Automated solution dispenser
First Claim
1. An automated solution dispenser comprising:
- a mixing chamber;
a plurality of containers for storing a plurality of solid components;
at least one controllable inlet port coupled to the mixing chamber, wherein the at least one controllable inlet port connects to a solid handling system that comprises a solids delivery system, wherein the solid handling system is configured to;
(a) accept a container of the plurality of containers at the solids delivery system; and
(b) remove the container from the solids delivery system;
at least one sensing unit comprising at least one solution sensor for sensing one or more characteristics of a solution in the mixing chamber, wherein the solution includes a liquid and a dosed amount of solid components, and wherein the one or more characteristics is selected from the group consisting of temperature, pH, chemical composition, weight, conductivity, and turbidity;
an agitator for agitating the solid components in the mixing chamber;
an outlet port coupled to the mixing chamber;
a controllable outlet port valve for controlling a flow of the solution through the outlet port;
a cleaning nozzle connected to the mixing chamber; and
a controller coupled to the at least one controllable inlet port, the at least one sensing unit, the agitator, the controllable outlet port valve, and the cleaning nozzle, wherein the controller is configured to(i) receive a request from a user to generate the solution according to at least one target characteristic,(ii) upon receiving the request, select the solid components from the plurality of containers,(iii) instruct the at least one controllable inlet port to controllably dispense the solid components to the mixing chamber and instruct the agitator to agitate the solid components in the mixing chamber, until the at least one target characteristic of the solution specified by the user is reached based upon comparison to the one or more characteristics of the solution as measured by the at least one solution sensor of the at least one sensing unit,(iv) instruct the controllable outlet port valve to dispense the solution from the mixing chamber upon the solution reaching the at least one target characteristic, and(v) instruct the automated solution dispenser to implement a cleaning cycle in which the at least one controllable inlet port inputs a cleaning fluid through the cleaning nozzle into the mixing chamber, and the controllable outlet port valve dispenses the cleaning fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an automated solution dispenser for dispensing a solution having a defined list of characteristics. In particular, the automated solution dispenser according to the present invention is provided with one or more of the following modules: Central Mixing Chamber (CMC), Flush and Verification System (FVS), Liquid Handling System (LHS), Control System (CS), Pivot Pipe System (PPS), Solid Handling System (SHS) (which includes a Delivery mechanism and a Measuring mechanism), a Bottle Handling System (BHS), a Water Purification System (WPS) and Bottle Marking/Label (BM). The combination of one or more of these modules enables the automation of the creation of solution having the required characteristics.
68 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An automated solution dispenser comprising:
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a mixing chamber; a plurality of containers for storing a plurality of solid components; at least one controllable inlet port coupled to the mixing chamber, wherein the at least one controllable inlet port connects to a solid handling system that comprises a solids delivery system, wherein the solid handling system is configured to; (a) accept a container of the plurality of containers at the solids delivery system; and (b) remove the container from the solids delivery system; at least one sensing unit comprising at least one solution sensor for sensing one or more characteristics of a solution in the mixing chamber, wherein the solution includes a liquid and a dosed amount of solid components, and wherein the one or more characteristics is selected from the group consisting of temperature, pH, chemical composition, weight, conductivity, and turbidity; an agitator for agitating the solid components in the mixing chamber; an outlet port coupled to the mixing chamber; a controllable outlet port valve for controlling a flow of the solution through the outlet port; a cleaning nozzle connected to the mixing chamber; and a controller coupled to the at least one controllable inlet port, the at least one sensing unit, the agitator, the controllable outlet port valve, and the cleaning nozzle, wherein the controller is configured to (i) receive a request from a user to generate the solution according to at least one target characteristic, (ii) upon receiving the request, select the solid components from the plurality of containers, (iii) instruct the at least one controllable inlet port to controllably dispense the solid components to the mixing chamber and instruct the agitator to agitate the solid components in the mixing chamber, until the at least one target characteristic of the solution specified by the user is reached based upon comparison to the one or more characteristics of the solution as measured by the at least one solution sensor of the at least one sensing unit, (iv) instruct the controllable outlet port valve to dispense the solution from the mixing chamber upon the solution reaching the at least one target characteristic, and (v) instruct the automated solution dispenser to implement a cleaning cycle in which the at least one controllable inlet port inputs a cleaning fluid through the cleaning nozzle into the mixing chamber, and the controllable outlet port valve dispenses the cleaning fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification