Computer program and method for verifying container of material to be dispensed

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580294-B2
Application number	US-201414559423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2014
Priority date	Dec 3, 2014
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A system for verifying a container of a material before the material is transferred to a process. The system includes a conduit that extends through a mouth of the container. The conduit is supported by an arm that moves between a first position in which the conduit extends through the mouth, and a second position in which the conduit is removed and moved away from the mouth. A reading device extracts information about the container from an information storage element. A computer program receives input regarding the extracted information, receives input regarding the process, and determining whether the container is correct for the process. The program prevents the arm from moving to the first position, and only if the container is determined to be correct does the program allow the arm to move to the first position so that the material can be transferred.

First claim

Having thus described one or more embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for managing a dispensing system, including verifying a container of a material before the material is transferred from the container to a process that uses the material, wherein the container has a mouth, and wherein the dispensing system includes a conduit operable to extend through the mouth of the container and transfer the material from the container, and a first arm supporting the conduit and operable to move between a first position in which the conduit extends through the mouth of the container, and a second position in which the conduit is removed from the mouth of the container and moved away from the container such that the conduit is not positioned over the mouth of the container, and wherein the program instructs a processing element to perform the following steps:
locking the first arm in the second position and preventing the first arm from moving to the first position;
receiving a first input regarding the container;
receiving a second input regarding the process that uses the material;
determining based on the first and second inputs whether the container is correct for the process that uses the material; and
if the container is correct, allowing the first arm to move to the first position so that the material can be transferred from the container.

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for managing a dispensing system, including verifying a container of a material before the material is transferred from the container to a process that uses the material, wherein the container has a mouth and presents an information storage element, and wherein the dispensing system includes—
an apparatus including—
a conduit operable to extend through the mouth of the container and transfer the material from the container,
a first arm supporting the conduit and operable to move between—
a first position in which the conduit extends through the mouth of the container, and
a second position in which the conduit is removed from the mouth of the container and moved away from the container such that the conduit is not positioned over the mouth of the container,

a reading device operable to extract information about the container and the material in the container from the information storage element, and

wherein the program instructs a processing element to perform the following steps:
preventing the first arm from moving to the first position;
receiving a first input from the reading device regarding the extracted information;
receiving a second input regarding the process that uses the material;
determining based on the first and second inputs whether the container and the material in the container are correct for the process that uses the material; and
if the container and the material in the container are correct, allowing the first arm to move to the first position so that the material can be transferred from the container.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the container is a bottle.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the material is a liquid.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the information storage element is selected from the consisting of: a label, a tag, a radio-frequency identification device tag, an optical identification tag, a magnetic identification tag.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the conduit is a tube.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the first arm is telescopic and rotates and retracts to achieve the first position and extends and rotates to achieve the second position.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the reading device is selected from the group consisting of: a quick response code reader, a linear bar code reader, a camera, a radio-frequency identification tag reader, an optical character recognition scanner, a magnetic media reading device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , further including a second arm supporting the reading device and operable to move between—
a first position in which the reading device is positioned to read the information storage element; and
a second position in which the reading device is not positioned to read the information storage element.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the second arm is hinged and rotates between the first position and the second position.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the determination of whether the container and the material in the container is correct for the process is based on a set of verification criteria used by the program, and information needed to determine whether the set of verification criteria is satisfied is contained in a database which is accessed by the computer program.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the set of verification criteria is at least partly determinable by an operator of the dispensing system.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the set of verification criteria is selected from the group consisting of: a type of the material; a type of the container; an expiration date of the material; a time, day, or date at or on which the dispensing system is being used; lot numbers; process parameters, including which material is needed; a sequence or batch number; a manufacturer of the container or the material; an identity of the operator.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , the apparatus further including one or more sensors operable to measure a property of the apparatus, an environment of the container, the container, or the material, and to report the measured property to the program, and wherein the program is further operable to instruct the processing element to consider the reported measured property when determining whether to allow the first arm to move to the first position so that the material can be transferred from the container.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , the apparatus further including a weight sensor operable to measure a weight of the container and report the measured weight to the program, wherein the program is further operable to instruct the processing element to determine an amount of the material remaining in the container based on the measured weight of the container.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the weight sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a scale, a load cell, a strain gauge.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 2 , the apparatus further including a communication element operable to communicate engagement of a new container, verification of the new container, release of an engaged container, and warning, trend, predictive, and real-time information generated by the program about operation of the apparatus and the container.

Assignees

• Brewer Science Inc

Inventors

• Lewis Adam
• Edwards Kevin

Classifications

• B67D7/3209

  relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection (leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892) · CPC title

• B67D7/02

  for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants · CPC title

• B67D7/344

  by checking a correct coupling or coded information · CPC title

• B67D7/348 Primary

  by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder (B67D7/145 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B57/00

  Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices (registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18) · CPC title