Dispensing apparatus and method suitable for heterogeneous composition

• US 7,390,467 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Carlson, Brandon, Chute, Brian, Klos, Terry James, Dao, Quang, Fine, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McKane; Leigh
• Application Number:
  US10/435,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 422/256, 422/261, 222/82
• US Class Current: 422/256
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/483 using water for diluting a liquid ingredient, obtaining a predetermined concentration or making an aqueous solution of a concentrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/20 Jet mixers, i.e. mixers using high-speed fluid streams using jets to create vortex flow B01F25/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/80 with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method suitable for dispensing heterogeneous compositions.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising:

a breach system;

a dilution system; and

a distribution system;

the breach system being configured to open a container and release a composition from the container and into the dilution system;

the breach system comprising a rinsing system and a hollow contoured spike;

the rinsing system being configured to contact the container and composition remaining in the container with a fluid and remove additional composition from the container;

the hollow contoured spike;

comprising a point, beveled surfaces, and a spike leg;

being configured to break and push aside a seal from the container opening; and

defining a cavity;

the cavity being configured to allow the composition to pass through the hollow contoured spike and to house at least a portion of the rinsing system;

the dilution system being configured to receive the composition and to mix the composition with the liquid;

the distribution system being configured to transport the mixture of composition and liquid from the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the breach system further comprising:

a docking system configured to receive and dock the container of the composition; and

a container sensor configured to indicate that the container is positioned for receiving fluid from the rinsing system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the rinsing system being configured to rinse composition from the container and into the dilution system in less than about 10 minutes.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, the rinsing system being configured to rinse composition from the container and into the dilution system employing less than about 9 times the volume of the container of liquid.

5. The system of claim 2, the docking system comprising a shape complementary to the container and configured to allow the container to enter the docking system to a distance effective to open the container, push aside the container seal, and position the rinsing system for effective rinsing of the container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the breach system being located over the dilution system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the dilution system comprising:

a tank configured to receive the composition and rinse from the container and breach system and comprising a volume sufficient to contain the composition and rinse;

a mixing system configured to combine the composition and rinse in the tank; and

a diluent sensor configured to indicate when fluid in the tank reaches a predetermined level or volume.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the mixing system comprising one or more jets.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the volume of fluid added is determined by the level of the fluid in the tank at the start of the addition cycle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the distribution system comprising:

a fluid moving system,

one or more fluid conducting systems, each configured to provide fluid communication;

a fluid distributing system, and

a controller;

the fluid moving system being configured to move fluid through the fluid conducting system and fluid distributing system at times and in amounts indicated by the controller;

the fluid distributing system being configured to direct fluid to the one or more fluid conducting systems at times and in amounts indicated by the controller;

the controller being configured to direct the fluid moving system and fluid distributing system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the fluid distributing system comprising a manifold, the manifold being configured to direct fluid to one or more sites of use.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, the manifold comprising a manifold control valve.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fluid moving system, fluid distributing system, and controller cooperate to circulate fluid within the dilution system.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow contoured spike is configured to break a seal, push the broken seal into the interior of the container, and maintain a portion of the seal attached to the container.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow contoured spike is dimensioned to occupy half or more of cross sectional area of the container opening.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow contoured spike comprises two points and two beveled surfaces;

each of the beveled surfaces being between the two points and defining an entry to the cavity;

the points being configured to contact and break the container seal;

the beveled surfaces being configured to move the container seal into a position in which it does not block the container opening.

17. A method of dispensing a heterogeneous cleaning composition comprising:

piercing and pushing aside a covering on an opening of a container with a hollow contoured spike and rinsing the container;

thereby transferring the contents of the container into a dilution system;

combining the contents with a fluid to produce an intermediate composition; and

dispensing the intermediate composition to a washing machine;

wherein the hollow contoured spike;

comprises a point, beveled surfaces, and a spike leg;

is configured to break and push aside seal from container opening; and

defines a cavity;

the cavity being configured to allow the composition to pass through the hollow contoured spike and to house at least a portion of a rinsing system.