Data processing system for managing chemical product usage

• US 6,895,307 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Gardner, James P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/414,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/183, 702/184, 705/7, 705/10, 705/11, 700/231, 700/236, 700/241, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/266
• 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 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/00 Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries D06F31/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A data processing system is used to manage and track use of chemical product in a washing machine. A detergent dispenser distributes the chemical products (e.g., detergent, rinse agent, and bleach) to the washing machine. The dispenser includes a monitor that detects dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the dispenser. A database is coupled to the dispenser and stores an account identifier and an alignment identifier in association with the dispenser data of the dispenser. The database further stores corporate data in association with the dispenser data, the account identifier, and the alignment identifier. An analysis application analyzes the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system and provide a feedback loop. The analysis application can limit its analysis to data associated with a given account identifier or a given alignment identifier.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a plurality of cleaning installations operated by at least one business entity, wherein each cleaning installation comprises a chemical product dispenser for dispensing one or more chemical products, a monitor module and one or more sensors for detecting operating parameter data associated with operation of the cleaning installation, the sensors providing operating parameter data signals to the monitor module, and wherein the monitor module is operable to store and transmit the received operating parameter data, the system comprising:

a central server computer in operable communication with the monitor modules to obtain the operating parameter data from the monitor modules, wherein the operating parameter data comprises dispenser data relating to distribution of the one or more chemical products in relation to operation of the cleaning installations, the central server computer further operable to analyze the operating parameter data and generate therefrom a management report comprising information relating to usage associated with one or more of the cleaning installations.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein monitor modules are located at different locations and operated by a corporation, and wherein the central server computer is operable to generate a report of operating parameter data corresponding to the monitor modules at the different locations for the corporation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the management report comprises operating parameter data relative to target operating data.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the management reports is used to optimize cleaning installation operation.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the central server computer provides the management reports to an operator of the one or more cleaning installations.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the central server computer transmits one or more commands to the monitor module, the commands causing the monitor module to affect an operating setting of a cleaning machine at the cleaning installation.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the management report further comprises operational data for use in facilitating analysis of cleaning installation performance.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the management report further comprises data related to maintenance of a cleaning machine at the cleaning installation.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the central server computer is operable to determine the target operating data based on received operating parameter data.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the management reports is provided to the at least one business entity electronically via a network.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein the target operating data is based on business entity averages.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the management report comprises information relating to utility usage by the cleaning installation.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the management report comprises information relating to chemical product usage by the cleaning installation.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning installation comprises a warewash machine.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning installation comprises a laundry machine.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more chemical products are dispensed to a compartment internal to a cleaning machine at the cleaning installation.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more chemical products are dispensed to a location external to a cleaning machine at the cleaning installation.