Apparatus and method for cooking and dispensing starch
First Claim
1. An apparatus for cooking and dispensing starch to a laundry machine, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a mixing chamber for mixing dry starch and water together to form a starch and water mixture;
b. a pressure pump having an input and an output, the pressure pump having its input connected to the mixing chamber;
c. a cooking chamber, the cooking chamber having a first opening connected to the output of the pressure pump, a second opening for receiving steam, and a third opening for discharge of cooked starch;
d. a steam valve connected to the second opening of the cooking chamber;
e. a temperature-regulating valve connected to the steam valve;
f. a source of steam connected to the temperature-regulating valve; and
, g. a computer operatively connected to the pressure pump and the steam valve, the computer being programmed to start the pressure pump a pre-determined time before opening the steam valve, and to stop the pressure pump a predetermined time after closing the steam valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for cooking and dispensing starch to laundry machines has a hopper (10) holding dry starch and a stirrer (15) and auger (25) for delivering predetermined amounts of dry starch to a mixing chamber (35) to be mixed with water. The mixing chamber (35) has a circulation pump (60) for circulating the starch and water mixture. A pressure pump (70) delivers starch and water mix from the mixing chamber (35) to a cooking chamber (80). The cooking chamber (80) also receives steam, which cooks the starch and water mix. A programmed computer (100) causes the apparatus to receive a request for starch from a laundry machine and dispense a predetermined amount of cooked starch to the requesting machine through one or more discharge valves (125) connected to a manifold (120). The computer (110) starts and stops the stirrer (15), auger (25), pressure pump (70), a steam valve (100), and discharge valves (125) to particular laundry machines in a programmed sequence.
32 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cooking and dispensing starch to a laundry machine, the apparatus comprising:
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a. a mixing chamber for mixing dry starch and water together to form a starch and water mixture;
b. a pressure pump having an input and an output, the pressure pump having its input connected to the mixing chamber;
c. a cooking chamber, the cooking chamber having a first opening connected to the output of the pressure pump, a second opening for receiving steam, and a third opening for discharge of cooked starch;
d. a steam valve connected to the second opening of the cooking chamber;
e. a temperature-regulating valve connected to the steam valve;
f. a source of steam connected to the temperature-regulating valve; and
,g. a computer operatively connected to the pressure pump and the steam valve, the computer being programmed to start the pressure pump a pre-determined time before opening the steam valve, and to stop the pressure pump a predetermined time after closing the steam valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for cooking and dispensing starch to one or more laundry machines, the apparatus comprising:
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a. a mixing chamber for mixing dry starch and water together to form a starch and water mixture;
b. a pressure pump having an input and an output, the pressure pump having its input connected to the mixing chamber;
c. a cooking chamber, the cooking chamber having a first opening connected to the output of the pressure pump, a second opening for receiving steam, and a third opening for discharge of cooked starch;
d. a steam valve connected to the second opening of the cooking chamber;
e. a temperature-regulating valve connected to the steam valve;
f. a source of steam connected to the temperature-regulating valve;
g. a manifold connected to the third opening of the cooking chamber;
h. one or more discharge valves connected to the manifold, each of the discharge valves connected to a corresponding laundry machine;
i. a computer operatively connected to the pressure pump, the steam valve, and the discharge valves;
the computer being programmed to start the pressure pump a pre-determined time before opening the steam valve, and to stop the pressure pump a predetermined time after closing the steam valve; and
further to open the discharge valve connected to a laundry machine requesting cooked starch a predetermined time before starting the pressure pump, and to close the discharge valve connected to the laundry machine requesting cooked starch a predetermined after stopping the pressure pump.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for cooking and dispensing starch to one or more laundry machines, the apparatus comprising:
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a. a hopper for holding dry starch, the hopper positioned over a mixing chamber for mixing dry starch and water together to form a starch and water mixture;
b. a stirrer positioned within the hopper, the stirrer connected to a stirrer motor;
c. an auger positioned with respect to the hopper so as to receive dry starch from the hopper and deliver a predetermined amount of dry starch to the mixing chamber;
the auger having an auger motor;
d. a circulation pump for circulating the starch and water mixture within the mixing chamber;
e. a pressure pump having an input and an output, the pressure pump having its input connected to the mixing chamber;
f. a cooking chamber, the cooking chamber having a first opening connected to the output of the pressure pump, a second opening for receiving steam, and a third opening for discharge of cooked starch;
g. a steam valve connected to the second opening of the cooking chamber;
h. a temperature-regulating valve connected to the steam valve;
i. a source of steam connected to the temperature-regulating valve;
j. a manifold connected to the third opening of the cooking chamber;
k. a plurality of discharge valves connected to the manifold, the discharge valves further connected to a corresponding plurality of laundry machines;
l. a computer operatively connected to the pressure pump and the steam valve, the computer being programmed to;
(1) respond to a signal from a laundry machine requesting starch, (2) start the pressure pump a pre-determined time before opening the steam valve, (3) stop the pressure pump a predetermined time after closing the steam valve, (4) start the stirrer motor a predetermined time after opening the steam valve, (5) stop the stirrer motor a predetermined time before closing the steam valve, (6) start the auger motor a predetermined time after opening the steam valve, (7) stop the auger motor a predetermined time before closing the steam valve, (8) open the discharge valve connected to a laundry machine requesting cooked starch a predetermined time before starting the pressure pump, and, (9) close the discharge valve connected to the laundry machine requesting cooked starch a predetermined after stopping the pressure pump.
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22. A method for cooking and dispensing starch to one or more laundry machines, comprising the steps of:
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a. receiving a start signal from a laundry machine requesting cooked starch;
b. opening a discharge valve to the requesting machine;
c. delaying for a first time sufficient to allow the discharge valve to open;
d. starting a pressure pump;
e. opening a steam valve connected to a cooking chamber;
f. delaying for a time sufficient for the cooking chamber to reach optimum cooking temperature;
g. starting motors for a stirrer of dry starch, and an auger for delivering dry starch to a mixing chamber;
h. delaying for a time sufficient to allow a cooked starch mixture to be dispensed to the requesting laundry machine;
i. stopping the stirrer and auger motors;
j. delaying for a time sufficient to wash excess cooked starch from lines connecting the cooking chamber and the requesting laundry machine;
k. turning off the steam valve;
l. turning off the pressure pump; and
,m. closing the discharge valve.
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Specification