US 12,465,954 B2
Verification of cleaning processes with electronically readable coded coupon
Paul R. Kraus, Apple Valley, MN (US); and Rachel Marie McGinness, Rosemount, MN (US)
Assigned to Ecolab USA Inc., St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by Ecolab USA Inc., St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/923,236.
Application 18/923,236 is a continuation of application No. 18/469,077, filed on Sep. 18, 2023, granted, now 12,162,044.
Application 18/469,077 is a continuation of application No. 18/053,888, filed on Nov. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,794,216, issued on Oct. 24, 2023.
Application 18/053,888 is a continuation of application No. 16/599,033, filed on Oct. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,498,099, issued on Nov. 15, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/749,453, filed on Oct. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2025/0041909 A1, Feb. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. B08B 3/04 (2006.01); G06K 7/14 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01)
CPC B08B 3/04 (2013.01) [G06K 7/1417 (2013.01); G06T 7/0008 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
automatically advancing, by an automatic verification coupon feeder of an automated cleaning machine, a verification coupon into a wash chamber of the automated cleaning machine, wherein the verification coupon includes a verification area containing an electronically readable verification code, wherein a soil overlay initially covers the electronically readable verification code;
performing, by the automated cleaning machine, a cleaning process to clean articles in the wash chamber while the verification coupon is in the wash chamber, wherein the cleaning process at least partially removes the soil overlay;
capturing, by an image capture device of the automated cleaning machine, one or more images of the verification coupon;
analyzing, by one or more processors of the automated cleaning machine, the one or more images to obtain verification code data from the electronically readable verification code; and
scoring, by the one or more processors, the cleaning process based on the verification code data.