Intelligent network for chemical dispensing system

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A chemical dispensing system comprising:
a first peristaltic pump including a first length of elastic tubing, a first rotor that pumps fluid through the first length of elastic tubing by progressively squeezing and releasing consecutive portions of the tubing, a first motor that selectively rotates the first rotor, a first processor operatively coupled to the first motor and that controls the first motor, and a first memory operatively coupled to the first processor and storing first pump calibration data; a second peristaltic pump including a second length of elastic tubing, a second rotor that pumps fluid through the second length of elastic tubing by progressively squeezing and releasing consecutive portions of the tubing, a second motor that selectively rotates the second rotor, a second processor operatively coupled to the second motor and that controls the second motor, and a second memory operatively coupled to the second processor and storing second pump calibration data; and a system controller including a third processor in communication with the first processor and the second processor via a data bus, the third processor configured to send a dispense product message to either of the first processor or the second processor indicating an amount of a product to be dispensed by the corresponding peristaltic pump, wherein the first processor and the second processor are each configured to, in response to receiving the dispense product message from the third processor, determine a motor activation period based on the corresponding pump calibration data and the amount of the product to be dispensed, and activate the corresponding motor for the motor activation period to dispense the amount of the product to be dispensed.