DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH MATERIAL LEVEL DETECTOR

• US 20150223646A1
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson William, Ciavarella, Nick Ermanno, Proper, Scott Theodore, Corney, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,913,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/16 with mechanical drive food mixers A47J43/04

Abstract

A dispensing system comprises a first electronic sensor and a controller. The first electronic sensor may be configured to detect a first change from a first amount of a fluid product in a dispensing system reservoir to a second amount of the fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir. The controller may be coupled to the first electronic sensor and configured to receive a first signal from the first electronic sensor indicative of the first change. The dispensing system reservoir may be disposed in the dispensing system. A method for determining a remaining service interval for a dispensing system reservoir is also provided.

Claims

1. A dispensing system comprising:

a first electronic sensor configured to detect a first change from a first amount of a fluid product in a dispensing system reservoir to a second amount of the fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir, the dispensing system reservoir disposed in the dispensing system; and

a controller coupled to the first electronic sensor and configured to receive a first signal from the first electronic sensor indicative of the first change.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic sensor is configured to detect a second change from the first amount of the fluid product to a third amount of the fluid product.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1, comprising:

an actuator coupled to the controller; and

a pump coupled to the controller and adapted to be operatively coupled to the dispensing system reservoir, the actuator configured so that when engaged, the pump dispenses a dispersion amount of the fluid product from the dispensing system reservoir, wherein the first change is attributable to one or more dispersion amounts being dispensed from the dispensing system reservoir.

4. The dispensing system of claim 3, comprising:

a motor controlled by the actuator and configured to drive the pump to dispense the dispersion amount of the fluid product.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1, comprising:

an indicator coupled to the controller and configured to provide an indication of a real time amount of fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir based upon the first change.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises:

at least one of an audio indicator or a visual indicator.

7. The dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises:

a transceiver coupled to the controller, the transceiver configured to wirelessly provide the indication.

8. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic sensor comprises:

a fixed contact; and

a conductive member opposing the fixed contact and configured to be compressed by a threshold weight thereby bringing the conductive member into contact with the fixed contact.

9. The dispensing system of claim 1, the first electronic sensor comprising:

a mechanical flag configured to provide an indication of a real time amount of fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir based upon the first change.

10. The dispensing system of claim 1, comprising:

a second electronic sensor configured to detect a second change from the first amount of the fluid product to a third amount of the fluid product.

11. The dispensing system of claim 1, the dispensing system comprising a counter mount dispensing system and the first electronic sensor comprising:

a force sensitive resistor, the first electronic sensor mounted between a fixed stem and a below counter assembly of the counter mount dispensing system.

12. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic sensor comprises an electroactive polymer material.

13. A dispensing system comprising:

a first electronic sensor configured to detect a first change from a first amount of fluid product in a dispensing system reservoir to a second amount of the fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir, the dispensing system reservoir disposed in a movable mount in the dispensing system;

a second electronic sensor configured to detect a second change from the first amount of the fluid product to a third amount of the fluid product; and

a controller coupled to the first electronic sensor and the second electronic sensor and configured to receive at least one of a first signal from the first electronic sensor indicative of the first change or a second signal from the second electronic sensor indicative of the second change.

14. The dispensing system of claim 13, comprising:

an actuator coupled to the controller; and

a pump coupled to the controller and adapted to be operatively coupled to the dispensing system reservoir, the actuator configured so that when engaged, the pump dispenses a dispersion amount of the fluid product from the dispensing system reservoir, wherein at least one of the first change or the second change is attributable to one or more dispersion amounts being dispensed from the dispensing system reservoir.

15. The dispensing system of claim 13, comprising:

an indicator coupled to the controller and configured to provide an indication of a real time amount of fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir based upon at least one of the first change or the second change.

16. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the indicator comprises:

a transceiver coupled to the controller, the transceiver configured to wirelessly provide the indication.

17. The dispensing system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first electronic sensor or the second electronic sensor comprises:

a fixed contact; and

a conductive member opposing the fixed contact, and configured to be compressed by a threshold weight thereby bringing the conductive member into contact with the fixed contact.

18. The dispensing system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first electronic sensor or the second electronic sensor comprises an electroactive polymer material.

19. A method of determining a remaining service interval of a dispensing system reservoir, comprising:

determining an average usage rate for a dispensing system by monitoring a number of dispersions over a period of time;

detecting a real time amount of fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir by detecting a first change from a first amount of fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir to a second amount of the fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir; and

determining the remaining service interval of the dispensing system reservoir based upon the average usage rate and the real time amount of the fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the determining an average usage rate comprises:

determining a corrected average usage rate.