Apparatus and method for creating a ready-to-use product from a concentrated form

• US 20040045984A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Olson, Keith E., Outlaw, Tina O., Skavnak, James E., Schuman, Allan L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/181.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/483 using water for diluting a liquid ingredient, obtaining a predetermined concentration or making an aqueous solution of a concentrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/741 mechanically operated

Abstract

An apparatus and method for creating ready-to-use products from a concentrated form of the products is disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a source of one or more concentrated products. These concentrated products are delivered to a point of use which typically may be a small, consumer-sized container. The apparatus dilutes the concentrated product to an appropriate level. The final, ready-to-use product can be a wide variety of cleaning products. A method is also disclosed for creating this ready-to-use product.

Claims

1. A method of diluting a chemical concentrate to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets, comprising:

a) providing a source of diluent to a dispenser having a fill station;

b) providing a container of first concentrate at a remote site;

c) providing a first product container;

d) picking one of the containers;

e) placing said container in fill station;

f) identifying the container by the dispenser; and

g) filling at the filling station the product container with an amount of diluent and concentrated chemical in a predetermined amount.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) removing a fitment from the first container prior to placing in the dispenser; and

b) reapplying the fitment to the first container after filling.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the supply of first concentrate is located in an area out of a visual line of sight from the dispenser.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the dispenser has two or more filling stations.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein there are two or more concentrates.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein there are the same number of fill stations as concentrates.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein there is a single fill station servicing multiple concentrates.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a filling nozzle at the filling station containing the ready-to-use consumer product is rinsed between each dispensing.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the diluent is water.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the water is pretreated prior to mixing with said concentrate and the identifying occurs by a scannable code.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying occurs as a result of the shape of the footprint of the container.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying results from an indentation of the container.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying occurs as a result of a projection from the container.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the dispenser is able to dispenser more concentrates than if the concentrate were proximate the dispenser.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the dispenser has fewer fluid connections in the store when the concentrates are located in the area out of visual line of sight from the dispenser.

16. An apparatus for diluting a chemical concentrate to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets, the apparatus comprising:

a) a dispenser housing;

b) a fill station;

c) a source of concentrate located at a remote site from the dispenser housing, connectably attached to the fill station;

d) a source of diluent connectably attached to the fill station;

e) a source of containers for the products; and

f) an identifier to identify the type of container.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the concentrate is located in another room from the dispenser.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the dispenser has two or more filling stations.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein there are two or more concentrates.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein there are the same number of fill stations as concentrates.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein there is a single fill station servicing multiple concentrates.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein a filling nozzle at the filling station containing the ready-to-use consumer product is rinsed between each dispensing.

23. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the diluent is water.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the water is pretreated prior to mixing with the concentrate and the identifying occurs by a scannable code.

25. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the identifying occurs as a result of the shape of the footprint of the container.

26. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the identifying results from an indentation of the container.

27. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the identifying occurs as a result of a projection from the container.

28. A method of diluting a chemical concentrate to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets, comprising:

a) providing a source of locally supplied diluent to a dispenser having a fill station;

b) providing a container of first concentrate in a housing separate from the fill station;

c) providing a first product container;

d) picking one of the containers;

e) placing said container in fill station;

f) identifying the container by the dispenser; and

g) filling at the filling station the product container with an amount of diluent and concentrate in a predetermined amount.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the housing of first concentrate is located next to the filling station.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the housing of first concentrate is located under the filling station.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the housing of first concentrate is located in the filling station.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the housing of the first concentrate is at a remote site.

33. A method of diluting chemical concentrates to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets, comprising:

a) providing a source of diluent to a dispenser having a filling station;

b) providing a first container of a first concentrate;

c) providing a second container of a second concentrate;

d) providing a first product container and placing the first product container in the fill station; and

e) filling the first product container with an amount of diluent, first concentrate and second concentrate in a predetermined amount.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first concentrate has a first viscosity and the second concentrate has a second viscosity, upon mixing the concentrates form a mixture having a viscosity higher than the viscosities of the concentrates, whereby when mixed with the diluent forms a ready-to-use consumer product having a viscosity greater then 150 cps.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing the first and second concentrates at a remote site.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing the diluent from a source of locally supplied diluent.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the first concentrate is a base product concentrate and the second concentrate is a concentrate selected from the group consisting of fragrance, dye and surfactant.

38. A method of diluting a chemical concentrate to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets, comprising:

a) providing a source of diluent to a dispenser having a filling station;

b) providing a container of a first concentrate;

c) providing a first product container and placing the first product container in the fill station;

d) pumping the concentrate into a low pressure area of a venturi while providing a flow of diluent to the venturi; and

e) filling the first product container from the venturi.

39. An apparatus for diluting a chemical concentrate to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets for filling into a container, the apparatus comprising:

a) a dispensing housing;

b) a fill station;

c) a source of concentrate operatively connected to the fill station;

d) a source of diluent operatively connected to the fill station; and

e) the fill station having a nozzle assembly, the nozzle assembly comprising;

i) a dispensing tube having a bore having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluid communication with the diluent and concentrate, the exit adapted to be in fluid communication with the container;

ii) a plug moveable between a closed position and a dispensing position;

iii) a connecting member having a first end operatively connected to the stop and a second end; and

iv) an actuator operatively connected to the second end of the connecting member, wherein the actuator moves the stop between the closed position and the dispensing position.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

a) the stop having an inclined surface; and

b) the outlet of the dispensing tube having a mating surface, wherein the stop is more easily recentered as it moves to the closed position.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, the actuator further comprising:

a) a lever having a first end operatively connected to the second end of the connecting member and a second end moveable between a first position and a second position;

b) a slide plate operatively connected to the nozzle assembly; and

c) a motor for moving the nozzle assembly vertically, wherein downward movement causes the second end of the lever to hit the slide plate, thereby moving the stop to an open position.

42. An apparatus for diluting a chemical concentrate to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets for filling into a container, the apparatus comprising:

a) a dispensing housing;

b) a fill station;

c) a source of concentrate operatively connected to the fill station;

d) a source of diluent operatively connected to the fill station; and

e) the fill station having a nozzle assembly, the nozzle assembly comprising;

i) a dispensing tube having a bore having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluid communication with the diluent and concentrate, the exit adapted to be in fluid communication with the container;

ii) a housing operatively connected to the tube proximate the inlet of the bore, the housing forming a chamber;

iii) a housing inlet member having a first end in fluid communication with the concentrate and diluent, and a second end in fluid communication with the chamber;

iv) a first check valve having a first opening to the atmosphere and a second end in the chamber; and

v) a second check valve operatively connected in the housing inlet member allowing flow into the chamber, wherein when the diluent and concentrate are not flowing through the inlet member, the first check valve allows air into the chamber to aid in having all diluent and concentrate drip from the dispensing tube.

43. A method of diluting a chemical concentrate to form a ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets, comprising:

a) providing a source of diluent to a dispenser having a fill station;

b) providing a concentrate container of first concentrate;

c) providing a first product container;

d) picking one of the product containers;

e) placing said product container in fill station;

f) filling at the filling station the product container with an amount of diluent and concentrated chemical in a predetermined amount; and

g) placing an indicia on said product container, said indicia identifying a date.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the date is when the product container is filled.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the date is when the concentrate was manufactured.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the indicia is printed on the product container by a printer.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the indicia is printed on a label and the label is applied to the product container by a consumer.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the label includes a coupon for use by the consumer to receive a discount when purchasing the ready-to-use consumer product.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the label includes a code that is able to be scanned.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein a second label on the concentrate product container has a scannable code and the scannable code is used to update the date of manufacture of the concentrate for printing the indicia on the container at the fill station.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the scannable code is removable from the concentrate product container label and is scannable at the fill station to update the fill station.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the date is an expiration date.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein the multiple dates are printed for the indicia, the dates selected from the group consisting of fill date, concentration manufacture date and expiration date.

54. A method of diluting a chemical concentrate to form a foamable ready-to-use consumer product for consumer markets, comprising:

a) providing a source of locally supplied diluent to a dispenser having a fill station;

b) providing a container of first concentrate in a housing separate from the fill station;

c) providing a first product container;

d) picking one of the containers;

e) placing said container in fill station;

f) identifying the container by the dispenser; and

g) filling at the filling station the product container with an amount of diluent and concentrate in a predetermined amount having a viscosity of 150 cps or less.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the viscosity is 100 cps or less.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the viscosity is 40 cps or less.