Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B17/00—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups
  • B05B17/04—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods
  • B05B17/06—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations
  • B05B17/0607—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers
  • B05B17/0615—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing consumable product.
• a consumable product dispensing device must operate according to certain predefined usage specifications. For example, it is often necessary to> check that the device has enough consumable product not to run empty, an empty operation can damage this device in some cases.
• a device for dispensing consumable product is already known in the prior art, of the type comprising a diffuser for fine droplets of product, which must operate according to predefined usage specifications, comprising a level detector for the consumable product, in order, for example, to alert the user when the device no longer contains enough of this product.
• a level detector for the consumable product
• the object of the invention is in particular to remedy these drawbacks by providing a device for dispensing consumable product capable of identifying its operating conditions and, therefore, capable in particular of automatically verifying that most of the operating conditions of this device are conform to usage specifications.
• the subject of the invention is a device for dispensing consumable product which must operate according to predefined usage specifications, comprising means for identifying the operating conditions of this device with regard to these usage specifications, characterized in that the identification means comprise means for reading a transponder.
• the device according to the invention is capable of automatically collecting data, carried by the transponder, concerning its operating conditions, by simple reading of this data.
• the apparatus comprises means of checking that the operating conditions identified by the identification means comply with the predefined usage specifications.
• a dispensing device may also include one or more of the following characteristics: - the device includes a receptacle for a container of consumable product carrying a transponder, arranged so that said transponder is present in a reading field of the reading means when the container is in the receptacle; - The device comprises a polarizing device cooperating with a corresponding means provided on the container, so that the transponder is kept in the reading field of the reading means; - the transponder is carried by a device support; the reading means are capable of simultaneously reading a plurality of transponders; - The device includes means for recording data on the transponder; - The data recording means are capable of simultaneously writing data on a plurality of transponders; - The device includes means for controlling the distribution of consumable product connected to the verification means, these control means being arranged to stop the distribution when the operating conditions provided by the identification means do not comply with the specifications d 'use ; - The device includes means for recording the data read; the recording means comprise
• the invention also relates to a support for a dispensing device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises a transponder carrying data relating to the operating conditions of the device.
• the transponder is connected to a network.
• Such a dispensing device 10 is generally intended to diffuse consumable product in the form of fine droplets.
• the dispensing device 10 is provided with a diffuser 12 for fine droplets of product.
• the diffuser 12 includes a droplet generator 14 which forms a jet of product from which fine droplets of product are extracted according to a known process which will now be explained.
• the generator 14 is constituted by a nozzle 15 which delimits a small reservoir filled with product.
• the bottom of the nozzle 15, opposite the opening through which the product jet exits, comprises an ultrasonic transmitter 13 which emits ultrasound in the product towards the outlet of the nozzle 15. These ultrasounds have two effects on the product.
• a product supply control system comprising in particular a product level sensor.
• the nozzle 15 When the device is put into operation, the nozzle 15 is supplied with product.
• the level sensor detects that the level of product is sufficient for proper operation of the ultrasonic transmitter 13, it is turned on.
• the ultrasound generated then creates an overpressure in the product, which induces the creation of a jet of liquid product at the outlet of the nozzle 15.
• the formation of the product jet causes the level of product in the nozzle 15 to decrease, which is then again supplied with product by a system of communicating vessels. Under normal conditions, the consumption of product to generate the droplets is also compensated by the same system of communicating vessels.
• the droplet generator 14 is put into operation, the product jet is continuously supplied, without the use of an additional pump. Note that the droplet generator 14 does not have a pump, it requires little energy to operate.
• the dispensing apparatus 10 comprises means 20 for identifying the operating conditions of this device 10 with regard to these usage specifications.
• the apparatus further comprises verification means 21 that the operating conditions identified by the identification means 20 conform to the predefined usage specifications.
• the apparatus also includes means for controlling the distribution of consumable product, connected to the verification means 21. These control means are arranged to stop the distribution when the operating conditions provided by the identification means 20 do not comply specifications of use.
• the identification means 20 may include means (not shown) for detecting presence near the device so ensure that no one is present during the operation of the device. Furthermore, the identification means 20 may comprise means for detecting a possible leak of product in the dispensing device 10. If necessary, the dispensing device 10 comprises a retention tank in which the product from this leak, this retention tank being provided with a product presence sensor.
• the identification means 20 further comprise means for reading transponders, for example radio frequency identification (RFID) means, these transponders carrying data relating to the operating conditions of the distribution apparatus 10. In general, the reading means are connected to an antenna 22 for reading transponders.
• RFID radio frequency identification
• the antenna 22 transmits radio frequency waves between 50 kHz and 2.5 GHz towards the transponder.
• This transponder then reacts and transmits the data it contains to the antenna, still by radio frequency waves.
• the waves coming from the transponder are then analyzed by the reading means, which identify this transponder and the data it contains.
• the distribution apparatus 10 may also include means for recording data on transponders, the latter being rewritable. It may indeed be useful to record data on transponders, in particular to monitor the use of the distribution device 10.
• these means also include the antenna 22, which is thus capable of reading and to write data on transponders.
• the device comprises a polarizing device, cooperating with a corresponding means on the container 26, in order to keep the transponder 24 in a reading field of the antenna.
• the transponder 24 contains data relating to the consumable product. These data are, for example, the expiration date of the product, its date of first use, the number of uses of the same container 26, or any other data useful for the proper functioning of the distribution device 10. It is thus possible to verify that the consumable product of the container 26 is well suited to the use of the distribution apparatus 10. Otherwise, the transponder 24 would not be recognized by the antenna 22, and the control means do not would not allow product distribution. Furthermore, the data of the transponder 24 is coded so as to make it impossible to write or read this transponder by a third party.
• the data of a transponder includes a unique identifier, composed of four 16-bit words, as well as a 160-bit field of rewritable memory that can be locked.
• the data recording means on the transponder 24 allow monitoring of the use of the container 26 carrying this transponder 24. It is thus in particular possible to follow the emptying time of the container 26, its number of possible uses , and the quantity of product remaining in this container 26.
• the apparatus 10 may include means for measuring the dimensions of an environment in which it is desired to operate the apparatus. Thus, the control means will not allow product distribution if the container no longer contains enough product for the intended use.
• the dispensing device 10 comprises calculation means (not shown) using the data carried by the transponder 24. These calculation means allow the calculation of the average time to empty a container 26, as well as the calculation of the difference between an actual emptying time of a container 26 and the average emptying time. It will be noted that the average emptying time is in particular a function of the size of the container 26 and of the product used, these data being written on the transponder 24. During the first use, the average emptying time is fixed by the manufacturer. During subsequent uses, it is calculated from the actual emptying times.
• the verification means 21 are connected to the calculation means, so as to verify that the calculated difference is less than a predetermined value.
• the case where the difference would be greater than this predetermined value would testify to a malfunction of the device 10, for example in the case of a charge of the battery 18 too low. It would then be necessary to carry out an intervention on the apparatus 10.
• the calculation means may include means for correlation with an indication on the charge of the battery 18, so that the predetermined value limiting the difference increases as the load decreases. In this case, a larger difference is allowed in order to optimize the use of a battery 18.
• the calculation means can also be correlated with the humidity and the temperature of the ambient air.
• a support 28 is provided for the distribution apparatus 10. This support 28 is arranged in an environment in which it is desired to operate the distribution apparatus 10.
• the support 28 is provided with a transponder 30 comprising data concerning the environment of this medium 28.
• This data may in particular include the dimensions of this environment, the type of product to be distributed in this environment (perfume, disinfectant, etc.), as well as the quantity of product to be distributed, depending in particular the dimensions of the environment and the type of use desired (for example, in the case of a disinfectant, the amount of distributed product may be more important in a medical office than in a hotel room).
• the transponder 30 also allows monitoring of the use of the distribution device 10 in this environment.
• the recording means generally carried by the antenna 22, are capable of recording on the transponder 30 that a product distribution has taken place in the environment in which is placed the support 28.
• the antenna 22 is capable of simultaneously reading the two transponders 24 and 30, and is capable of simultaneously writing data on these transponders 24 and 30.
• the monitoring of the uses of the device 10 can also be carried out at using recording means 32, further enabling supervision of the use of the apparatus
• These recording means 32 comprise means of connections 34 to a network.
• These connection means 34 comprise wired connection means and / or wireless transmission and reception means.
• the wireless transmission and reception means may include the transponder 30, this transponder 30 then being linked to a network. Indeed, the transponder 30 being writable, it is possible to transmit data through it.
• the recording means 32 may include a removable memory medium on which the data read are written.
• the distribution device 10 may also include means for editing the data read. It will be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. In fact, it is possible to use other transponders providing data concerning the operating conditions of the device.

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• Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-03-12 FR FR0402618A patent/FR2867592B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-03-11 EP EP05736554A patent/EP1729888A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-03-11 WO PCT/FR2005/000588 patent/WO2005097347A1/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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