Method providing superimposed QR code for dispenser and replaceable reservoir

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10671902-B2
Application number	US-201916269400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2019
Priority date	May 17, 2016
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A dispenser with a replaceable cartridge containing a product to be dispensed, and a housing configured to removably receive the cartridge. The cartridge has a surface that is marked with a first marking, and the housing has a surface that is marked with a second marking. The housing is configured so that, when the cartridge is received by the housing, the first marking and the second marking together form a machine readable code that is detectable from outside of the housing.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of use of a dispenser, the dispenser comprising a housing configured to removably receive a replaceable cartridge containing a product to be dispensed, the method comprising:
generating a machine readable code;
marking the replaceable cartridge with a first marking, the first marking comprising a first part of the machine readable code; and
marking the housing with a second marking, the second marking comprising a second part of the machine readable code;
wherein the first marking and the second marking are positioned so that, when the replaceable cartridge is received by the housing, the first marking and the second marking together form the machine readable code; and
wherein the machine readable code comprises an optically machine readable code that is detectable from outside of the housing.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein marking the housing comprises marking the second marking on or adjacent to a light-permeable window of the housing; and
wherein marking the replaceable cartridge comprises marking the first marking on a surface of the replaceable cartridge that, when the replaceable cartridge is received by the housing, is positioned behind the light-permeable window, so that the first part of the machine readable code is detectable through the light-permeable window.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
placing the replaceable cartridge within the housing; and
reading the machine readable code with a compatible device.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
transmitting data read from the machine readable code to a server.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein generating the machine readable code comprises at least one of:
(i) encoding, within the machine readable code, information indicating that the replaceable cartridge is received in the housing;
(ii) encoding, within the machine readable code, a housing identifier that uniquely identifies the housing;
(iii) encoding, within the machine readable code, a cartridge identifier that uniquely identifies the replaceable cartridge;
(iv) encoding, within the machine readable code, information that uniquely identifies the combination of the housing and the replaceable cartridge;
(v) encoding a discount code within the machine readable code; and
(vi) encoding a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) within the machine readable code.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein generating the machine readable code comprises encoding, within the machine readable code, a housing identifier that uniquely identifies the housing; and
wherein transmitting the data read from the machine readable code comprises transmitting the housing identifier to the server;
the method further comprising:
recording a location of the housing;
associating the location of the housing with the housing identifier; and
using the housing identifier to associate the data transmitted to the server with the location of the housing.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein generating the machine readable code comprises encoding, within the machine readable code, a housing identifier that uniquely identifies the housing, and a cartridge identifier that uniquely identifies the replaceable cartridge;
wherein transmitting data read from the machine readable code comprises transmitting the housing identifier and the cartridge identifier to the server;
the method further comprising:
transmitting a date that the machine readable code is read by the compatible device to the server; and
transmitting an account identifier associated with the compatible device to the server.

8. The method according to claim 4 , wherein generating the machine readable code comprises encoding, within the machine readable code, data that, when read by the compatible device, instructs the device to initiate an order from a supplier.

9. The method according to claim 4 , wherein generating the machine readable code comprises encoding, within the machine readable code, data that represents a storage life of the product;
the method further comprising initiating, after the machine readable code is read by the compatible device, a timer that reflects the storage life of the product.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting data read from the machine readable code to a usage tracking system.

11. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising at least one of:
(a) using the discount code to provide a credit to a purchaser of the replaceable cartridge or the housing; and
(b) transmitting data read from the machine readable code to a supplier discount system.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optically machine readable code comprises at least one of:
a barcode;
a linear barcode;
a two-dimensional barcode;
a UPC code; and
a QR code.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the machine readable code consists of a single barcode.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the replaceable cartridge is a first replaceable cartridge and the machine readable code is a first machine readable code, the method further comprising:
providing a second replaceable cartridge containing the product to be dispensed, the second replaceable cartridge configured to be removably received by the housing;
generating a second machine readable code having a first part and a second part, wherein the first part of the second machine readable code differs from the first part of the first machine readable code, and the second part of the second machine readable code is identical to the second part of the first machine readable code; and
marking the second replaceable cartridge with a third marking, the third marking comprising the first part of the second machine readable code;
wherein the third marking and the second marking are positioned so that, when the second replaceable cartridge is received by the housing, the third marking and the second marking together form the second machine readable code;
wherein generating the first machine readable code comprises encoding, within the first machine readable code, information that uniquely identifies the combination of the housing and the first replaceable cartridge;
wherein generating the second machine readable code comprises encoding, within the second machine readable code, information that uniquely identifies the combination of the housing and the second replaceable cartridge;
the method further comprising:
placing the first replaceable cartridge within the housing;
reading the first machine readable code with a compatible device;
transmitting data read from the first machine readable code to a usage tracking system;
dispensing the product contained in the first replaceable cartridge from the dispenser;
removing the first replaceable cartridge from the housing;
placing the second replaceable cartridge within the housing;
reading the second machine readable code with the compatible device; and
transmitting data read from the second machine readable code to the usage tracking system.

15. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the optically machine readable code comprises at least one of:
a barcode;
a linear barcode;
a two-dimensional barcode;
a UPC code; and
a QR code.

16. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
placing the replaceable cartridge within the housing;
reading the machine readable code with a compatible device; and
transmitting data read from the machine readable code to a usage tracking system;
wherein generating the machine readable code comprises

Assignees

• Op Hygiene Ip Gmbh

Inventors

• Ophardt Heiner
• Duncan David
• Ophardt Hendrik

Classifications

• A47K5/1207

  Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston · CPC title

• A47K5/12 Primary

  for liquid or pasty soap · CPC title

• B65D50/00

  Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures · CPC title

• A47K5/1217

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title

• B65D2555/02

  Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure · CPC title