in the fluid container after the mechanical nozzle dispenses the predetermined amount of the fluid.

9. A fluid dispensing system, comprising:
a housing configured to receive a fluid container comprising a mechanical nozzle, the housing comprising:
a first actuator, wherein the first actuator is a mechanical actuator;
a base comprising a hole;
a cover coupled to the base,
wherein when the housing receives the fluid container, the mechanical nozzle is substantially aligned with the hole;

an actuation system comprising:
a controller;
a second actuator; and
a sensor, wherein the sensor provides a signal that relates to a fluid in the fluid container;

wherein when a user engages the first actuator, the controller is configured to instruct the second actuator to apply a force to the mechanical nozzle for a period of time, wherein the force opens the mechanical nozzle to dispense a predetermined amount of the fluid from the fluid container, wherein the controller is configured to determine the period of time based the signal from the sensor.

10. The fluid dispensing system of claim 9 , further comprising a clamp configured to secure the mechanical nozzle in place when the second actuator applies the force to the mechanical nozzle.

11. The fluid dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the period of time is not based on how long the user engages the first actuator.

12. The fluid dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a weight sensor, and the signal relates to a weight of the fluid in the sensor.

13. The fluid dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the controller determines the period of time based on a look up table comprising weights of the fluid in the container.

14. The fluid dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the controller determines the period of time based on a first weight of the fluid in the fluid container and a second weight of the fluid in the fluid container, wherein the first weight of the fluid in the fluid container is the weight of the fluid in the fluid container before the second actuator opens the mechanical nozzle, and the second weight of the fluid in the fluid container is the weight of the fluid in the fluid container after the mechanical nozzle dispenses the predetermined amount of fluid.

15. The fluid dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the fluid container is a bag-in-box container.

16. A method of dispensing a predetermined amount of a fluid, comprising:
placing, by a user, a fluid container on a weight sensor coupled to a base of a dispenser, wherein the fluid container comprises a mechanical nozzle, and the base comprises a hole;
aligning, by the user, the mechanical nozzle with the hole and an electronic actuator of the dispenser;
closing, by the user, a clamp configured to secure the mechanical nozzle in place;
engaging, by the user, a mechanical actuator of the dispenser;
determining, by a controller, a period of time, wherein the period of time is based on a weight of the fluid in the fluid container detected by the weight sensor, and the predetermined amount of the fluid;
instructing, by the controller, the electronic actuator to apply a force to the mechanical nozzle to open the mechanical nozzle and dispense the fluid; and
after the period of time, instructing, by the controller, the electronic actuator to stop applying the force to the mechanical nozzle to close the mechanical nozzle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the controller determines the period of time based on a look up table.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the controller determines the period of time based on a first weight of the fluid in the fluid container and a second weight of the fluid in the fluid container, wherein the first weight of the fluid in the fluid container is the weight of the fluid in the fluid container before the electronic actuator opens the mechanical nozzle, and the second weight of the fluid in the fluid container is the weight of the fluid in the fluid container after the mechanical nozzle dispenses the predetermined amount of fluid.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fluid container is a bag-in-box container.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the user places a weight on a bag of the bag-in-box container.

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Jessie Jeffrey Lynn
• Abrahamsen Lucas Sano
• Stack Paul
• Lombard Joanne
• Byrne Brian
• Treston Peter
• Kelly John

Classifications

• B67D3/0077

  Electronic circuitry · CPC title

• B67D3/0067

  relating to shape or materials, e.g. bag-in-box packages [BIB], pouches · CPC title

• B67D3/0083

  for the liquid container · CPC title

• B67D3/0093

  Level indicators · CPC title

• B67D3/045

  with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction parallel to the seat · CPC title