Chemical product dispenser with washing machine tank fill level detection

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software program products for dispensing chemical products to a washing machine. A dispenser receives a conductivity signal from a conductivity circuit having input terminals coupled to a probe in a tank of the washing machine. The dispenser may compare the conductivity signal to a threshold indicative of a low level of conductivity between input terminals of the conductivity circuit. In response to the conductivity signal breaching the threshold, the dispenser may determine the tank of the washing machine is being drained of a washing solution. In response to the conductivity signal subsequently breaching another threshold indicative of a high level of conductivity between the input terminals, the dispenser may determine the tank is being filled, and dispense a predetermined amount of the chemical product into the tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser for dispensing a chemical product to a washing machine, the dispenser comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor and containing program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the dispenser to:   receive a conductivity signal from a conductivity circuit;   compare the conductivity signal to a first threshold; and   in response to the conductivity signal breaching the first threshold, determine a tank of the washing machine is being drained of a washing solution.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the program code further causes the dispenser to:
 in response to determining the conductivity signal breached the first threshold, compare the conductivity signal to a second threshold; and 
 in response to the conductivity signal breaching the second threshold, determine the tank of the washing machine is being filled with the washing solution. 
 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the program code further causes the dispenser to:
 in response to determining the tank is being filled with the washing solution, dispense a predetermined amount of chemical product into the tank. 
 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the predetermined amount of chemical product is determined based on a capacity of the tank and a desired concentration of the chemical product in the washing solution. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the program code further causes the dispenser to:
 in response to the conductivity signal breaching the first threshold, dispense a first predetermined amount of chemical product into the tank; and 
 in response to the conductivity signal not breaching the first threshold and receiving a status signal from the washing machine indicating the washing machine is starting a wash cycle, dispense a second predetermined amount of the chemical product into the tank. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second predetermined amount of chemical product is less than the first predetermined amount of chemical product. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the conductivity circuit has an output on which the conductivity signal is provided, and an input coupled to a probe located in the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the probe is a conductivity probe. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the probe is a float probe. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the probe includes:
 a float having a magnet; and 
 a magnetic switch, and 
 the probe is configured so that the magnet causes the magnetic switch to be in a closed state when the tank is full, and in an open state when the tank is empty. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of dispensing a chemical product to a washing machine, the method comprising:
 receiving a conductivity signal from a conductivity circuit;   comparing the conductivity signal to a first threshold; and   in response to the conductivity signal breaching the first threshold, determining a tank of the washing machine is being drained of a washing solution.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 in response to determining the conductivity signal breached the first threshold, comparing the conductivity signal to a second threshold; and 
 in response to the conductivity signal breaching the second threshold, determining the tank of the washing machine is being filled with the washing solution. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 in response to determining the tank is being filled with the washing solution, dispensing a predetermined amount of chemical product into the tank. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the predetermined amount of chemical product is determined based on a capacity of the tank and a desired concentration of the chemical product in the washing solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 in response to the conductivity signal breaching the first threshold, dispensing a first predetermined amount of chemical product into the tank; and 
 in response to the conductivity signal not breaching the first threshold and receiving a status signal from the washing machine indicating the washing machine is starting a wash cycle, dispensing a second predetermined amount of the chemical product into the tank. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the conductivity circuit has an output on which the conductivity signal is provided, and an input coupled to a probe located in the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the probe is a conductivity probe. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the probe is a float probe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the probe includes:
 a float having a magnet; and 
 a magnetic switch, and 
 the probe is configured so that the magnet causes the magnetic switch to be in a closed state when the tank is full, and in an open state when the tank is empty. 
 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for dispensing a chemical product to a washing machine, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and   program code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:   receive a conductivity signal from a conductivity circuit;   compare the conductivity signal to a first threshold; and   in response to the conductivity signal breaching the first threshold, determine a tank of the washing machine is been drained of a washing solution.