Magazine loading of solid products and method of dispensing same

• US 7,993,579 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rigley, Karen O., Berg, Thomas P., Williams, Kristine J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chorbaji; Monzer R
• Application Number:
  US11/487,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 422/1, 422/28, 422/261, 422263-264, 422/267, 422/275, 134/6, 134/22.1, 134/93, 134/94.1, 134/95.3, 210/169, 210/198.1, 210/754, 210/756, 222/1, 222/129
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00362 Friction materials, e.g. used as brake linings, anti-skid materials
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 33/00 Clay-wares monolithic refractories or refractory mortars C04B35/66; porous products C04B38/00
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/009 characterised by the material treated
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5315 Cleaning compositions, e.g. for removing hardened cement from ceramic tiles
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/91 involving the removal of part of the materials of the treated articles, e.g. etching

Abstract

A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser includes placing the first solid product in a product housing of the dispenser and placing the second solid product in the product housing on top of the first solid product, the first and second solid products being different products. A portion of the first solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed, then a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product are dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been completely depleted, and then a portion of the second solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser, the first solid product and the second solid product being positioned in a product housing of the solid product dispenser, the first solid product and the second solid product being different products, comprising:

a) placing the first solid product in the product housing of the solid product dispenser;

b) placing the second solid product in the product housing of the solid product dispenser on top of the first solid product;

c) dispensing a portion of the first solid product during at least a first cycle of the solid product dispenser to create a first use solution until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed;

d) dispensing a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product during at least a second cycle of the solid product dispenser to create a second use solution until the first solid product has been completely depleted; and

e) dispensing a portion of the second solid product during at least a third cycle of the solid product dispenser to create a third use solution, wherein during dispensing a portion of the first solid product, dispensing portions of the first solid product and the second solid product, and dispensing a portion of the second solid product there is a rotation in ranges of pH in the first, second, and third use solutions, wherein the first, second, and third use solutions are cleaning solutions used separately to target different types of soils.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first solid product is an acidic cleaning product and the second solid product is an alkaline cleaning product, wherein a use solution having a neutral pH is dispensed during step 1(d).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first solid product is an alkaline cleaning product and the second solid product is an acidic cleaning product, wherein a use solution having a neutral pH is dispensed during step 1(d).

4. A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser, the first solid product and the second solid product being positioned in a product housing of the solid product dispenser, the first solid product and the second solid product being different products, comprising:

a) placing the first solid product in the product housing of the solid product dispenser;

b) dispensing a portion of the first solid product during at least a first cycle of the solid product dispenser to create a first use solution until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to be positioned in the product housing on top of the first solid product;

c) placing the second solid product in the product housing of the solid product dispenser on top of the first solid product;

d) dispensing a portion of the first solid product during the at least first cycle of the solid product dispenser to create the first use solution until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed;

e) dispensing a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product during at least a second cycle of the solid product dispenser to create a second use solution until the first solid product has been completely depleted; and

f) dispensing a portion of the second solid product during at least a third cycle of the solid product dispenser to create a third use solution, wherein during dispensing a portion of the first solid product, dispensing portions of the first solid product and the second solid product, and dispensing a portion of the second solid product there is a rotation in ranges of pH in the first, second, and third use solutions, wherein the first, second, and third use solutions are cleaning solutions used separately to target different types of soils.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first solid product is an acidic cleaning product and the second solid product is an alkaline cleaning product, wherein a use solution having a neutral pH is dispensed during step 4(e).

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first solid product is an alkaline cleaning product and the second solid product is an acidic cleaning product, wherein a use solution having a neutral pH is dispensed during step 4(e).

7. A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser, the first solid product and the second solid product being positioned in a product housing of the solid product dispenser, the first solid product and the second solid product being different products, comprising:

a) placing the first solid product in the product housing;

b) contacting a bottom portion of the first solid product with a diluent to dissolve a portion of the first solid product to create a first use solution;

c) dispensing a portion of the first solid product during at least a first cycle of the solid product dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to be positioned within the product housing on top of the first solid product;

d) placing the second solid product in the product housing of the solid product dispenser on top of the first solid product;

e) contacting a bottom portion of the first solid product with the diluent to dissolve a portion of the first solid product to create the first use solution;

f) dispensing a portion of the first solid product until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed;

g) contacting a bottom portion of the first solid product and a bottom portion of the second solid product with the diluent to dissolve a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product to create a second use solution;

h) dispensing a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product during at least a second cycle until the first solid product has been completely depleted; and

i) contacting a bottom portion of the second solid product with the diluent during at least a third cycle to dissolve a portion of the second solid product to create a third use solution, wherein during dispensing a portion of the first solid product, dispensing portions of the first solid product and the second solid product, and dispensing a portion of the second solid product there is a rotation in ranges of pH in the first, second, and third use solutions, wherein the first, second, and third use solutions are cleaning solutions used separately to target different types of soils.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first use solution has an acidic pH, the second use solution has a neutral pH, and the third use solution has an alkaline pH.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first use solution has an alkaline pH, the second use solution has a neutral pH, and the third use solution has an acidic pH.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the products are sprayed with the diluent.

11. A method of dispensing an acidic solid product and an alkaline solid product with a solid product dispenser, the acidic solid product and the alkaline solid product being positioned alternately in a product housing of the solid product dispenser, comprising:

a) placing the acidic solid product in the product housing;

b) contacting a bottom portion of the acidic solid product with a diluent to dissolve a portion of the acidic solid product to create an acidic use solution;

c) dispensing a portion of the acidic solid product during at least a first cycle of the solid product dispenser until the acidic solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the alkaline solid product to be positioned within the product housing on top of the acidic solid product;

d) placing the alkaline solid product in the product housing of the solid product dispenser on top of the acidic solid product;

e) dispensing a portion of the acidic solid product until the acidic solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the alkaline solid product to also be dispensed;

f) contacting a bottom portion of the acidic solid product and a bottom portion of the alkaline solid product with the diluent during at least a second cycle to dissolve a portion of the acidic solid product and a portion of the alkaline solid product to create a neutral use solution;

g) dispensing a portion of the acidic solid product and a portion of the alkaline solid product until the acidic solid product has been completely depleted; and

h) contacting a bottom portion of the alkaline solid product with the diluent during at least a third cycle to dissolve a portion of the alkaline solid product to create an alkaline use solution, wherein there is a rotation in ranges of pH in the acidic use solution, the neutral use solution, and the alkaline use solution, wherein the acidic use solution, the neutral use solution, and the alkaline use solution are used separately to target different types of soils.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the acidic use solution has a pH from 3.00 to 6.00, the neutral use solution has a pH from 6.00 to 8.00, and the alkaline use solution has a pH from 8.00 to 11.00.