Method and apparatus for dispensing solid product
First Claim
1. A method of dispensing a solid product, comprising:
- placing a solid product in a cavity of a dispenser having a nozzle in fluid communication with a diluent source, the diluent source supplying a diluent to the nozzle;
controlling nozzle spray on and spray off cycles to pulse the diluent onto a surface of the solid product as a pulsed diluent spray to dissolve a portion of the solid product and create a use solution during a product dispensing process, wherein the pulsed diluent spray increases a concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution by limiting an amount of excess diluent in the use solution during the product dispensing process;
detecting a level of the use solution in a reservoir;
turning off a timing device when a desired level of the use solution is detected; and
turning on the timing device when a lower level than the desired level of the use solution is detected, wherein the timing device controls the nozzle spray on and spray off cycles when the timing device is turned on.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing system includes a dispenser, a logic device, a nozzle, a diluent source, and a solid product. The logic device controls spray on and spray off cycles to pulse diluent supplied to the nozzle. The diluent contacts the solid product to dissolve a portion of the solid product and create a use solution. Pulsing the spray of diluent controls the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution by limiting the amount of excess dilutant added to the dispensed product. The product is more consistently dispensed and the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution is more consistent. Additionally, the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution can be controlled by changing at least one of a volume of diluent dispensed through the nozzle, a pressure of diluent, a pulsed diluent spray frequency, and a pulsed diluent spray duration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing a solid product, comprising:
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placing a solid product in a cavity of a dispenser having a nozzle in fluid communication with a diluent source, the diluent source supplying a diluent to the nozzle; controlling nozzle spray on and spray off cycles to pulse the diluent onto a surface of the solid product as a pulsed diluent spray to dissolve a portion of the solid product and create a use solution during a product dispensing process, wherein the pulsed diluent spray increases a concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution by limiting an amount of excess diluent in the use solution during the product dispensing process; detecting a level of the use solution in a reservoir; turning off a timing device when a desired level of the use solution is detected; and turning on the timing device when a lower level than the desired level of the use solution is detected, wherein the timing device controls the nozzle spray on and spray off cycles when the timing device is turned on. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of dispensing a solid product, the method comprising:
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housing a solid product above a sump that is configured to hold a concentrated solution; dissolving the solid product to generate the concentrated solution in the sump with a pulsed dilute spray using a spray cycle that directs the pulsed dilute spray on the solid product for a select amount of time that maximizes contact of the dilute spray with the solid product during an on portion of the spray cycle and maximizes a residence time of the dilute spray on the solid product during an off portion of the spray cycle to allow the dilute spray to dissolve a portion of the solid product before a next spray cycle is run so the concentration solution has a high concentration of the dissolved solid product relative to a concentration that would occur with the use of a non-pulsed spray; detecting a level of the concentrated solution in the sump; turning off a timing device when a desired level of the concentrated solution is detected; and turning on the timing device when a lower level than the desired level of the concentrated solution is detected, wherein the timing device controls the spray cycle when the timing device is turned on. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of dispensing a solid product, the method comprising:
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housing a solid product above a sump that is configured to hold a concentrated solution; dissolving the solid product to generate the concentrated solution in the sump with a pulsed dilute spray using a spray cycle that directs the pulsed dilute spray on the solid product for a select amount of time that maximizes contact of the dilute spray with the solid product during an on portion of the spray cycle and maximizes a residence time of the dilute spray on the solid product during an off portion of the spray cycle to allow the dilute spray to dissolve a portion of the solid product before a next spray cycle is run so the concentration solution has a high concentration of the dissolved solid product relative to a concentration that would occur with the use of a non-pulsed spray; detecting a level of the concentrated solution in the sump; turning off a timing device when a desired level of the concentrated solution is detected; turning on the timing device when a lower level than the desired level of the concentrated solution is detected, wherein the timing device controls the spray cycle and the next spray cycle when the timing device is turned on so as to control the select amount of time; preventing backflow of the concentrated solution in a diluent supply line; and selectively dispensing the concentrated solution from the sump. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification