Detergent Dispenser

• US 20080107576A1
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Heiduczek, Ralf, Zettlitzer, Gunther
• Granted Patent: US 8,075,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/266
• 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: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

The invention relates to a detergent dispenser for dosing a quantity of solid detergent by dissolving some of the solid detergent in a liquid solvent, in particular in water, to form a detergent solution, and feeding the detergent solution to a detergent outlet. The dispenser comprises a housing (1) with a chassis (2) for wallmounting or the like and a solid detergent reservoir (3). The solid detergent reservoir (3) comprises a detergent compartment (4) holding the solid detergent, a solvent application compartment (7), a liquid solvent dispensing means (9), a solvent supply conduit (10) leading to the solvent dispensing means (9), a detergent solution collector means (11), and a solution conduit (12) connected to the detergent solution collector means (11) to carry away the detergent solution towards a detergent outlet. The invention is particularly convenient, because the solid detergent reservoir (3) is constructed as a modular unit easily separable from the housing (1). If different solid detergent reservoirs (3) for different types of solid detergent are provided, those are, even if they are different in the detergent compartment (4) and/or the solvent application compartment (7) and/or the liquid solvent dispensing means (9), fully compatible with the housing (1) as far as form and attachment points are concerned.

Claims

1. Detergent dispenser for dosing a quantity of solid detergent by dissolving some of the solid detergent in a liquid solvent to form a detergent solution, and feeding the detergent solution to a detergent outlet, the dispenser comprising

a housing, a chassis for wall-mounting, and

a solid detergent reservoir,

wherein the solid detergent reservoir comprises a detergent compartment holding the solid detergent, a solvent application compartment below the detergent compartment, a liquid solvent dispenser at or in the solvent application compartment, a solvent supply conduit leading to the solvent dispenser, a detergent solution collector preferably at the bottom of the solvent application compartment, and a solution conduit connected to the detergent solution collector to carry away the detergent solution towards a detergent outlet, and wherein the solid detergent reservoir is constructed as a modular unit separable from the housing, and interchangeable for different types of solid detergents.

2. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the detergent compartment of the solid detergent reservoir for a block material is open at the top.

3. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the detergent compartment of a solid detergent reservoir for bulk material comprises a container with a lid on top.

4. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the detergent solution collector is provided with a spillover drain.

5. Dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the solution conduit is placed close to the rear of the housing or the spillover drain is placed close to the rear of the housing.

6. Dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the solid detergent reservoir comprises a second liquid solvent dispenser and a second solvent supply conduit for flushing the solvent application compartment and the solution conduit and a product feed line with clean liquid solvent after a dispensing cycle.

7. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the solvent supply conduit and the solution conduit further comprise a hydraulic connector for connecting it to a solvent supply line and a product feed line.

8. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a front cover connected to the chassis by a snap-in connection or a concealed releasable keyless locking mechanism.

9. Dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the solid detergent reservoir and the front cover of the housing are provided with interlocking connections adapted so that the front cover can only be removed if the reservoir has been separated from the chassis first.

10. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the majority of the dispenser is constructed with modular units.

11. Dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the modular units are connected to the chassis or another modular unit by snap-in connectors or plug-in connectors.

12. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is provided with a separate mounting plate adapted for wall-mounting, the chassis being connected to the mounting plate by snap-in connections.

13. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein all of the hydraulic connectors are plug-in connectors or snap-in connectors and are locked by locking formations on a respective modular unit or a separate locking part.

14. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein electronic controls are provided within an electronic modular unit.

15. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein all of the electronic items are positioned in or at the chassis.

16. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the electronic system of the dispenser is a low voltage system comprising a power supply of 24 V or 12 V, with a mains supply to be positioned at a distance from the dispenser.

17. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is provided with a safety switch in order to switch off electricity and the liquid solvent supply as soon as the solid detergent reservoir or a container, cartridge, or detergent is removed from the chassis.

18. Dispenser according to claim 17, wherein the safety switch further comprises a spring loaded lever mounted on the chassis and operable against the spring load by the solid detergent reservoir when it is attached to the chassis.

19. Dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the solid detergent reservoir for block material, a container, or a cartridge further comprises a follower lever cooperating with the spring loaded lever on the chassis to release the spring loaded lever to the “

off”

-position even if only the block or container, or cartridge is missing from the solid detergent reservoir.

20. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises a receptacle for an optional separate pumping unit driven by an electric drive motor.

21. Dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the pumping unit is provided with separate hydraulic connectors for separate supply feed lines for pumping a liquid additive to a utilization point.

22. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is provided with a receptacle for a motorized liquid solvent supply valve and the supply valve is held in the receptacle by a plug-in connection or a snap-in connection.

23. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is provided with a receptacle for a motorized 3/2-directional control valve, wherein the 3/2-valve is positioned downstream of the supply valve and serves to supply liquid solvent either to the liquid solvent dispensing means or the second liquid solvent dispensing means.

24. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises with a receptacle for a backflow preventer, wherein the backflow preventer is positioned downstream of the supply valve and serves to prevent any backflow of liquid into an external liquid solvent supply line in case of a pressure drop in that external liquid solvent supply line.

25. Dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the receptacle is constructed as a modular unit easily separable from the chassis or another modular unit, wherein the receptacle is compatible with the chassis or modular unit/

26. Dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the modular receptacle unit is connected to the chassis or another modular unit by a snap-in connection.

27. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the chassis and other modular units of the dispenser are made from plastic material.