×

Chemical dispensing system

  • US 6,434,772 B1
  • Filed: 10/24/2000
  • Issued: 08/20/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for dispensing a plurality of chemicals to a plurality of washing machines, wherein a supply pipe is connected from a water supply to the washing machines with a pump connected therebetween, a plurality of chemical pods are connected to the supply pipe with a plurality of valves between each pod and the supply pipe, and a plurality of sensors are connected to the chemical pods, wherein a controller is connected to and programmed to control the operation of the pump and the valves, and to receive signals from the sensors;

  • the method comprising;

    (a) determining whether data exists at one of the washing machines to indicate a need for a quantity of one or more of the plurality of chemicals;

    (b) determining from the chemical pod sensor signals whether each chemical pod in which the needed chemical is stored contains an adequate quantity of the needed chemical;

    (c) if the chemical pod does not contain sufficient quantity of the chemical, activating an alarm;

    (d) if the chemical pod contains sufficient quantity of the chemical, sending a signal from the controller to open one of the valves associated with the respective chemical pod so as to dispense the chemical; and

    (e) determining from the sensor signals when the needed quantity of chemical remaining in the chemical pod indicates that the needed quantity of chemical has been delivered from the pod to the supply pipe and then closing the open valve.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×