Method and device for indicating future need for product replacement of random-use dispensing

• US 9,555,429 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADE, OGER GARCIA
• Application Number:
  US12/425,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,846 Days
• Field of Search: 705/22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/10 Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1053 combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/008 integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/082 responsive to a condition of the discharged jet or spray, e.g. to jet shape, spray pattern or droplet size
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/00 Apparatus for measuring by volume and delivering fluids or fluent solid materials, not provided for in the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/068 with electrical means G01F15/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B

Abstract

A method and device for indicating whether a dispensable product will require refilling prior to the next scheduled service interval includes tracking the amount of use over a first interval, and calculating a frequency based from the use over the first interval. The quantity remaining is compared with the required amount, which is the product of the number of weeks in the service interval and the calculated frequency. Thus, when the quantity remaining is less that the required amount, a warning will be provided to indicate that the dispensing product should be replaced, as it will be empty before the next service interval.

Claims

1. A dispenser to dispense material from a refill container, comprising:

a controller adapted to store an initial quantity value defining the amount of material carried by the refill container;

an actuator coupled to said controller, said actuator configured to be actuated on a random basis;

a pump adapted to be operatively coupled to the refill container, said pump also coupled to said controller, wherein when said actuator is engaged, said pump dispenses a predetermined amount of said material from the refill container according to a shot size value maintained by said controller, said controller updating a cumulative usage value maintained thereby by said shot size value, and generating a current quantity value based on the difference between said initial quantity value and said cumulative usage value;

a timer associated with said controller, said timer configured to update a total time value, such that said timer is started by said controller to update said total time value from an initial value when said refill container is coupled to said pump; and

an indicator coupled to said controller;

wherein said controller generates an average usage value based on said cumulative usage value and said total time value, whereupon said controller generates a service interval value that identifies the remaining operational life of the refill container based on said current quantity value and said average usage value, said service interval value displayed by said indicator.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a proximity sensor.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said initial quantity value is input to said controller via a keypad coupled thereto.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of illuminable identifiers that are associated with predetermined usage values, such that said illuminable identifier associated with said usage value that is closest in magnitude to said service interval value is illuminated.

5. A dispenser, comprising:

a refill container carrying an initial amount of material;

a controller adapted to store an initial quantity value defined by said initial amount of material maintained by said refill container;

an actuator coupled to said controller, said actuator configured to be actuated on a random basis;

a pump coupled to said controller and to said refill container, wherein when said actuator is engaged, said pump dispenses an amount of said material from said refill container according to a shot size value maintained by said controller, said controller updating a cumulative usage value maintained thereby by said shot size value, and generating a current quantity value based on the difference between said initial quantity value and said cumulative usage value;

a timer coupled to said controller, said timer configured to update a total time value, such that said timer is started by said controller to update said total time value from an initial value when said refill container is coupled to said pump; and

an indicator coupled to said controller;

wherein said controller generates an average usage value based on said cumulative usage value and said total time value, whereupon said controller generates a service interval value that identifies the remaining operational life of the refill container based on said current quantity value and said average usage value, said service interval value displayed by said indicator.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said actuator comprises a proximity sensor.

7. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said refill container maintains a refill memory unit that communicates said initial quantity value to said controller when said refill container is coupled to said pump.

8. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of illuminable identifiers that are associated with predetermined usage values, such that said illuminable identifier associated with said usage value that is closest in magnitude to said service interval value is illuminated.

9. The dispenser of claim 5, further comprising a keypad coupled to said controller to communicate said initial quantity value to said controller.

10. A method of determining the remaining service interval of a refill container of a dispenser, comprising:

providing a dispenser having a controller to control a pump, said controller storing an initial quantity value identifying the initial amount of material in said refill container, said dispenser also including an indicator coupled to said controller;

attaching said refill container to said pump, whereupon said controller starts a timer to update a total time value from an initial value;

dispensing a predetermined amount of material on a random basis from said pump according to a shot size value stored at said controller;

monitoring the total amount of said material dispensed from said refill container by said pump;

calculating a current quantity value at said controller by subtracting the amount of material dispensed at said monitoring step from said initial quantity value;

generating an average usage value at said controller based on the total amount of material dispensed at said pump at said monitoring step during said total time value;

dividing said current quantity value by said average usage value to compute a service interval that indicates the remaining durational operating life of said refill container; and

displaying said service interval value via said indicator.

11. A dispenser to dispense material from a refill container, comprising:

a controller adapted to store an initial quantity value defining the amount of material carried by the refill container, said controller including a timer;

an indicator coupled to said controller;

an actuator coupled to said controller, said actuator configured to be actuated on a random basis; and

a pump coupled to said controller and adapted to be operatively coupled to the refill container, said controller initiating said timer to update a total time value from an initial value when the refill container is coupled to said pump, such that when said actuator is engaged, said pump dispenses an amount of material from the refill container according to a predetermined shot size value and said controller updates a cumulative usage value maintained thereby by said shot size value, and said controller generating a current quantity value based on the difference between said initial quantity value and said cumulative usage value;

wherein said controller calculates an average usage value from the division of said cumulative usage value by said total time value, said controller calculating a service interval value from the division of said current quantity value by said average usage value that is displayed via said indicator.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said actuator comprises a proximity sensor.

13. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said initial quantity value is communicated to said controller via a keypad coupled thereto.

14. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of illuminable identifiers that are associated with predetermined usage values, such that said illuminable identifier associated with said usage value that is closest in magnitude to said service interval value is illuminated.

15. A dispenser, comprising:

a refill container carrying an initial amount of material;

a controller adapted to store an initial quantity value defined by said initial amount of material maintained by the refill container, said controller including a timer;

an indicator coupled to said controller;

an actuator coupled to said controller, said actuator configured to be actuated on a random basis; and

a pump coupled to said controller and adapted to be operatively coupled to the refill container, said controller initiating said timer to update a total time value from an initial value when the refill container is coupled to said pump, such that when said actuator is engaged, said pump dispenses a predetermined amount of material from the refill container according to a predetermined shot size value and said controller updates a cumulative usage value maintained thereby by said shot size value;

wherein said controller is configured to calculate an average usage value from the division of said cumulative usage value by said total time value, such that said controller calculates a service interval value from the division of said initial quantity value by said average usage value that is displayed via said indicator.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said actuator comprises a proximity sensor.

17. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said refill container maintains a refill memory unit that communicates said initial quantity value to said controller when said refill container is coupled to said pump.

18. The dispenser of claim 15, further comprising a keypad coupled to said controller to communicate said initial quantity value to said controller.

19. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of illuminable identifiers that are associated with predetermined usage values, such that said illuminable identifier associated with said usage value that is closest in magnitude to said service interval value is illuminated.

20. A method of determining the remaining service interval of a refill container used in a dispenser, comprising:

providing a dispenser having a controller to control a pump, said controller storing an initial quantity value identifying the initial amount of material in said refill container, said dispenser also including an indicator coupled to said controller;

attaching said refill container to said pump, whereupon said controller starts a timer to update a total time value from an initial value;

dispensing a predetermined amount of material on a random basis from said pump;

monitoring the total amount of said material dispensed from said pump to generate a cumulative usage value;

generating an average usage value at said controller by dividing said cumulative usage value by said total time value;

generating a first service interval value at said controller by dividing said initial quantity value by said average usage value that indicates the durational operating life of said refill container; and

displaying said first service interval value via said indicator.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

storing a second service interval value of a predetermined number of units of time at said controller;

generating a current quantity value at said controller from the difference of said cumulative usage value and said initial quantity value;

comparing said current quantity value to the product of said average usage value and said second service interval value of a number of units of time; and

activating said indicator when said product is greater than said current quantity value.