IPC分类号：
D06F1/00 | D06F33/00 | D06F33/02 | D06F39/00 | D06F39/02 | D06F35/00
当前申请(专利权)人：
TCD PARTS, INC. | BRIGHTWELL DISPENSERS LIMITED
原始申请(专利权)人：
TCD PARTS, INC. | BRIGHTWELL DISPENSERS LIMITED
当前申请(专利权)人地址：
19450 Highway B, Edgerton, Missouri, US | Unit 9 Euro Business Park Estate Road, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 0DQ, GB
工商成立日期：
1992-01-01|1947-01-01
发明人：
FISHER, MARK B. | GROSS, JOEL
代理机构：
BRIDGE-BUTLER, JEREMY
摘要：
A system for monitoring sanitation agents in a laundry machine comprises a plurality of channels. Each channel has an input port, an output port, and a glass tube. Each input port and output port is adapted to be fluidly coupled to the laundry machine. The system includes a monitoring unit associated with each of the glass tubes. Each monitoring unit includes a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit. A beeper is configured to generate an indication of an alarm condition based on a determination made by any one of the monitoring units. The system has a display screen, a memory storing computer-readable instructions, and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the monitoring units. The controller is configured to execute the instructions to wirelessly communicate to a web page a volume of a sanitation agent that has passed through each of the glass tubes.
技术问题语段：
The technical problem addressed in this patent is the need for a system to monitor the flow rate and volume of sanitation agents in a laundry system. The system includes multiple channels with glass tubes and monitoring units that have a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit. The monitoring units also have a display screen and a controller that communicates with a web page to wirelessly communicate the volume of sanitation agent that has passed through each glass tube. The system can detect an alarm condition and alert the operator with a beeper or audible notification. The system can also include a liquid crystal display and visible indicators to identify which channel is associated with an alarm condition.
技术功效语段：
The patent describes a system for monitoring sanitation agents in a laundry machine. The system includes multiple channels with glass tubes and monitoring units. Each monitoring unit has a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit that work together to detect and measure the flow rate of sanitation agents dispensed in the machine. The system also includes a controller and a display screen for visual indications of an alarm condition. The system can wirelessly communicate with a web page to monitor the volume of sanitation agents that have passed through the glass tubes. The technical effects of the patent include improved monitoring of sanitation agents in laundry machines to ensure proper sanitation and prevent contamination.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A system for monitoring sanitation agents in a laundry machine, comprising: a plurality of channels, each channel having a cylindrical input port, a cylindrical output port, and a glass tube; each said input port and said output port adapted to be fluidly coupled to a sanitation agent supply vessel of said laundry machine;
a monitoring unit associated with each said glass tube, each said monitoring unit
including a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit arranged in line with said bubble detector; said bubble detector including an infrared LED and an infrared detector; said flow rate measurement unit including a positive
displacement sensor;
a plurality of visible indicators, each one of said visible indicators associated with one of said plurality of channels;
a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a plurality of thresholds, each one of said thresholds being associated with one of said plurality of channels; and a controller communicatively coupled to each said monitoring unit and being configured to execute said instructions to:
determine an alarm condition;
cause at least one of said plurality of visible indicators to identify the channel with which said alarm condition is associated; and
wirelessly communicate to a web page a volume of a sanitation agent that has passed through each of said glass tubes.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said glass tubes and said monitoring units are housed within a case.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of channels includes six channels.
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a liquid crystal display.
5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a beeper configured to generate an audible notification in response to said determination of said alarm condition.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein said liquid crystal display and each of said visible indicators is disposed on a top side of said case.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a mute button usable to silence said audible notification.
8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a mute button usable to silence said audible notification for a predefined time period.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein said instructions are further configured to communicate to said web page information about the determination of said alarm condition.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein said information includes a time at which said alarm condition was determined.
11. A system for monitoring sanitation agents in a laundry machine, comprising: a case having a top side, an input side, and an output side opposing said input side; said input side having a plurality of input ports and said output side having a plurality of output ports;
a plurality of glass tubes, each of said plurality of glass tubes fluidly coupling one of said plurality of input ports to one of said plurality of output ports;
a plurality of monitoring units, each of said plurality of monitoring units associated with one of said plurality of glass tubes; each of said plurality of monitoring units comprising a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit arranged in line with said bubble detector; said bubble detector including an infrared LED and an infrared detector; said flow rate measurement unit including a positive displacement sensor;
a liquid crystal display arranged on said top side;
a memory storing computer-readable instructions;
a controller configured to execute said instructions to determine an alarm condition; and a visible indicator configured to identify one of said plurality of glass tubes with which said alarm condition is associated.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a beeper; said beeper being activated upon said determination of said alarm condition.
13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a networking interface configured to communicate an indication of said alarm condition to a computing device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said computing device is a mobile computer.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller is housed on a printed circuit board within said case.
16. A system for monitoring sanitation agents in a laundry machine, comprising: a plurality of channels, each channel having an input port, an output port, and a glass tube; each said input port and said output port adapted to be fluidly coupled to said laundry machine;
a monitoring unit associated with each said glass tube, each monitoring unit including a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit;
a beeper configured to generate an indication of an alarm condition based on a
determination made by any one of said monitoring units;
a display screen;
a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and
a controller communicatively coupled to each said monitoring unit and being configured to execute said instructions to wirelessly communicate to a web page a volume of a sanitation agent that has passed through each of said glass tubes.
17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a plastic case housing each of said glass tubes.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a mute button; said mute button being useable to silence said beeper for a time period.
19. The system of claim 16, further comprising one visible indicator associated with each of said plurality of channels.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein said flow rate measurement unit includes a positive displacement sensor.