Taggant keying system for dispensing systems
AssigneeGOJO Industries, Inc.
InventorKeith A. Pelfrey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dispensing system with an electronic keying mechanism, the dispenser including a housing and a refill unit. The refill unit includes a product reservoir, a pump mechanism and a collar adapted to secure the refill unit within the housing. An infrared sensor is provided in the housing and includes an infrared radiation source and a detector. A taggant is dispersed within at least a portion of the collar, the taggant being detectable by the detector when exposed to infrared radiation.
Claims20
A product dispenser unit for receipt of a refill unit having a reservoir of a product, the dispenser unit comprising:
- a housing being configured to accept the refill unit;
- an actuator configured to actuate a pump to dispense at least a portion of the product in the refill unit;
- and
- an infrared sensor configured to detect infrared radiation emitted from said refill unit.
A dispensing system comprising:
- a housing including an actuator and an infrared sensor, said infrared sensor including an infrared radiation source and a detector;
- and
- a refill unit including a product reservoir containing a product and a taggant dispersed within at least a portion of said refill unit, said taggant being detectable by the infrared sensor to identify an authorized refill unit.
A method of preventing use of unauthorized refill units in a dispensing system comprising:
- providing a dispenser housing including an actuator and an infrared sensor having an infrared radiation source and a detector;
- and
- providing a refill unit having a reservoir of product and a taggant dispersed within at least a portion of said refill unit, wherein said taggant is detectable by said infrared radiation source, and wherein absence of said taggant prevents dispensing of said product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.