Method and apparatus for mass based dispensing

• US 7,896,198 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Batcher, Thomas J., McCarrick, Henry J., Mehus, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley; Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, REGINA M
• Application Number:
  US10/843,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,485 Days
• Field of Search: 177/244, 177/16, 222/165, 222/181.3, 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 dispenser (200) dispenses an amount of concentrate using a diluent to form a use solution. The dispenser (200) includes a housing (201) having a cavity. A product holder (210) is positioned to support the concentrate in the cavity of the housing (201). A load cell housing (207) is operatively supported by the housing. More than one load cell (240) is positioned in the load cell housing (207). The product holder (210) is supported on the more than one load cell (240), wherein weight of the concentrate is determined.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

a housing that receives a product capsule containing a product concentrate to be dispensed and that includes a bottom surface having an opening through which a neck of the product capsule extends;

an inlet through which diluent enters the housing and erodes the concentrate to create a use solution;

an outlet through which the use solution exits the housing;

a product holder that receives the neck of the product capsule such that the product holder fully supports the weight of the product capsule;

a load cell housing that supports the product holder;

a plurality of load cells positioned within the load cell housing that detect a corresponding plurality of weight values corresponding to the weight of the product capsule; and

a controller that determines the weight of the concentrate within the product capsule based on the plurality of weight values.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of load cells comprises two load cells.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the load cell housing is generally circular and the load cells are spaced approximately 180 degrees from each other.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of load cells comprises three load cells.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the load cell housing is generally circular and the load cells are spaced approximately 120 degrees from each other.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the controller averages the plurality of weight values to determine the weight of the concentrate.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the controller determines the weight of the concentrate before a dispensing cycle.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the controller determines the weight of the concentrate during a dispensing cycle.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the controller determines the weight of the concentrate after completion of a dispensing cycle.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the controller initiates a dispensing cycle, periodically determines the weight of the concentrate during the dispensing cycle and discontinues the dispensing cycle when the determined weight of the concentrate satisfies a requested amount.