Process and machine for product mixing

• US 6,615,880 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Maskell, William, Kelsey, Steven, Hewlitt, Timothy, OʼBrien, Jerard
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/842,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 141/9, 141/2, 141/18, 141/104-107, 141/234, 141/236, 222/129.3, 222/144.5, 222/148, 366/138, 366/192, 366/196, 137/625.11, 137/624.2
• US Class Current: 141/9
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/74 Devices for mixing two or more different liquids to be transferred coin-freed apparatus G07F13/06

Abstract

A process is provided for the mixing of one or more concentrates in a machine, wherein one or more concentrates and/or one or more diluents are mixed together in a mixing chamber; and the product is dispensed from said machine into a storage container. A machine is also provided for the mixing of one or more concentrates, wherein said machine comprises one or more diluent sources and one or more concentrate sources, said diluent and concentrate sources being in fluid communication with one or more mixing chambers. Further, a process is provided for the simultaneous multiple mixing and dispensing of a plurality of products employing a machine comprising one or more diluent sources and one or more concentrate sources, said diluent and concentrate sources being in fluid communication with a plurality of mixing chambers.

Claims

1. A system for the mixing of one or more concentrates to form a product, comprising a vending machine, said vending machine comprising one or more diluent sources and one or more concentrate sources, said diluent and concentrate sources being in fluid communication with one or more mixing chambers, the mixing chamber being adapted to mix the diluent and concentrate sources prior to dispense, the product being selected from cleaning products and detergents, the vending machine further comprising one or more dispense points adapted to dispense the product into a storage container when the storage container is positioned for dispensing from the vending machine.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the diluent and concentrate sources are in fluid communication with a plurality of mixing chambers, said mixing chambers each being linked in turn to a separate dispense point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of sources comprises a solid.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the solid comprises a plurality of pellets, one or more powders, or a combination thereof.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said machine is a filling machine.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein said machine is a filling machine.

7. A process for mixing and dispensing at least one product being selected from cleaning products and detergents, comprising:

a. providing a vending machine comprising at least one concentrate source and at least one diluent source, and at least one mixing chamber;

b. initiating a dispense of the product;

c. mixing an amount of concentrate from the concentrate source with an amount of diluent from the diluent source in the mixing chamber to form the product prior to dispensing the product; and

d. dispensing the product into a storage container when the storage container is positioned for dispensing from the vending machine.