RFID Cleaning Concentrate Dispensing for Precise High-Ratio Dilution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning concentrate dispensers are limited by the need for placement near a water source, inaccuracy in dilution, susceptibility to impurities, high maintenance costs, and inability to handle dilutions beyond 500:1 due to precision issues.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning concentrate dispenser assembly with an RFID reader, level sensor, controller, and dispensing pump that intelligently dispenses the correct amount of concentrate into containers, eliminating the need for water-driven systems and enabling precise dilution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If water-driven vacuum devices are used for dilution, then mixing function is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to +/−5% accuracy and susceptibility to water pressure variables

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilution mixing functionVSAvoiddilution accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the water-driven vacuum mechanical system with an electronic pump system controlled by a microprocessor. The electronic pump provides precise, programmable dosing capability that is not susceptible to water pressure variables, achieving accurate dilutions up to 1000:1 while maintaining ease of manufacture through automated control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If vacuum dilution devices are used, then dilution function is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to building up with water impurities and requiring difficult maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilution capabilityVSAvoiddevice operational stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the dilution function from the water-driven vacuum system and implements it through an electronic pump that draws concentrate from a separate reservoir. This separation eliminates the problem of water impurities building up in the dilution mechanism, as the pump system does not rely on water flow and can be easily cleaned or replaced

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable components including the electronic pump unit and concentrate reservoir that can be easily replaced when worn or contaminated. This approach maintains reliability by eliminating the need for difficult maintenance of permanent vacuum components, allowing quick replacement of any worn parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If water-driven dispensers are used, then dilution is provided, but adaptability deteriorates due to requirement of placement at water source with backflow protection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilution functionVSAvoiddispenser placement flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the water-driven mechanical system with an electronically powered pump that draws concentrate from an internal reservoir. This eliminates the requirement for placement at a water source with backflow protection, allowing the dispenser to be installed anywhere in the facility while maintaining the dilution function through electronic control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of manufacture

If vacuum dilution devices are used, then dilution is provided, but device complexity increases due to expensive construction and installation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilution capabilityVSAvoidsystem construction and installation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex water-driven vacuum mechanisms with a simpler electronic pump system controlled by a microprocessor. This substitution reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for complex vacuum generation, backflow prevention mechanisms, and specialized water supply connections, while maintaining precise dilution capability through electronic programming

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise and efficient dispensing of cleaning concentrates, reducing plastic waste and transportation costs while ensuring accurate dosing and real-time data management for inventory control and usage tracking.

Implementation Method 1

a dispensing pump; and a cleaning concentrate output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Data Source

PatentUS20260091401A1Cleaning concentrate dispenser and associated method for using the same

Publication Date: 2026.04.02 STEWART PATRICK

AI summary

A cleaning concentrate dispenser assembly, including: a housing sub-assembly; an energy source; an RFID reader; a level sensor; a controller (printed circuit board); a cleaning concentrate reservoir, a dispensing pump; and a cleaning concentrate output.