Dispenser Control Systems and Methods

Abstract

A method of operating a dispensing system having a material delivery cycle. In some embodiments, the material delivery cycle includes supplying water to a receptacle, performing an operation intended to release a material into the water, and delivering the material to a downstream component. The first step of the method is to initiate the material delivery cycle. Next, a conductivity proximate to the receptacle is monitored. Additionally, one or more error conditions are identified during the material delivery cycle based at least partially on the monitored conductivity.

1 . A method of operating a dispensing system adapted to dispense material from a container, the method comprising:
 connecting the container to a receptacle at least partially contained within the dispensing system;   supplying water to the receptacle;   performing an operation intended to release material into the water from the container;   monitoring a conductivity proximate the receptacle via a sensor positioned to sense conductivity in the receptacle;   delivering the material and water from the receptacle through an outlet conduit of the dispensing system for use in cleaning operations by a downstream component;   identifying one or more error conditions via a controller during at least one of the steps of supplying water to the receptacle, performing an operation intended to release material into the water, and delivering the material and water; and   determining a location within the dispensing system where the one or more error conditions has occurred based on the identification of the one or more error conditions.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 supporting the container in the receptacle; and   delivering the material to a washing machine that is positioned downstream of the dispensing system.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing an operation intended to release material into the water comprises releasing a powder material or a granulated material into the water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing an operation intended to release material into the water comprises operating a material metering device to release one or more doses of material into the water. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the one or more error conditions includes comparing the monitored conductivity to one or more stored thresholds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein comparing the monitored conductivity to one or more stored thresholds includes comparing the conductivity to a first threshold and a second threshold, the first threshold corresponding to the sum of a conductivity of the receptacle when the receptacle is relatively dry and a first offset value, the second threshold corresponding to the sum of a conductivity of the receptacle when the receptacle includes water and a second offset value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising identifying a blocked receptacle error condition via the controller during at least one of the steps of supplying water to the receptacle, performing an operation intended to release material into the water, and delivering the material and water in response to the monitored conductivity being greater than the second threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising identifying a blocked receptacle error condition via the controller prior to the operation intended to release the material in response to the monitored conductivity being greater than the second threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising identifying a no water error condition via the controller during at least one of the steps of supplying water to the receptacle, performing an operation intended to release material into the water, and delivering the material and water in response to the monitored conductivity being not greater than the first conductivity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising identifying an out of material condition via the controller while the operation intended to release the material is being performed during at least one of the steps of supplying water to the receptacle, performing an operation intended to release material into the water, and delivering the material and water in response to the monitored conductivity being not greater than the second threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a low water flow error condition associated with supply of water in response to the monitored conductivity being lower than a predetermined conductivity threshold. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a dispensing system adapted to dispense material from a container, the method comprising:
 connecting the container to a receptacle at least partially contained within the dispensing system;   supplying water to the receptacle;   performing an operation intended to release material into the water from the container;   delivering the material and water from the receptacle through an outlet conduit of the dispensing system for use in cleaning operations by a downstream component;   monitoring a first condition within the dispensing system via a first sensor positioned within the dispensing system, the first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of the first condition;   monitoring a second condition within the dispensing system via a second sensor positioned within the dispensing system upstream of the first sensor, the second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of the second condition;   identifying one or more error conditions via a controller based on the first signal and the second signal during at least one of the steps of supplying water to the receptacle, performing an operation intended to release material into the water, and delivering the material and water.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying the one or more error conditions when the first and second signals are inconsistent with each other. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying a blocked container error condition in response to the first signal indicative of a conductivity within the receptacle below a predetermined threshold and the second signal indicative of water being supplied to the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying a blocked water supply error condition in response to the first signal indicative of a conductivity within the receptacle above a first predetermined threshold and the second signal indicative of a conductivity at or below a second predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying a blocked receptacle error condition prior to the operation intended to release the material in response to the first signal indicative of a conductivity within the receptacle being greater than a predetermined conductivity threshold and the second signal indicative of water being supplied to the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing system adapted to dispense material from a container, the dispensing system comprising:
 a receptacle positioned in communication with the container to receive material from the container via a dispenser;   a water supply positioned to supply water to the receptacle;   an outlet conduit fluidly coupled to the receptacle to deliver material and water from the receptacle to a downstream component;   a first sensor positioned within the dispensing system and configured to monitor a first condition within the dispensing system, the first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of the first condition;   a second sensor positioned within the dispensing system upstream of the first sensor and configured to monitor a second condition within the dispensing system, the second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of the second condition;   a controller programmed to identify one or more error conditions based on the first signal and the second signal during at least one of the steps of supplying water to the receptacle, performing an operation intended to release material into the water, and delivering the material and water.   
     
     
         18 . The dispensing system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is programmed to identify the one or more error conditions in response to the first and second signals being inconsistent with each other. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more identified error conditions includes a blocked container error condition in response to the first signal indicative of a conductivity within the receptacle below a predetermined threshold and the second signal indicative of water being supplied to the receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more identified error conditions includes a blocked receptacle error condition prior to the operation intended to release the material in response to the first signal indicative of a conductivity within the receptacle being greater than a predetermined conductivity threshold and the second signal indicative of water being supplied to the receptacle.