Dispensing Systems with Wave Sensors

• US 20140263426A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Gasper, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,010,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/002 designed to reduce the generation or the transmission of noise or to produce a particular sound; associated with noise monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0005 Components or details of single units wherein the flow is effected by a pump B05B11/1042
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/085 responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged B05B1/3006, B05B1/323, B05B7/1254 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/75 Aerosol containers not provided for in groups B65D83/16 - B65D83/74
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02836 Flow rate, liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00

Abstract

A dispensing system includes a conduit having a volumetric capacity between an internal discharge orifice for receipt of a flow of pressurized fluid from a valving assembly and an external discharge orifice. The dispensing system further includes a volume of pressurized fluid and a sensor. The fluid has a volumetric flow rate of about 0.05 ml/ms to about 15 ml/ms when released into the conduit from the internal discharge orifice. The sensor detects a sound at the external discharge orifice.

Claims

1. A dispensing system, comprising:

a conduit with a volumetric capacity between an internal discharge orifice for receipt of a flow of pressurized fluid from a valving assembly and an external discharge orifice;

a volume of pressurized fluid; and

a sensor,

wherein the fluid has a volumetric flow rate of about 0.05 ml/ms to about 15 ml/ms when released into the conduit from the internal discharge orifice, and

wherein the sensor detects a sound at the external discharge orifice.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a microphone.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the conduit includes at least a valve stem of a continuous or metered dose aerosol container.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the conduit includes at least a portion of a discharge tube of a pump-type sprayer.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects a level of the sound that corresponds to different flow rates.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5, wherein a ratio of a threshold level of sound to the detected level of sound during an actuation state is less than one at a first stage and substantially unity at a second stage.

7. The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the first stage corresponds to a positive level of product in a container and the second stage corresponds to an empty or low amount of product in the container.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7, wherein a user perceivable cue is provided to indicate the second stage.

9. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects a frequency characteristic of the sound that is generated by at least one of a shape of the conduit and a product formulation.

10. The dispensing system of claim 9, wherein a controller initiates or prohibits at least one of an initial or subsequent actuation of the dispensing system based on the detected frequency characteristic.

11. The dispensing system of claim 10, wherein a controller implements an operational parameter associated with the detected frequency characteristic during actuation of the dispensing system.

12. The dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the controller implements an operation associated with the detected frequency characteristic.

13. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the level of volumetric flow rate during an actuation state to a threshold level of volumetric flow rate is less than one at a first status and substantially unity at a second status.

14. A dispensing system, comprising:

a sensor for detecting a sound emitted from a reservoir of fluid having a conduit; and

a controller having a plurality of preprogrammed operational parameters associated with a plurality of preprogrammed frequency characteristics, wherein the controller compares a frequency characteristic of the sound to the plurality of preprogrammed frequency characteristics.

15. The dispensing system of claim 14, wherein the controller determines a match between the detected frequency characteristic and at least one the plurality of preprogrammed frequency characteristics.

16. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the controller implements the preprogrammed operational parameter associated with the matched preprogrammed frequency characteristic.

17. The dispensing system of claim 14, wherein the sensor further detects a sound from an environment to activate the dispensing system.

18. A method of dispensing, comprising the steps of:

detecting a sound emitted from a reservoir of fluid having a conduit; and

processing the detected sound to determine at least one of (a) whether the container is full or empty;

(b) whether the container needs to be replaced;

(c) whether the container is authorized for use;

or (d) what operational parameter to initiate.

19. The method of dispensing of claim 18 further including the step of providing an aerosol container.

20. The method of dispensing of claim 18 further including the step of providing a pump-type spray container.