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Programmable dispenser

  • US 6,267,297 B1
  • Filed: 10/12/1999
  • Issued: 07/31/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A programmable dispenser for a material, comprising:

  • a source of material to be dispensed;

    a housing having an internal cavity sized to permit insertion thereinto of the source of material to be dispensed;

    an assembly for dispensing the material to be dispensed;

    a programmable controller in operational contact with the assembly, the programmable controller determining the time of operation and frequency and/or intensity of operation of the assembly, wherein the controller is capable of being programmed so as to set, for the dispenser, operational parameters selected from the group consisting of;

    days of the week during which the material will be dispensed, the time during the day at which the dispenser will begin dispensing for the day, the time during the day at which the dispenser will stop dispensing for the day, and the frequency and/or intensity of dispensing;

    wherein the dispenser provides a daily “

    day count”

    indicative of the number of days remaining for which there is material to be dispensed, the first day “

    day count”

    being computed from;

    (a) an initial determination of a total score representative of the total amount of material available to be dispensed;

    (b) dividing the total score by the dispensing time per day for a selected set of operational parameters; and

    (c) rounding the resulting quotient down to the next whole number;

    and wherein the “

    day count”

    for a successive day is computed from;

    (a) subtracting, from the total score, the dispensing time per day from the previous day, so as to compute a new “

    total score;



    (b) dividing the new total score by the dispensing time for a successive day for a selected set of operational parameters; and

    (c) rounding the resulting quotient down to the next whole number.

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