Robert C May

US Patent:

6819977, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Dec 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/330043

Inventors:

Robert Eugene May - Lakeville MN
David Robert Howland - Aptos CA

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G06F 700

US Classification:

700244, 700240, 700266

Abstract:

A dispenser for dispensing and a method of dispensing an ingredient for a machine. An ingredient feed mechanism dispenses the ingredient to the machine. A controller is capable of controlling an amount of the ingredient delivered to the machine by varying an amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active. The controller has a demand mode which varies the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active as a function of a parameter obtained from the machine. The controller compares the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active with a reference value and switches to a timed mode if the amount of time deviates from the reference value. The controller may have an initial training mode which measures the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active establishes the reference value based upon the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active.

US Patent:

6892143, May 10, 2005

Filed:

May 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/444823

Inventors:

Robert Eugene May - Lakeville MN, US
Jeff W. Peterson - Hudson WI, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - Mendota Heights MN

International Classification:

G01N031/00

US Classification:

702 31, 702 30, 702 22, 700 9, 700 80

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for controlling chemical dispense operations based on a conductivity offset determined for a chemical solution. The chemical dispense operations are performed by or in conjunction with operation of a utility device, such as a warewashing machine. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank device by combining water with at least one component chemical product. The conductivity offset, which is the conductivity of the water, is used to normalize the conductivity estimated for the chemical solution relative to the component chemical product in the solution. During various points in time during operation of the utility device, the normalized conductivity is compared to a conductivity setpoint, and if the normalized conductivity falls below the conductivity setpoint, a specified volume of the component chemical product is supplied to the solution tank.

US Patent:

6990411, Jan 24, 2006

Filed:

Dec 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/004478

Inventors:

Jeff W. Peterson - Hudson WI, US
Robert Eugene May - Lakeville MN, US

Assignee:

Ecolab, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G01N 31/00

US Classification:

702 31, 702 22, 702 30, 700 9, 700 80

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for controlling concentration of a component chemical product in a chemical solution. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank by combining the component chemical product with water. The component chemical product is dispensed to the solution tank by a chemical dispenser that is controlled by measured conductivity readings of the chemical solution taken in the solution tank. The conductivity readings are analyzed against a conductivity setpoint to determine whether the component chemical product should be added to the chemical solution. A conductivity offset is determined and applied to the analysis thereby taking into consideration any conductivity that may be attributable to constituents of the chemical solution other than the component chemical product. Such constituents include soil washed from the articles and the water used to form the chemical solution.

US Patent:

7092793, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Oct 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/699531

Inventors:

Jeff Peterson - Hudson WI, US
Robert May - Lakeville MN, US
Dan Flesher - Lake Elmo MN, US
John Rolando - Woodbury MN, US
Ed Sowle - Woodbury MN, US
Steven Lentsch - St. Paul MN, US
Ronald Howes, Jr. - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc - Mendota Heights MN

International Classification:

G05B 21/00

US Classification:

700266, 700265, 700240, 8159

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for configuring and administering control over operations of a utility device. The utility device is described herein as being a warewash machine, but other utility devices are contemplated. A warewash controller administers control over operations of the warewash machine based on operational settings defined by the process disclosed herein. The operational settings are derived based on environmental parameters (e. g. , water type, soil level, selected chemical product, etc. ) specified by a field service person through a graphical user interface. If an environmental parameter is changed during the operational life cycle of the warewash machine, the operational settings are modified to accommodate for such a change. Thus, the service performed by the warewash machine is maintained at a consistent quality regardless of changes in the environment. A method for selecting the specific chemical product that will be input as an environmental parameter is also disclosed.

US Patent:

7584762, Sep 8, 2009

Filed:

Dec 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/328497

Inventors:

Robert Eugene May - Lakeville MN, US
David Howland - Aptos CA, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B08B 3/00

US Classification:

134113, 134 18

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for indicating satisfactory times for titrating a chemical solution, e. g. , cleaning product, used by a utility device to clean and/or sanitize various types of articles. The utility device is described in an exemplary embodiment as being a warewashing machine that applies the chemical solution to articles provided to the machine on racks. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank from a combination of at least one chemical product and at least one rinse agent. Whereas the chemical product is described as a detergent, the rinse agent is described as water. Over a time period including multiple wash cycles, the chemical product and the rinse agent are added to the solution tank, thereby changing conductivity of the chemical solution. The present invention senses various types of information associated with the formation of the chemical solution and applies one or more test conditions to the sensed information to determine satisfactory time periods for measuring concentration of the chemical product relative to the chemical solution. Indications of the occurrence of these satisfactory times are presented on a display module in a manner visible to field persons responsible for titrating the chemical solution.

US Patent:

8082764, Dec 27, 2011

Filed:

Jul 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/506589

Inventors:

Robert E. May - Lakeville MN, US
David Howland - Aptos CA, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

D06F 33/00

US Classification:

68 1227, 68 1202, 68 1218, 68207

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for indicating satisfactory times for titrating a chemical solution, e. g. , cleaning product, used by a utility device to clean and/or sanitize various types of articles. The utility device is described in an exemplary embodiment as being a warewashing machine that applies the chemical solution to articles provided to the machine on racks. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank from a combination of at least one chemical product and at least one rinse agent. Whereas the chemical product is described as a detergent, the rinse agent is described as water. Over a time period including multiple wash cycles, the chemical product and the rinse agent are added to the solution tank, thereby changing conductivity of the chemical solution. The present invention senses various types of information associated with the formation of the chemical solution and applies one or more test conditions to the sensed information to determine satisfactory time periods for measuring concentration of the chemical product relative to the chemical solution. Indications of the occurrence of these satisfactory times are presented on a display module in a manner visible to field persons responsible for titrating the chemical solution.

US Patent:

20040143368, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Jan 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/348512

Inventors:

Robert May - Lakeville MN, US
Stephen Skaff - Owatonna MN, US

International Classification:

G06F017/00

US Classification:

700/241000

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for managing, i.e., control and monitoring, processes associated with a group of utility devices. The utility devices in the group may be of the same or different types of devices. For example, one or all of the utility devices in the group may be a warewashing machine. Regardless of type, each utility device in the group is provided an agent control unit, which is a controller responsible for locally overseeing operation of the various processes performed by each utility device. A master control unit provides a field person with control over and the ability to monitor processes performed by all utility devices in the group by providing a single device operable to communicate with the agent control units associated with the utility devices. In response to receiving an instruction from a field person, the master control unit places the instruction in a format recognizable to all of the agent control units associated with a utility device in the group and transmits same to the appropriate agent control unit. In response to receiving an instruction issued by the master control unit, the associated agent control unit administers the task specified therein.

US Patent:

20070095859, May 3, 2007

Filed:

Oct 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/264585

Inventors:

Bryan Maser - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Robert May - Lakeville MN, US
Kelly Doyle - Lakeville MN, US

International Classification:

B67D 1/08
B67D 5/08

US Classification:

222148000, 222059000

Abstract:

A beverage dispensing system having control-based functionality for managing a beverage dispensing process and a cleaning process for fluid dispensing system is disclosed. The beverage dispensing system has one or more beverage containers that supply beverage(s) to beverage line(s), which in turn, supply the beverage(s) to dispense unit(s), or tap(s). A controller manages overall functionality of the system. Each beverage container includes a beverage port through which a beverage is output to an associated beverage line for communication to an associated tap. A coupler is affixed to the container and interfaces the associated beverage line to the beverage port on the container. The controller monitors flow through the beverage lines to determine whether any of the couplers are malfunctioning by allowing fluid to flow when the beverage dispensing process is disabled. The beverage lines also include fob detectors that are configured to facilitate the cleaning process.