Refill container labeling

Abstract

Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for labeling a refill contain and/or for enabling operation of the refill container by a dispensing system based upon one or more indicia of the label satisfying a dispensing key are provided. In an example, a label may be applied to a refill container. The label may comprise a first region having a first indicia that may correspond to a shape, color, and/or texture (e.g., a yellow star indicia). A dispensing system may enable operation of the refill container (e.g., installation and/or dispensing of material from the refill container) based upon the first indicia satisfying a dispensing key (e.g., a yellow key component and/or a star shape component). Otherwise, the dispensing system does not enable operation of the refill container (e.g., the refill container is not genuine or is not an appropriate refill container type).

1 . A label for use on a refill container for a dispensing system, comprising:
 a first region having first optical reflecting indicia detectable by the dispensing system such that if the first optical reflecting indicia reflects a specified pattern that satisfies a dispensing key of the dispensing system upon being exposed to light, the dispensing system enables operation of the refill container.   
     
     
         2 . The label of  claim 1 , the label integral with the refill container. 
     
     
         3 . The label of  claim 1 , the first optical reflecting indicia corresponding to at least one of a color, a two-dimensional shape, a three-dimensional shape, or a texture. 
     
     
         4 . The label of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a second region having second indicia detectable by the dispensing system for enabling operation of the refill container.   
     
     
         5 . The label of  claim 4 , the second indicia corresponding to at least one of a color, a two-dimensional shape, a three-dimensional shape, or a texture. 
     
     
         6 . The label of  claim 4 , the first region separated from the second region by an inactive region. 
     
     
         7 . The label of  claim 1 , the first optical reflecting indicia comprising ink that changes based upon at least one of time, humidity, temperature, or light. 
     
     
         8 . The label of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an inactive region that does not affect operation of the refill container.   
     
     
         9 . The label of  claim 4 , the first region located on a first surface of the refill container and the second region located on a second surface of the refill container. 
     
     
         10 . The label of  claim 4 , the dispensing key comprising a first key component for the first optical reflecting indicia and a second key component, different than the first key component, for the second indicia. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing system for controlling operation of a refill container, comprising:
 a dispenser configured to dispense a material of the refill container;   a first illuminator configured to emit light substantially towards a first region of a label of the refill container;   a first visual detector configured to detect a pattern of light reflected from a first indicia of the first region based upon an interaction of the light with the first region; and   a validator for:
 comparing the pattern of light reflected from the first indicia with a dispensing key; and 
 responsive to the pattern of light satisfying the dispensing key, enabling operation of the refill container such that the dispenser at least one of dispenses the material of the refill container or accepts installation of the refill container. 
   
     
     
         12 . The dispensing system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a second illuminator configured to emit second light substantially towards a second region of the label; and   a second visual detector configured to detect a second pattern of light reflected from a second indicia of the second region based upon an interaction of the second light with the second region.   
     
     
         13 . The dispensing system of  claim 12 , the validator:
 comparing the second pattern of light reflected from the second indicia with the dispensing key; and   responsive to the second pattern of light satisfying the dispensing key, enabling operation of the refill container.   
     
     
         14 . The dispensing system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a gasket configured to block ambient light during operation of the first illuminator.   
     
     
         15 . The dispensing system of  claim 11 , the first illuminator comprising a white light emitting diode (LED), the first visual detector comprising an RGB LED, and the dispensing key corresponding to one or more color values. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing system of  claim 12 , the label comprising a three-dimensional shape, the first region comprising a first side of the three-dimensional shape and the second region comprising a second side of the three-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing system of  claim 15 , the validator:
 detecting conductivity associated with the RGB LED; and   converting the conductivity to values one or more detected color values.   
     
     
         18 . A method for keying a refill container for a dispensing system, comprising:
 applying a label to a refill container, the label comprising:
 a first region having a first optical reflecting indicia detectable by the dispensing system and a second region having a second indicia detectable by the dispensing system, such that if the first optical reflecting indicia reflects a specified pattern that satisfies a dispensing key and the second indicia satisfies the dispensing key, the dispensing system enables operation of the refill container. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising at least one of:
 forming the label from ink that changes based upon at least one of time, humidity, temperature, or light;   forming the label as three-dimensional label, the first indicia corresponding to a first depth and the second indicia corresponding to a second depth;   forming the label using a first texture for the first indicia and a second texture for the second indicia; and   forming the label using at least one of a first color or a first shape for the first indicia and at least one of a second color or second shape for the second indicia.   
     
     
         20 . The dispensing system of  claim 11 , the validator refining a color tolerance range associated with the dispensing key based upon the comparing.