Method and system for monitoring operation of a dispensing system
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring operation of a dispensing system, comprising:
- providing a dispensing system having an aspirator with a plurality of liquid inlet ports and a flow meter connected in liquid communication with at least one of the liquid inlet ports and a liquid source;
combining liquid product from the liquid source with a diluent from a diluent source at the aspirator;
diagnostically assessing operation of one or more components of the dispensing system by monitoring operation of the flow meter;
automatically switching the dispensing system from a flow-based dispensing mode to a time-based dispensing mode if one or more of the components of the dispensing system are determined to be inoperable or faulty; and
providing feedback based upon the assessed operation of the one or more components.
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Abstract
A method and system provides for monitoring, troubleshooting and acquiring diagnostics information from an aspirating dispensing system (10). The dispensing system (10) uses an aspirator (12) with a plurality of liquid inlet ports and a flow meter (30) connected in liquid communication with at least one of the liquid inlet ports and a liquid source. The system monitors, troubleshoots and acquires diagnostics information from one or more components of the dispensing system by monitoring operation of the flow meter (30).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring operation of a dispensing system, comprising:
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providing a dispensing system having an aspirator with a plurality of liquid inlet ports and a flow meter connected in liquid communication with at least one of the liquid inlet ports and a liquid source; combining liquid product from the liquid source with a diluent from a diluent source at the aspirator; diagnostically assessing operation of one or more components of the dispensing system by monitoring operation of the flow meter; automatically switching the dispensing system from a flow-based dispensing mode to a time-based dispensing mode if one or more of the components of the dispensing system are determined to be inoperable or faulty; and providing feedback based upon the assessed operation of the one or more components. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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- 2. The method of claim l wherein monitoring operation of the flow meter comprises monitoring an output signal of the flow meter for assessing operation of one or more components of the dispensing system.
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5. The method of claim l further comprising the step of issuing a notification signal for apprising an operator or user of the operational status of one or more of the components of the dispensing system.
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8. A method for monitoring operation of a dispensing system, comprising:
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providing a dispensing system having; a. an aspirator with a diluent inlet port, a product inlet port and a use solution outlet port; b. a flow meter connected in liquid communication with the product inlet port and a liquid product source; combining liquid product from the liquid product source with a diluent. from a diluent source at the aspirator; diagnostically assessing operation of one or more components of the dispensing system by monitoring an output signal of the flow meter; automatically switching the dispensing system from a flow-based dispensing mode to a time-based dispensing mode if one or more of the dispensing system are determined to be inoperable or faulty; and providing feedback based upon the assessed operation of the one or more components. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A diagnostics system for monitoring operation of one or more liquid dispensing components of a liquid dispenser, comprising:
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an aspirator with a plurality of liquid inlet ports and an outlet port for receiving two or more liquids and combining them therein; a flow meter connected in liquid communication to at least one of the liquid inlet ports and a liquid source, the flow meter having an output signal; a controller connected to receive the output signal of the flow meter to monitor and diagnostically assess operation of one or more liquid dispensing components of the dispenser; switching the dispensing system from a flow-based dispensing mode to a time-based dispensing mode if one or more of the components of the dispensing system are determined to be inoperable or faulty; and means for providing feedback based upon the output signal received by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification