Multistation color coded liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus

• US 6,322,242 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: S C Johnson Commercial Markets Incorporated
• Inventors: Lang, Christopher F., Lohr, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US09/615,348
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 366/162.1, 366/163.1, 366/163.2, 366/177.1, 366/142, 222/132, 222/133, 137/888, 137/889, 137/892-894, 137/896
• US Class Current: 366/163.2
• 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: B01F 33/848 using data, i.e. barcodes, 3D codes or similar type of tagging information, as instruction or identification codes for controlling the dispensing and mixing operations
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/344 by checking a correct coupling or coded information

Abstract

A multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus which substantially reduces the risk of dispensing the wrong product. A color-coded system is employed which color-coordinates the container with a chemical concentrate to the components of the mixing and dispensing apparatus. An eductor is employed to mix the chemical concentrate with a diluting liquid. The mixing and dispensing apparatus is particularly suited for mixing and dispensing cleaning products used in maintaining large institutional buildings, such as stores and offices.

Claims

1. A multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

a support member;

a plurality of containers placed on the support member;

a plurality of valve members and eductors positioned below the containers;

a liquid intake manifold connected to the valve members and the eductors;

a liquid product supply line operatively connected to each container and a liquid product intake of the eductor;

a cap member connected to each container and each liquid supply line;

a liquid outlet line operatively connected to each valve member and eductor;

wherein each of the containers, valve members and liquid outlet lines are color-coded.

2. The multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the containers have labels which are color-coded to the valve members and liquid outlet lines.

3. The multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet lines are flexible hoses of different colors.

4. The multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the liquid outlet lines is of a longer length than the others.

5. The multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the support member is defined by an open shelf.

6. The multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a panel member for supporting the eductors and the valve members with the valve members extending through the panel for access thereto.

7. The multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet lines are positioned at a bottom of the support member.

8. The multistation liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cap member is color-coded to the containers, valve members, a panel member and liquid outlet lines.