Apparatus and method for dispensing liquids into a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016200463-A1
Application number	US-201414912595-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 29, 2014
Priority date	Aug 30, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A machine for dispensing a vaporizable vaporisable liquid into a container for use in an electronic inhalation device is disclosed. The machine comprises a reservoir of liquid, a dispensing port to receive an empty container to be filled, and a dispensing mechanism fluidly connected to the reservoir for dispensing a quantity of liquid from the reservoir to a container received in the dispensing port. The machine also comprises a controller connected to the dispensing mechanism to control operation thereof, and a user-operable interface connected to the controller for a user to actuate the machine. Also disclosed is a method of operation of such a machine and a system of a plurality of such machines.

First claim

1 . A machine for dispensing a vaporizable vaporisable liquid into a container for use in an electronic inhalation device, the machine comprising:
a reservoir for containing liquid, a dispensing port to receive an empty container to be filled; a dispensing mechanism fluidly connected to the reservoir for dispensing a quantity of liquid from the reservoir to a container received in the dispensing port, a controller connected to the dispensing mechanism to control operation thereof; and a user-operable interface connected to the controller for a user to actuate the machine, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a first duct configured to draw air out of the container to create a reduced pressure therein, and a second duct through which liquid from the reservoir is conveyed into the container and is drawn into the container by the vacuum created therein, and wherein the user-operable interface is operable by a user to affect payment for supply of a quantity of the liquid from the reservoir and the machine is configured to dispense a quantity of liquid from the reservoir in response to a payment operation by a user via the user-operable interface.

2 . A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a magazine of empty liquid containers and a delivery mechanism configured to deliver an empty container from the magazine for subsequent insertion into the dispensing port and filling with liquid.

3 . A machine according to claim 2 wherein the delivery mechanism is configured to delivery an empty container from the magazine into the dispensing port.

4 . A machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning mechanism configured to clean a container received in the dispensing port prior to filling the container with liquid from the reservoir.

5 . A machine according to claim 4 wherein the cleaning mechanism comprises an ultrasonic emitter.

6 . A machine according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing port is configured to receive and fill containers of varying configurations.

7 . A machine according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of dispensing ports configured to receive and fill containers having different configurations.

8 . A machine according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of reservoirs containing different liquids, wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to selectively dispense liquid from the plurality of reservoirs to the dispensing port.

9 . A machine according to claim 8 wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to mix liquid from two or more of the plurality of reservoirs and dispense the mixed liquid to the dispensing port.

10 . A machine according to claim 9 comprising at least three reservoirs respectively containing nicotine, a dilutent, and a flavorant, and wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to mix different ratios of the nicotine, dilutent, and flavorant as the mixed liquid to be dispensed.

11 . A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a container marking mechanism configured to mark a container filled with liquid from the dispensing mechanism with information related to the dispensed liquid.

12 . A machine according to claim 11 wherein the marking mechanism comprises a label printer configured to print a label with information relating to the dispensed liquid and adhere the label to the container.

13 . A machine according to claim 11 wherein the marking mechanism comprises a printer configured to print information relating to the dispensed liquid directly onto the container.

14 . A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a container detector associated with the dispensing port and connected to the controller, and configured to detect whether a container is received within the dispensing port, and the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism not to dispense liquid if no container is received in the dispensing port.

15 . A machine according to claim 14 wherein the container detector is configured to determine a type of container received within the dispensing port and the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense an appropriate amount of liquid in dependence on the detected container type.

16 . A machine according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a flow meter connected to the controller and wherein the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense a pre-determined quantity of liquid as measured by the flow meter.

17 . A machine according to claim 8 , wherein each of the reservoirs is fluidly connected to the dispensing mechanism by a supply pipe, and wherein each supply pipe includes a flow meter connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense specific quantities of liquid from the reservoirs as measured by the flow meters.

18 . A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless receiver connected to the controller and configured to receive a signal transmitted from a user-operated wireless device, and wherein the controller is configured to control the dispensing mechanism in response to the received signal.

19 . A machine according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured only to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense liquid from the reservoir to a container upon verification of at least one user identification criterion.

20 . A machine according to claim 19 wherein the controller is configured only to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense liquid from the reservoir to a container upon verification of minimum age information for a user.

21 . A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a seal label applicator configured to automatically apply a seal label over an opening in a container after being filled with liquid.

22 . A machine according to claim 21 wherein the seal labels applied by the seal label applicator are tamper-evidencing seal labels.

23 . A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a memory unit connected to the controller.

24 . A method of operating a machine for dispensing a vaporizable liquid into a container for use in an electronic inhalation device, the method comprising:
receiving a dispensing instruction via a user-operable interface connected to a controller, the controller actuating a dispensing mechanism to dispense a quantity of liquid from a reservoir of the machine to a dispensing port and into a container held in the dispensing port, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a first duct which draws air out of the container to create a reduced pressure therein, and a second duct through which liquid from the reservoir is conveyed into the container and is drawn into the container by the vacuum created therein; and using the user-operable interface to affect payment for supply of a quantity of the liquid from the reservoir and dispensing a quantity of liquid from the reservoir in response to a payment operation.

25 . A method according to claim 24 further comprising actuating a delivery mechanism to deliver an empty container from a magazine of empty liquid containers for subsequent insertion into the dispensing port and filling with liquid.

26 . A method according to claim 25 wherein the delivery mechanism delivers an empty container from the magazine into the dispensing port.

27 . A method according to claim 24 , further com

Assignees

• Nicoventures Holdings Ltd

Inventors

• Hodges Paul
• Vincent Spencer Alfred
• Awty Edward

Classifications

• G07F13/10

  with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles · CPC title

• G07F13/02 Primary

  by volume · CPC title

• G06Q20/18

  involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals · CPC title

• G07F13/06

  with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof · CPC title

• B65B7/16

  Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons · CPC title