Control system
A monitoring and control system ( 100 ) for containers ( 3 ). The containers ( 3 ) respectively have a container opening ( 5 ) for supplying and dispensing of stored goods. Each container ( 3 ) has a sensor unit ( 10 ) which has at least one sensor capturing environmental impacts, one processor evaluating sensor signals ( 13 ) and one interface unit ( 14 ) which operates in a contact-free manner.
1 . A monitoring and control system ( 100 ) for containers ( 3 ), wherein the containers ( 3 ) respectively have a container opening ( 5 ) for filling in and dispensing goods, each container ( 3 ) comprising a sensor unit ( 10 ) which has at least one sensor which captures an environmental impact, a processor ( 13 ) which evaluates sensor signals, and one interface unit ( 14 ) which operates in a contact-free manner, wherein a dip tube ( 4 ) opening out at the container opening ( 5 ) is present in each container ( 3 ), wherein the dip tube ( 4 ) is lockable at its outlet at the container opening ( 5 ) with a dip tube closure ( 9 ), and wherein the sensor unit ( 10 ) is arranged in the dip tube closure ( 9 ).
2 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the container or containers ( 3 ) are part of a dispensing system ( 1 ).
3 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the dispensing system ( 1 ) has a dispense head ( 2 ) connectable to the container opening ( 5 ) of a container ( 3 ), wherein goods can be dispensed from or filled into the container ( 3 ) via the dispense head ( 2 ).
4 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor unit ( 10 ) is an encapsulated unit.
5 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the container opening ( 5 ) is lockable with a container closure, and in that the sensor unit ( 10 ) is integrated into the container closure.
6 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that goods in the form of liquids are stored in the containers ( 3 ).
7 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor unit ( 10 ) has a temperature sensor ( 12 ).
8 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 7 , characterized in that the temperature of a gas phase present in the respective container ( 3 ) is measured by means of the temperature sensor ( 12 ).
9 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor unit ( 10 ) has a vibration sensor ( 16 ).
10 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 9 , characterized in that the vibration sensor ( 16 ) is designed in the form of an acceleration sensor.
11 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the processor ( 13 ) is operable in sleep mode.
12 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor unit ( 10 ) has a charging device ( 15 ) which can be coupled to an external charging station in a contact-free manner.
13 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 12 , characterized in that the charging device ( 15 ) is an NFC charging device.
14 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the interface unit ( 14 ) has an NFC interface module.
15 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that output signals are generated in the processor ( 13 ) in response to sensor signals from the at least one sensor, which are read out to a mobile terminal device via the interface unit ( 14 ).
16 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 15 , characterized in that the output signals are forwarded from the mobile terminal device to a cloud-based computer system ( 18 ).
17 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 15 , characterized in that the output signals are linked to an identifier clearly identifying the sensor unit ( 10 ).
18 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 17 , characterized in that each container ( 3 ) is identified with a container identifier stored in an RFID chip, wherein the container identifier can be read out into the cloud-based computer system ( 18 ) and is linkable there with the identifier of the sensor unit ( 10 ).
19 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 15 , characterized in that a binary status signal is generated in the sensor unit ( 10 ) as an output signal, the signal statuses of which indicate whether the status of the container ( 3 ) is faulty or not.
20 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 19 , characterized in that a release signal or a lock signal is generated in the cloud-based computer system ( 18 ) in response to the status signal, wherein the dispensing or filling of goods [from or] into the respective container ( 3 ) is only released with a release signal.
21 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 20 , characterized in that the container ( 3 ) for which the release signal or lock signal is generated is identified by means of the container identifier.
22 . The monitoring and control system ( 100 ) according to claim 15 , characterized in that a binary status signal is generated in the cloud-based computer system ( 18 ) from output signals generated in the sensor unit ( 10 ), the signal statuses of which indicate whether the status of the container ( 3 ) is faulty or not.
23 . A method for operating a monitoring and control system ( 100 ) for containers ( 3 ), wherein the containers ( 3 ) respectively have a container opening ( 5 ) for filling in and dispensing goods, characterized in that each container ( 3 ) has a sensor unit ( 10 ) which has at least one sensor which captures an environmental impact, one processor ( 13 ) which evaluates sensor signals, and one interface unit ( 14 ) which operates in a contact-free manner, wherein a dip tube ( 4 ) opening out at the container opening ( 5 ) is present in each container ( 3 ), wherein the dip tube ( 4 ) is lockable at its outlet at the container opening ( 5 ) with a dip tube closure ( 9 ), and wherein the sensor unit ( 10 ) is arranged in the dip tube closure ( 9 ).