Fluid product dispenser

Abstract

A method of maintaining a fluid dispenser that includes a housing holding an assembly, including a liquid reservoir, a pump for dispensing the fluid product, and an outlet nozzle includes disconnecting the a compressor portion of the pump and substituting the disconnected compressor by a replacement compressor, wherein the replacement compressor has a different pressurizing volume to the replaced compressor.

1 . A method of adjusting the structure and operation of a dispenser for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a housing for accommodating an assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a liquid reservoir, for containing a liquid product;   a pump, connectable to the reservoir, for dispensing the fluid product using the liquid product as an input;   an outlet nozzle, serving to convey and dispense the fluid product from the pump;   
       whereby the pump comprises:
 a liquid chamber, for containing a dose of the liquid product, obtainable from the liquid reservoir; 
 a compressor, which allows liquid product to be drawn into or expelled from the liquid chamber, 
 
       wherein the dispenser is further provided with a shunting chamber comprising:
 a first aperture allowing flow access to the liquid reservoir; 
 a second aperture allowing flow access to the outlet nozzle; 
 a third aperture allowing flow access to the liquid chamber, and being disposed off-axis with respect to the first and second apertures, 
 
       the method comprising:
 disconnecting said compressor, which is to be replaced; 
 substituting said disconnected compressor by a replacement compressor, wherein the replacement compressor has a different pressurizing volume to the replaced compressor. 
 
     
     
         2 . A method of adjusting the structure and operation of a dispenser for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a housing for accommodating an assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a liquid reservoir, for containing a liquid product;   a pump, connectable to the reservoir, for dispensing the fluid product using the liquid product as an input;   an outlet nozzle, serving to convey and dispense the fluid product from the pump;   
       whereby the pump comprises:
 a liquid chamber, for containing a dose of the liquid product, obtainable from the liquid reservoir; 
 a compressor, which allows liquid product to be drawn into or expelled from the liquid chamber, 
 
       wherein the dispenser is further provided with a shunting chamber comprising:
 a first aperture allowing flow access to the liquid reservoir; 
 a second aperture allowing flow access to the outlet nozzle; 
 a third aperture allowing flow access to the liquid chamber, and being disposed off-axis with respect to the first and second apertures, 
 
       wherein the pump further comprises:
 an ancillary chamber, for containing a dose of an ancillary substance; 
 an ancillary compressor, which allows said ancillary substance to be drawn into or expelled from the ancillary chamber, such that both the liquid chamber and the ancillary chamber are connectable to the outlet nozzle; 
 
       which method comprises the following steps:
 disconnecting said ancillary compressor, which is to be replaced; 
 substituting said disconnected ancillary compressor by a replacement ancillary compressor, wherein the replacement ancillary compressor has a different pressurizing volume to the replaced ancillary compressor. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the ancillary substance is air;   the outlet nozzle comprises a member for generating turbulence in liquid and air passing therethrough, and dispenses foam; and   replacing the ancillary compressor serves to alter the air-to-liquid ratio of the foam dispensed by the dispenser.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the ancillary substance is air;   the outlet nozzle comprises a member for generating turbulence in liquid and air passing therethrough, and dispenses foam;   the compressor is also disconnected and substituted by a replacement compressor, wherein the replacement compressor has a different pressurizing volume to the replaced compressor;   the pressurizing volumes of the replacement compressor and replacement ancillary compressor are proportionate to the pressurizing volumes of the replaced compressor and replaced ancillary compressor, so that the replacement operation serves to alter the dose of foam dispensed by the dispenser without altering its air-to-liquid ratio.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disconnected and replaced compressor or ancillary compressor is chosen from the group comprising a bellows, a balloon, a piston, a membrane and an impeller. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the disconnected and replaced compressor or ancillary compressor is mated to the dispenser via a mating mechanism selected from the group comprising a pressure fit coupling, a click coupling and a bayonet coupling. 
     
     
         7 . A method of conducting a maintenance operation on a dispenser for dispensing a fluid product, the dispenser comprising a housing for accommodating an assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a liquid reservoir, for containing a liquid product;   a pump, connectable to the reservoir, for dispensing the fluid product using the liquid product as an input;   an outlet nozzle, serving to convey and dispense the fluid product from the pump;   
       wherein the pump comprises:
 a liquid chamber, for containing a dose of the liquid product, obtainable from the liquid reservoir; and 
 a compressor, which allows liquid product to be drawn into or expelled from the liquid chamber, 
 
       the method comprising:
 opening the housing; 
 removing used parts comprising at least the liquid reservoir and outlet nozzle, whilst leaving the liquid chamber and compressor in place in the housing; 
 placing new parts comprising at least a new liquid reservoir and a new outlet nozzle in the housing; and 
 closing the housing. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the liquid reservoir and outlet nozzle are respectively fixed to first and second apertures of an interposed shunting chamber;   the shunting chamber has a third aperture which can be connected to and disconnected from the liquid chamber;   the used parts additionally comprise the shunting chamber, which is disconnected from the liquid chamber in order to remove it; and   the new parts additionally comprise a new shunting chamber, which is connected to the liquid chamber in order to place it.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the connection between the shunting chamber and the liquid chamber is effected using a mating mechanism selected from the group comprising a pressure fit coupling, a click coupling and a bayonet coupling.