Bulk refill protection sensor for dispensing system
AssigneeGOJO Industries, Inc.
InventorsMark Bullock, Scott Proper
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A bulk refill system comprising:
- a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
- wherein the refill container is opaque;
- wherein the refill container is sealed from the outside environment;
- a sensor for sensing an increase in light in the container;
- a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor indicative of an increase in light;
- and
- wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to allow an electronically controllable valve to open if the refill controller has not received one or more signals indicative of an increase in light.
The bulk refill system of claim 2, wherein the electronically controllable valve is located on the refill container.
A bulk refill system comprising:
- a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
- wherein the refill container is sealed from the outside environment;
- a sensor for sensing the container has been breached, wherein the sensor senses one of an increase in light being let into the container, vibration, noise, or shock;
- a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor indicative of a breach of the container;
- refill communication circuitry;
- and
- an outlet port on the refill container;
- one or more soap or sanitizer dispensers configured to be refilled by the refill container;
- the one or more soap or sanitizer dispensers having
- an inlet port configured to mate with the outlet port on the refill container;
- a dispenser controller;
- dispenser communication circuitry for communicating with the refill communication circuitry;
- and
- an electronically controllable valve;
- wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to the dispenser controller indicative of whether the refill container has been breached;
- and
- wherein the dispenser controller allows the electronically controllable valve to open if the refill controller has not received one or more signals indicative of a breach.
A method for controlling fluid flow to a dispensing system comprising:
- providing a refill container having
- a sensor for sensing a breach of the refill container;
- a refill controller for receiving one or more signals from the sensor;
- refill container communications circuitry for communicating one or more signals;
- and
- an outlet nozzle;
- providing a soap or sanitizer dispenser having
- an inlet port for connecting to the outlet nozzle;
- a dispenser container;
- a conduit between the inlet port and the dispenser container;
- an electronically controllable valve in the conduit between the inlet port and the dispenser container;
- a dispenser controller;
- dispenser communications circuitry for receiving the one or more signals;
- connecting the outlet nozzle to the inlet port;
- receiving a signal from the refill communications circuitry by the dispenser communications circuitry;
- causing the electronically controlled valve to open if the signal is indicative of the refill container not having been breached and not causing the electronically controlled valve to open if the signal is indicative of the refill container having been breached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.