Data processing system for managing chemical product usage

• US 8,162,175 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Gardner, James P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US11/020,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,679 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/1, 700/236, 700/241, 700/244, 700/266
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/00 Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries D06F31/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A data processing system is used to manage and track use of chemical product in a washing machine. A detergent dispenser distributes the chemical products (e.g., detergent, rinse agent, and bleach) to the washing machine. The dispenser includes a monitor that detects dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the dispenser. A database is coupled to the dispenser and stores an account identifier and an alignment identifier in association with the dispenser data of the dispenser. The database further stores corporate data in association with the dispenser data, the account identifier, and the alignment identifier. An analysis application analyzes the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system and provide a feedback loop. The analysis application can limit its analysis to data associated with a given account identifier or a given alignment identifier.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

distributing one or more chemical products to one of a plurality of chemical application systems;

specifying a first target parameter corresponding to desired amount of chemical product usage of the chemical application system;

specifying a second target parameter corresponding to a desired operating parameter of the chemical application system;

receiving operating parameter data associated with operation of the chemical application system;

receiving dispenser data relating to amounts of the one or more chemical products distributed to the chemical application system;

analyzing the received operating parameter data relative to the second target parameter;

analyzing the received dispenser data relative to the first target parameter; and

generating a management report comprising information relating to operation of the chemical application system and amounts of chemical product distributed to the chemical application system based on the analysis of the operating parameter data and the dispenser data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing one or more chemical products comprises distributing one or more chemical products at least two of the plurality of chemical application systems that are located at different geographical locations and operated by a corporation, and wherein generating a management report comprises generating a management report of operating parameter data and chemical product usage data corresponding to the at least two chemical application systems for the corporation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein specifying a second target parameter comprises specifying a second target parameter based on business entity averages.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein specifying a second target parameter comprises determining the second target parameter based on the received operating parameter data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the management report in electronic form to an operator or manager of at least one of the plurality of the chemical application systems.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting one or more commands to one of the plurality of chemical application systems that requests modification of an operating setting of a cleaning machine at the chemical application system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a management report comprises generating a management report that includes information relating to utility usage by the one or more chemical application systems.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a management report comprises generating a management report that includes data related to maintenance of one or more cleaning machines at the one or more chemical application systems.

9. The method claim 1 wherein receiving operating parameter data comprises receiving operating parameter data pertaining to operation of a warewash machine.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving operating parameter data comprises receiving water temperature data concerning a water temperature of at least one of the plurality of chemical application systems, and wherein specifying operating parameter data comprises specifying a target water temperature.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein analyzing the operating parameter data comprises comparing the water temperature data with the target water temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein generating a management report comprises generating a management report indicating whether the water temperature data satisfies the target water temperature.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving operating parameter data comprises receiving water temperature data concerning water temperatures in each of a plurality of cleaning machines located at the plurality of chemical application systems, and wherein specifying operating parameter data comprises specifying a target water temperature.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein analyzing the operating parameter data comprises comparing the water temperature data with the target water temperature and wherein generating a management report comprises generating a management report indicating whether the water temperature data at each of the plurality of chemical application systems satisfies the target water temperature.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a management report comprises generating the management report to include comparison data comparing different chemical application systems within a determined grouping of the plurality of chemical application systems.

15. A method comprising:

distributing one or more chemical products to a cleaning machine at a cleaning installation;

specifying a first target parameter corresponding to a desired amount of chemical product usage of the cleaning machine;

specifying a second target parameter corresponding to desired operating parameters of the cleaning machine;

communicating operating parameter data associated with operation of the cleaning machine to a central server;

communicating dispenser data relating to amounts of the one or more chemical products distributed to the cleaning machine to the central server; and

generating, at the central server, a management report based on the communicated operating parameter data and the communicated dispenser data, wherein the management report includes information relating to the amount of chemical product usage by the cleaning machine and information relating to operation of the cleaning machine.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising analyzing the management report to optimize operation of the cleaning machine.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the management report in electronic form to a cleaning machine operator or manager.

19. A method comprising:

distributing one or more chemical products to a plurality of cleaning machines located at a plurality of cleaning installations;

specifying a first target parameter corresponding to desired amounts of chemical product usage of the cleaning machines;

specifying a second target parameter corresponding to a desired operating parameter of the cleaning machines;

receiving operating parameter data associated with operation of the plurality of cleaning machines;

receiving dispenser data relating to amounts of the one or more chemical products distributed for use by the cleaning machines to perform cleaning processes at the plurality of cleaning installations;

analyzing the received operating parameter data relative to the second target parameter,

analyzing the received dispenser data relative to the first target parameter, and

generating a management report comprising information relating to chemical product usage by the plurality of cleaning installations and operating parameter data of the plurality of cleaning machines based on the analysis of the received operating parameter data and the analysis of the received dispenser data.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein generating a management report comprises generating a management report that includes chemical product usage data relative to the first target parameter.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein specifying the first target parameter comprises specifying the second target parameter based on business entity averages.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein generating a management report comprises generating a management report that includes comparison data comparing chemical product usage for different cleaning installations within a determined grouping of the plurality of cleaning installations.