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An improved concentrated/extract cartridge is provided for dispensing a liquid in an accurate and repeatable manner. The cartridge includes an electromagnetically actuated piston connected to a value. The piston includes an exterior ring supported by a hollow interior web that is configured to permi

An improved concentrated/extract cartridge is provided for dispensing a liquid in an accurate and repeatable manner. The cartridge includes an electromagnetically actuated piston connected to a value. The piston includes an exterior ring supported by a hollow interior web that is configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the value body is in contact with the value seat. A membrane is located below the web and is in sealing contact with the internal ring when the piston is activated. This allows a precise and repeatable amount of the liquid to be dispensed with each stroke. Dispensers for dispensing the liquid from the cartridge for a number of applications are also provided. The dispensers each include an actuating coil into which the dispensing tube is inserted. A controller is connected to the coil for controlling the actuation of the piston/value assembly for dispensing the fluid in the cartridge as required for the particular application.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An appliance including a dispenser for a liquid, comprising: a dispensing housing with a cartridge receiving opening in the dispensing housing;an electromagnetic dispensing actuator located in the dispensing housing around the cartridge receiving opening;a concentrate/extract cartridge removably

1. An appliance including a dispenser for a liquid, comprising: a dispensing housing with a cartridge receiving opening in the dispensing housing;an electromagnetic dispensing actuator located in the dispensing housing around the cartridge receiving opening;a concentrate/extract cartridge removably insertable into the cartridge receiving opening in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to hold a fluid to be dispensed via the dispensing housing, the concentrate/extract container comprising: a hollow body;a dispensing tube connected to the hollow body;a piston located in the dispensing tube and comprising spaced apart internal webs with a ring connecting the webs and an external ferromagnetic material sleeve located around the external ring; anda valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube, the port defining a flow passage through the dispensing tube, and a valve body located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat, for alternately opening and closing the port the, valve stem is connected to the piston at a first end of the valve stem, the piston includes a membrane configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the valve body is in contact with the valve seat and to forcibly express the fluid from the dispensing tube when the piston is moved downwardly and the valve body is moved from a contact position with the valve seat; anda controller located in the appliance to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract from the cartridge. 2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein the membrane seals against the ring during activation of the actuator. 3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the valve seat comprises a frusto-conical sealing surface. 4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the valve body comprises an o-ring to provide a seal with the valve seat when the valve body is closed. 5. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a supply line connected to at least one of a pump and a control valve for delivering a stream of diluent to the dispensing housing, and the dispensing tube of the concentrate/extract cartridge is positioned to deliver a stream of the fluid into the stream of the diluent. 6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the dispensing housing includes a diluent receiving opening to which the supply line is connected that leads to a mixing region in proximity to a exit orifice of the dispensing tube, and the dispensing housing further includes a discharge opening extending generally axially aligned with the dispensing tube orifice. 7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator or a water cooler, and the dispensing tube is directed toward a fluid outlet of the dispensing housing, the controller controls the dispensing actuator such that the fluid from the concentrate/extract cartridge is dispensed as water is dispensed from the appliance. 8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the controller controls an amount of the fluid dispensed from the cartridge and a temperature of the dispensed mix of the fluid and water. 9. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the dispensing housing includes a diluent receiving opening to which the supply line is connected that leads to a mixing region in proximity to a exit orifice of the dispensing tube, and the dispensing housing further includes a outlet opening extending generally axially aligned with the diluent receiving opening. 10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the appliance is selected from the group consisting of a clothes washing machine, a dish washer, an irrigation or sprinkler system, a pool or pond chemical system, a spray gun or a multi-ingredient mixed drink dispenser. 11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the appliance is a dish washer or a washing machine, and the controller controls the washing cycle and the dispensing of a predetermined or programmable amount of fluid from the cartridge in accordance with a predetermined time in the washing cycle. 12. The appliance of claim 10, wherein there are a plurality of the electromagnetic dispensing actuators, and a separate one of the concentrate/extract cartridges is located in each of the dispensing actuators, and the controller separately controls actuation of the electromagnetic dispensing actuators to dispense predetermined or programmable amounts of different fluids from the cartridges either at the same or different times in the washing cycle. 13. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the appliance is the spray gun, and the controller and actuator are powered by a battery, and a trigger controls actuation of the electromagnetic dispensing actuator. 14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein an axis of the cartridge dispensing tube is located at an acute angle to an axis of the diluent receiving opening. 15. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the appliance is the irrigation or sprinkler system, or the pool or pond chemical system and a plurality of the electromagnetic dispensing actuators are provided, with one of the concentrate/extract cartridges being located in each of the actuators located in a common dispensing housing having a single diluent inlet opening and a single outlet opening, and the controller controls an activation time of the electromagnetic dispensing actuators. 16. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the appliance is the multi-ingredient mixed drink dispenser which includes a plurality of the electromagnetic dispensing actuators, and separate ones of the concentrate/extract cartridges with different drink ingredients are located in each of the actuators, and the controller actuates the actuators to dispense a required amount of the extracts with mixers in order to make a drink selected by a user based on a program stored in the controller. 17. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the dispensing housing includes a direct dispensing opening at a bottom of the housing, axially aligned with the cartridge receiving opening for direct discharge of liquid from the cartridge. 18. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the appliance is selected from the group consisting of a paint color pigment dispenser and a medicament dispenser. 19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the appliance is a medicament dispenser and is controlled by the controller to dispense an amount of medicament based on a weight and or age of a user that is input into the controller. 20. The appliance of claim 18, further comprising an electronic ID tag reader located on the medicament dispenser and an electronic ID tag on the cartridge that can be read using the electronic ID tag reader, and a data reader connected to the controller that receives outside data regarding a medicament to be dispensed, nad the controller using the electronic ID tag reader to verify the ID of the cartridge located in the dispensing actuator prior to activation. 21. The appliance of claim 1, wherein an exit orifice of the dispensing tube is sized between 0.04 inch and 0.12 inch in diameter, whereby a flow of concentrate/extract exiting the dispensing tube is substantially atomized. 22. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a baby formula dispenser, and the controller controls an amount of the fluid being dispensed from the cartridge, and a temperature of baby formula dispensed 23. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the electromagnetic dispensing actuators which discharge into a common mixing channel in the dispensing housing, each of the electromagnetic dispensing actuators being separately activatable by the controller, and a separate concentrate/extract cartridge being installed at each electromagnetic actuator. 24. A concentrate/extract cartridge for a fluid dispenser adapted to dispense a fluid, the cartridge comprising: a hollow body;a dispensing tube connected to the hollow body;a piston slideably contained by an interior surface of the dispensing tube and comprising spaced apart internal webs with a ring connecting the webs and an external ferromagnetic material sleeve located around the external ring; anda valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube, the port defining a flow passage through the dispensing tube, the valve stem being connected to the piston at a first end of the valve stem, and a valve body located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat, for alternately opening and closing the port,the piston includes a membrane configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the valve body is in contact with the valve seat and to forcibly express fluid from the dispensing tube when the piston is moved downwardly and the valve body is moved from a contact position with the valve seat. 25. The concentrate/extract cartridge of claim 24, further comprising an exit orifice at an end of the dispensing tube that is sized between 0.04 inch and 0.12 inch in diameter, whereby a flow of fluid exiting the dispensing tube is substantially atomized. 26. The concentrate/extract cartridge of claim 24, further comprising a shoulder located in the dispensing tube, and the valve seat being a separate part that is located against the shoulder. 27. The concentrate/extract cartridge of claim 24, further comprising a port flow through area, corresponding to a cross-sectional area through the port minus a cross-sectional area of the valve stem at the port that is between 2% and 4% of a flow area defined by the dispensing tube. 28. A method of dispensing a refrigerated drink from a refrigerator or water cooler, comprising: providing a refrigerator or water cooler with a dispensing housing that opens into a drink dispensing area, the dispensing housing having a cartridge receiving opening, an electromagnetic dispensing actuator located in the dispensing housing around the cartridge receiving opening; a concentrate/extract cartridge removably insertable into the cartridge receiving opening in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to hold a fluid to be dispensed into the dispensing housing, the concentrate/extract cartridge including a hollow body, a dispensing tube connected to the hollow body, a piston located in the dispensing tube, and a valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube, the port defining a flow passage through the dispensing tube, and a valve body located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat, for alternately opening and closing the port the valve stem is connected to the piston at a first end of the valve stem, the piston comprising spaced apart internal webs with a ring connecting the webs, an external ferromagnetic material sleeve located around the external ring and a membrane configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the valve body is in contact with the valve seat and to forcibly express the fluid from the dispensing tube when the piston is moved downwardly and the valve body is moved from a contact position with the valve seat, and a controller to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract from the cartridge;a user inserting a selected cartridge with a desired beverage concentrate/extract into the dispensing housing, with the dispensing tube located in the cartridge receiving opening;pressing a button to signal the controller to activate the electromagnetic dispensing actuator;the controller sending an intermittent current to the actuator causing the piston to reciprocate back and forth and forcibly expressing a precise measured amount of the concentrate/extract from the dispensing tube and into a stream of cold water as it is being dispensed. 29. A method of dispensing a medicament, comprising: providing a medicament dispenser with a dispensing housing that opens into a dispensing area, the dispensing housing having a cartridge receiving opening, an electromagnetic dispensing actuator located in the dispensing housing around the cartridge receiving opening; a concentrate/extract cartridge removably insertable into the cartridge receiving opening in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to hold a fluid medicament to be dispensed, the concentrate/extract cartridge including a hollow body, a dispensing tube connected to the hollow body, a piston located in the dispensing tube, and a valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube, the port defining a flow passage through the dispensing tube, and a valve body located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat, for alternately opening and closing the port the valve stem is connected to the piston at a first end of the valve stem, the piston comprising spaced apart internal webs with a ring connecting the webs, an external ferromagnetic material sleeve located around the external ring and a membrane configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the valve body is in contact with the valve seat and to forcibly express the fluid from the dispensing tube when the piston is moved downwardly and the valve body is moved from a contact position with the valve seat, and a controller to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract from the cartridge;a user inserting a selected cartridge with a desired medicament into the dispensing housing, with the dispensing tube located in the cartridge receiving opening;pressing a button to signal the controller to activate the electromagnetic dispensing actuator;the controller sending an intermittent current to the actuator causing the piston to reciprocate back and forth and forcibly expressing a precise measured amount of the concentrate/extract from the dispensing tube and into a stream of cold water as it is being dispensed. 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising a sensor on the medicament dispenser reading a product identification from the cartridge, and a user inputting patient information into the controller, and the controller controlling a dispensing function based on the product identification and the patient information. 31. A method of dispensing pool or pond chemicals or additives, comprising: providing a dispensing housing that is connected into a pool or pond water feed line, the dispensing housing having at least one cartridge receiving opening with an associated electromagnetic dispensing actuator; a concentrate/extract cartridge removably insertable into each of the at least one cartridge receiving openings in a position to be actuated by the associated dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to hold a fluid chemical or additive to be dispensed into the dispensing housing, the concentrate/extract cartridge including a hollow body, a dispensing tube connected to the hollow body, a piston located in the dispensing tube, and a valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube, the port defining a flow passage through the dispensing tube, and a valve body located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat, for alternately opening and closing the port the valve stem is connected to the piston at a first end of the valve stem, the piston comprising spaced apart internal webs with a ring connecting the webs, an external ferromagnetic material sleeve located around the external ring and a membrane configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the valve body is in contact with the valve seat and to forcibly express the fluid from the dispensing tube when the piston is moved downwardly and the valve body is moved from a contact position with the valve seat, and a controller to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract from the cartridge;a user inserting a selected cartridge with a pool or pond chemical or additive into the dispensing housing, with the dispensing tube located in the cartridge receiving opening;a controller activating the electromagnetic dispensing actuator by sending an intermittent current to the actuator causing the piston to reciprocate back and forth and forcibly expressing a precise measured amount of the pool or pond chemical or additive from the dispensing tube and into a stream of water as it is being fed to the pool or pond. 32. A method of dispensing chemicals or additives through a sprinkler system, comprising: providing a dispensing housing that is connected into a sprinkler system water feed line, the dispensing housing having at least one cartridge receiving opening with an associated electromagnetic dispensing actuator; a concentrate/extract cartridge removably insertable into each of the at least one cartridge receiving openings in a position to be actuated by the associated dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to hold a fluid chemical or additive to be dispensed into the dispensing housing, the concentrate/extract cartridge including a hollow body, a dispensing tube connected to the hollow body, a piston located in the dispensing tube, and a valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube, the port defining a flow passage through the dispensing tube, and a valve body located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat, for alternately opening and closing the port the valve stem is connected to the piston at a first end of the valve stem, the piston comprising spaced apart internal webs with a ring connecting the webs, an external ferromagnetic material sleeve located around the external ring and a membrane configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the valve body is in contact with the valve seat and to forcibly express the fluid from the dispensing tube when the piston is moved downwardly and the valve body is moved from a contact position with the valve seat, and a controller to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract from the cartridge;a user inserting a selected cartridge with a chemical or additive into the dispensing housing, with the dispensing tube located in the cartridge receiving opening;a controller activating the electromagnetic dispensing actuator by sending an intermittent current to the actuator causing the piston to reciprocate back and forth and forcibly expressing a precise measured amount of the chemical or additive from the dispensing tube and into a stream of water as it is being fed to the sprinkler system. 33. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising: inserting a selected cartridge with a desired beverage concentrate/extract into the dispensing housing in the appliance of claim 1, with the dispensing tube located in the cartridge receiving opening;pressing a button to signal the controller to activate the electromagnetic dispensing actuator;the controller sending an intermittent current to the actuator causing the piston to reciprocate back and forth and forcibly expressing a precise measured amount of the concentrate/extract from the dispensing tube and into a stream of water as it is being dispensed. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the appliance is refrigerated and the water is cold.