Methods of dispensing

Abstract

Methods of dispensing an ingredient and measuring an amount of the ingredient dispensed, e.g., at a customer's location usually as the ingredient is used by the customer, in order to improve the dispensing process by adjusting future dispense cycles, accurately dispensing the ingredient, predicting an amount of ingredient to be dispensed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of dispensing a requested amount of an ingredient, comprising the steps of: 
 dispensing said ingredient based on a factor affecting a dispensed amount of said ingredient;    determining said dispensed amount of said ingredient; and    adjusting said factor for a subsequent dispense cycle using a comparison between said requested amount and said dispensed amount.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said factor comprises a predetermined amount of time.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted downward if said dispensed amount exceeds said requested amount.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 3  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted upward if said requested amount exceeds said dispensed amount.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said factor comprises a pumping speed of a pump used to dispense said ingredient.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said factor comprises an effectiveness of a grinder used to dispense said ingredient.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said factor comprises a speed of dispenser used to dispense a powdered ingredient.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said factor comprises a degree of flooding said ingredient.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said factor comprises a temperature at which said ingredient is dispensed.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said ingredient is dispensed by eroding said ingredient with a diluent.  
     
     
         11 . A method of dispensing a requested amount of an ingredient from a container, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring an initial weight of said ingredient in said container;    dispensing said ingredient from said container for a predetermined period of time;    measuring a final weight of said ingredient in said container;    determining a dispensed amount of said ingredient dispensed during said predetermined period of time by comparing said final weight with said initial weight; and    adjusting said predetermined period of time for a subsequent dispense cycle using a comparison between said requested amount and said dispensed amount.    
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted downward if said dispensed amount exceeds said requested amount.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted upward if said requested amount exceeds said dispensed amount.  
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein said ingredient is dispensed by eroding said ingredient with a diluent.  
     
     
         15 . A method of dispensing a requested amount of an ingredient from a container by eroding said ingredient with a diluent, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring an initial weight of said ingredient in said container;    dispensing said ingredient from said container for a predetermined period of time;    waiting for a lag time to allow said diluent to drain from said ingredient;    measuring a final weight of said ingredient in said container;    determining a dispensed amount of said ingredient dispensed during said predetermined period of time by comparing said final weight with said initial weight;    comparing said dispensed weight with said requested weight; and    adjusting said predetermined period of time for a subsequent dispense cycle as a function of said comparing step.    
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 15  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted downward if said dispensed amount exceeds said requested amount.  
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted upward if said requested amount exceeds said dispensed amount.  
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 15  which further comprises the steps of: 
 comparing said initial weight with a known weight representative of an empty container; and  
 replacing said container before said dispensing step if a result of said comparing step indicates that said container is empty.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method of dispensing a requested amount of an ingredient in each of a plurality of cycles, comprising the steps of: 
 dispensing said ingredient in each of said plurality of cycles based on a factor affecting a dispensed amount of said ingredient;    determining said dispensed amount of said ingredient over said plurality of cycles; and    adjusting said predetermined factor for a subsequent dispense cycle using a comparison between said requested amount over said plurality of cycles and said dispensed amount.    
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19  wherein said factor comprises a predetermined amount of time.  
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 20  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted downward if said dispensed amount exceeds said requested amount.  
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein said predetermined amount of time is adjusted upward if said requested amount exceeds said dispensed amount.  
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 19  wherein said plurality of cycles is at least two.  
     
     
         24 . A method of dispensing a requested amount of an ingredient from a container by eroding said ingredient with a diluent, comprising the steps of: 
 weighing said ingredient;    activating said diluent to erode said ingredient;    determining a measured weight loss from a maximum weight of said ingredient; and    deactivating said diluent when said measured weight loss indicates that said requested amount will be dispensed.    
     
     
         25 . A method as in  claim 24  wherein said ingredient is solid.  
     
     
         26 . A method as in  claim 25  wherein said diluent is sprayed on said ingredient.  
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 26  wherein said diluent is sprayed on said ingredient from below said ingredient.  
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 27  further comprising the step, accomplished between said activating step and a time when said ingredient reaches said maximum weight, of waiting for a minimum weight.  
     
     
         29 . A method as in  claim 24  wherein said ingredient is powdered.  
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 25  wherein said deactivating step is accomplished when said measured weight equals the difference between said maximum weight and said requested amount minus an offset.  
     
     
         31 . A method as in  claim 30  wherein said offset is based upon an amount of said ingredient dispensed between a time at which said activating step occurs and a time when said ingredient reaches said maximum weight.  
     
     
         32 . A method as in  claim 31  wherein said offset is empirically determined.  
     
     
         33 . A method as in  claim 31  wherein said offset is additionally based upon a trailing amount of said ingredient dispensed following said deactivating step.  
     
     
         34 . A method of dispensing a requested amount of an ingredient, comprising the steps of: 
 weighing said ingredient;    activating a dispenser to dispense said ingredient;    determining a weight loss of said ingredient at least in part by measuring a rate at which said ingredient is being dispensed; and    deactivating said dispenser when said weight loss indicates that said requested amount will be dispensed.    
     
     
         35 . A method as in  claim 34  wherein said rate at which said ingredient is being dispensed is a function of measuring a slope of a dispensing curve.  
     
     
         36 . A method as in  claim 34  wherein said determining step comprises measuring a maximum of said ingredient and a rate at which said ingredient is being dispensed to interpolate a time when said requested amount of said ingredient will be dispensed.  
     
     
         37 . A method of dispensing an ingredient for use in an apparatus, said ingredient having an effectiveness in use in said apparatus in which said effectiveness is dependent upon a measurable factor, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring said factor;    predicting an amount of said ingredient to be dispensed based at least in part on said factor; and    dispensing said amount of said ingredient.    
     
     
         38 . A method as in  claim 37  wherein said ingredient is dispensed into a solution in said apparatus.  
     
     
         39 . A method of dispensing a concentrate into an apparatus having a sump containing a solution of said concentrate and a diluent in which an effectiveness of said concentrate declines in use, said effectiveness dependent upon a measurable factor, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring said factor; and    determining whether an additional amount of said concentrate should be added to said sump in order to increase said effectiveness; and    dispensing said additional amount of said concentrate.    
     
     
         40 . A method as in  claim 39  wherein said factor is a function of said solution.  
     
     
         41 . A method as in  claim 40  wherein said solution has a pH and wherein said factor is said pH.  
     
     
         42 . A method of dispensing a concentrate in each of a plurality of cycles into an apparatus having a sump containing a diluent in which an effectiveness of said concentrate declines in use, said effectiveness dependent upon a measurable factor, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring said factor in each of said plurality of cycles; and    dispensing an amount of said concentrate in each of said plurality of cycles based at least in part on said factor.    
     
     
         43 . A method as in  claim 42  wherein said factor is a function of said solution.  
     
     
         44 . A method as in  claim 43  wherein said solution has a pH and wherein said factor is said pH.  
     
     
         45 . A method as in  claim 42  wherein said dispensing is skipped in one of said plurality of cycles.  
     
     
         46 . A method as in  claim 45  wherein said factor indicates too much of said concentrate in said sump.  
     
     
         47 . A method as in  claim 42  wherein said measuring step indicates that said sump has been refilled with fresh diluent and wherein said dispensing step dispenses a refill amount of said concentrate.  
     
     
         48 . A method as in  claim 42  wherein said amount of said concentrate dispensed is dependent upon a dispense time and wherein said dispense time is adjusted based at least in part on said measuring step.