Method for mass based dispensing

• US 7,891,523 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Batcher, Thomas J., Mehus, Richard J., Thomas, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US11/713,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20070154370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 422/255, 422/261, 222/52, 222/57, 222/58, 222/77
• US Class Current: 222/77
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2117 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/688 Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/026 the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/024 by gravity

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing of a product based on weight as a load cell (22) which supports a structure holding the product (20a) to be dispensed. The weight of the product (20a) that is dispensed is determined by use of a controller (23).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

spraying a diluent on a solid product to dispense an active ingredient;

continuously determining, as the diluent is sprayed, a combined weight of the solid product and any accumulated diluent;

determining when a requested amount of the active ingredient has been dispensed based on the combined weight; and

discontinuing the spray of diluent when the requested amount of the active ingredient has been dispensed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the requested amount of the active ingredient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining when a requested amount of the active ingredient has been dispensed comprises:

searching for a maximum combined weight of the solid product and the diluent;

determining a current weight loss of the solid product by comparing the maximum combined weight of the solid product and the diluent with a current weight of the solid product and the diluent; and

comparing the current weight loss of the concentrate to the requested amount to determine whether the requested amount of the active ingredient has been dispensed.

4. The method of claim 3, further including:

searching for a minimum weight; and

waiting for an increase from the minimum weight.

5. The method of claim 3, further including adjusting a time when the spray of diluent is discontinued based on an amount of ingredient dispensed during at least one of a time before the maximum weight is reached and a time after which the spray of diluent is discontinued.

6. The method of claim 3, further including recording the maximum combined weight.

7. The method of claim 1 further including storing the solid product in a product holder within a cavity of a housing.

8. The method of claim 3, further including recording the weight loss of the solid product.

9. The method of claim 1, further including setting the requested amount.

10. A method comprising:

applying a diluent to a solid product concentrate to dispense an active ingredient from the concentrate;

determining a combined weight of the solid product concentrate and any accumulated diluent;

determining a weight loss of the solid product concentrate based on the combined weight;

determining when a requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed based on the weight loss of the solid product concentrate; and

discontinuing application of the diluent when the requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining when a requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed comprises:

searching for a maximum combined weight of the solid product concentrate and the accumulated diluent;

determining a current weight loss of the solid product concentrate by comparing the maximum combined weight with a current combined weight of the solid product concentrate and the diluent; and

comparing the current weight loss to the requested amount to determine whether the requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed.

12. The method of claim 10, further including receiving the requested amount.

13. The method of claim 10, further including storing the solid product concentrate in a product holder within a cavity of a dispenser housing.

14. A method comprising:

adding a diluent to a solid product concentrate to dispense the solid product concentrate;

determining, as the diluent is added, a combined weight of the solid product concentrate and any accumulated diluent;

determining a weight loss of the solid product concentrate based on the combined weight;

determining when a requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed based on the weight loss of the solid product concentrate; and

stopping addition of the diluent when the requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining when a requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed comprises:

searching for a maximum combined weight of the solid product concentrate and the accumulated diluent;

determining a current weight loss of the solid product concentrate by comparing the maximum combined weight with a current combined weight of the solid product concentrate and the diluent; and

comparing the current weight loss to the requested amount to determine whether the requested amount of the solid product concentrate has been dispensed.

16. The method of claim 14, further including receiving the requested amount.

17. The method of claim 14, further including storing the solid product concentrate in a product holder within a cavity of a dispenser housing.