Dissolving and dispensing apparatus
First Claim
1. Material dispensing apparatus for dispensing a solution of said material comprising:
- (a) a container of said material formed of a component which enables external observation of a level of said material within said container;
(b) said container having an opening;
(c) conveying means having coupling means for coupling a first opening to said conveying means to said opening of said container;
(d) receiving means attached to said conveying means for receiving granules of said materials fed from said container;
(e) dissolving means comprising a nozzle for directing a liquid at said receiving means to form a solution;
(f) said conveying means having a second opening therein for dispensing said solution; and
(g) rotating means for rotating said container and said conveying means from a first position wherein granules of said material may be fed from said container to said receiving means, to a second position wherein granules of said material may not be fed from said container to said receiving means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A funnel shaped conveyor receives containers of powdered materials and is coupled to the containers. A screen support member within the funnel receives granules from the container and supports the same above a spray nozzle. The nozzle directs a spray of liquid, such as water, against the underside of the support screen and wets the granules resting thereon, dissolving the same and causing the solution to pass through the screen. The nozzle further sprays the sides of the funnel in order to remove any caking material and reduce clogging. A discharge port provides the resulting solution to a receptacle, such as a washing machine. The apparatus includes a dual safety feature, which assures that an operator will not be exposed to any caustic solutions during a change of containers. Rotatable mounting brackets permit gravity fed operation in a first position, and permit container replacement in a second position in which a sensing switch disables the nozzle. Further, the nozzle remains pointed upward even in the second position, assuring that any accidental discharge is directed at the discharge port and not at the operator.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. Material dispensing apparatus for dispensing a solution of said material comprising:
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(a) a container of said material formed of a component which enables external observation of a level of said material within said container; (b) said container having an opening; (c) conveying means having coupling means for coupling a first opening to said conveying means to said opening of said container; (d) receiving means attached to said conveying means for receiving granules of said materials fed from said container; (e) dissolving means comprising a nozzle for directing a liquid at said receiving means to form a solution; (f) said conveying means having a second opening therein for dispensing said solution; and (g) rotating means for rotating said container and said conveying means from a first position wherein granules of said material may be fed from said container to said receiving means, to a second position wherein granules of said material may not be fed from said container to said receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for dissolving and dispensing powdered materials from a container comprising:
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(a) conveying means for said materials having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container; (b) said conveying means having a first opening at said one end for receiving said powdered materials from an opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state; (c) a porous support member within said conveying means for supporting said powdered materials in an undissolved state on one surface thereof; (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting powdered material granules supported on one end surface of said support member; (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed structure comprising; (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to said fixed structure; (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket; (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said conveying means for dissolution and dispensing, and a second inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said conveying means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. Material dispensing apparatus for dispensing a solution of said material comprising:
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(a) a container of said material formed of a component enabling external observation of a level of said material within said container; (b) said container having an opening; (c) conveying means having a first opening and coupling means for coupling said first opening in said conveying means to said opening of said container; (d) receiving means attached to said conveying means for receiving granules of said material fed from said container, said receiving means comprising a perforated material; (e) said conveying means connecting said opening of said container to a second opening for dispensing said solution, said conveying means including a substantially cylindrical portion between said first opening and said second opening, dissolving means comprising a nozzle for directing a liquid at said perforated material and the vertical walls of said substantially cylindrical portion; and (f) rotating means for rotating said coupled container and conveying means from a first position wherein granules of said material may be fed from said container to said receiving means, to a second position wherein granules of said material may not be fed from said container to said receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for dissolving and dispensing powdered material materials from a container comprising:
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(a) a conveying means for said materials having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container; (b) said conveying means having a first opening at one end for receiving said powdered material from an opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state. (c) a porous support member within said conveying means for supporting said powdered materials on one surface thereof; (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting powdered material granules supported on said one surface of said support member; (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed structure comprising; (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to a fixed structure; (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket; (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said porous support member for dissolution and dispensing, and a second, inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said porous support member; and (g) a protecting means for said container associated with conveying means. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An apparatus for dissolving dispensing powdered materials from a container comprising:
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(a) conveying means for said materials having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container; (b) said conveying means comprising a funnel member having a first opening coupled to an opening in said container for receiving said powdered materials from said opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state, said funnel having an aperture below said first opening to allow air into said conveying means; (c) porous structure within said conveying means for supporting powdered materials on one surface thereof; (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting material granules supported on one surface of said support member; (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed structure comprising; (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to said fixed structure; (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket; and (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said conveying means for dissolution and dispensing, and a second, inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said conveying means.
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34. An apparatus for dissolving and dispensing powdered materials from a container comprising:
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(a) conveying means for said material having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container; (b) said conveying means having a first opening at said one end for receiving said powdered materials from an opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state; (c) a porous support member within said conveying means for supporting said powdered materials on one surface thereof; (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting said powdered material granules supported on said one surface of said support member; (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed support structure comprising; (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to said first structure; (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket; (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said conveying means for dissolution and dispensing, and a second, inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said conveying means; and (g) control means for enabling and disabling flow of said liquid to said nozzle comprising a solenoid operated valve, and switching means in one of said first and second mounting brackets and actuating means for said switching means in the other of said first and second mounting brackets. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification