Intelligent network for chemical dispensing system

Abstract

System and method for dispensing product to a washing machine. A chemical dispensing system includes a system controller, machine interface, and pump controller that communicate through serial data buses. The system controller provides a user interface, retrieves washing machine status information from the machine interface, and issues product dispensing commands to the pump controller. The pump controller monitors pump status and dispenses product in response to commands from the system controller. The pump controller: (1) determines pump activation periods based on calibration data stored in a pump controller memory; (2) tracks pump usage and adjusts the activation period to compensate for pump wear as the pump ages; (3) disables the pump if conditions exists that preclude operating the pump; (4) monitors product levels, and (5) reports pump status to the system controller. Integral channels are included in the pump housing to provide stress relief to a squeeze tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chemical dispensing system for a washing machine, the system comprising:
 a machine interface configured to detect one or more trigger signals generated by the washing machine and including a first serial data bus interface;   a system controller configured to obtain first data indicative of an operational state of the washing machine from the machine interface using the first serial data bus interface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the machine interface further includes:
 a processor; and 
 a memory including program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the machine interface to:
 determine the operational state of the washing machine based on the trigger signals; and 
 transmit the first data to the system controller over the first serial data bus interface. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the machine interface further includes:
 a trigger signal interface that couples the processor to the trigger signals and which is configured to provide galvanic isolation between the processor and the trigger signals. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the program code further causes the machine interface to:
 store the first data in the memory; and 
 transmit the first data to the system controller in response to receiving a query from the system controller using the first serial data bus interface. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pump controller in communication with the system controller using a second serial data bus interface, 
 wherein the system controller is further configured to:
 determine an amount of a chemical to be dispensed based at least in part on the operational state of the washing machine; and 
 transmit second data indicative of the amount of the chemical to be dispensed to the pump controller via the second serial data bus interface. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the system controller is configured as a master, and the machine interface and the pump controller are each configured as slaves. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the pump controller is configured to:
 determine a system status; and 
 in response to receiving a status query from the system controller, transmit third data indicative of the system status to the system controller using the second serial data bus interface. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the system controller is further configured to
 transmit the status query to the pump controller prior to transmitting the second data; and 
 only transmit the second data if the system status indicates an absence of a system alarm. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the system alarm is an out of product alarm. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system controller includes a machine interface power supply output circuit, and the machine interface receives power from the machine interface power supply output circuit through the first serial data bus interface. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling a chemical dispensing system, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a machine interface including a first serial data bus interface, one or more trigger signals generated by a washing machine; and   obtaining, by a system controller over the first serial data bus interface, first data indicative of an operational state of the washing machine.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 determining, by the machine interface, the operational state of the washing machine based on the trigger signals; and 
 transmitting, by the machine interface, the first data to the system controller over the first serial data bus interface. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 coupling, by a trigger signal interface, a processor to the trigger signals; and 
 providing, by the trigger signal interface, galvanic isolation between the processor and the trigger signals. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 storing, by the machine interface, the first data in a memory; and 
 transmitting, by the machine interface, the first data to the system controller in response to receiving a query from the system controller. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 determining, by the system controller, an amount of a chemical to be dispensed based at least in part on the operational state of the washing machine; and 
 transmitting, by the system controller, second data indicative of the amount of the chemical to be dispensed to a pump controller via a second serial data bus interface. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the system controller is configured as a master, and the machine interface and the pump controller are each configured as slaves. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 determining, by the pump controller, a system status; and 
 in response to receiving a status query from the system controller, transmitting, by the pump controller, third data indicative of the system status to the system controller using the second serial data bus interface. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 prior to transmitting the second data, transmitting, by the system controller, the status query to the pump controller; and 
 only transmitting the second data if the system status indicates an absence of a system alarm. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 receiving, by the machine interface, power through the first serial data bus interface. 
 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for controlling a chemical dispensing system, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and   program code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:   detect, at a machine interface, one or more trigger signals generated by a washing machine; and   transmit, over a first serial data bus interface, first data indicative of an operational state of the washing machine from the machine interface to a system controller.