Product Dispensing System

• US 20130292407A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Beavis, Russell H., Pawlowski, Daniel F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,859,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0012 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0019 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00034 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/221 using electrical or electro-mechanical means B67D7/224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/00 Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/04 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/044 using solenoids directly actuating the piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/025 the pump being located directly adjacent the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/106 Responsive to pumped volume
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/10 Geared or lobed impeller meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/20 having flexible movable walls, e.g. diaphragms, bellows
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/133 with discontinuous action
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

A system for monitoring flow conditions of fluid flowing from a product container through a solenoid pump. The system includes at least one solenoid pump comprising a solenoid coil, which, when energized, produces a stroke of the solenoid pump, at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump wherein the at least one solenoid pump pumps fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke, at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump, at least one current sensor for sensing the current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the sensed current flow, and a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow of fluids through the solenoid pump by commanding the PWM controller and for monitoring the current through the solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor, wherein the control logic subsystem uses the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring flow conditions of fluid flowing from a product container through a solenoid pump comprising:

at least one solenoid pump comprising a solenoid coil, which, when energized, produces a stroke of the solenoid pump;

at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump wherein the at least one solenoid pump pumps fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke;

at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump;

at least one current sensor for sensing the current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the sensed current flow; and

a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow of fluids through the solenoid pump by commanding the PWM controller and for monitoring the current through the solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor, wherein the control logic subsystem uses the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic subsystem uses at least the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine a Sold-Out condition of the at least one product container.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic subsystem uses the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is non-functional.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the control logic subsystem uses the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is a Sold-Out Stroke.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising wherein the control logic subsystem determines a Sold-Out condition of the at least one product container if a threshold number of consecutive Sold-Out Strokes is reached.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one product container further comprising an RFID tag that stores a fuel gauge value representing the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the control logic subsystem determines a Sold-Out condition of the at least one product container if a given number of consecutive Sold-Out Strokes are determined and the fuel gauge is above a threshold volume.

8. A method for monitoring flow of fluid from a product container through a solenoid pump comprising:

energizing a solenoid coil of the solenoid pump to produce a stroke of the solenoid pump;

pumping fluid from a product container through the solenoid pump during each stroke;

sensing the current flow through the solenoid using a current sensor and producing an output of sensed current flow;

monitoring the current through the solenoid pump using a control logic subsystem, the control logic subsystem receiving the sensed current flow from the current sensor; and

determining whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the control logic subsystem determining a Sold-Out condition of the at least one product container using at least the measured current flow through the solenoid coil.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the control logic subsystem determining whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is non-functional using the measured current flow through the solenoid coil.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the control logic subsystem determining whether the stroke of the solenoid pump a Sold-Out Stroke using the measured current flow through the solenoid coil.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising wherein the control logic subsystem determining a Sold-Out condition of the at least one product container if a threshold number of consecutive Sold-Out Strokes is reached.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the amount of fluid remaining in the product container using an RFID tag that stores a fuel gauge value representing the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the control logic subsystem determining a Sold-Out condition of the product container if a given number of consecutive Sold-Out Strokes are determined and the fuel gauge is above a threshold volume.

15. A system for determining a Sold-Out condition of a product container comprising:

at least one solenoid pump comprising a solenoid coil, which, when energized, produces a stroke of the pump;

at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump wherein the at least one solenoid pump pumps fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke;

at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump and control the voltage applied to the at least one solenoid pump;

at least one current sensor for sensing the current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the sensed current flow; and

a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow of fluids through the solenoid pump by commanding the PWM controller and for monitoring the current through the pump by receiving the output from the current sensor, wherein the control logic subsystem uses at least the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine a Sold-Out condition of the at least one product container.

16. The system of claim 16 wherein the control logic subsystem determines if the at least one solenoid pump stroke was a Sold-Out Stroke based on the output of the current sensor.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising wherein the control logic subsystem determines a Sold-Out condition of the at least one product container if a threshold number of consecutive Sold-Out Strokes is reached.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control logic subsystem determines if the at least one solenoid pump stroke was a non-functional stroke based on the output of the current sensor.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one product container further comprising an RFID tag that stores a fuel gauge value representing the amount of fluid remaining in the at least one product container.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the control logic subsystem determines a Sold-Out condition of the system if a given number of consecutive Sold-Out strokes are determined and the fuel gauge is above a threshold volume.