Patent Publication Number: US-7712359-B2

Title: Dispensing measurement device and method of measuring dispensing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to measuring materials being dispensed and more particularly to measurements which may not be detectable by the user. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Measurements of materials being dispensed is known in the art. For example, magnets and Hall effect sensors have been used to indicate qualitative dispensing. For example, medication compliance monitoring is shown in US 2003/0089733 A1, dispensing of a predetermined volume of liquid is shown in GB2087839 A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,566 shows portion monitoring based upon a slidable control stem, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,181 B1 shows toilet tissue usage data collection. Generally, these references rely upon the proximity of the Hall effect sensor and magnet to indicate a change in state or in component operating position. Such a change is then related to the amount of material dispensed. 
   However, none of these attempts deals with the problems which occur when the amount of material being dispensed changes as a function of time and usage of that dispenser. For example, a pressurized container, such as one containing propellant dispensed air freshener, will dispense less material as depletion of the propellant occurs, due to less pressurization of the material to be subsequently dispensed. Further, a long continuous burst of dispensing will release a different amount of product than several quick bursts having the same cumulative dispensing time. 
   Additionally, when using a pump-type dispenser, such as a squeeze trigger liquid fabric refresher, partial pulls of the trigger will typically result in only partial dispensing of the pump charge. This causes less material to be dispensed, dependent upon the trigger stroke. 
   However, accurate measurement of material to be dispensed requires the factors be considered. Furthermore, the measurement should occur in a matter not readily detectable to the user or which does not interfere with normal usage patterns. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment the invention comprises a device for quantitatively measuring an amount of a material dispensed. The device comprises a reservoir for holding a material therein, a dispensing orifice for dispensing material contained in said reservoir, and a dispenser for dispensing the material from the reservoir through said orifice. The dispenser has an actuator movable relative to said reservoir and a member which is stationary relative to said dispenser. A Hall effect sensor is disposed on one of said dispenser and said stationary member, and a magnet is disposed on the other of said dispenser and said stationary member, whereby relative movement between said magnet and said Hall effect sensor produces a signal in response to said movement. The signal is correlatable to a quantity of material dispensed from said reservoir. The signal may be correlatable to the quantity of material being dispensed from the reservoir throughout dispensing of substantially all of the material contained in the reservoir. 
   All patents and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference. 

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The device comprises a reservoir for holding a material therein. The reservoir may be fluid tight, if the material to be dispensed is a gas, liquid or is mixed with a gaseous propellant. The reservoir may be mounted in any desired relationship with respect to an dispensing orifice for dispensing the material to its desired end use. 
   The device further has a dispenser for dispensing the material from the reservoir through the orifice. Various types of dispensers are known, such as threaded screw drives for advancing a piston as occurs with many antiperspirants, a pump as occurs with many cleaners, a pressure release valve as occurs with many air fresheners and shaving creams, a lid which opens to allow manual access to and retrieval the product as occurs with wet wipes, a flexible squeeze package as occurs with toothpaste tubes, a resealingly openable bag as occurs with food storage, a walled container having a slider to open/close a lid as occurs with food storage; etc. Suitable dispensers may be made according to the teachings of commonly assigned patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,122,978; 5,000,356; 4,865,231; Des. 393,999; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,139,185; 6,149,304; 6,164,821; 6,325,239 B2; 6,394,299 B1; 6,722,520 B2 and 6,981,658 B2. 
   A first embodiment of the invention comprises a method and device for measuring propellant dispensed sprays. Exemplary sprays include insecticides, perfumes, paints, cleansers, topical medicaments, anti-perspirants, hair sprays, room air fresheners, etc. The specific example below will be described with reference to Febreze Air Effects air freshener, although one of skill will recognize the invention is not so limited. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of the invention comprises a method and device  21  for measuring propellant dispensed sprays or trigger pump sprays. Exemplary sprays include insecticides, perfumes, paints, cleansers, topical medicaments, anti-perspirants, hair sprays, room air fresheners, etc. The specific example below will be described with reference to Febreze Air Effects air freshener, although one of skill will recognize the invention is not so limited. 
   The dispenser may have an actuator movable relative to the reservoir or other portions of the device  21  and a member  22  which is stationary relative to the movable actuator. The movable actuator may be a trigger  23  which functions as or activates a pump, a dial  33  which advances a piston along a screw thread, a lid which opens by pivoting about hinges, or a trigger  23  or button which functions to open a pressure release valve, as illustrated, etc. 
   A Hall effect sensor  40  may be disposed on one of the movable actuator or stationary member  22 . The Hall effect sensor  40  measures voltage on the opposite sides of a sheet of conducting or semiconducting material in the form of a Hall element, also referred to as a van der Pauw element. An electric current flows through the Hall effect sensor  40 . The electric current is created by a magnetic field applied perpendicular to the Hall effect sensor  40 . 
   The magnet  42  may be disposed on the other of the movable actuator and stationary member  22 , whereby relative movement between the magnet  42  and Hall effect sensor  40  produces a signal in response to movement of the movable actuator. While either the magnet  42  or Hall effect sensor  40  can be mounted on either component, as noted above, it may be desirable to mount the magnet  42  on the moving actuator and the Hall effect sensor  40  on the stationary member  22 . This allows the wires  44  connecting the Hall effect sensor  40  to be held in position without significant movement and potentially becoming loose. For many geometries, this configuration also makes it easier to prevent the use of the measuring device  21  from interfering with the normal product usage and corrupting the data. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , seven dispensing cycles are shown. The first three cycles illustrate relatively complete strokes, while the last four cycles indicate partial strokes occurred. The first stroke went from an initial trigger position  50 , to a final trigger position  54 . The partial strokes went from an intermediate trigger position  52  to the final trigger position  54 . The stroke amplitude and position relative to the trigger  23  motion is indicated by the vertical lines with double arrowheads. 
   The resulting signal produced by the Hall effect sensor  40  is typically correlatable to a quantity of material dispensed from the reservoir and precise. The signal may be correlatable to the quantity of material being dispensed from the reservoir throughout dispensing of substantially all of the material contained in the reservoir, or throughout only the first portion, last portion or any intermediate portion of the material being dispensed. The signal from the Hall effect sensor  40  is related to the quantity, as measured in mass, of material dispensed through a functional relationship. The mass of material dispensed may be converted to volume, using the material density, if desired. 
   The functional relationship may be transmitted as a carrier wave, and electronically stored as in any digital or analogue media device, such as but not limited to a hard drive, flash drive, magnetic storage unit, etc. This arrangement provides the advantage that the electronically stored functional relationship may be maintained remote from the device  21 , and not interfere with normal usage or adversely affect the measurement. 
   The functional relationship may be empirically developed, developed through computer modeling, etc. The device  21  may be set up, as described above to record the output in volts from the Hall effect sensor  40 . The output may be recorded in any convenient format, such as a spreadsheet, as is well known in the art. The material is dispensed and the reservoir weighed after each dispensing incident. The dispensing may include both full and partial actuations of the actuator. For example, in a trigger  23  type dispenser, the measurements may account for both full and partial pulls of the trigger  23 . 
   The output may be recorded as a function of the resulting weight. A functional relationship may be interpolated from the discrete data points of each dispensing cycle. The relationship may be developed by noting the starting point of the actuator, the ending point of the actuator during a dispensing cycle, then subtracting. The two positions to yield a stroke. It is to be noted that the amount of material dispensed for a particular magnitude of partial stroke may depend not only on the magnitude of the stroke, but also upon the position of the trigger  23  stroke where that stroke of any magnitude occurs. A partial stroke in one position may cause spritzing, whereas a partial stroke of the same magnitude in a different position may yield a nearly full dose. 
   Of course, one of skill will recognize the functional relationship may be maintained as a curve, as a lookup table, etc. The functional relationship may be output in graphical or visible form or may be maintained on computer and not seen by the user. 
   This procedure allows for the functional relationship to be maintained remote from the measuring device  21 . Remote maintenance allows the device  21  to be used in its normal fashion, and the data downloaded later. Such subsequent downloading may allow the functional relationship to be incorporated and the dispensing measurements to be determined at such later time as may be convenient for the user. 
   In operation, as one dispenses material under the pressure differential provided by the propellant, there multiple pulls on the trigger  23  occur. The trigger  23  pulls may be from the fully closed position to the fully open position, from the fully closed position to a partially open position, from a partially open position to the fully open position, from the fully open position to a partially open position, from a partially open position to a fully closed position and various combinations thereof. 
   The full or partial strokes between the various positions may be recorded and thereby correlated to the amount of material dispensed through the functional relationship. Additionally, the duration, time and/or date of the Hall effect actuation responsive to the trigger  23  pull may be recorded or downloaded for later analysis. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the invention may be used with a trigger  23  pump sprayer. Such a sprayer may have a pump actuated in known fashion by the trigger  23 . The functional relationship may be derived to yield the amount of material dispensed from the reservoir in response to various full or partial pulls of the trigger  23 , for a particular fill level of the reservoir. 
     FIG. 2  discloses a pump type dispenser usable for lotions, creams and relatively viscous materials. Such a dispenser has a movable plunger  25  type pump. The user depresses the plunger  25  to draw the material to be dispensed from the reservoir into a dip tube  28 . A spring  26  may return the plunger  25  to the upward position, to start the next dispensing cycle. A nozzle  27  may be disposed on top of the plunger  25  to provide comfortable ergonomics for the user&#39;s hand and also to provide an orifice for dispensing of the material. The plunger  25  moves up and down relative to a stationary portion  22  of the device  21  body. 
   One of skill will recognize the plunger  25  may also move horizontally, or in any direction between the horizontal and vertical axes. The plunger  25  arrangement provides the advantage of rectilinear movement, easily correlateable with the functional relationship. 
   A Hall effect sensor  40  may be placed on either of the movable plunger  25  or the stationary portion  22  of the device  21 . A magnet  42  may be placed on the other component. The relative motion therebetween as the plunger  25  is activated creates the magnetic field correlated to the material discharged and dispensed. 
   If desired, a tilt sensor may also be incorporated into the device  21 . The tilt sensor may be used to determine if the reservoir was tipped off-center during dispensing. If so, less material may be dispensed from the reservoir and the results may not tally with the functional relationship, as expected. For example, upon tilting at the end of a dip tube  28 , if present, may not be immersed in the material to be dispensed. 
   One of skill will recognize that the functional relationships derived for the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-2  will be tailored to the specific geometry, propellant pressures, size, pump characteristics, etc. of the device  21  under consideration. Additionally, the functional relationship will be specific to a particular material under consideration. If the rheology or material properties should change, the functional relationship may be adjusted accordingly. Additionally, the functional relationship may be tailored to each specific magent/Hall effect sensor  40  combination, as each component may have its own unique characteristics and to account for any variations in positioning such components on the device  21 . 
   The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-2  illustrate a magnet  42  incorporated into and disposed beneath the trigger  23 . This provided the advantage that the entire measurement may be conducted invisible to the user. Particularly, the magnet  42  and Hall effect sensor  40  may not be visible to the user during ordinary intended use. The measuring system may be lightweight and small enough that a user may not notice and change the ordinary dispensing habits. Of course, one of skill will recognize the invention is not so limited. The illustrated positions of the magnet  42  and Hall effect sensor  40  may be reversed. Either or both components may be placed in different positions on the device  21 , so long as the relative proximity therebetween, and hence a signal, can be detected in response to dispensing of materials from the reservoir. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the invention may be used with a screw thread device  21  used to drive a piston, as is common with antiperspirant/deodorants. The piston is driven axially along a screw. The screw has a longitudinal axis coincident the center of the screw and parallel to the dispensing direction. Relative rotation between the screw and a threaded nut advances the piston in the longitudinal direction. 
   Longitudinal advance of the piston may dispense the material contained in the reservoir of this device  21  by extrusion through one or more dispensing orifices. Such dispensing may be accomplished by rotating the screw/nut about the longitudinal axis. Rotation of the screw may occur through manually grasping a dial  33  disposed external to the device  21 . The dial  33  is rotated perpendicular to and about the longitudinal axis. 
   A magnet  42  may be placed on one of the dial  33  and stationary components  22  the device  21 . If desired, the magnet  42  may be annularly shaped, circumscribe the longitudinal axis and/or be disposed perpendicular thereto. Alternatively, a single magnet  42  disposed radially outboard of the dial  33  may provide a more distinct change in signal strength as it advances towards and away from the Hall effect sensor  40 . Rotation of the magnet  42  with the dial  33 , or Hall effect sensor  40  if mounted on the dial  33 , produces a signal which can be correlated to advance of the piston. Advance of the piston is then correlatable to the amount of material dispensed. 
   If desired, the device  21  may comprise and unequal number of magnets  42  and Hall effect sensors  44 . This arrangement provides the advantages of redundancy, as may be helpful in a harsh operating environment or where additional resolution is desired for different portions of the operating range. 
   The foreging measurements are quantitative. However, the present invention may also be used with qualitative measurements. For example, the present invention may also be used to measure opening of and access to storage bags (not shown), as are commonly used for storing food leftovers. Such food storage bags have a seal formed by a track having complementary engaging portions. One of the Hall effect sensor  40  and magnet  42  may be disposed on each side of the bag. Upon opening, a change in proximity therebetween may be noted and one will know the contents of the bag were accessed or additional materials were added to the bag. Thus, the present invention is usable with a reservoir having generally flaccid walls. 
   Likewise, the present invention may be used with a reservoir having rigid walls (not shown) as are commonly used to contain wipes, tissues, etc. For example, a generally parallelpideally shaped container having a lid may be utilized. The container may be upright, generally flat or of any desired shape/geometry. The container may have a lid which can be closed to seal the contents therein and opened to access the materials therein for dispensing, as illustrated by commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,979,613 and 5,516,001. The lid may be hinged, removable, etc. to reveal the orifice through which materials may be dispensed. A Hall effect sensor  40  and a magnet  42  may be placed on the lid and sealing surface, respectively or vice versa. A change in the proximity therebetween will be detected and indicate access to the materials in the reservoir, or restocking of the reservoir, has occurred. 
   Additionally, the device  21  of the present invention can be used to determine the opening and closing of shades used to cover openings, such as windows. Exemplary shades are opened and closed using a drawstring as shown by commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,867 B1. 
   One of skill will recognize the invention described and claimed herein may also be used to monitor habits of using household products. For example the magnet  42 /Hall effect sensor  40  combination cited herein may be used for monitoring placement of a toilet seat, opening/closing of a refrigerator door, opening/closing of a medicine cabinet door, or other aspects of a daily routine.