Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for electronically measuring dispenser usage

US5625659A · kind A · utility

159Cited by
12References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 19, 1995
Grant dateApr 29, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 19, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F15/00
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method of counting dispensing events or washes in a fluid dispenser in which an activator is moved from a starting position to a dispensing position and back to dispense material includes a counter which is indexable to record a dispensing event and which can only be indexed again after dispensing pressure is totally relieved from the activator for a predetermined period of time. The counter is activated by a switch carried on the activator that initiates a timer when the activator leaves the dispensing position. The timer is reset if the activator is returned to the dispensing position prior to the predetermined period of time elapsing. Only after elapse of this period of time can the counter be activated again.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.