Soap Dispenser With Authentication Check Of The Refill

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing a product, the dispenser comprising a base unit ( 2 ) into which a refill ( 1 ) containing the product is removably insertable in a fixed position. The refill has a taggant ink ( 12 ) on part of its external surface. The base has a light source ( 13 ) to illuminate the ink. The light source has a first wavelength and the taggant ink is arranged to cause the ink to emit light at a second different wavelength. A sensor ( 14 ) receives light emitted by the taggant ink upon illumination by the light source. A control circuit receives signal indicative of the wavelength of the detected light from the sensor, compares it with stored data, and prevents operation of a dispensing mechanism unless the refill is authentic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser for dispensing a product, the dispenser comprising a base unit containing a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the product;
 a refill containing the product and being removably insertable into the base in a fixed position in which the product can be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism, the refill having a taggant ink on part of its external surface;   the base being provided with a non-scanning light source positioned to illuminate the ink when the refill is inserted into the base in the correct orientation, the light source having a first wavelength and the ink being arranged to cause the ink to emit light at a second different wavelength;   a sensor to receive light emitted by the ink upon illumination by the light source; and   a control circuit to receive a signal indicative of the wavelength of the detected light from the sensor, compare it with stored data to determine whether the shift in wavelength of the detected light caused by the ink indicates that the refill is authentic, and prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism unless the refill is authentic.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is a fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein more than one ink is printed on part of the external surface of the refill. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the refill has an outlet at its lower end and the ink is printed on the lower end of the refill. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the ink is a two-part cross-linked formulation. 
     
     
         6 . A refill for a dispenser for dispensing a product, the refill containing product and being removably insertable into a base in a fixed position in which the product can be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism, the refill having a tagged sensor ink on part of its external surface. 
     
     
         7 . The refill according to  claim 6  containing a fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The refill according to  claim 6 , wherein the ink is a two-part cross-linked formulation. 
     
     
         9 . The refill according to  claim 6 , wherein the ink is applied by an inkjet printing process. 
     
     
         10 . The refill according to  claim 6 , wherein the ink is applied by a pad or screen printing process. 
     
     
         11 . The refill according to  claim 6 , wherein the ink is on a label which is stuck to the refill. 
     
     
         12 . A method of dispensing a product from the dispenser according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 inserting the refill into the base unit;   illuminating the light;   sensing the light received from the ink;   comparing the detected light with stored data to determine whether the shift in wavelength of the detected light caused by the ink indicates that the refill is authentic; and   allowing operation of the dispensing mechanism if the refill is authentic.   
     
     
         13 . A base unit for a dispenser for dispensing a product, the base unit containing a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the product;
 a means for removably receiving a refill in a fixed position in which the product can be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism, the refill having a taggant ink on part of its external surface;   the base being provided with a non-scanning light source positioned to illuminate the ink when the refill is inserted into the base in the correct orientation, the light source having a first wavelength and the ink being arranged to emit light at a second different wavelength;   a sensor to receive light emitted by the ink upon illumination by the light source; and   
       a control circuit to receive a signal indicative of the wavelength of the detected light from the sensor, compare it with stored data to determine whether the shift in wavelength of the detected light caused by the ink indicates that the refill is authentic, and prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism unless the refill is authentic.