Mass-based dispensing using optical displacement measurement

• US 8,944,286 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mehus, Richard J., Kraus, Paul R., Popa, Mihnea A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLS II, ROBERT K
• Application Number:
  US13/686,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20140144936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 222/58, 222/52, 222/64, 222/55, 222/77, 738/00, 177/210.R, 422/105, 422/107
• US Class Current: 222/58
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/06 Details or accessories

Abstract

A dispensing system and methods employed therein uses optical displacement sensing to control dispensation of one or more products. An optical displacement sensor measures displacement of a load beam supporting a vessel from which the product is to be dispensed. The displacement of the load beam is related to the amount (weight) of the product remaining in the vessel. The system may thus control dispensation of the product based on the optical displacement measurements.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a load beam that supports a vessel containing a product to be dispensed, wherein the load beam includes a beam extension adapted to support the vessel containing the product to be dispensed, and a hook portion adapted to permit hanging of the vessel containing the product to be dispensed;

a product dispenser that dispenses the product based on a weight of the product remaining in the vessel;

an emitter that emits an optical signal toward the load beam, wherein the optical signal is reflected from the load beam at an angle determined by a distance between the emitter and the load beam;

a detector that receives the reflected signal at a location based at least in part on the reflected angle of the optical signal and generates a detector signal corresponding to the location; and

a controller that initiates dispensation of the product dispensed by the product dispenser;

periodically, during dispensation of the product, receives the detector signal and determines therefrom a current displacement of the load beam from a reference position;

calculates a current amount of product dispensed based on the current displacement of the load beam;

compares the current amount of product dispensed with a target amount; and

stops dispensation of the product if the current amount of product dispensed is within a predetermined threshold of the target amount.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the product is a chemical product.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the product is one of a solid concentrate, an extruded solid, a pressed solid, a liquid, a gel, a paste, a powder, tablets, pellets, or a unit dose form of chemical product.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller calculates a current weight of product remaining in the vessel based on the displacement of the load beam, and subtracts the current weight of product remaining in the vessel from a weight of product remaining at a beginning of the product dispense cycle to determine the current amount of product dispensed.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the product dispenser dispenses the product by applying a diluent to the chemical product.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the emitter is a laser emitter and the optical signal is a laser beam.

7. A method comprising:

providing a load beam including a beam extension adapted to receive a vessel containing a product to be dispensed and a hook portion adapted to permit hanging of the vessel containing the product to be dispensed;

supporting, by the load beam, a vessel containing a product to be dispensed;

dispensing the product from the vessel upon initiation of a dispense cycle;

emitting an optical signal toward the load beam, wherein the optical signal is reflected from the load beam at an angle determined by a distance between the emitter and the load beam;

receiving the reflected signal at a location based at least in part on the reflected angle of the optical signal;

generating a detector signal corresponding to the location;

receiving the detector signal and determining therefrom a current displacement of the load beam from a reference position;

calculating a current amount of the product dispensed based on the current displacement of the load beam;

comparing the current amount of the product dispensed with a target amount; and

stopping the dispensing of the product if the current amount of the product dispensed is within a predetermined threshold of the target amount.