Solid rinse additive dispenser

• US 20050121058A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Killeen, Yvonne M., Furber, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,250,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/93
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• 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: B05D 3/00 Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials successively applying liquids or other fluent materials B05D1/36; drying ovens F26B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

A product dispenser (10) for dispensing a use solution from a solid product includes a chamber (11) having a front (12), a back (15), and a bottom (16). The chamber (11) defines a cavity (20) configured and arranged to receive a solid product and a diluent. An inlet (21) proximate the back (15) of the chamber (11) is configured and arranged to receive the diluent, and an outlet portion (26) is in fluid communication with the inlet (21). The outlet portion (26) spans a length of the back (15) and includes a plurality of apertures (27) along the length of the back (15). The plurality of apertures (27) allows diluent to fan out along the back (15), flow down the back (15), and cascade evenly with relatively even pressure from proximate the back (15) toward proximate the front (12) of the chamber (11). A use solution outlet (32) proximate the bottom (16) and the front (12) of the chamber (11) allows diluent and a use solution to exit the chamber (11).

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a use solution from a solid product into a dishwashing machine, comprising:

a) placing a solid product in a dispenser, said dispenser having a chamber including a front, a back, and a bottom, said chamber defining a cavity configured and arranged to receive said solid product and water from a water source, said chamber including a water inlet proximate said back and a use solution outlet proximate said bottom and said front, said water inlet receiving said water from said water source;

b) concurrently supplying water from said water source to rinse arms of a dishwashing machine and said water inlet, said water fanning out along said back, flowing down said back, and cascading evenly with relatively even pressure from proximate said back, toward proximate said front, and out said use solution outlet;

c) creating a use solution as water contacts a bottom portion of said solid product as said water cascades toward proximate said front of said chamber;

d) allowing substantially all of said use solution and said water to exit said cavity through said use solution outlet; and

e) directing said use solution into said dishwashing machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a support member in said cavity proximate said bottom of said chamber, said solid product being supported by said support member, said water flowing through said support member to contact said solid product.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising inserting an insert member configured and arranged to contain said solid product into said cavity, said insert member including an opening having a desired shape, said solid product being said desired shape.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing water from said water inlet to a plurality of apertures along a length of said back, said plurality of apertures allowing said water to be dispensed evenly along said length of said back with relatively even pressure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid product is a rinse additive.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said rinse additive is dispensed at a rate to yield approximately 32 to 62 ppm actives in said use solution in said dishwashing machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein uniform dissolution of said solid product occurs thereby maintaining a relatively constant concentration and a relatively constant shape of said solid product.

8. A product dispenser for dispensing a use solution from a solid product, comprising:

a) a chamber having a front, a back, and a bottom, said chamber defining a cavity configured and arranged to receive a solid product and a diluent;

b) an inlet proximate said back of said chamber, said inlet configured and arranged to receive the diluent;

c) an outlet portion in fluid communication with said inlet, said outlet portion spanning a length of said back and including a plurality of apertures along said length of said back, wherein said plurality of apertures allows diluent to fan out along said back, flow down said back, and cascade evenly with relatively even pressure from proximate said back toward proximate said front of said chamber; and

d) a use solution outlet proximate said bottom and said front of said chamber, said use solution outlet allowing diluent and a use solution to exit said chamber.

9. The product dispenser of claim 8, further comprising a support member in said cavity proximate said bottom of said chamber, said solid product being supported by said support member, said support member being permeable to said diluent.

10. The product dispenser of claim 8, further comprising an insert member configured and arranged to contain said solid product within said cavity, said insert member including an opening having a desired shape, said solid product being said desired shape.

11. The product dispenser of claim 8, wherein said solid product is a rinse additive dispensed at a rate to yield approximately 32 to 62 ppm actives in said use solution in said dishwashing machine.

12. The product dispenser of claim 8, wherein a uniform dissolution of said solid product occurs thereby maintaining a relatively constant concentration and a relatively constant shape of said solid product.

13. A solid product dispensing system for dispensing a use solution into a dishwashing machine, comprising:

a) a solid product having a bottom portion;

b) a water source including water;

c) a chamber having a front, a back, and a bottom, said chamber defining a cavity configured and arranged to receive said solid product and said water from said water source;

d) a support member in said cavity proximate said bottom of said chamber, said solid product being supported within said cavity by said support member, said water flowing through said support member to contact said solid product;

e) a water inlet proximate said back of said chamber, said water inlet configured and arranged to receive said water from said water source;

f) an outlet portion in fluid communication with said water inlet, said outlet portion spanning a length of said back and including a plurality of apertures along said length of said back, wherein said plurality of apertures allows water to fan out along said back, flow down said back, and cascade evenly with relatively even pressure from proximate said back toward proximate said front of said chamber; and

g) a use solution outlet proximate said bottom and said front of said chamber, said use solution outlet allowing water and a use solution to exit said chamber, said use solution outlet allowing substantially all said water and said use solution to exit said chamber.

14. The solid product dispensing system of claim 13, wherein said solid product is a rinse additive dispensed at a rate to yield approximately 32 to 62 ppm actives in said use solution in said dishwashing machine.

15. The solid product dispensing system of claim 13, further comprising an insert member configured and arranged to contain said solid product within said cavity, said insert member including an opening having a desired shape, said solid product being said desired shape.

16. The solid product dispensing system of claim 13, wherein a uniform dissolution of said solid product occurs thereby maintaining a relatively constant concentration and a relatively constant shape of said solid product.