IP Library Granted Patent US 11,959,867
Granted Patent B2
US 11,959,867 · App. 17/049,389 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Smart vessel and filling station with product quality monitoring and alerts

Inventors: Jan Eduard Veening (Ijsselstein, NL); Lambertus Gerardus Petrus van der Heijden (Bunnik, NL); David Holden (Utrecht, NL); Arnoud Gengler (De Wijk, NL)
Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
G01N27/06B01L3/508G01P13/00B01L2300/023B01L2300/0627
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,959,867
App. No.
17/049,389
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vessel includes a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The memory is configured to store a vessel identifier. The processor is configured to initiate a timer for a shelf life of a solution placed into the vessel. The processor is also configured to conduct a measurement of the solution using one or more sensors in the vessel. The processor is also configured to compare the measurement to a threshold for the solution. The processor is further configured to activate a solution indicator to indicate that the solution should be discarded responsive to a determination that the shelf life has expired or a determination that the measurement exceeds the threshold.

Claims (44)

1. A vessel system comprising:

a filling station comprising:

a filling station transceiver configured to receive a vessel identifier from a vessel; and

a filling station processor operatively coupled to the filling station transceiver, wherein the filling station processor is configured to:

conduct a first reference measurement on water used to form a solution using one or more filling station sensors;

conduct a second reference measurement on the solution prior to placement of the solution in the vessel using the one or more filling station sensors;

cause the filling station transceiver to transmit data regarding the first reference measurement and the second reference measurement to the vessel; and

cause a fill nozzle of the filling station to dispense the solution into the vessel; and

the vessel comprising:

a vessel memory configured to store the vessel identifier;

a vessel transceiver configured to transmit the vessel identifier to the filling station and to receive the data regarding the first reference measurement and the second reference measurement; and

a vessel processor operatively coupled to the vessel memory and the vessel transceiver, wherein the vessel processor is configured to:

initiate a timer for a shelf life of the solution placed into the vessel;

conduct a measurement of the solution using one or more vessel sensors;

compare the measurement to a threshold for the solution; and

activate a solution indicator to indicate that the solution should be discarded responsive to a determination that the shelf life of the timer has expired or that the measurement exceeds the threshold.

2. The vessel system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel processor is further configured to determine the shelf life based at least in part on the data regarding the first reference measurement and the second reference measurement.

3. The vessel system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel processor is further configured to determine the threshold based at least in part on the data regarding the first reference measurement and the second reference measurement.

4. The vessel system of claim 1 , wherein the filling station processor causes the fill nozzle of the filling station to dispense the solution into the vessel responsive to a determination that the vessel is empty.

5. The vessel system of claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor operatively coupled to the vessel processor, wherein activation of the solution indicator is responsive to movement of the vessel detected by the motion sensor.

6. The vessel system of claim 5 , wherein the vessel processor is configured to activate the solution indicator to indicate that the solution is still usable responsive to a determination that the shelf life has not expired, responsive to a determination that the measurement does not exceed the threshold, and responsive to movement detected by the motion sensor.

7. The vessel system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement of the solution comprises at least one of a conductivity measurement, a voltammetry measurement, and a chronoamperometry measurement.

8. The vessel system of claim 1 , wherein the filling station processor is further configured to activate a dispense button responsive to a determination that the vessel is empty.

9. A vessel system comprising:

a filling station comprising:

a filling station transceiver configured to receive a vessel identifier from a vessel; and

a filling station processor operatively coupled to the filling station transceiver, wherein the filling station processor is configured to:

conduct a first reference measurement on water used to form a solution using one or more filling station sensors;

conduct a second reference measurement on the solution prior to placement of the solution in the vessel using the one or more filling station sensors;

determine one of a shelf life or a threshold based at least in part on the data regarding the first reference measurement and the second reference measurement;

cause the filling station transceiver to transmit data regarding one of the shelf life or the threshold to the vessel; and

cause a fill nozzle of the filling station to dispense the solution into the vessel; and

the vessel comprising:

a vessel memory configured to store the vessel identifier;

a vessel transceiver configured to transmit the vessel identifier to the filling station and to receive the data regarding one of the shelf life or the threshold; and

a vessel processor operatively coupled to the vessel memory and the vessel transceiver, wherein the vessel processor is configured to:

if the vessel receives data regarding the shelf life, initiate a timer for the shelf life of the solution placed into the vessel;

if the vessel receives data regarding the threshold, conduct a measurement of the solution using one or more vessel sensors and compare the measurement to the threshold for the solution; and

activate a solution indicator to indicate that the solution should be discarded responsive to a determination that the shelf life of the timer has expired or that the measurement exceeds the threshold.

10. The vessel system of claim 9 , wherein the filling station processor causes the fill nozzle of the filling station to dispense the solution into the vessel responsive to a determination that the vessel is empty.

11. The vessel system of claim 9 , further comprising a motion sensor operatively coupled to the vessel processor, wherein activation of the solution indicator is responsive to movement of the vessel detected by the motion sensor.

12. The vessel system of claim 11 , wherein the vessel processor is configured to activate the solution indicator to indicate that the solution is still usable responsive to a determination that the shelf life has not expired, responsive to a determination that the measurement does not exceed the threshold, and responsive to movement detected by the motion sensor.

13. The vessel system of claim 9 , wherein the measurement of the solution comprises at least one of a conductivity measurement, a voltammetry measurement, and a chronoamperometry measurement.

14. The vessel system of claim 9 , wherein the filling station processor is further configured to activate a dispense button responsive to a determination that the vessel is empty.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 073564/0864 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: CHEM-AQUA, INC.; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; NCH CORPORATION; NCH LIFE SCIENCES LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073570/0838 →
RELEASE OF 2023 NOTES PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 073074/0198 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073061/0885 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (2024 NOTES) Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067824/0278 →
NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064348/0235 →
2023 NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064225/0170 →
2021 NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064225/0576 →
TERM LOAN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 064223/0526 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064222/0751 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: VEENING, JAN EDUARD; VAN DER HEIJDEN, LAMBERTUS GERARDUS PETRUS; HOLDEN, DAVID; GENGLER, ARNOUD
To: DIVERSEY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054664/0232 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62662960 · Apr 26, 2018
Related Publication 20210255129A1 · Aug 19, 2021