Methods of dispensing

• US 9,376,306 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Mehus, Richard J., Thomas, John E., Batcher, Thomas J., Maser, Bryan A., Shulman, Michael N.
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US14/029,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20140017142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 422/255, 422/257, 422/261, 222/52, 222/57, 222/58, 222/77
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2117 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/24 Weighing mechanism control arrangements for automatic feed or discharge

Abstract

Methods of dispensing an ingredient and measuring an amount of the ingredient dispensed, e.g., at a customer'"'"'s location usually as the ingredient is used by the customer, in order to improve the dispensing process by adjusting future dispense cycles, accurately dispensing the ingredient, predicting an amount of ingredient to be dispensed.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing a requested weight of an ingredient from a container, comprising:

measuring an initial weight of the ingredient in the container;

dispensing at least some of the ingredient from the container during a dispense cycle by eroding the ingredient with a diluent for a predetermined period of time;

waiting for a lag time to allow the diluent to drain from the container;

measuring, after the lag time has elapsed, a final weight of the ingredient in the container;

determining a dispensed weight of the ingredient dispensed from the container by comparing the final weight with the initial weight;

comparing the dispensed weight with the requested weight; and

adjusting the predetermined period of time for a subsequent dispense cycle based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the initial weight with a known weight representative of an empty container to determine whether the container is empty; and

replacing the container if the container is determined to be empty.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the predetermined period of time downward if the dispensed amount exceeds the requested amount.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the predetermined period of time upward if the requested amount exceeds the dispensed amount.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising dispensing at least some of the ingredient from the container during the subsequent dispense cycle by eroding the ingredient with the diluent for the adjusted predetermined period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ingredient is a solid product concentrate.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the ingredient is powdered.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein dispensing at least some of the ingredient from the container includes spraying the ingredient with the diluent for the predetermined period of time.