A liquid dispenser has a bay surrounded by a shaped frame that is sized to receive a shaped refill inserted at an acute angle of 75 degrees or less in relation to the dispenser's lateral central axis. This unique arrangement is designed to maintain consistent quality of liquids dispensed by preventing the substitution of product refills having different shapes whose contents are of uncertain quality. Refills may be readily manufactured and at low cost. Mechanical and motorized dispensers with optional proximity detection of a user's hand may be used with the inventive dispenser and refill arrangement. Liquid or foam may be dispensed depending on the design of the dispenser pump.

A liquid soap dispenser having a press-type nozzle that dispenses liquid soap from the nozzle by being pressed by hand includes a dispenser body, a nozzle, a pump, and the like. The dispenser body is supported inside an upper storage portion by a lower bracket and an upper bracket. A connecting member connects a vertically moving member and the nozzle. When a user places a hand below the nozzle, a human body detection unit detects the hand, and a control unit causes a motor to rotate in a forward direction and raise the vertically moving member from a lower limit position to an upper limit position; and by raising the nozzle from the lower limit position to the upper limit position via the connecting member, liquid soap is automatically dispensed from the nozzle.

The invention relates to a dosing device comprises a fluid-side module (12,12) and a dry module (13), the fluid-side module (12,12) comprises a chamber (14) and a magnetic piston (16) which is drivingly moved into the chamber (14) by a magnetic drive, the piston is penetrated by a channel provided with a seal (20,56). The magnetic drive for the magnetic piston (16) is arranged in the dry module (13).

A device for dispensing a fluid product, includes: a container containing the product; an electric motor including a rotatably driven shaft; a dispensing system actuated by motor rotation, the quantity of product dispensed depending on the motor rotation; a switching body to control the motor; a stop control element rotatably driven by the shaft, assuming an active position during the rotation thereof in which it causes the switch to interrupt the power supply of the motor; and a restarting circuit to switch into an activated state, when triggered, to force the starting of the motor when the stop control element is in an active position, the restarting circuit remaining activated long enough for the stop control element to leave its active position, the restarting circuit becoming inactive such that the motor stops operating when the stop control element regains its active position once the restarting circuit is inactive again.

Automatic electric actuation of the pumping mechanism of a liquid dispenser apparatus is provided by configuring a hollow tube to cooperate with an electromagnetically driven actuator and further configuring the hollow tube to inter-fit with a stem of a liquid dispensing pump. Actuation of the actuator may, for example, drive the pump stem downwardly to cause a pumping action. Suitable actuators include, for example, solenoids, voice coil actuators and stepping motors.

In various embodiments, a fluid delivery pod includes a first surface, a second surface that opposes the first surface, a reservoir body, an outlet port, a heating structure, and a valve assembly. The reservoir body is between the first and the second surfaces. The reservoir body is configured to house a fluid. The outlet port is positioned on a surface of the pod. The surface is between the first and the second surfaces. The heating structure is thermally coupled to the fluid housed within the reservoir body. The heating structure wirelessly receives energy from an energy source that is external to the fluid delivery pod. The wirelessly received energy heats the fluid housed within the reservoir body. In response to an application of compression forces on the first and the second surfaces, the valve assembly dispenses the heated fluid through the outlet port and out of the fluid delivery pod.

A device for dispensing a fluid product, includes: a container containing the product; an electric motor including a rotatably driven shaft; a dispensing system actuated by motor rotation, the quantity of product dispensed depending on the motor rotation; a switching body to control the motor; a stop control element rotatably driven by the shaft, assuming an active position during the rotation thereof in which it causes the switch to interrupt the power supply of the motor; and a restarting circuit to switch into an activated state, when triggered, to force the starting of the motor when the stop control element is in an active position, the restarting circuit remaining activated long enough for the stop control element to leave its active position, the restarting circuit becoming inactive such that the motor stops operating when the stop control element regains its active position once the restarting circuit is inactive again.

Automatic electric actuation of the pumping mechanism of a liquid dispenser apparatus is provided by configuring a hollow tube to cooperate with an electromagnetically driven actuator and further configuring the hollow tube to inter-fit with a stem of a liquid dispensing pump. Actuation of the actuator may, for example, drive the pump stem downwardly to cause a pumping action. Suitable actuators include, for example, solenoids, voice coil actuators and stepping motors.

A storage holder for placement in a liquid or foam dispenser includes a liquid reservoir having an opening and a plug provided in the opening. The storage holder also includes a pump having a pump section and an inlet tube extending from the pump section. The storage holder further includes a spacer having an opening for the inlet tube, with the spacer being positioned between the pump section and the plug so that a defined distance is provided between the pump section and the plug. The spacer is fixed at a position relative to the plug and relative to the pump only by a clamping connection between the inlet tube and the plug. The spacer is not connected to the pump and the spacer is not connected to the plug such that spacer may be separated from the pump and the plug when the pump is pulled out of the plug.

A hand cleaning liquid dispenser including a fluid level gauging mechanism with a plurality, preferably three or more, vertically spaced optical sensors located closely adjacent an external of a side wall of the reservoir to each receive electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the side wall from within the reservoir with the electromagnetic radiation sensed originating from an emitter directing the electromagnetic radiation preferably through the reservoir downwardly.