LOW AND EMPTY PRODUCT DETECTION USING LOAD CELL AND LOAD CELL BRACKET
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- dispensing a product from a product container during at least one product dispense cycle;
determining whether a product weight remaining in the product container after the at least one product dispense cycle is less than a critical weight;
when the product weight remaining is less than the critical weight, entering a low/out-of-product mode and determining an actual amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle; and
when the product weight remaining is not less than the critical weight, entering a proof of delivery mode, determining a measured amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle and generating a proof of delivery notification when the measured amount of product dispensed during a product dispense cycle satisfies a proof of delivery threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method detect when a product container from which a product is dispensed is empty or nearly empty, and provides a notification of the product status. The system includes a load cell that deflects at a first rate of distance per unit load when a load less than a critical load is positioned to be weighed by the load cell, and a load cell bracket positioned such that the free end of the load cell contacts the load cell bracket when a load substantially equal to or greater than the critical load is positioned to be weighed by the load cell. The load cell bracket may prevent the load cell from further deflection, or it may permit deflection of the load cell at a second rate of distance per unit load when the load cell is in contact with the load cell bracket. The system may generate an out-of-product notification when the amount of product dispensed is substantially equal to zero, a low product notification when the amount of the product remaining is less than a threshold weight or a proof-of-delivery notification.
106 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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dispensing a product from a product container during at least one product dispense cycle; determining whether a product weight remaining in the product container after the at least one product dispense cycle is less than a critical weight; when the product weight remaining is less than the critical weight, entering a low/out-of-product mode and determining an actual amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle; and when the product weight remaining is not less than the critical weight, entering a proof of delivery mode, determining a measured amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle and generating a proof of delivery notification when the measured amount of product dispensed during a product dispense cycle satisfies a proof of delivery threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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dispensing a product from a product container during at least one product dispense cycle; receiving product weight information from a load cell positioned to weigh the product container; determining whether a product weight remaining in the product container after the at least one product dispense cycle is less than a critical weight based on the product weight information; when the product weight remaining is less than the critical weight, entering a low/out-of-product mode and determining an actual amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle based on the product weight information; and when the product weight remaining is not less than the critical weight, entering a proof of delivery mode, determining a measured amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle based on the product weight information and generating a proof of delivery notification when the measured amount of product dispensed during a product dispense cycle satisfies a proof of delivery threshold. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method comprising:
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dispensing a product from a product container during at least one product dispense cycle; receiving product weight information from a load cell positioned to weigh the product container; storing calibration data concerning a relationship between a second rate of distance per unit load experienced by the load cell when the product weight remaining is less than the critical load and an actual amount of product remaining in the container, the second rate of distance per unit load being less than a first rate of distance per unit load experienced by the load cell when the product weight remaining is not less than the critical load; determining whether a product weight remaining in the product container after the at least one product dispense cycle is less than a critical weight based on the product weight information; when the product weight remaining is less than the critical weight, entering a low/out-of-product mode and determining an actual amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle based on the product weight information; and when the product weight remaining is not less than the critical weight, entering a proof of delivery mode, determining a measured amount of product dispensed during the product dispense cycle based on the product weight information and the calibration data and generating a proof of delivery notification when the measured amount of product dispensed during a product dispense cycle satisfies a proof of delivery threshold. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification