DISPENSING DEVICE

Abstract

A dispensing system includes a dispensing device and a container of fluid to be dispensed. The dispensing device includes a fluid flow tube through which the fluid can flow from the container to an outlet, a valve that controls the flow of fluid through the tube, and a control system that actuates the valve to dispense fluid at predetermined intervals. The container includes an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container, and the control system includes an RFID reader configured to read the ID number of the container. The control system includes a memory device that stores the ID numbers of containers that have been used previously and is configured to provide an alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

Description

Cross-Reference to Related Application

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to British application no. 1318246.4 filed Oct. 15, 2013, and the disclosure of said British application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dispensing device and in particular, but not exclusively, to a dispensing device for automatically dispensing a grease degrading enzyme fluid into commercial kitchen drains.

BACKGROUND

Sink units in commercial kitchens are usually provided with grease traps to prevent the drain becoming blocked with grease deposits. However, grease traps can present a hygiene hazard in food preparation areas, they are bulky and they require high maintenance, being difficult to clean and empty.

Current UK legislation requires all commercial kitchens to have an effective means of grease management. One way of achieving this is by regular use of a grease degrading enzyme fluid. Regular use of such a fluid effectively degrades and disperses grease deposits in the drain, thereby avoiding the need for a grease trap.

WO 2007/085782 A describes a dispensing system including a container for a grease degrading enzyme fluid, a fluid flow tube for allowing fluid to flow from the container to an outlet, an electrically operated valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the tube, a control circuit for actuating the valve to dispense fluid at predetermined intervals and a battery for supplying power to the valve and the control circuit.

The system provides for effective grease management by automatically dispensing a dose of grease degrading enzyme fluid into the drain at regular intervals. This prevents any build-up of grease deposits and avoids the need for laborious and potentially unhygienic cleaning of grease traps.

The container includes a flexible bag inside a substantially rigid outer box. This arrangement allows the container to be replaced very easily and without mess when the fluid has been used up.

The container is supported within an enclosure by a resilient spring element, so that in use the vertical position of the container varies according to the weight of fluid in the container. The system includes an indicator positioned behind a window in the enclosure for indicating the quantity of fluid in the container according to its vertical position, and audible alarm that alerts an operator when the container is empty, so that it can be replaced.

The effectiveness of the enzyme fluid in clearing fat, oil and grease from the drainage system relies to a large extent on the fluid being dosed on a regular basis in order to “top-up” the colony of enzymes in the drain. If the micro-organisms are not regularly topped-up, the colony will eventually die out, reducing the effectiveness of the system.

The main cause of failure to dose the fluid regularly is that some operators attempt to defeat the dosing system by tampering with the dispensing device to prevent it from sensing that the container needs replacing. This may be done for example in an attempt to avoid having to purchase a replacement fluid box.

The five main methods of defeating the system seen with the current dispensing device are:

• • 1. To place a piece of green paper behind the viewing window to give the appearance that a full fluid box is in place.
  • 2. To wedge an object between the top of the fluid box and the inside of the enclosure to hold the fluid pack down against the force of the extension spring and give the impression that a full box of fluid is in place.
  • 3. To disconnect the fluid box from the spring and leave it resting in the bottom of the enclosure to give the impression that a full box of fluid is in place.
  • 4. To leave the connector between the fluid box and the connecting tube disconnected so that the dosing unit draws no fluid and the fluid box remains full.
  • 5. To refill the fluid box with water or some other substance once empty.

Other dosing systems similar to that described above suffer from similar problems resulting in the fluid packs not being replaced when needed, or no enzyme-containing fluid being dispensed.

Another criticism of the current dispensing device is that it is quite large and therefore takes up a lot of valuable wall space.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing system that mitigates one or more of the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing system including a dispensing device and a container of fluid to be dispensed, wherein the dispensing device includes a fluid flow tube through which the fluid can flow from the container to an outlet, a valve that controls the flow of fluid through the tube, and a control system that actuates the valve to dispense fluid at predetermined intervals, wherein the container includes an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container, and the control system includes an RFID reader configured to read the ID number of the container, and wherein the control system includes a memory device that stores the ID numbers of containers that have been used previously and is configured to provide an alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

The dispensing system is configured to provide an alarm, for example an audible or visual alarm signal, when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously. The system thus alerts an operator to the fact that the container has been used before and therefore needs to be replaced with a new container. The system cannot be easily be easily disabled, making it difficult for an operator to disable the alarm by tampering with the dispensing device. Correct use of the dispensing system is thus encouraged, so helping to prevent drains becoming blocked with grease deposits.

Advantageously, the dispensing system is configured to provide an alarm signal when it determines that the container needs replacing, thus alerting an operator to the fact that the container needs to be replaced.

Advantageously, the control system is configured to deactivate the valve either when the control system senses the reuse of a container that has been used previously or when the control system determines that the container needs replacing. Ineffective operation of the dispensing system is thus prevented.

Advantageously, the control system is configured to deactivate the alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously, thereby indicating indirectly that the system is operating correctly.

The valve for controlling the flow of fluid is preferably an electrically operated latching or bi-stable valve, to reduce energy consumption and increase battery life.

Advantageously, the control system is configured to increase the dwell time of the valve as the quantity of fluid in the container decreases, to ensure that the amount of fluid dispensed in each dose is substantially unaffected by the quantity of fluid remaining in the container.

Advantageously, the container of fluid includes a flexible bag inside a substantially rigid outer box, for convenient storage and handling.

The fluid preferably includes a grease degrading enzyme.

Advantageously, the dispensing system includes an enclosure having a first compartment that receives the container of fluid and a second compartment that encloses the control system. The

RFID reader is preferably located in close proximity to the RFID tag when the container is in the first compartment, to ensure that it is able to communicate efficiently with the RFID tag.

Advantageously, the enclosure has a second compartment that encloses the control system.

The control system preferably includes the RFID reader, the valve, the memory device, the alarm device and an electronic control unit. Advantageously, the control system also includes a battery for powering the control system.

In one preferred embodiment the dispensing system is constructed and arranged to be mounted on a wall, preferably above a sink unit.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a dispensing device for dispensing fluid from a fluid container that includes an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container, the dispensing device including a fluid flow tube through which the fluid can flow from a container to an outlet, a valve that controls the flow of fluid through the tube, and a control system that actuates the valve to dispense fluid at predetermined intervals, wherein the control system includes an RFID reader configured to read the ID number of the container, wherein the control system includes a memory device that stores the ID numbers of containers that have been used previously, and wherein the control system is configured to provide an alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

The dispensing device may preferably include the optional features of the dispensing system, as set out in one or more of the preceding statements of invention.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a container of fluid for use in a dispensing system according to any one of the preceding statements of invention, wherein the fluid includes a grease degrading enzyme, and the container includes a flexible bag inside a substantially rigid outer box, and an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container.

Because each RFID tag can be individually coded, and the software can be programmed to retain a memory of previously-used fluid containers, if a previously-used container is refitted into the dosing unit, the RFID reader will recognise this and the alarm will continue to sound. The improved system overcomes attempts to defeat the alarm experienced with the previous design in the following ways:

• • 1. It is not possible to put a piece of green paper in the viewing window, because there is no viewing window in the enclosure door of the new design.
  • 2. It is not possible to wedge something between the top of the fluid box and the inside of the enclosure to hold the fluid pack down against the force of the extension spring, because there is no extension spring in the new design.
  • 3. It is not possible to disconnect the fluid box from the spring and leave it resting in the bottom of the enclosure to give the impression that a full box of fluid is in place, because there is no spring in the new design.
  • 4. If the connector between the fluid box and the connecting tube is left disconnected so that the dosing unit draws no fluid and the fluid box remains full, the solenoid opening sequence will begin normally and the buzzer will sound at the appropriate time, even though the fluid box will not have emptied.
  • 5. If the fluid box is refilled with water or some other substance once empty, the RFID reader will recognise that the box has previously been used and the buzzer will continue to sound.

Another advantage of the RFID system is that because the radio waves can pass through the walls of the plastic enclosure from the sealed part of the enclosure to the section of the enclosure where the fluid box is housed, the operator is not easily able to see how the system functions, and as a result will be less likely to attempt to defeat it.

It is an aim of the present invention to ensure the regular replacement of fluid containers when needed, in order to make the system as effective as possible.

Advantageously, the dispensing system is constructed and arranged to be mounted on a wall, for example above a sink unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the dispensing system with its door and front cover attached, and

FIG. 2 is a front view of the dispensing system with its door and front cover removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the drawings, the dispensing system 2 includes an enclosure 4 that is designed to be mounted on a wall above a sink unit (not shown). The enclosure 4 has a hinged door 6 that covers a compartment 7 in the upper part of the enclosure 4 and a cover plate 8 that is attached to the lower part of the enclosure 4. Magnetic latches 10 are provided on the enclosure 4 and are positioned to engage the door 6 when it is closed. A key lock 11 is provided on the front door 6. The cover plate 8 is attached to the enclosure 4 by any suitable means, for example by mechanical or magnetic latches.

The compartment 7 in the upper part of the enclosure 4 is configured to receive a container 12 of a grease degrading enzyme fluid. The container 12 consists of an outer box 14 of a suitable rigid material (for example cardboard or a plastics material) and a flexible inner bag (not shown) of a suitable plastics film material. The bag is sealed to a non-drip connection fitting 16 that extends through the rigid outer box 14 at the lower end of the container 12. The fluid container 12 includes an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag 15, which is located at the lower end of the box 14 when the container is received in the compartment 7. The RFID tag is programmed with an identification number that is unique to the attached container 12.

The lower part of the enclosure 4 behind the cover plate 8 provides a second compartment 17 that contains a control system 18 for controlling the dispensing of fluid from the container 12.

The connection fitting 16 is connected via a fluid supply tube 20 to the inlet side of an electrically operated latching or bi-stable dosing valve 22. The outlet side of the valve 22 is connected via a second fluid supply tube 24 to an outlet tube 26, through which fluid is supplied to the drain of the sink unit (not shown). An air vent tube 28 is also connected to the outlet tube 26 via a Y connector 30. The air vent tube 28 prevents the formation of an airlock in the supply tube 26, ensuring reliable delivery of the enzyme fluid to the drain.

Operation of the valve 22 is controlled by a control unit 32, for example a printed circuit board (PCB), which is powered by a battery 34 and is connected to an audible sounder device 35. The valve 22 draws power for only 25 milliseconds as it latches open or closed and draws no power when at rest, in order to prolong the battery life. Battery life is projected at up to two years. A low battery indicator light 36 is provided to indicate when the battery 34 needs replacing.

The control system 18 includes a RFID reader 38, which is positioned just beneath and close to the position of the RFID tag 15 when the container 12 is located in the compartment 7 in the upper part of the enclosure 4. The RFID reader 38 transmits a pulsed signal every few seconds and receives the signal re-transmitted by the RFID tag of the fluid container 12 in the compartment 7. This re-transmitted signal contains the unique ID number associated with the container 12. The RFID reader 38 reads the ID number sends this data to the control unit 32.

The electronic components including the battery 34, the control unit 32, the valve 22 and the RFID reader 38 are covered and protected from damage by the cover plate 8. The cover plate 8 can be removed to allow replacement of the battery 34. The cover plate 8 includes a window 40 through which the indicator lamp 36 can be seen.

In use, fluid is dispensed from the container 12 into the drain of the sink through the outlet tube 26 at regular intervals as controlled by the control unit 32. Typically, a dose of fluid will be supplied to the drain once every night, so that it has several hours in which to degrade grease in the drain before the kitchen resumes operation in the morning. The valve dwell time increases each night to compensate for the lower flow rate caused by loss of head pressure as the fluid container empties. The quantity of fluid supplied to the drain per dose and the frequency of dosing can both be adjusted the programming the control unit 32.

The control unit 32 can be set on installation to dispense the fluid over a pre-set period of for example 30 days. When this period is over the control unit 32 activates the audible sounder 35 to notify an operator that the container 12 needs to be replaced. It will continue to sound until the RFID reader senses that the container 12 has been replaced.

When the fluid container 12 is empty, it can be replaced with a new full container by opening the front door 6 and disconnecting the supply tube 20 from the connection fitting 16 and removing the empty container. A new container can then be placed in the upper compartment of the enclosure 4 and the supply line 20 can be plugged into the connection fitting 16. The fitting 16 includes a non-drip valve to prevent fluid leaking from the container before the supply line 20 is connected. Inserting the supply line 20 into the connection fitting 16 opens the valve and allows the fluid to flow.

As the new container 12 is placed in the upper compartment 7 of the enclosure 4 the RFID tag 15 is interrogated by the RFID reader and the unique ID number of the container is read. This ID number is transmitted to the control unit 32, which includes a memory device in which the ID numbers of all previously used containers are stored. The ID number of the new container 12 is compared with the stored numbers and if no matching number is found, indicating that it is a new container, the audible sounder is silenced and the dosing system is activated, so that doses of fluid are dispensed according to the programmed dosing schedule. If a matching number is found in the memory device, indicating that the container 12 is not new and has been used previously, the dosing system is not activated and the audible sounder continues to sound, providing a warning to the operator that the container is empty or has previously been used. This will continue until the control unit 32 senses a new container.

The control unit 32 stores in the memory device the ID number of each container 12 as it is used and then creates a database of used containers which can be interrogated each time a container 12 is placed in the enclosure 4 to ensure that a previously used container cannot be reused.

Claims

1. A dispensing system including a dispensing device and a container of fluid to be dispensed, wherein the dispensing device includes a fluid flow tube through which the fluid can flow from the container to an outlet, a valve that controls the flow of fluid through the tube, and a control system that actuates the valve to dispense fluid at predetermined intervals, wherein the container includes an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container, and the control system includes an RFID reader configured to read the ID number of the container, and wherein the control system includes a memory device that stores the ID numbers of containers that have been used previously and is configured to provide an alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

2. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the control system is configured to provide an alarm signal when it determines that the container needs replacing.

3. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the control system is configured to deactivate the valve either when the control system senses the reuse of a container that has been used previously or when the control system determines that the container needs replacing.

4. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the control system is configured to deactivate the alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

5. A dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the valve for controlling the flow of fluid is an electrically operated latching or bi-stable valve.

6. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the control system is configured to increase the dwell time of the valve as the quantity of fluid in the container decreases.

7. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the container of fluid includes a flexible bag inside a substantially rigid outer box.

8. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the fluid includes a grease degrading enzyme.

9. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the dispensing system includes an enclosure having a first compartment that receives the container of fluid and a second compartment that encloses the control system.

10. A dispensing system according to claim 1, in which the enclosure comprises a compartment that encloses the control system.

11. A dispensing system according to claim 10, in which the control system includes the RFID reader, the valve, the memory device, the alarm device and an electronic control unit.

12. A dispensing system according to claim 11, in which the control system includes a battery.

13. A dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing system is constructed and arranged to be mounted on a wall.

14. A dispensing device for dispensing fluid from a fluid container that includes an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container, the dispensing device including a fluid flow tube through which the fluid can flow from a container to an outlet, a valve that controls the flow of fluid through the tube, and a control system that actuates the valve to dispense fluid at predetermined intervals, wherein the control system includes an RFID reader configured to read the ID number of the container, wherein the control system includes a memory device that stores the ID numbers of containers that have been used previously, and wherein the control system is configured to provide an alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

15. A container of fluid for use in a dispensing system, the dispensing system including a dispensing device and a container of fluid to be dispensed, wherein the dispensing device includes a fluid flow tube through which the fluid can flow from the container to an outlet, a valve that controls the flow of fluid through the tube, and a control system that actuates the valve to dispense fluid at predetermined intervals, wherein the container includes an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container, and the control system includes an RFID reader configured to read the ID number of the container, and wherein the control system includes a memory device that stores the ID numbers of containers that have been used previously and is configured to provide an alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously, wherein the fluid includes a grease degrading enzyme, and the container includes a flexible bag inside a substantially rigid outer box, and an RFID tag having an ID number associated uniquely with the container.

16. A dispensing system according to claim 2, in which the control system is configured to deactivate the valve either when the control system senses the reuse of a container that has been used previously or when the control system determines that the container needs replacing.

17. A dispensing system according to claim 2, in which the control system is configured to deactivate the alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

18. A dispensing system according to claim 3, in which the control system is configured to deactivate the alarm signal when it senses the ID number of a container that has been used previously.

19. A dispensing system according to claim 2, wherein the valve for controlling the flow of fluid is an electrically operated latching or bi-stable valve.

20. A dispensing system according to claim 3, wherein the valve for controlling the flow of fluid is an electrically operated latching or bi-stable valve.