GB2306457A

GB2306457A - Dispensing system for use with a cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: GB2306457A
Application number: GB9621920A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Geoffrey Gee
Original assignee: GW Chemicals Ltd
Current assignee: GW Chemicals Ltd
Priority date: 1995-10-24
Filing date: 1996-10-22
Publication date: 1997-05-07
Also published as: GB9521730D0; GB9621920D0

Abstract

A dispensing system for use with a cleaning machine, e.g. an industrial dishwasher, comprises a container 10 containing cleaning liquid and a receptacle 12 which removably supports the container in an inverted orientation. The container has a neck 16 which is closed by a valve 20 which is opened, or can be opened, when the container is supported by the receptacle. Preferably, the valve is a push-fit in the neck of the container and is closed by a spring 30 when not in use. The valve may be opened automatically by an elongate, tapering spike 36 either fixed or movable within the receptacle. The container neck may be fitted with a sealing membrane and an outer closure. In use, water is supplied to the system through pipe 40. The water may be taken from the cleaning machine (not shown) via a filter 42, injected with air 44 and delivered using a pump 38, which may be peristaltic, to the receptacle 12. The air displaces cleaning fluid from the container which mixes with the water and is then discharged to the cleaning machine via outlet 32 and 34. The discharge may be controlled by a conductivity probe (not shown).

Description

DIgPEN8INQ APPARATUS This invention relates to dispensing apparatus for use with a cleaning machine which requires water to which there is added a cleaning liquid, and particularly, but not exclusively, to dispensing apparatus for use with a dishwashing machine of industrial type for use in large establishments such as hospitals, hotels, canteens and the like. The cleaning liquid may for example be a detergent or a rinse-aid.

The object of the invention is to provide means for dispensing a cleaning liquid with efficiency.

According to a first aspect of the invention, dispensing apparatus for use with a cleaning machine which requires water to which there is added a cleaning liquid, comprises a container having a neck and containing the cleaning liquid, and a receptacle adapted to removably support the container in inverted orientation, thereby to permit dispensing of the cleaning liquid through the neck of the container, wherein the neck is closed by a valve which is opened, or able to be opened when required, when the container is operatively supported by the receptacle.

The valve is preferably a push-fit in the neck of the container. Preferably, this is done as part of the manufacturing process, rather than by the user. Thus, the valve is suitably an item which is disposable, being discarded with the container when the container is empty.

Preferably, the valve is spring-closed and is automatically opened by a part within the receptacle when the container is operatively supported thereby. This part may suitably be an elongate part, disposed upright within the receptacle. It may suitably taper to a tip, thus being in the form of a spike. The valve part contacted by it may suitably have a recess or well where contacted by the tip, thereby to assist in correct engagement between the two contacting parts.

Said part of the receptacle could be a part movable therein, under suitable control, to advance to open the valve, at selected times. Preferably, however, it is a part fixedly secured within the receptacle, so that when the container is operatively supported by the receptacle the valve is always open.

Preferably, also, the neck of the container has a closure external to the neck. Suitably this is a cap screw-threaded onto the neck.

Preferably, between the valve and the closure external to the neck there is a sealing membrane, for example a metal/plastics foil laminate, able to be pierced by said part within the receptacle when the container is operatively supported by the receptacle.

Liquid, either the neat cleaning liquid or water containing the cleaning liquid, depending on the particular construction, may be drawn off into the apparatus from the receptacle through a vent therein.

Preferably, the flow through the vent is controlled in response to a conductivity probe which measures the conductivity of the aqueous cleaning solution within the cleaning machine, and hence assesses its concentration.

Preferably, also, an outlet conduit in the receptacle acts as an overflow and communicates with a waste conduit.

In one embodiment a supply of water injected with air is delivered to the receptacle whence said injected air enters the container and displaces cleaning liquid therefrom whilst the water carries the displaced cleaning liquid to an outlet conduit in the receptacle, which outlet conduit communicates with the cleaning machine.

Preferably, in said embodiment, the water is abstracted from that contained in the cleaning machine and delivered to the receptacle by means of a pump.

Preferably, also, the pump is of peristaltic type.

Such am embodiment is particularly suitable when the neat cleaning liquid may be corrosive or prone to leave deposits.

The machine is preferably a dishwasher. However, it could be another ware-washing machine, for example a clothes washing machine.

The invention further relates to ware-washing apparatus comprising dispensing apparatus as hereinbefore described and defined.

The invention further relates to a container as herein defined and described, which container contains a cleaning liquid.

The invention further relates to a method of washing articles, comprising use of ware-washing apparatus to which a cleaning liquid is delivered, in a manner herein described and defined.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic sectional side elevation of liquid detergent dispensing means for an industrial dishwashing machine; and Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of liquid dispensing means for an industrial dishwashing machine.

Referring now to Figure 1, an industrial dishwashing machine washes in conventional manner with a volume of, typically, 18 to 20 litres of water contained within it which has been supplied directly from the mains and heated to a suitable temperature, typically 55or. Liquid detergent is progressively dispensed with the aid of water, as will be hereinafter described, from an inverted container 10 into a funnel-like plastics receptacle 12 and thence into the interior of the machine. The container 10 is a plastics bottle of generally cuboid shape but has slanted shoulders 13. The receptacle 12 has corresponding slanted support surfaces so that the container is stably supported within the receptacle. The container 10 has a removable cap (not shown) engageable on a screw-thread 14 formed externally on its neck 16.Across the circular end of the neck, engaged thereon by an induction sealing method, is a metal/plastics foil laminate 18. A support housing 20 of a valve indicated generally at 22 is a pushfit in the neck 16, and said housing includes an aperture 24 and a seat 26 for a closure member 28 loaded by a spring 30. The receptacle 12 includes an outlet conduit 32 which communicates by way of a delivery conduit 34 with the interior of the machine, and a vertical spike 36 is secured centrally within the receptacle 12. The closure member 28 has a cupped end face 29, the recess thereof facing the spike 36. A peristaltic pump 38 abstracts water from that contained within the machine through a pipe 40 and an in-line suction filter 42 which strains out fragments of food. Air indicated by bubbles 44 is injected into the abstracted water through a tube 46.

In operation, the cap is removed from a container 10 of liquid detergent and said container is inverted and placed in the receptacle 12. The spike 36 pierces the foil 18 and opens the valve 22 by pushing the closure member 28 off its seat 26 against the action of the spring 30, as shown in Figure 1. Spillage of liquid detergent from the container 10 during its inversion and placing in the receptacle 12, in particular spillage outside the dispensing apparatus, is thus prevented. The correct engagement of the spike and closure member is aided by the pointed end of the spike and the cupped shape of the end portion of the closure member.

Water abstracted by the pump 38 from that contained within the machine fills the receptacle 12 to the level of the top of the part of the aperture 24 uncovered by the displacement of the closure member 28. This level is indicated by the dotted line marked A in Figure 1. This prevents the liquid detergent simply flowing freely out of the open valve 22. However, the air injected into said water enters the container 10 by way of the aperture 24 and bubbles up to the top of said container as illustrated. This forces liquid detergent to be displaced from the container 10 into the receptacle 12 whence it is picked up by the flow of said abstracted water and carried through the outlet conduit 32 and the delivery conduit 34 to the interior of the machine where it mixes with the water contained therein to perform the cleaning operation.

The embodiment of Figure 1 is well adapted for use with cleaning liquids, especially detergents, containing components which are sparingly soluble in water, for example sodium carbonate, and/or corrosive. This is due in part to the fact that, apart from the period just after a new container has been located within the receptacle, diluted detergent rather than neat detergent is within the receptacle; and in part to the wide flow-path, not susceptible to blocking, for conducting the dispensed diluted detergent from the receptacle 12 to the interior of the machine, which flow-path is provided by the outlet conduit 32 and the delivery conduit 34.

Referring now to Figure 2, an industrial dishwashing machine again washes in conventional manner with a volume of, typically, 18 to 20 litres of water contained within it which has been supplied directly from the mains and heated to a suitable temperature, typically 550C. A cleaning liquid is progressively dispensed without the aid of water by means which are mainly the same as those of Figure 1. Parts in Figure 2 which are identical to those in Figure 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

The embodiment of Figure 2 differs from that of Figure 1 in that the pump 38, pipe 40, filter 42 and tube 46 are omitted; the outlet conduit 32 and the opening 34 simply communicate with a waste conduit (not shown) instead of with the interior of the machine; and a vent 100 is provided in the receptacle 12 whereby neat cleaning liquid can be drawn off into the machine, the flow through said vent being controlled by a conductivity probe (not shown).

In operation, the cap is removed from a container 10 of liquid detergent or rinse-aid and said container is inverted and placed in the receptacle 12. The spike 36 pierces the foil 18 and opens the valve 22 by pushing the closure member 28 off its seat 26 against the action of the spring 30 as shown, thus preventing external spillage of any liquid from the container 10. The liquid flows freely out of the open valve 22 into the receptacle 12 until it reaches the level A of the top of the part of the aperture 24 uncovered by the displacement of the closure member 28, whereupon such flow is automatically stopped.

Neat liquid is drawn off through the vent 100 as required to the interior of the machine, where it mixes with the water contained therein to perform the washing operation.

Whenever the exposed portion of the aperture 24 ceases to be fully covered by the liquid in the receptacle 12, sufficient liquid automatically flows out of the container 10 to restore said level. In the unlikely event of the vent 100 becoming blocked, the outlet conduit 32 and the opening 34 act as an emergency overflow to the waste conduit.

This second embodiment is especially suitable for the delivery of cleaning liquids which are readily soluble and which are not corrosive. This may include some detergents, and most rinse-aids.

In a third embodiment of this invention, which is not illustrated, readily soluble non-corrosive liquid detergent, or alternatively liquid rinse-aid, is progressively dispensed in a neat condition from an inverted container into a funnel-like receptacle through a valve constructed and adapted to operate exactly like the valve 22 of Figures 1 and 2. The liquid is then drawn off from the receptacle through a narrow duct into a conduit delivering a flow of water to the interior of the machine. The action of water flowing past the narrow duct causes a venturi-type delivery action. The water can either be abstracted from that contained within the machine, or supplied directly from the mains.

The invention has been described with reference to examples of delivery of cleaning liquids to dishwashing machines, but is also applicable to other ware-washing machines, for example machines for washing clothes

Claims

CLAINS: 1. Dispensing apparatus for use with a cleaning machine which requires water to which there is added a cleaning liquid, comprises a container having a neck and containing the cleaning liquid, and a receptacle adapted to removably support the container in inverted orientation, thereby to permit dispensing of the cleaning liquid through the neck of the container wherein the neck is closed by a valve which is opened, or able to be opened when required, when the container is operatively supported by the receptacle.
2. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valve is a push-fit in the neck of the container.
3. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said valve is spring-closed and is automatically opened by a part within the receptacle when the container is operatively supported thereby.
4. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said part is an elongate part, disposed upright within the receptacle.
5. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said part tapers to a tip.
6. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 3 or any succeeding claim, wherein said part of the receptacle is a part movable therein, under suitable control, to advance to open the valve, at selected times.
7. Dispensing apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein said part of the receptacle is a part fixedly secured within the receptacle, so that when the container is operatively supported by the receptacle the valve is always open.
8. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said neck of the container has a closure external to the neck.
9. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a sealing membrane is provided between the valve and the closure external to the neck.
lo. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, when dependent on claim 3, wherein said membrane is capable of being pierced by said part within the receptacle when the container is operatively supported by the receptacle.
11. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a vent is provided in the receptacle for drawing off liquid into the apparatus.
12. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein flow through the vent is controlled in response to a conductivity probe which measures the conductivity of the aqueous cleaning solution within the cleaning machine, and hence assesses its concentration.
13. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein, in use, when a supply of water injected with air is delivered to the receptacle, said injected air enters the container and displaces cleaning liquid therefrom whilst the water carries the displaced cleaning liquid to an outlet conduit in the receptacle, which outlet conduit communicates with the cleaning machine.
14. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said water is abstracted from that contained in the cleaning machine and delivered to the receptacle by means of a pump.
15. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said pump is of peristaltic type.
16. A cleaning machine or ware-washing apparatus comprising dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim.
17. A method of washing articles, comprising use of a cleaning machine or ware-washing apparatus according to claim 16.
18. A container containing cleaning liquid adapted for use with dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim.
19. Dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
20. A cleaning machine, ware-washing apparatus, method or container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.