Method of dispensing and dispenser therefor

• US 5,147,615 A
• Filed: 07/20/1988
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diversey IP International BV
• Original Assignee: Diversey Limited (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Bird, K. J. H., Crossdale, G. W., Livingston, J. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McMahon, Timothy M.
• Application Number:
  US07/221,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 422/261, 422/263, 422/264, 422/266, 422/267, 422/276, 422/277, 127/268, 134/67, 134/93, 134/198, 222/181, 222/185
• US Class Current: 422/261
• 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: B67D 7/74 Devices for mixing two or more different liquids to be transferred coin-freed apparatus G07F13/06

Abstract

Method and apparatus for dispensing detergent from within a container comprises directing a water spray transversely of the container vertical orientation to dissolve and remove detergent in solution from the container. The transverse direction of water spray greatly improves detergent dispensing performance and minimize clogging of the system during down times.

Claims

1. A dispenser for receiving an dispensing granular detergent from a container, comprising:

(a) a support for supportably receiving an inverted container of granular detergent;

(b) a container for holding and dispensing granular detergent, having a head portion which is lowermost of said container as inverted and positioned in and extending vertically in said support, said head portion having an aperture formed therein which opens laterally of said head portion and extends transversely of said vertically extending container;

(c) means for injecting and directing a horizontal stream of water into said container to dissolve granular detergent in said head portion, said water injecting means extending through a portion of said support adjacent and spaced apart from said container head portion aperture, whereby said water injecting means directs a horizontal stream of water into said aperture; and

(d) said container head portion having a bottom in which an outlet is provided, said outlet comprising a plurality of louvres traversing said outlet to define a mesh which substantially retains granular detergent in said container and which permits dissolved granular detergent to pass through said outlet;

wherein the support further comprises an overflow which is dimensioned such that the vertical distance between the water surface in the overflow and the water injection point is always at least 40 mm.

2. A dispenser for receiving and dispensing granular detergent from a container, comprising:

(a) a support for supportably receiving an inverted container of granular detergent;

(b) a container for holding and dispensing granular detergent, having a head portion which is lowermost of said container as inverted and positioned in and extending vertically in said support, said head portion having an aperture formed therein which opens laterally of said head portion and extends transversely of said vertically extending container;

(c) means for injecting and directing a horizontal stream of water into said container to dissolve granular detergent in said head portion, said water injecting means extending through a portion of said support adjacent and spaced apart from said container head portion aperture, said water injecting means being the sole source of water for dissolving said detergent, whereby said water injecting means directs a horizontal stream of water into said aperture; and

(d) said container head portion having a foraminous bottom in which an outlet is provided, said outlet comprising a plurality of louvres traversing said outlet to define a mesh which substantially retains granular detergent in said container and which permits dissolved granular detergent and water to pass downwardly through said outlet.