Dishwashing apparatus including a flip-flop solid detergent dispenser

• US 4,938,240 A
• Filed: 04/21/1989
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Lakhan, Haresh C., Ashton, Kim J., Switala, Lawrence W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GERRITY, STEPHEN FRANCIS
• Application Number:
  US07/341,927
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 134/93, 134/95, 134/98, 134/99, 134/100, 134/101, 134/104.4, 134/111, 134/96, 137/268, 222/52, 222/67, 222/185, 222/190, 222/181, 222/165, 222/189, 222/651, 222/652, 422/263, 422/264, 422/266, 422/117
• US Class Current: 134/93
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0081 with vertical sliding closing doors, e.g. hood-type dishwashers
• 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: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

A flip-top detergent dispenser (30) comprising a base means (31) having a funnel-shaped interior, a nozzle (22) positioned within the interior of the base means, and a detergent container support (32) connected by a hinge (33) to the base (31). The detergent container support (32) is designed to hold only a particular shaped detergent container (23), thus helping to insure that only suitable detergent products are used in the warewashing apparatus. The flip-top detergent dispensed (30), mounted on top of the dishwashing apparatus (1), is designed so that the detergent container (23) can be inserted into and removed from the detergent holder support (32) only in an upright position to prevent dripping of detergent sulution on to the user. Water will not spray up through the product nozzle (22) unless particularly shaped detergent container (23) is situated in the detergent support holder (32) and the detergent support holder (32) is closed. Preferably, the detergent support holder (32) has open areas so that labels including instructions and warnings can be read on the solid detergent container (23). A circular metallic ring (37) having a plurality of holes is situated around the funnel-shaped interior of the base (31). Water is flushed through the holes of the circular metallic ring (37) at designated times to insure that the detergent is rinsed down through the funnel-shaped interior of the base.

Claims

1. A dispenser apparatus for use with a container having an indent comprising:

(a) a base, said base having an interior and a rim;

(b) a nozzle, said nozzle positioned within said interior of said base and flow of water through said nozzle is controlled by a valve;

(c) a cam, said cam extending out over the rim of said base, said cam operatively connected to a switch situated such that application of vertical pressure downwards onto said cam causes said cam to move, thereby activating said switch, said switch operatively connected to said valve allowing water to flow through said nozzle; and

(d) a container support, said container support attached by a hinge to said base, said hinge designed to allow said container support to move from a closed position in which said container support rests upon said base to an open position, said container support comprising in its closed position;

(i) a first circular member having a space, said space of a size and location as to enclose said cam when said container support is in a closed position without touching said cam;

(ii) a second circular member situated parallel and above said first circular member, said second circular member attached to said first circular member, said second circular member having a circumference larger than said first circular member;

(iii) a protection means, said projection means attached to said container support, said projection means extending within and above a circular area defined by said first circular member, said projection means adapted to be positioned in an indent of a container;

(iv) a vertically extending support member having a top portion and a bottom portion, said vertically extending support member extending perpendicular to said second circular member, said vertically extending support member attached at its bottom portion to said second circular member, said vertically extending support member positioned such that when said container support is in an open position, said vertically extending support member is attached to a portion of said second circular member which is closest to said base member;

(v) a container base support, said container base support situated parallel to and above said first circular member and said circular member, said container base support attached to the top portion of said vertically extending support member; and

(vi) a handle attached to said container base support.

2. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container support comprises a see through container support comprising metal wire.

3. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dishwashing apparatus operatively connected to said dispenser apparatus, said dishwashing apparatus comprising:

(a) a first water access means having a valve and a vacuum breaker, said water access means leading into;

(b) a main container, said main container having a means to access said main container in order to insert and remove dishware, and a sump with a bottom, said sump situated in a bottom portion of said main container wherein water and debris can collect in said sump;

(c) a first nozzle positioned within said main container in a manner such that pressurized water directed through said first nozzle would serve to contact dishware contained in said main container;

(d) a self cleaning first filter wherein said self cleaning first filter comprises a perforated cylindrical filter encased in a cylindrical metal casing having an open top portion and an open bottom portion wherein said top portion of said self cleaning first filter is attached to said bottom portion of said sump in a manner which would allow the flow of water and debris from said sump into said first filter by gravity and would allow the flow of water across said perforated cylindrical filter when access from said bottom portion of said first filter is closed by means of a drain valve;

(e) a drain valve attached to the bottom portion of said self cleaning first filter wherein said drain valve when opened would allow the downward flow of water and debris out through the bottom portion of said self cleaning first filter in order to empty said dishwasher apparatus of all water and debris contained therein;

(f) a main pump connected to said self cleaning first filter by;

(g) a second water access means wherein water which has collected in said sump can be pumped by said main pump through said perforated cylindrical filter and through said second water access means;

(h) a third water access means leading from said main pump to said first nozzle and also to a second self cleaning filter, wherein said second self cleaning filter is designed such that water and debris can flow by gravity through said third water access means into said main container when said main pump is deactivated;

(i) a fourth water access means having a valve extending from said second self cleaning filter and leading to a second nozzle positioned in a solid additive container supported by said container support of said dispensing apparatus;

said second nozzle positioned such that pressurized water directed through said second nozzle would spray against a solid additive contained in said solid additive container in order to form an additive solution; and

(j) a fifth water access means leading from said solid additive container into said main container in order to allow the flow of additive solution into said main container.

4. A dispenser apparatus for use with a container having an indent comprising:

(a) a base, said base having a funnel-shaped interior and a rim;

(b) a nozzle, said nozzle positioned within said funnel-shaped interior of said base and flow of water through said nozzle is controlled by a valve;

(c) a cam, said cam extending out over the rim of said base, said cam operatively connected to a switch situated such that application of vertical pressure downwards onto said cam causes said cam to move, thereby activating said switch, said switch operatively connected to said valve allowing water to flow through said nozzle; and

(d) a container support, said container support attached by a hinge to said base, said hinge designed to allow said container support to move from a closed position in which said container support rests upon said base to an open position, said container support comprising in its closed position;

(i) a first circular member having a space, said space of a size and location as to enclose said cam when said container support is in a closed position without touching said cam;

(ii) a second circular member situated parallel and above said first circular member, said second circular member attached to said first circular member, said second circular member having a circumference larger than said first circular member;

(iii) a projection means, said projection means, attached to said container support said projection means extending within and above circular area defined by said first circular member said projection means adapted to be positioned in an indent of a container;

(iv) a curved vertically extending support member having a top portion and a bottom portion, said curved vertically extending support member extending perpendicular to said second circular member, said curved vertically extending support member attached at its bottom portion to said second circular member, said curved vertically extending support member positioned such that when said container support is in an open position, said curved vertically extending support member is connected to a portion of said second circular member which is closest to said base member;

(v) a curved container base support, said curved container base support situated parallel to and above said first circular member and said second circular member, said curved container base support attached to the top portion of said curved vertically extending support member; and

(vi) a handle attached to said curved container base support.

5. The dispenser apparatus of claim 4, wherein the container support comprises a see through container support comprising metal wire.

6. The dispenser apparatus of claim 4, wherein a circular tube having a plurality of holes is positioned around the upper interior portion of said funnel-shaped interior of said base.

7. A dispenser apparatus for use with a container having an indent comprising:

(a) a base, said base having a funnel-shaped interior and a rim;

(b) a nozzle, said nozzle positioned within said funnel-shaped interior of said base and flow of water through said nozzle is controlled by a valve;

(c) a cam, said cam extending out over the rim of said base, said cam operatively connected to a switch situated such that application of vertical pressure downwards onto said cam causes said cam to move, thereby activating said switch, said switch operatively connected to said valve allowing water to flow through said nozzle; and

(d) a container support, said container support attached by a hinge to said base, said hinge designed to allow said container support to move from a closed position in which said container support rests upon said base to an open position, said container support comprising in its closed position;

(i) a first circular member having a space, said space of a size and location as to enclose said cam when said container support is in a closed position without touching said cam;

(ii) a second circular member situated parallel and above said first circular member, said second circular member attached to said first circular member, said second circular member having a circumference larger than said first circular member;

(iii) a projection means, said projection means, attached to a cross bar member, said cross bar member attached to both said first circular member and said second circular member;

said projection means extending within and above a circular area defined by said first circular member said projection means adapted to be positioned in an indent of a container;

(iv) a semi-circular vertically extending support member having a top portion and a bottom portion, said semi-circular vertically extending support member extending perpendicular to said second circular member, said semi-circular vertically extending support member attached at its bottom portion to said second circular member, said semi-circular vertically extending support member positioned such that when said container support is in an open position, said semi-circular vertically extending support member is connected to a portion of said second circular member which is closest to said base member;

(v) a semi-circular container base support, said semi-circular container base support situated parallel to and above said first circular member and said second circular member;

said semi-circular container base support having a smaller radius than a radius of said semi-circular vertically extending support member;

said semi-circular container base support attached to a top portion of said semi-circular vertically extending support member;

said semi-circular container base support positioned such that it resides within a semi-circular area defined by said semi-circular vertical support member; and

(vi) a handle attached to said semi-circular container base support.

8. The dispenser apparatus of claim 7, wherein the container support comprises a see through container support comprising metal wire.

9. The dispenser apparatus of claim 7, wherein a circular tube having a plurality of holes is positioned around an upper interior portion of said funnel-shaped interior of said base.

10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a dishwashing apparatus operatively connected to said dispenser apparatus, said dishwashing apparatus comprising:

(a) a first water access means having a valve and a vacuum breaker, said water access means leading into;

(b) a main container, said main container having a means to access said main container in order to insert and remove dishware, and a sump with a bottom, said sump situatied in a bottom portion of said main container wherein water and debris can collect in said sump;

(c) a first nozzle positioned within said main container in a manner such that pressurized water directed through said first nozzle would serve to contact dishware contained in said main container;

(d) a self cleaning first filter wherein said self cleaning first filter comprises a perforated cylindrical filter encased in a cylindrical metal casing having an open top portion and an open bottom portion wherein said top portion of said self cleaning first filter is attached to said bottom portion of said sump in a manner which would allow the flow of water and debris from said sump into said first filter by gravity and would allow the flow of water across said perforated cylindrical filter when access from said bottom portion of said first filter is closed by means of a drain valve;

(e) a drain valve attached to the bottom portion of said self cleaning first filter wherein said drain valve when opened would allow the downward flow of water and debris out through the bottom portion of said self cleaning first filter in order to empty said dishwasher apparatus of all water and debris contained therein;

(f) a main pump connected to said self cleaning first filter by;

(g) a second water access means wherein water which has collected in said sump can be pumped by said main pump through said perforated cylindrical filter and through said second water access means;

(h) a third water access means leading from said main pump to said first nozzle and also to a second self cleaning filter, wherein said second self cleaning filter is designed such that water and debris can flow by gravity through said third water access means into said main container when said main pump is deactivated;

(i) a fourth water access means having a valve extending from said second self cleaning filter and leading to a second nozzle positioned in a solid additive container supported by said container support of said dispensing apparatus;

said second nozzle positioned such that pressurized water directed through said second nozzle would spray against a solid additive contained in said solid additive container in order to form an additive solution; and

(j) a fifth water access means leading from said solid additive container into said main container in order to allow the flow of additive solution into said main container.