Liquid out-of-product alarm system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10072962-B2
Application number	US-201615202002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2016
Priority date	Jul 5, 2016
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

An out-of-product alarm process includes initiating an out-of-product check by sending a signal to a controller from an optical sensor assembly connected to a fluid delivery medium for delivering a product to a fluid dispensing site, performing an out-of-product check, running an alarm cycle with the controller after receipt of an out-of-product signal, and executing a corrective action. Performing the out-of-product check includes directing light into the fluid delivery medium, generating a detector output based on detected light within the fluid delivery medium, determining an out-of-product state within the fluid delivery medium based on a comparison of the detector output to an out-of-product threshold, starting an out-of-product timer, when the out-of-product state is determined, and determining an out-of-product event when the out-of-product timer reaches a threshold out-of-product time period.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for checking for an absence of a product in a fluid delivery medium for delivering the product to a fluid dispensing site, the method comprising:
performing an out-of-product check with an optical sensor assembly connected to the fluid delivery medium, the out-of-product check comprising:
directing light into the fluid delivery medium;
generating a detector output based on detected light within the fluid delivery medium;
determining an out-of-product state within the fluid delivery medium based on a comparison of the detector output to an out-of-product threshold;
starting an out-of-product timer, when the out-of-product state is determined;
determining an out-of-product event when the out-of-product timer reaches a threshold out-of-product time period;

running an alarm cycle with a controller upon determination of the out-of-product event;
performing a product present check, the product present check comprising:
directing light into the fluid delivery medium;
generating a detector output based on detected light within the fluid delivery medium
determining a product present state within the fluid delivery medium based on a comparison of the detector output to a product present threshold;
starting a product present timer, if the product present timer has not already been started, when a product present state is determined; and
determining a product present event when the product present timer reaches a threshold product present time period; and

stopping the out-of-product timer upon determination of the product present event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold out-of-product time period is a predetermined time period, between fifteen seconds and forty-five seconds.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the threshold out-of-product time period is thirty seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the out-of-product event is determined for the threshold out-of-product time period if an out-of-product state is determined at least once every 100 milliseconds.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein running the alarm cycle comprises at least one of turning on a visual indicator and turning on a sound alarm.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein running the alarm cycle further comprises:
checking if a mute button is pressed;
turning off the sound alarm if the mute button is pressed; and
turning on the sound alarm if a mute timeout period has passed.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein running the alarm cycle further comprises:
checking if an alarm timeout period has passed; and
turning off the sound alarm if the alarm timeout period has passed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing a corrective action comprises at least one of shutting off the fluid dispensing site, shutting off a pump for pumping the product to the fluid dispensing site, refilling the product reservoir, and replacing the product reservoir.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold product present time period is between ten milliseconds and five seconds.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold product present time period is three seconds.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising canceling the alarm cycle and resuming normal operation when the product present signal is received by the controller.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein an out-of-product state is determined if the detector output satisfies the out-of-product threshold for at least a predetermined filter time.

13. An out-of-product alarm system comprising:
a fluid dispensing system comprising:
a product reservoir;
a fluid dispensing site; and
a fluid delivery medium for delivering a product from the product reservoir to the fluid dispensing site;

a sensor assembly connected to the fluid delivery medium, the sensor assembly comprising:
an emitter that directs light into the fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined;
a detector that generates a detector output based on detection of light transmitted through the fluid delivery medium; and
a sensor controller that determines an out-of-product state within the fluid delivery medium based on a comparison of the detector output to an out-of-product threshold and a product present state within the fluid delivery medium based on a comparison of the detector output to a product present threshold;

an out-of-product timer configured to start when the out-of-product state is determined by the sensor controller;
a product present timer configured to start when the product present state is determined by the sensor controller; and
a system controller configured to generate at least one of a visual alarm and a sound alarm when the out-of-product timer reaches a threshold out-of-product time period, indicating that an out-of-product event is determined.

14. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the system controller is configured to initiate a corrective action when the out-of-product event is determined.

15. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 14 , wherein the corrective action is at least one of shutting off the fluid dispensing site, shutting off a pump for pumping the product to the fluid dispensing site, refilling the product reservoir, and replacing the product reservoir.

16. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the fluid dispensing system further comprises a pump for pumping the product from the product reservoir, through the fluid delivery medium, and into the fluid dispensing site.

17. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the fluid dispensing site is a washing machine or a warewashing machine.

18. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the fluid delivery medium is selected from the group consisting of transparent tubing, translucent tubing, or braided tubing.

19. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the fluid delivery medium is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene tubing, ethylene-vinyl acetate tubing, and polytetrafluoroethylene tubing.

20. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the product is at least one of a transparent product or a turbid product.

21. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a liquid tight enclosure that houses the emitter, the detector, and the sensor controller.

22. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 21 , wherein the housing is transparent.

23. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a visual indicator configured to provide a visual indication when the sensor controller determines an absence of product for the threshold out-of-product time period.

24. The out-of-product alarm system of claim 13 , wherein the system controller is configured to reset the out-of-product timer when the product present timer reaches a threshold product present time period indicating a product present event.

25. A method for checking for an absence of a product in a fluid delivery medium for delivering the product to a fluid dispensing site, the method comprising:
performing an out-of-product check with an optical sensor assembly connected to the fluid delivery medium, the out-of-product check comprising:
directing light into the fluid delivery medium;
generating a detector output based on detected light within the fluid delivery medium;
determining an out-of-product state within the fl

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Ismail Husam
• Dobizl Kenneth Thomas
• Holzman Louis Mark
• Sharpe Sonya Shailesh
• Kahlhamer Jason Andrew
• Zurbey Matthew Frank

Classifications

• A47L2501/26

  Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user · CPC title

• D06F39/022

  in a liquid state (D06F39/024 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47L2401/023

  Quantity or concentration of the consumable product · CPC title

• A47L15/0055

  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 title

• G08B21/182

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title