Solid chemical product dispensing using recycled fluid
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a chemical product dispenser having a housing sized to receive a chemical product in the form of a solid chemical product concentrate;
a sump;
the housing of the chemical product dispenser further including an inlet by which recycled fluid from a cleaning apparatus enters the housing and an outlet by which a dispensed solution, formed by contact of the recycled fluid with the solid chemical product concentrate, exits the housing and is directed to the sump to form a use solution;
a fluid directing device;
a first fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the cleaning apparatus to an inlet of the fluid directing device;
a second fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to the sump;
a third fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to the inlet of the chemical product dispenser; and
a controller that determines the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution and electronically controls the fluid directing device to direct the recycled fluid from the cleaning apparatus through the second fluid delivery conduit to the sump if the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution satisfies a target concentration, and to direct the recycled fluid from the cleaning apparatus through the third fluid delivery conduit to the inlet of the chemical product dispenser if the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution does not satisfy the target concentration, such that the recycled fluid contacts the solid chemical product concentrate to form the dispensed solution, the dispensed solution exits the housing and is directed to the sump to increase the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Dispensing techniques utilize existing fluid to dispense a solid block of chemical product concentrate. The solid chemical product concentrate may include, for example, detergents, disinfectants, sanitizers, rinse agents, or other cleaning agents. The dispenser monitors and controls the concentration of the chemical product in a use solution. When the concentration of the use solution falls outside of a target range, the dispenser routes existing fluid from within the system to the dispenser, where it interacts with and dispense a solid chemical product concentrate, thus raising the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution. In a dishmachine application, the existing fluid may include post wash or rinse fluid from the dishmachine, or may include use solution from a sump, tank, or other use solution storage container.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a chemical product dispenser having a housing sized to receive a chemical product in the form of a solid chemical product concentrate; a sump; the housing of the chemical product dispenser further including an inlet by which recycled fluid from a cleaning apparatus enters the housing and an outlet by which a dispensed solution, formed by contact of the recycled fluid with the solid chemical product concentrate, exits the housing and is directed to the sump to form a use solution; a fluid directing device; a first fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the cleaning apparatus to an inlet of the fluid directing device; a second fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to the sump; a third fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to the inlet of the chemical product dispenser; and a controller that determines the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution and electronically controls the fluid directing device to direct the recycled fluid from the cleaning apparatus through the second fluid delivery conduit to the sump if the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution satisfies a target concentration, and to direct the recycled fluid from the cleaning apparatus through the third fluid delivery conduit to the inlet of the chemical product dispenser if the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution does not satisfy the target concentration, such that the recycled fluid contacts the solid chemical product concentrate to form the dispensed solution, the dispensed solution exits the housing and is directed to the sump to increase the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system, comprising:
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a cleaning apparatus that receives articles to be washed during a cleaning process; a sump positioned to capture and hold a use solution comprised of a fluid and a dispensed chemical product; a sensor that monitors a concentration of the chemical product in the use solution; a fluid directing device connected to receive recycled fluid from the cleaning apparatus during the cleaning cycle; a chemical product dispenser sized to receive a solid chemical product concentrate, wherein the chemical product dispenser dispenses the chemical product into the use solution by applying the recycled fluid from the cleaning apparatus to the solid chemical product; a first fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the cleaning apparatus to an inlet of the fluid directing device; a second fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to the sump; a third fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to an inlet of the chemical product dispenser; a dispenser controller that compares the monitored concentration of the chemical product in the use solution with a target concentration, wherein the dispenser controller further electronically controls the fluid directing device to direct the recycled fluid through the second fluid delivery conduit into the use solution in the sump if the monitored concentration of the chemical product in the use solution satisfies the target concentration, and to direct the recycled fluid through the third fluid delivery conduit to the inlet of the chemical product dispenser if the monitored concentration of the chemical product in the use solution does not satisfy the target concentration. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a chemical product dispenser having a housing sized to receive a chemical product in the form of a solid chemical product concentrate, the housing further including an inlet by which recycled fluid from a cleaning apparatus enters the housing and an outlet by which a dispensed solution, formed by contact of the recycled fluid with the solid chemical product concentrate, exits the housing and is directed to a sump containing a use solution; a fluid directing device; a first fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the cleaning apparatus to an inlet of the fluid directing device; a second fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to the sump; a third fluid delivery conduit connected to deliver the recycled cleaning fluid from the fluid directing device to an inlet of the chemical product dispenser; and a controller that determines the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution and electronically controls the fluid directing device to direct the recycled fluid through the second fluid delivery conduit to the sump if the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution satisfies a target concentration, and to direct the recycled fluid through the third fluid delivery conduit to the inlet of the dispenser if the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution does not satisfy the target concentration, such that the recycled fluid contacts the solid chemical product concentrate to form the dispensed solution, the dispensed solution exits the housing and is directed to the sump to increase the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification