Remotely controlled fluid dispenser

• US 8,352,089 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fishman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fishman Corporation
• Inventors: Beebe, W. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS R
• Application Number:
  US12/751,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20110245983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 700/282, 700/283, 700/3, 700/9, 700/19, 700/119, 705/26.14
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A network of fluid dispensers is configured such that a Host controller may exchange information with local dispensers, and where local dispensers may exchange information with each other. The information may be dispensing processes, information regarding quality and reliability, problems and/or helpful information, and applications. The information may be exchanged in real time during fluid dispensing where any issues may be shared and resolved quickly even in remote locales. The applications may be developed at a local dispenser or at the Host and then shared throughout the network. The operating systems may include application software development tools, and the applications may include: monitoring deliver schedules and materials inventories; automatic issuing of purchase orders; training broadcasts; implementing industry standards for validation and approval.

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser network comprising:

a Host in communication with each of one or more dispensers via the network;

the Host comprising;

a processor, memory, a user interface, video and audio hardware, communications hardware;

an operating system, a software application program that details operational steps particular to a dispensing application; and

wherein

the one or more dispensers comprising a processor, memory, a user interface, communications hardware;

a software program to communicate with the Host, wherein the Host downloads the software application program to the one or more dispensers via the network that configures the one or more dispensers to determine a dot size for a given adhesive fluid, and determine stepping motor steps for dispensing that dot size and back off steps for maintaining that dot size as a function of quantity of the given adhesive fluid in a syringe;

running the software application program at the one or more dispensers to provide the dot size for a given adhesive fluid, provide stepping motor steps for dispensing that dot size and back off steps for maintaining that dot size as a function of quantity of the given adhesive fluid in the syringe, and provide pausing locations at designated steps in the software application program;

reaching a step in the software application program at the one or more dispensers where the dispensing is paused and developing a status of the one or more dispensers and feed back the status to the Host; and

reviewing the status by the Host and, if acceptable, commanding the one or more dispensers to continue, but, if not acceptable, the Host commands the one or more dispensers to halt and notify local personnel.

2. The fluid dispenser network of claim 1 wherein the feed back to the Host occurs in real time.

3. The fluid dispenser network of claim 1 further comprising:

a training program developed at the Host or at the one or more dispensers, wherein the training program may be accessed by the one or more dispensers over the network and at other sites connected to the network.

4. The fluid dispenser network of claim 1 further comprising:

tools for developing software, wherein the tools are made available at the Host and at the one or more dispensers; and

applications developed by the tools.

5. The fluid dispenser network of claim 4 wherein one application is directed towards ensuring that the dispensers operates to meet a standard.

6. The fluid dispenser network of claim 5 wherein the standard may be validated for dispensers at different locations.

7. The fluid dispenser network of claim 4 wherein one application comprises a Webinar.

8. The fluid dispenser network of claim 1 wherein the Host comprises a dispenser.

9. A process for remotely controlling one or more fluid dispensers, the process comprising the steps of:

developing an adhesive dispensing program, the program including the steps of determining a dot size for a given adhesive fluid, and determining stepping motor steps for dispensing that dot size and back off steps for maintaining that dot size as a function of quantity of the given adhesive fluid in a syringe, and determining pausing locations at designated steps in the program;

uploading the program to a Host via network;

downloading of the program to the one or more fluid dispensers;

running the program at the one or more fluid dispensers to provide the dot size for the given adhesive fluid, provide stepping motor steps for dispensing that dot size and back off steps for maintaining that dot size as a function of quantity of the given adhesive fluid in the syringe, and provide pausing locations at designated steps in the program;

reaching a step in the program where the dispensing is paused and developing a status of the one or more fluid dispensers and communicating the status to the Host;

reviewing the status and, if acceptable, commanding the one or more fluid dispensers to continue, but, if not acceptable, the Host commands the one or more fluid dispensers to halt and notify local personnel.

10. The process of claim 9 further comprising the steps of sending the status to an original developer of the program;

developing a solution to the unacceptable status; and

relaying that solution to the one or more fluid dispensers via the Host.

11. The process of claim 9 wherein the host compares the status to a standard to determine if the dispensing is acceptable or not.

12. The process of claim 9, wherein:

developing the adhesive dispensing program comprises developing the adhesive dispensing program at a dispenser of the one or more dispensers

uploading the program to a Host via network comprises uploading the program from the dispenser of the one or more dispensers to the Host via network; and

downloading of the program to the one or more fluid dispensers comprises downloading the program from the Host to the remaining fluid dispensers of the remainder of the one or more fluid dispensers.

13. The process of claim 9, wherein reviewing the status further comprises reporting, by the Host, the status of a fluid dispenser of the one or more fluid dispensers to the remaining fluid dispensers of the one or more fluid dispensers.

14. A dispenser of a fluid dispenser network, the dispenser comprising:

communications hardware; and

a processor disposed in electrical communication with the communications hardware, the processor configured to;

receive instruction from a Host via the communications hardware to determine a dot size for a given adhesive fluid via the communications hardware, determine stepping motor steps for dispensing that dot size and back off steps for maintaining that dot size as a function of quantity of the given adhesive fluid in a syringe, and provide pausing locations at designated steps in the instructions;

execute the instructions to provide the dot size for the given adhesive fluid, provide stepping motor steps for dispensing that dot size and back off steps for maintaining that dot size as a function of quantity of adhesive fluid in the syringe, and provide pausing locations at designated steps in the instructions;

reach a step in the instructions where the dispensing is paused to develop a status of the dispenser and communicate the status to the Host via the communications hardware; and

receive a command from the Host via the communications hardware based upon the status as reviewed by the Host, the command one of commanding the dispenser to continue or commanding the dispensers to halt.