Sterilization of consumable composition dispensers

• US 8,652,412 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Lord, Robert W., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chorbaji, Monzer R
• Application Number:
  US12/927,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20110110815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 422/1, 422/3, 422/24, 422/26, 422/28, 422/32, 422/116, 422/119, 422/292, 422/300, 222/321.7, 222/148, 222/190, 222/630, 222/526, 222/544, 210/748.01, 210/748.1, 210/748.11, 210/764, 426234-235, 426/248, 221/135, 994/51, 996/45, 134/56.R, 134/58.R, 134/61, 134/65, 134/94.1, 702/81, 702/115, 700/116, 700/216, 700/108
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/02 Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

Methods and systems for programmed dispensation of consumable compositions are provided. A method for sterilizing a beverage container may include, but is not limited to: (a) detecting a sterilization status of a container; and (b) controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status. A system for sterilizing a beverage container may include, but is not limited to: (a) means for detecting a sterilization status of a container; and (b) means for controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one sensor configured for detecting a sterilization status of a container; and

at least one controller configured for controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status of the container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detecting a sterilization status of a container further comprises:

detecting a radiation sterilization of the container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the detecting a sterilization status of a container further comprises:

detecting a chemical sterilization of the container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the detecting a sterilization status of container further comprises:

detecting a thermal sterilization of the container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status further comprises:

controlling a consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the container.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controlling a consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the container further comprises:

dispensing a first consumable composition according to the sterilization status of the container.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the dispensing a first consumable composition according to the sterilization status of the container further comprises:

dispensing a second consumable composition according to the sterilization status of the container.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the controlling a consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the container further comprises:

disabling at least a portion of the consumable composition dispenser module according to the sterilization status of the container.

9. A system for sterilizing a consumable composition dispenser, the system comprising:

at least one sensor configured for detecting an identity of a consumable composition; and

at least one controller configured for controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a container according to the identity of the consumable composition.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

detecting an identity of a radiation-sensitive consumable composition.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

detecting an identity of a chemical-sensitive consumable composition.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

means for detecting an identity of a heat-sensitive consumable composition.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

receiving an inputted identity of a consumable composition.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the detecting an identity of a consumable composition further comprises:

receiving a transmitted identity of a consumable composition.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

disabling at least a portion of a radiation sterilization module.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

irradiating a radiation-sensitive consumable composition with a radiation sterilization module.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

disabling at least a portion of a chemical sterilization module.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

contacting a chemical-sensitive consumable composition with a chemical sterilization agent.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

disabling at least a portion of a thermal sterilization module.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein the controlling a sterilization of at least a portion of a container according to the identity of the consumable composition further comprises:

heating a heat-sensitive consumable composition with a thermal sterilization module.