Dispenser having multiple modes of operation

• US 20040122555A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Howland, David Robert, May, Robert Eugene, Howes, Ronald Bruce Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,819,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing and a method of dispensing an ingredient for a machine. An ingredient feed mechanism dispenses the ingredient to the machine. A controller is capable of controlling an amount of the ingredient delivered to the machine by varying an amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active. The controller has a demand mode which varies the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active as a function of a parameter obtained from the machine. The controller compares the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active with a reference value and switches to a timed mode if the amount of time deviates from the reference value. The controller may have an initial training mode which measures the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active establishes the reference value based upon the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing an ingredient for a machine, comprising:

an ingredient feed mechanism operatively coupled to dispense said ingredient to said machine and adapted to receive said ingredient; and

a controller capable of controlling an amount of said ingredient delivered to said machine by varying an amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active;

said controller having a demand mode which varies said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active as a function of a parameter obtained from said machine;

said controller comparing said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active with a reference value;

said controller switching to a timed mode if said amount of time deviates from said reference value beyond a first predetermined deviation and which delivers said ingredient as a function of time.

2. A dispenser as in claim 1 in which said controller has an initial training mode which measures said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active over a predetermined period of time while delivering said ingredient in accordance with said parameter and establishes said reference value based upon said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active.

3. A dispenser as in claim 1 in which said controller switches back to said demand mode if said amount of time returns to within a second predetermined deviation from said reference value.

4. A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said first predetermined deviation is a result of said amount of time exceeding said reference value.

5. A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said amount of time is determined by a moving average.

6. A dispenser as in claim 5 wherein said moving average is determined by an FIR filter having a time constant of at least one hour.

7. A dispenser as in claim 6 wherein said time constant is at least three hours.

8. A dispenser as in claim 7 wherein said time constant is between three hours and four hours.

9. A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said parameter is a concentration value of said ingredient in said machine.

10. A dispenser as in claim 9 wherein said ingredient in said machine has conductivity and wherein said concentration value is determined by the conductivity of said ingredient in said machine.

11. A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said controller in said timed mode delivers said ingredient solely as a function of time.

12. A dispenser for dispensing a detergent for a warewashing machine, comprising:

a detergent feed mechanism operatively coupled to dispense said detergent to said warewashing machine and adapted to receive said detergent; and

a controller capable of controlling an amount of said detergent delivered to said warewashing machine by varying an amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active;

said controller having a demand mode which varies said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active as a function of a concentration of said detergent in said warewashing machine;

said controller comparing said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active with a reference value;

said controller switching to a timed mode if said amount of time deviates from said reference value beyond a first predetermined deviation and which delivers said detergent as a function of time.

13. A dispenser as in claim 12 in which said controller has an initial training mode which measures said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active over a predetermined period of time while delivering said detergent in accordance with said parameter and establishes said reference value based upon said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active.

14. A dispenser as in claim 12 in which said controller switches back to said demand mode if said amount of time returns to within a second predetermined deviation from said reference value.

15. A dispenser as in claim 12 wherein said first predetermined deviation is a result of said amount of time exceeding said reference value.

16. A dispenser as in claim 12 wherein said amount of time is determined by a moving average.

17. A dispenser as in claim 16 wherein said moving average is determined by an FIR filter having a time constant of at least one hour.

18. A dispenser as in claim 17 wherein said time constant is at least three hours.

19. A dispenser as in claim 18 wherein said time constant is between three hours and four hours.

20. A dispenser as in claim 12 wherein said controller in said timed mode delivers said detergent solely as a function of time.

21. A method of dispensing ingredient for a machine, said machine have a ingredient feed mechanism operatively coupled to dispense said ingredient to said machine and adapted to receive said ingredient;

and a controller capable of controlling an amount of said ingredient delivered to said machine by varying an amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active, comprising the steps of;

varying, in a demand mode, said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active as a function of a concentration of said ingredient in said machine;

comparing said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active with a reference value;

switching to a timed mode in which said ingredient is delivered as a function of time if said amount of time deviates from said reference value beyond a first predetermined deviation.

22. A method of dispensing as in claim 21 which first, in a training mode, measure said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active over a predetermined period of time while delivering said ingredient in accordance with said parameter and establishes said reference value based upon said amount of time said ingredient feed mechanism is active.

23. A method of dispensing as in claim 21 which switches back to said demand mode if said amount of time returns to within a second predetermined deviation from said reference value.

24. A method of dispensing as in claim 21 wherein said first predetermined deviation is a result of said amount of time exceeding said reference value.

25. A method of dispensing as in claim 21 wherein said amount of time is determined by a moving average.

26. A method of dispensing as in claim 25 wherein said moving average is determined by an FIR filter having a time constant of at least one hour.

27. A method of dispensing as in claim 26 wherein said time constant is at least three hours.

28. A method of dispensing as in claim 27 wherein said time constant is between three hours and four hours.

29. A method of dispensing as in claim 21 which, in said timed mode, delivers said ingredient solely as a function of time.

30. A method of dispensing detergent for a warewashing machine, said warewashing machine have a detergent feed mechanism operatively coupled to dispense said detergent to said warewashing machine and adapted to receive said detergent;

and a controller capable of controlling an amount of said detergent delivered to said warewashing machine by varying an amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active, comprising the steps of;

varying, in a demand mode, said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active as a function of a concentration of said detergent in said warewashing machine;

comparing said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active with a reference value;

switching to a timed mode in which said detergent is delivered as a function of time if said amount of time deviates from said reference value beyond a first predetermined deviation.

31. A method of dispensing as in claim 30 which first, in a training mode, measure said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active over a predetermined period of time while delivering said detergent in accordance with said parameter and establishes said reference value based upon said amount of time said detergent feed mechanism is active.

32. A method of dispensing as in claim 30 which switches back to said demand mode if said amount of time returns to within a second predetermined deviation from said reference value.

33. A method of dispensing as in claim 30 wherein said first predetermined deviation is a result of said amount of time exceeding said reference value.

34. A method of dispensing as in claim 30 wherein said amount of time is determined by a moving average.

35. A method of dispensing as in claim 34 wherein said moving average is determined by an FIR filter having a time constant of at least one hour.

36. A method of dispensing as in claim 35 wherein said time constant is at least three hours.

37. A method of dispensing as in claim 36 wherein said time constant is between three hours and four hours.

38. A method of dispensing as in claim 30 which, in said timed mode, delivers said detergent solely as a function of time.