Bulk refill protection sensor for dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058261-B2
Application number	US-201615211582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2016
Priority date	Jul 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

An exemplary dispensing system includes a dispenser, an actuator, a sensor, and a controller. The dispenser includes a container for holding liquid, a liquid pump, an air pump, an outlet nozzle, and a foaming media. The actuator causes the dispenser to dispense liquid or foam. The sensor generates an input signal indicative of a status of the container. The controller receives the input signal, generates at least one output signal, and prevents the dispenser from dispensing liquid or foam if a breach is detected in the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach in the integrity of the refill unit is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a valve for intermittently permitting fluid to flow out of the container;
a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor that are indicative of the integrity of the refill container; and

wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has not been breached and does not provide a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has been breached;
wherein the valve is located on a dispenser and the refill controller transmits the signal to a dispenser controller.

2. The bulk refill system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is located on the refill container.

3. The bulk refill system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor senses light.

4. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach in the integrity of the refill unit is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a valve for intermittently permitting fluid to flow out of the container;
a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor that are indicative of the integrity of the refill container; and

wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has not been breached and does not provide a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has been breached;
wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to a dispensing system that is indicative of a particular refill unit.

5. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach of the integrity of the refill container is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a refill valve for intermittently permitting fluid to flow out of the refill container;
a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor that are indicative of the integrity of the refill container;
a dispenser;
a dispenser controller;
communication circuitry on the dispenser controller for receiving a signal indicative of the parameter;
an inlet valve on the dispenser;
wherein if the parameter is indicative of no breach of the refill container, the controller causes the inlet valve on the dispenser to open; and if the parameter is indicative of a breach of the refill container, the controller does not cause the inlet valve on the dispenser to open.

6. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor senses light.

7. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to a dispenser controller that is indicative of a particular refill unit.

8. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the dispenser controller receives a signal that a refill unit has been breached.

9. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein a signal that the refill unit has been breached is transmitted through a computer network.

10. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the dispenser further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.

11. The bulk refill system of claim 10 , wherein the refill unit further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.

12. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach of the integrity of the refill container is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a refill valve for permitting fluid to flow out of the refill container;
a dispenser;
a dispenser controller;
communication circuitry on the dispenser controller for obtaining a signal indicative of the parameter indicative a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
an inlet valve on the dispenser;
wherein if the parameter is indicative of no breach of the refill container, the controller causes the inlet valve on the dispenser to open; and
wherein if the parameter is indicative of a breach of the refill unit, the controller prevents the inlet valve on the dispenser from opening.

13. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor senses light.

14. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein a refill controller transmits a signal to a dispenser controller that is indicative of a particular refill container.

15. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the refill controller transmits a signal that a refill unit has been breached.

16. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the signal is transmitted through computer network.

17. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the dispenser further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.

18. The bulk refill system of claim 17 , wherein the refill unit further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.

Assignees

• Gojo Ind Inc

Inventors

• Bullock Mark
• Proper Scott

Classifications

• A47K5/1211

  using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston (A47K5/1201 takes precedence; using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/122) · CPC title

• A47K5/1217 Primary

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title

• B05B12/08

  responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material {to be} discharged, of ambient medium or of target {; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means} · CPC title