Impact load protection for mass-based product dispensers

• US 8,511,512 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Brian P., Limback, Scott R., Lanz, Joshua J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Brian R
• Application Number:
  US12/683,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20110165034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 422500-501, 422/504, 422/509, 422/517, 422/521, 422 63- 681, 422/105, 422/107, 422560-561, 222/55, 222/58, 222/77
• US Class Current: 222/58
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00

Abstract

A chemical product dispenser that controls dispensation of a chemical product based on a change in weight of the chemical product remaining in the dispenser includes an isolation mechanism. The dispenser includes a weight measurement instrument, such as one or more load cells, that measure the weight of the chemical product remaining the dispenser. The isolation mechanism is configured to lift the chemical product from a lowered position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the load cell(s) to a raised position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the isolation mechanism. When in the raised position, the dispenser may be loaded with a supply of chemical product with a reduced risk of damage to the weight measurement instrument.

Claims

1. A dispenser that controls dispensation of a chemical product based on a change in weight of the chemical product remaining in the dispenser, comprising:

a weight measurement instrument that generates one or more electrical signals indicative of the weight of the chemical product remaining in the dispenser;

a product holder configured to receive the chemical product; and

an isolation mechanism configured to lift the product holder from a lowered position to a raised position, the isolation mechanism comprising;

an actuator;

a cam operatively connected to the actuator; and

a lift plate configured to engage with the cam and configured to engage with the product holder,

wherein rotation of the actuator produces a corresponding rotation of the cam such that an eccentric portion of the cam engages the lift plate and moves the lift plate and the product holder from the lowered position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the weight measurement instrument to the raised position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the lift plate.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a door; and

a lock, wherein raising of the lift plate from the lowered position to the raised position unlocks the door.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, the lift plate including a first stop that engages the lock when the lift plate is in the lowered position and the door is in a closed position.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, the lift plate further including a second stop that engages the lock when the lift plate is in the raised position and when the door is in an open position.

5. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the actuator is positioned outside of the door and the cam, the lift plate and the product holder are positioned inside of the door.

6. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the isolation mechanism is attached to the door.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a handle.

8. A dispenser that controls dispensation of a chemical product based on a change in weight of the chemical product remaining in the dispenser, comprising:

a housing having a door pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position;

a weight measurement instrument that generates one or more electrical signals indicative of the weight of the chemical product remaining in the dispenser;

a product holder positioned inside of the housing and configured to receive the chemical product; and

an isolation mechanism mounted on the door of the housing and configured to move the product holder between a lowered position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the weight measurement instrument when the door is in the closed position and a raised position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the isolation mechanism.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein the isolation mechanism comprises:

an actuator; and

a displacement member operatively connected to the actuator and positioned to engage the product holder,

wherein actuation of the actuator produces a corresponding movement of the isolation mechanism that moves the product holder between the lowered position and the raised position.

10. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the isolation mechanism by being at least one of rotating, pulling, or pushing.

11. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the isolation mechanism comprises a gear train.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the gear train is configured to translate rotation of the actuator into linear displacement.

13. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the gear train comprises a rack and a pinion.

14. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the isolation mechanism comprises:

an actuator;

a cam operatively connected to the actuator; and

a lift plate configured to engage with the cam and to engage with the product holder, wherein rotation of the actuator produces a corresponding rotation of the cam such that an eccentric portion of the cam engages the lift plate, moving the lift plate and the product holder from the lowered position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the weight measurement instrument to the raised position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the lift plate.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the cam comprises an eccentric disc configured to engage a lever connected to the lift plate.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the lever comprises a flange protruding from the lift plate.

17. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the isolation mechanism comprises a linkage.

18. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the isolation mechanism comprises a solenoid.

19. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises a button electrically connected to the solenoid.

20. A dispensing apparatus that controls dispensation of a chemical product based on a change in weight of the chemical product remaining in the dispensing apparatus, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a weight measurement instrument that senses the weight of the chemical product remaining in the dispenser;

a product holder configured to receive the chemical product;

an actuator;

a cam operatively connected to the actuator; and

a lift plate configured to engage with the cam and to engage with the product holder, wherein rotation of the actuator produces a corresponding rotation of the cam such that an eccentric portion of the cam engages the lift plate, moving the lift plate and the product holder from a lowered position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the weight measurement instrument to a raised position in which the weight of the chemical product is fully supported by the lift plate and in which the weight measurement instrument is physically isolated from the weight of the chemical product.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising at least one slide rail, wherein the lift plate is configured to slidably move along the at least one slide rail when moving between the lowered and raised positions.