Material dispensing system and method with capacitance sensor assembly
AssigneeDiversey, Inc.
InventorsWilliam J. Fienup, Keith Grider, Sean Corrigan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dispensing system and method for delivering material to a washing device using a capacitance sensor configuration is disclosed. The capacitance sensor configuration allows a controller to monitor and determine a flow rate of fluid exiting a reservoir. The dispensing system uses the flow rate information, along with downstream conductivity information, to control the dispensing of material. Additionally, one or more error conditions are identified during the material delivery cycle based at least partially on the monitored conductivity and capacitance.
Claims19
A capacitance sensor assembly for determining flow rate comprising:
- a reservoir including
- an input passage,
- at least one retaining wall, wherein the retaining wall includes at least one opening, the opening having an opening size;
- and
- a fluid pooling area,
- wherein the input passage, fluid pooling area, and at least one opening are coupled such that the fluid pooling area can receive fluid from the input passage and fluid can exit the fluid pooling area through the at least one opening;
- a capacitance sensor positioned within the fluid pooling area and including a capacitance level output operable to output a capacitance level signal indicative of a capacitance within the fluid pooling area;
- and
- a controller including
- a capacitance level input module coupled to the capacitance level output and operable to receive the capacitance level signal, and
- a flow rate module operable to indicate a flow rate of fluid exiting through the at least one opening based on the capacitance level signal and the opening size.
A dispensing system for a washing device comprising:
- a fluid supply passage;
- a reservoir coupled to and downstream from the fluid supply passage;
- a capacitance sensor operable to indicate a capacitance level within the reservoir;
- a dispenser coupled to and downstream from the reservoir, wherein the dispenser includes a dispensing opening;
- an output passage coupled to and downstream from the dispenser;
- a conductivity sensor operable to indicate a conductivity level within the output passage;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the capacitance sensor, the dispenser, and the conductivity sensor, the controller operable to
- determine a fluid flow rate based on the capacitance level within the reservoir,
- cause the dispenser to dispense a first material through the dispensing opening based on a comparison of the fluid flow rate and a flow rate threshold, and
- indicate an error condition based on at least one of
- the comparison of the fluid flow rate and a flow rate threshold, and
- a comparison of the conductivity level and a first conductivity level threshold.
A dispensing system for delivering a material to a receiving component positioned downstream of the dispensing system, the dispensing system comprising:
- a receptacle;
- a valve configured to control a supply of water to the receptacle, the valve having an off position that prevents water from entering the receptacle and a first on position that allows water to enter the receptacle;
- a material metering device configured to dispense a material into the receptacle;
- a sensor positioned upstream from the receptacle and configured to generate a first signal indicative of capacitance;
- and
- a controller configured to receive the first signal from the sensor and to generate a valve control signal and a material metering device control signal, the valve control signal operable to toggle the valve between the first on position and the off position, the material metering device control signal operable to initiate a dispensing of the material, the valve control signal and the material metering device signal being generated at least partially in response to a comparison by the controller of the first signal to one or more stored capacitance threshold values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.