초록 ▼

A removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a liquid dispenser to permit the liquid dispenser to be readily sanitized. The removable liquid transport assembly preferably includes a liquid manifold, a valve assembly and a pump head. The removable liqui

A removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a liquid dispenser to permit the liquid dispenser to be readily sanitized. The removable liquid transport assembly preferably includes a liquid manifold, a valve assembly and a pump head. The removable liquid transport assembly is configured such that liquid can flow in a first direction through the removable liquid transport assembly to permit a liquid to be dispensed from a liquid dispenser and liquid can flow in a second direction back to a liquid storage container to prevent damage to one or more components of the liquid dispenser.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A liquid transport assembly for a liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the liquid dispenser, said liquid transport assembly comprising: (a) a removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a

1. A liquid transport assembly for a liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the liquid dispenser, said liquid transport assembly comprising: (a) a removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a liquid dispenser to permit the liquid dispenser to be readily sanitized, said removable liquid transport assembly including a reservoir, a liquid manifold, a valve assembly and a pump head, said reservoir extending below a lowermost portion of said liquid manifold, said removable liquid transport assembly being configured such that liquid can flow in a first direction through said liquid transport assembly including an inlet of the valve assembly and through a portion of the pump head to permit a liquid to be dispensed from a liquid dispenser and liquid can flow in a second direction back through the inlet of the valve assembly to a liquid storage container to prevent damage to one or more components of the liquid dispenser. 2. A liquid transport assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said removable liquid transport assembly is configured such that liquid flowing in the second direction cannot pass through said pump head when traveling back to the liquid storage container. 3. A liquid transport assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein: (a) said liquid manifold is substantially rigid and includes at least an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber and lower chamber are configured to receive a liquid. 4. A liquid transport assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (a) said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion. 5. A liquid transport assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said reservoir includes an opening formed in an uppermost portion of said reservoir, said reservoir is configured such that liquid can only enter and exit said reservoir through said opening. 6. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing said liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said storage location;(b) a reservoir disposed in said housing, said reservoir being configured to receive a liquid from said liquid storage container prior to said liquid being dispensed from said main housing; and,(c) a removable manifold operably connected to said reservoir and said liquid storage container for conveying liquid between said reservoir and said liquid storage container, said removable manifold being further operably connected to said dispensing location to convey a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location, said removable manifold including a liquid manifold, a valve assembly and a pump head, said reservoir extending below a lowermost portion of said liquid manifold, said removable manifold being configured such that the liquid manifold, the valve assembly, the pump head and the reservoir can be simultaneously removed from the main housing, said removable manifold further being configured such that liquid can flow in a first direction from said liquid storage container to said dispensing location and liquid forward of said valve assembly can flow in a second direction back to a liquid storage container to prevent damage to one or more components of the liquid dispenser without passing through said pump head, wherein the pump head is disposed such that liquid passes through the pump head when traveling in the first direction. 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: (a) said liquid manifold is substantially rigid and includes at least an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber and lower chamber are configured to receive a liquid. 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: (a) said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion. 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein: (a) at least a portion of said pump head is disposed in said lower chamber of said removable manifold. 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: (a) said valve assembly includes a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve. 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) said liquid manifold includes at least an upper chamber and a lower chamber, at least a portion of said valve assembly is disposed in one of said upper chamber and said lower chamber of said removable manifold. 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: (a) said reservoir includes an opening formed in an uppermost portion of said reservoir, said reservoir is configured such that liquid can only enter and exit said reservoir through said opening. 13. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing said liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said storage location;(b) a reservoir disposed in said housing, said reservoir being configured to receive a liquid from said liquid storage container prior to said liquid being dispensed from said main housing;(c) a removable manifold operably connected to said reservoir and said liquid storage container for conveying liquid between said reservoir and said liquid storage container, said removable manifold being further operably connected to said dispensing location to convey a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location, said removable manifold including a liquid manifold, a valve assembly and a pump head, said valve assembly includes a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve, said removable manifold being configured such that liquid can flow in a first direction from said liquid storage container to said dispensing location and liquid forward of said valve assembly can flow in a second direction back to a liquid storage container to prevent damage to one or more components of the liquid dispenser without passing through said pump head; and,(d) said non-return valve being located forward of said pressure relief valve in a liquid path traveling from said liquid storage container to said reservoir. 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: (a) said pressure relief valve is configured to permit liquid forward of said pressure relief valve to return to said liquid storage container without passing through said pump head should the volume of liquid forward of said pressure relief valve exceed a predetermined capacity. 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: (a) said removable manifold is configured such that liquid flowing in the first direction from said liquid storage container to said dispensing location passes through an inlet of the valve assembly and liquid flowing in the second direction back to a liquid storage container passes back through the inlet of the valve assembly. 16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: (a) said removable manifold is configured such that the liquid manifold, the valve assembly, the pump head and the reservoir can be simultaneously removed from the main housing. 17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: (a) said pump head when installed in the liquid dispenser is detachably connected to a drive motor so that the pump head can be removed without removing the drive motor. 18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein: (a) said removable manifold is configured such that liquid flowing in the first direction from said liquid storage container to said dispensing location passes through an inlet of the valve assembly and liquid flowing in the second direction back to a liquid storage container passes back through the inlet of the valve assembly and said removable manifold is further configured such that the liquid manifold, the valve assembly, the pump head and the reservoir can be simultaneously removed from the main housing. 19. A liquid transport assembly for a liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the liquid dispenser, said liquid transport assembly comprising: (a) a removable manifold configured to be connected to a reservoir and a liquid storage container for conveying liquid between the reservoir and the liquid storage container, said removable manifold including a liquid manifold, a valve assembly and a pump head, said pump head when installed in the liquid dispenser is detachably connected to a drive motor so that the pump head can be removed without removing the drive motor, said valve assembly includes a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve, said removable manifold being configured such that liquid can flow in a first direction from the liquid storage container to a dispensing location and liquid forward of said valve assembly can flow in a second direction back to the liquid storage container to prevent damage to one or more components of the liquid dispenser; and,(b) said non-return valve being located forward of said pressure relief valve relative to the first direction of liquid flow. 20. A liquid transport assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein: (a) said pressure relief valve is configured to permit liquid forward of said pressure relief valve to return to said liquid storage container should the volume of liquid forward of said pressure relief valve exceed a predetermined capacity.