Electronically keyed dispensing systems and related methods of installation and use
First Claim
1. A fluid dispensing system comprising:
- a housing having a first data communication device associated therewith;
wherein said first data communication device has stored therein an identification code associated with said housinga refill container carrying a fluid material and having a second data communication device associated therewith, wherein said second data communication device has stored therein a matching code associated with said refill container said refill container receivable in said housing;
an operational mechanism associated with one of said housing and said refill container to enable dispensing a measured quantity of said material, wherein said operational mechanism comprises a pump mechanism carried by said refill container, a nozzle operatively connected to said pump mechanism, wherein actuation of said pump mechanism dispenses a quantity of said material through said nozzle, and a pump actuator carried by said housing positioned proximally said pump mechanism; and
a controller in communication with said first and second data communication devices to facilitate sharing of data therebetween and to selectively enable said operational mechanism, wherein said pump actuator is disabled by said controller if said identification code does not match said matching code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dispensing systems are disclosed which utilize electronically powered key devices and/or identification codes associated with a refill container to preclude the need for mechanical keys. A first embodiment of the device utilizes a matching code stored in a radio frequency identification tag or bar code associated with a fluid refill container and an identification code associated with the dispenser housing. Matching of the codes by a controller allows for continued use of the dispenser via some type of operational mechanism. Another embodiment employs a key which carries the matching code wherein matching of the codes allows for actuation of a motor actuated pumping device. Yet another embodiment employs a blocking mechanism to prevent use of a dispenser'"'"'s push bar if a key and dispenser housing do not have matching codes. And yet another embodiment requires the use of a key that has a matching code that matches the dispenser'"'"'s identification code in order to permit initial access to the dispenser housing.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A fluid dispensing system comprising:
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a housing having a first data communication device associated therewith; wherein said first data communication device has stored therein an identification code associated with said housing a refill container carrying a fluid material and having a second data communication device associated therewith, wherein said second data communication device has stored therein a matching code associated with said refill container said refill container receivable in said housing; an operational mechanism associated with one of said housing and said refill container to enable dispensing a measured quantity of said material, wherein said operational mechanism comprises a pump mechanism carried by said refill container, a nozzle operatively connected to said pump mechanism, wherein actuation of said pump mechanism dispenses a quantity of said material through said nozzle, and a pump actuator carried by said housing positioned proximally said pump mechanism; and a controller in communication with said first and second data communication devices to facilitate sharing of data therebetween and to selectively enable said operational mechanism, wherein said pump actuator is disabled by said controller if said identification code does not match said matching code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for installing a refill container and enabling a receiving dispenser, comprising:
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associating a first data communication device with a housing; storing an identification code in said first data communication device; associating a second data communication device with a refill container which is receivable in said housing; storing a matching code in said second data communication device; associating an operational mechanism with one of said housing and said refill container; coupling a pump mechanism with a nozzle to said refill container, said pump mechanism dispensing a measured quantity of material from said refill container through said nozzle; proximally positioning a pump actuator near said pump mechanism; controlling communications between said first and second data communication devices; and selectively enabling said operational mechanism as a result of said controlling step, by disabling said pump actuator if said codes do not match each other. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification