# US 2019/0318213 A1 · Method Providing Superimposed QR Code for Dispenser and Replaceable Reservoir > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0318213 A1 - Document ID: US20190318213A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/269,400 - Filed: 2019-02-06 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-17 - Assignees: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH - Applicants: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH - Inventors: Heiner Ophardt; David Duncan; Hendrik Ophardt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318213A1 ## CPC - G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding} - A47K 5/12: for liquid or pasty soap - A47K 5/1202: {dispensing dosed volume (A47K5/1201 takes precedence)} - A47K 5/1207: {Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston} - A47K 5/1217: {Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism} - B65D 50/00: Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures - B65D 2555/02: Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## 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. ## Claims ### 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 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 cartridge is received by the housing, the first marking and the second marking together form the machine readable code. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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 cartridge comprises marking the first marking on a surface of the cartridge that, when the 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: placing the cartridge within the housing; and reading the machine readable code with a compatible device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising: transmitting data read from the machine readable code to a server. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) 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 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 cartridge; (iv) encoding, within the machine readable code, information that uniquely identifies the combination of the housing and the cartridge; (v) encoding a discount code within the machine readable code; and (vi) encoding a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) within the machine readable code. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) 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 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting data read from the machine readable code to a usage tracking system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) 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 cartridge or the housing; and (b) transmitting data read from the machine readable code to a supplier discount system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine readable code comprises an optically machine readable code that is detectable from outside of the housing, the optically machine readable code comprising at least one of: a barcode; a linear barcode; a two-dimensional barcode; a UPC code; and a QR code. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine readable code consists of a single barcode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) 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 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 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 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 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 cartridge; the method further comprising: placing the first 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 cartridge from the dispenser; removing the first cartridge from the housing; placing the second 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the machine readable code comprises an optically machine readable code that is detectable from outside of the housing, the optically machine readable code comprising at least one of: a barcode; a linear barcode; a two-dimensional barcode; a UPC code; and a QR code. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: placing the 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 at least one of: (i) encoding, within the machine readable code, information indicating that the 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 cartridge; and (iv) encoding, within the machine readable code, information that uniquely identifies the combination of the housing and the cartridge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: placing the 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 at least one of: (i) encoding, within the machine readable code, information indicating that the 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 cartridge; and (iv) encoding, within the machine readable code, information that uniquely identifies the combination of the housing and the cartridge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the product is a hand cleaning liquid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the product is a hand cleaning liquid. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: providing a plurality of dispensers and a plurality of replaceable cartridges containing a product to be dispensed, wherein each of the plurality of dispensers is configured to removably receive at least a subset of the plurality of replaceable cartridges; marking each of the plurality of replaceable cartridges with a unique first marking; and marking each of the plurality of dispensers with a unique second marking; wherein the unique first marking and the unique second marking are configured so that, when one of the plurality of replaceable cartridges is received by one of the plurality of dispensers, the unique first marking and the unique second marking together form a unique machine readable code, wherein the unique machine readable code contains information that uniquely identifies the combination of the one of the plurality of replaceable cartridges and the one of the plurality of dispensers that are combined to form the unique machine readable code.