Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling dispenser fluid refill

• US 10,358,335 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2017
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Proper, Scott T., Corney, Richard E., Brown, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnett, Nicolas A
• Application Number:
  US15/426,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0288 Container connection means for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0294 Combined with valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3245 relating to the transfer method
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/34 Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/84 Casings, cabinets or frameworks; Trolleys or like movable supports

Abstract

A counter mountable fluid dispenser includes a below deck assembly and an above deck assembly. The below deck assembly includes a reservoir for storing a fluid, a dispensing mechanism in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a controller in circuit communication with the dispensing mechanism for operation of the dispensing mechanism. The above deck assembly includes a spout defining an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing fluid stored in the reservoir upon operation of the dispensing mechanism, an external supply port in fluid communication with the reservoir by a supply passage to supply fluid to the reservoir, an access door movable between a closed position blocking access to the external supply port and an open position permitting access to the external supply port, and a switch mechanism configured to disable the dispensing mechanism when the access door is in the open position.

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:

a reservoir for storing a fluid;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing fluid stored in the reservoir;

a supply passage connected with the reservoir to permit a supplying of fluid to the reservoir from an external supply port when the supply passage is in an open condition and to block the supplying of fluid to the reservoir when the supply passage is in a closed condition;

a controller configured to determine whether the supply passage is in the open condition or the closed condition; and

a fill level sensor operable to measure a fluid fill level of the reservoir, the fill level sensor being in circuit communication with the controller to transmit to the controller a fill level data signal corresponding to the fluid fill level;

wherein the controller is further configured to generate an improper filling notification signal when the fill level data signal received from the fill level sensor indicates an increase in the fluid fill level of the reservoir in combination while the supply passage is in the closed condition.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an access door movable between a closed position blocking access to the external supply port and an open position permitting access to the external supply port, such that the supply passage is in the closed condition when the access door is in the closed position.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a supply access valve defining a portion of the supply passage between the external supply port and the reservoir, with the supply passage being in the closed condition when the supply access valve is in a closed position.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the controller is in circuit communication with the supply access valve for controller operation of the supply access valve from a closed position to an open position in response to receipt of an authorized supply signal at the controller.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the fill level sensor comprises a strain gauge connected with the reservoir, the strain gauge being configured to measure a change in strain applied to the reservoir corresponding to a change in weight of the fluid within the reservoir.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser further comprises a pump mechanism connected with the reservoir and operable to pump fluid from the reservoir to the outlet port, and wherein the improper filling notification signal is effective to disable the pump mechanism.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the external supply port comprises a quick disconnect coupling member.

8. A fluid dispensing system comprising:

a fluid dispenser comprising;

a reservoir for storing a fluid;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing fluid stored in the reservoir;

an external supply port connected with the reservoir by a supply passage, the external supply port including a first connector;

a fill level sensor operable to measure a fluid fill level of the reservoir and to transmit a fill level data signal corresponding to the fluid fill level; and

a controller in circuit communication with the fill level sensor for receiving the fill level data signal; and

an external refill container storing a refill fluid, the external refill container including a second connector connectable with the first connector to supply the refill fluid to the reservoir, and a memory storage device storing refill level data corresponding to a previously measured fluid refill level of the external refill container, the memory storage device being in circuit communication with the controller at least when the second connector is connected with the first connector for transmitting the refill level data to the controller;

wherein the controller is further configured to generate an improper refilling notification signal when the fill level data signal indicates an increase in the fluid fill level of the reservoir that exceeds the fluid refill level of the external refill container.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the improper refilling notification signal is effective to secure the supply passage in a closed condition blocking a supplying of fluid to the reservoir.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the dispenser further comprises a supply access valve defining a portion of the supply passage between the external supply port and the reservoir.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the improper refilling notification signal is effective to secure the supply access valve in a closed position.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an improper filling notification signal when the fill level data signal received from the fill level sensor indicates an increase in the fluid fill level of the reservoir in combination with the supply access valve being in a closed position.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the external refill container further comprises a keying mechanism configured to initiate transmission of an authorized supply signal to the controller for controller operation of the supply access valve from a closed position to an open position.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the dispenser further comprises a pump mechanism connected with the reservoir and operable to pump fluid from the reservoir to the outlet port, and wherein the improper refilling notification signal is effective to disable the pump mechanism.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the dispenser further comprises an access door movable between a closed position blocking access to the external supply port and an open position permitting access to the external supply port.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the external refill container further comprises a keying mechanism, and wherein movement of the access door from the closed position to the open position causes the controller to transmit an interrogation signal to the keying mechanism of the external refill container to initiate the transmission of an authorized supply signal to the controller.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an improper filling notification signal when the fill level data signal received from the fill level sensor indicates an increase in the fluid fill level of the reservoir in combination with the access door being in the closed position.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to generate a low fluid data signal in response to receipt of a fill level data signal corresponding to a fluid fill level that is below a predetermined low fluid fill level.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second connectors comprise quick disconnect coupling members.

20. A method for detecting improper refilling of a fluid dispenser including a reservoir, an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a supply passage connected with the reservoir, the method comprising:

determining whether the supply passage is in an open condition permitting a supplying of fluid to the reservoir or a closed position blocking the supplying of fluid to the reservoir;

measuring a fluid fill level of the reservoir;

transmitting to a controller a fill level data signal corresponding to the fluid fill level; and

operating the controller to generate an improper filling notification signal when the fill level data signal indicates at least one of an increase in the fluid fill level of the reservoir in combination with the supply passage being in the closed condition and an increase in the fluid fill level of the reservoir that exceeds a measured fluid refill level of an external refill container.