Bulk refill protection sensor for dispensing system
An exemplary dispensing system includes a dispenser, an actuator, a sensor, and a controller. The dispenser includes a container for holding liquid, a liquid pump, an air pump, an outlet nozzle, and a foaming media. The actuator causes the dispenser to dispense liquid or foam. The sensor generates an input signal indicative of a status of the container. The controller receives the input signal, generates at least one output signal, and prevents the dispenser from dispensing liquid or foam if a breach is detected in the container.
1. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach in the integrity of the refill unit is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a valve for intermittently permitting fluid to flow out of the container;
a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor that are indicative of the integrity of the refill container; and
wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has not been breached and does not provide a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has been breached;
wherein the valve is located on a dispenser and the refill controller transmits the signal to a dispenser controller.
2. The bulk refill system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is located on the refill container.
3. The bulk refill system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor senses light.
4. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach in the integrity of the refill unit is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a valve for intermittently permitting fluid to flow out of the container;
a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor that are indicative of the integrity of the refill container; and
wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has not been breached and does not provide a signal to open the valve if the integrity of the refill container has been breached;
wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to a dispensing system that is indicative of a particular refill unit.
5. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach of the integrity of the refill container is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a refill valve for intermittently permitting fluid to flow out of the refill container;
a refill controller configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor that are indicative of the integrity of the refill container;
a dispenser;
a dispenser controller;
communication circuitry on the dispenser controller for receiving a signal indicative of the parameter;
an inlet valve on the dispenser;
wherein if the parameter is indicative of no breach of the refill container, the controller causes the inlet valve on the dispenser to open; and if the parameter is indicative of a breach of the refill container, the controller does not cause the inlet valve on the dispenser to open.
6. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor senses light.
7. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the refill controller transmits a signal to a dispenser controller that is indicative of a particular refill unit.
8. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the dispenser controller receives a signal that a refill unit has been breached.
9. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein a signal that the refill unit has been breached is transmitted through a computer network.
10. The bulk refill system of claim 5 , wherein the dispenser further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.
11. The bulk refill system of claim 10 , wherein the refill unit further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.
12. A bulk refill system comprising:
a refill container for holding a liquid to be dispensed;
a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
wherein the breach of the integrity of the refill container is indicative of an attempt to refill the refill container;
a refill valve for permitting fluid to flow out of the refill container;
a dispenser;
a dispenser controller;
communication circuitry on the dispenser controller for obtaining a signal indicative of the parameter indicative a breach in the integrity of the refill container;
an inlet valve on the dispenser;
wherein if the parameter is indicative of no breach of the refill container, the controller causes the inlet valve on the dispenser to open; and
wherein if the parameter is indicative of a breach of the refill unit, the controller prevents the inlet valve on the dispenser from opening.
13. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor senses light.
14. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein a refill controller transmits a signal to a dispenser controller that is indicative of a particular refill container.
15. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the refill controller transmits a signal that a refill unit has been breached.
16. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the signal is transmitted through computer network.
17. The bulk refill system of claim 12 , wherein the dispenser further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.
18. The bulk refill system of claim 17 , wherein the refill unit further comprises an indicator to indicate that the refill unit has been breached.