Intelligent network for chemical dispensing system

• US 9,835,148 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Tincher, Terry, Lafferty, Sean, McDaniel, Jason, Andersen, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaw, Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US15/232,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 222 1, 222214, 4174771-4773, 700282, 700283, 700281
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/14 Time settings
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/20 Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/46 Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/52 Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/62 Stopping or disabling machine operation
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 : Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1292 : Pumps specially adapted for several tubular flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 : and making use of computers

Abstract

System and method for dispensing product to a washing machine. A chemical dispensing system includes a system controller, machine interface, and pump controller that communicate through serial data buses. The system controller provides a user interface, retrieves washing machine status information from the machine interface, and issues product dispensing commands to the pump controller. The pump controller monitors pump status and dispenses product in response to commands from the system controller. The pump controller: (1) determines pump activation periods based on calibration data stored in a pump controller memory; (2) tracks pump usage and adjusts the activation period to compensate for pump wear as the pump ages; (3) disables the pump if conditions exists that preclude operating the pump; (4) monitors product levels, and (5) reports pump status to the system controller. Integral channels are included in the pump housing to provide stress relief to a squeeze tube.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an amount of a product to be dispensed by a chemical dispensing system including a system controller and a peristaltic pump, the peristaltic pump including a first processor operatively coupled to a memory storing pump calibration data, and a motor, the system controller including a second processor in communication with the first processor, the method comprising:

sending, by the second processor to the first processor, a dispense product message indicating the amount of the product to be dispensed by the peristaltic pump;

in response to receiving the dispense product message from the second processor, determining, by the first processor, a motor activation period based on the pump calibration data and the amount of the product to be dispensed; and

activating, by the first processor, the motor for the motor activation period to dispense the amount of the product to be dispensed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the peristaltic pump further includes a rotor operatively coupled to the motor, and further comprising:

transmitting, by the motor, information indicative of a position of the rotor to the first processor; and

determining, by the first processor, the amount of the product dispensed by the pump based on the position of the rotor.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by the first processor, temperature data indicative of a temperature of the product being pumped, wherein the first processor determines the amount of the product dispensed by the pump based at least in part on the temperature data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the motor activation period comprises an amount of time or a number of rotations for which the motor is activated.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accumulating, by the first processor, the motor activation period associated with the current length of elastic tubing;

determining, by the first processor, an expected change in a flow rate of the peristaltic pump based at least in part the accumulated motor activation period; and

adjusting the motor activation period to compensate for the expected change in the flow rate of the peristaltic pump.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the system controller includes a user interface and causes the first processor to reset the accumulated motor activation period in response to an input on the user interface indicating that the length of elastic tubing has been replaced.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the peristaltic pump further includes a length of elastic tubing, and further comprising:

accumulating, by the first processor, the motor activation period associated with the length of elastic tubing; and

determining, by the first processor, an expected percentage of life (POL) remaining for the length of elastic tubing based at least in part on the accumulated motor activation period.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the memory contains data indicative of a type of material of which the length of elastic tubing is composed, and further comprising:

accumulating, by the first processor, an age of the length of elastic tubing,

wherein the first processor determines the expected POL remaining for the length of elastic tubing based at least in part on the composition and the age of the current length of elastic tubing.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

comparing, by the first processor, the POL to a predetermined POL threshold; and

activating, by the processor, an alarm if the POL is below the predetermined POL threshold.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising preloading the pump calibration data in the memory of the peristaltic pump.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the system controller includes a user interface and causes the first processor to update the pump calibration data in the memory in response to new pump calibration data being entered through the user interface.