Dispensing system

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Solution Overview

Problem

The inefficiencies in monitoring and refilling product dispensers in multiple locations lead to unnecessary visits, waste, and increased costs due to varying consumption rates across different dispensers, resulting in inefficient servicing and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A system that collects product usage data from dispensers, predicts depletion dates, and adjusts dispensing profiles to synchronize the depletion of multiple dispensers within a threshold time range, ensuring they deplete at approximately the same time, thereby optimizing service visits and reducing waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If routine monitoring and refilling of multiple dispensers is performed manually, then product availability is maintained, but service time and labor costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct availabilityVSAvoidservice time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensers are equipped with sensors and communication modules that enable them to automatically monitor their own product levels, report status to the processing system, and receive refilling instructions without human intervention. This self-monitoring capability eliminates the need for manual checking while ensuring product availability is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A feedback loop is established where dispensers continuously report product usage and status information to the processing system, which then sends back refilling instructions. This closed-loop system ensures timely refilling based on actual consumption patterns rather than fixed schedules, reducing unnecessary service visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If dispensers are serviced on fixed schedules, then service planning is simplified, but unnecessary visits increase when consumption rates vary across locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice planningVSAvoidservice efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static fixed-schedule servicing to dynamic demand-driven servicing. The processing system calculates optimized service schedules based on real-time consumption data from each dispenser, adjusting refilling timing to match actual usage patterns. This dynamic approach maintains ease of operation through automated scheduling while significantly improving service efficiency by eliminating unnecessary visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The service interval parameter is changed from a fixed constant to a variable determined by consumption rate. The processing system continuously adjusts the optimal service timing based on measured usage parameters from each dispenser location, allowing service planning to adapt to varying consumption rates across different environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If dispensers operate with initial dispensing profiles, then product dispensing is straightforward, but product depletion dates become uncoordinated leading to increased service visits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing operationVSAvoidservice visit frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The processing system performs preliminary calculations to determine optimized dispensing parameters before product depletion occurs. By analyzing consumption patterns and predicting depletion dates, the system proactively adjusts dispensing profiles to coordinate depletion across multiple dispensers, ensuring they all require service at approximately the same time rather than creating staggered depletion patterns that necessitate multiple visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dispensers are serviced independently, then each dispenser can be optimized for its specific location, but coordination between dispensers is lost resulting in inefficient service routes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation-specific optimizationVSAvoidservice coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the independent operation of individually optimized dispensers with centralized coordination. Each dispenser maintains its location-specific dispensing characteristics while the processing system combines information from all dispensers to generate coordinated service schedules. This merging allows service personnel to visit multiple dispensers in optimal sequences, reducing total travel time while preserving location-specific optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10929794B2Dispensing system

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC

AI summary

Methods, systems and apparatus for determining and coordinating dispenser product depletion dates.