Metering method for supplying detergent concentrate

• US 4,486,910 A
• Filed: 04/23/1982
• Issued: 12/11/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang Apparatebau GmbH (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lang Apparatebau GmbH (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haslberger, Richard, Saalmann, G/u/ nter
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US06/371,132
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 8/158, 68/17 R, 68/207, 134/57 R, 134/57 D, 134/100, 134/101
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/22 Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying dry detergent concentrate to a metering device for dissolving or dispersing in water which prevents or minimizes the formation of dust, lumping, caking, and encrustation of vessel walls and supplies new detergent to the laundry plant in response to changes in electrical conductivity of the wash water from a predetermined value which indicates consumption of original detergent required in soil removal and need for replenishment thereof. The minimizing of dust and protection of the detergent from moisture is accomplished by using a flexible delivery container, the filling means and emptying means of which are sealable and which emptying means acts in cooperation with the metering apparatus section to form an integral delivery system which is generally isolated from the surrounding atmosphere.

Claims

1. A method for supplying measured amounts of water soluble or water insoluble powdered or granular detergent concentrate to a commercial washing machine or laundry which comprises suspending a delivery container having a pour hole at its bottom above a storage means in a metering device having a rotating disk upon which detergent concentrate from the storage means falls;

connecting a substantially dust-tight tubular closable channel from the bottom of said delivery container to the top of said storage means;

providing detergent concentrate to said delivery container;

closing and opening said closable channel to cause some or all of said detergent concentrate to move by gravity feed through said pour hole and said channel to said storage means; and

metering the supply of said detergent concentrate by causing said detergent concentrate to move by gravity feed from said storage means onto the rotating disk and then into a hopper situated below said rotating disk, adding water to said hopper, mixing said detergent concentrate with said water in a predetermined ratio in the mixing means whereby said water acts as a solvent and/or conveying means, and pumping the resulting detergent concentrate-water mixture to the commercial washing machine or laundry, the moving of concentrate by gravity feed, adding of water, and pumping being activated in response to changes in a predetermined value in the electrical conductance of the wash water in the commercial washing machine or laundry.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the degree of depletion of wash water detergent is measured as a function of its conductivity and detergent-water mixture added when conductivity varies more than a predetermined value.