AU643515B2 - Dual compartment container - Google Patents

Description

WO 91/13811 PCT/AU91/00080 1 DUAL COMPARTMENT CONTAINER Field of the Invention This invention relates to improvements in containers and relates particularly to an improved container structure which facilitates dispensing, extracting or pouring a product contained within the container.

The container of the present invention may be used for dispensing detergent or any other material in an industrial or commercial process. The container is also adapted for extracting a product, or for pouring a product, such as a liquid.

Consequently, the container of the present invention has a wide application. For ease of description, however, the invention will be particularly described with reference to the use of the container in dispensing detergents, rinse aids and water softener material for use in commercial dishwashing machines.

Background of the Invention In commercial dishwashing apparatus, products to be dispensed may be in liquid, or semi-liquid, powder or solid form, and the dispensing apparatus is generally designed to handle one particular form of the product. However, while liquids are dispensed relatively easily, special apparatus design is required to dispense powders and solids due to the need to slurry or dissolve the material, generally with water, to provide a fluid capable of being handled and used for its desired purpose. In the case of detergents, the powder or solid is generally contacted by a water jet, spray or the like which acts to form a slurry or solution of the product which is then pumped or otherwise removed from the container for use.

It has been found that, with normal containers, the wetting of a powder in the container to form a solution or slurry may result in some separation or premature dissolution of some ingredients of the detergent. It has also been found that the wetted powders tend to compact and solidify reducing the effectiveness of the water jet or spray in forming a solution or slurry of the desired concentration. Further, when the level of powder in a container decreases the effectiveness of the water jet or spray in forming the desired slurry or solution becomes less and some wastage of powder may occur due to the need to prematurely replace containers which are not totally emptied.

Various proposals have been made in the construction of the commercial SUBSTITUTE SHEET 2 dishwashing apparatus in an attempt to avoid some of the disadvantages referred to. In one arrangement, the container of solid or powder detergent is inverted over a water inlet to facilitate removal of a solution or slurry of the detergent. However, while an inverted container is relatively safe when empty, all the water detergent having being drained therefrom, problems can arise with partly emptied containers and with leaks developing between the container outlet and the dispensing apparatus.

It is, therefore, desired to provide an improved construction of container for product dispensing apparatus which can alleviate or avoid some of the disadvantages associated with currently used containers.

It is also desired to provide a container construction which facilitates removal of product therefrom.

It is also desired to provide an improved container construction which may be utilized for a variety of products, including liquids and powders, for storage and dispensing purposes.

It is also desirable to provide an improved construction of container which is relatively safe to use and which may be used for a variety of purposes.

Summary of he Invention In accordance with the present invention there is provided a detergent container for detergent dispensing apparatus which incorporates a fluid inlet means, and a dispensed product outlet means, said container having a first, main compartment to receive and store product to be dispensed, the main compartment having, a base wall means, upwardly extending side wall means and top wall means, a second, dispensing compartment extending upwardly along side the side wall means whereby the main compartment and i i'second compartment are located side by side when the container is in a normal upright 25 position, the second compartment having a dispensing opening at its upper end which is adjacent the top wall means, and a lower end of the second compartment being of reduced i cross-section and curved towards the side wall of the first compartment, and then upwardly, to form a curved dispensing passage which opens intc the first compartment 3 through a communicating opening in the side wall means adjacent the base wall means, said base wall means sloping upwardly away from said communicating opening, and said dispensing opening adapted to sealingly receive the fluid inlet means and dispensed product outlet means which, in the operative position, are disposed within said second compartment.

TG-76SOSPC 9 Sqcmber 1993 Preferably, the first compartment has a filling opening through which product can be introduced to the container. A removable closure may be used to close the filling opening or, alternatively, the filling opening may be permanently closed after filling of the container to prevent subsequent re-use.

If the container is to be used for the storage and/or dispensing of liquids, a further passage may interconnect the compartments, such passage being spaced from the first passage, adjacent a top wall of the container. Such a second passage enables air to pass from the second compartment to the main compartment to facilitate a fluid, such as oil, being poured from the second compartment without the formation of air locks and subsequent "glugging".

In one particular form; of container, the second compartment is a tube-like compartment formed externally of the main compartment and extending along one side thereof. The tube-like compartment is adapted to receive inlet and outlet tubes from a product dispenser of a type similar to that described in our copending International Patent Application No. PCT/AU90/00352.

According to another aspect of the invention there is disclosed a container fhr dispensing a powdered detergent product comprising a first compartment to receive the product to be dispensed, a sealable filling opening in a top wall of the first compartment, a bottom wall sloping downwardly towards one side of the first compartment, a second compartment from which product is to be dispensed extending upwardly from said one side and integral therewith, the second compartment having an outlet opening at an upper end adjacent the filling opening, a lower end of the second compartment being of reduced :cross-section and being curved inwardly and upwardly towards the first compartment to define a passage which communicates with the first compartment through an opening in 25 said one side, said second compartment having dimensions to receive and locate a fluid inlet tube and a product outlet tube of dispensing apparatus to which the container is i mounted in its operative position, so that fluid from the inlet tube is directed by the inwardly and upwardly curved passage into impinging contact with powder in the container to form a powder slurry solution which is extracted from the second compartment by said S 30 outlet tube.

Containers according to the invention are particularly suited for dishwashing detergent powder dispensed through dispensing apparatus. A dispensing fluid, water, TG-U4r680.SPC 9 Scptembr 1993 inlet tube engages in the outlet opening in the second compartment alongside a product outlet tube. The inlet and outlet tubes are sealed in the outlet opening and the introduction of the dispensing fluid is controlled to slightly pressurize the container. Water entering the second compartment flows through the opening which is located at the bottom of the first and second compartments. Detergent powder in the first compartment is slurried and/or dissolved by the dispensing fluid the level of which builds up in the second compartment and passes out through the outlet tube. Preferably, the outlet tube extends towards the bottom of the second compartment and the slurry/solution is pumped from the container.

The lower end of the second compartment is formed in a curve so that water entering the second compartment is directed by the curve through the opening. This enables the water to pass cleanly through the opening and impinge on detergent powder in the first compartment to cause the slurry and/or solution.

i I Si Tn-ff7.SO.SP 9 Scptember 1993 WO 91/13811 PCT/AU9/00080 4 It is also preferred that the base wall of the first compartment is formed with a sloping base to assist in directing the water flowing from the second compartment into contact with detergent powder.

With this arrangement, detergent powder is dissolved from the bottom of the first compartment and relatively little wetting of the remaining powder occurs due to the dispensing liquid being introduced at the bottom. This arrangement obviates premature dissolution of the more easily dissolved ingredients of the detergent powder and prevents solidification of the powder remaining in the first compartment.

In order that this invention will be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the container of Figure 1; and Fig. 4 is a part-sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the container 12 comprises a first compartment 14 and a second compartment 16. The first, or main compartment 14 has a base ill 28 and upwardly extending side wall 15. The second compartment 16 communicates with the main compartment 14 through a passage 17 formed integral with the second compartment 16, which passage 17 opens into the main compartment 14 through the opening 18 in a common wall 19. It will be seen that the second compartment 16 lies along side the main compartment 14 with the respective compartment side walls being joined by a connecting web 21.

The first compartment 14 has a filling opening 22 in a top wall 20 by which product can be introduced into the container. The filling opening 22 is closed by a closure 23 which may be fixed in position to prevent re-use of the container. Thus, the closure 23 may be welded by, for example, spin welding, or adhered or otherwise fixed in place to prevent intact removal thereof. If, however, re-use of the container is desired then the closure 23 will be designed to be removable.

The second compartment 16, which is of substantially tubular form, is provided with a threaded inlet/outlet opening 26 at its upper end, the opening 26 being closed by a replaceable cap 24.

WO 9113811 PCTAU91/00080 The passage 17 at the lower end of the second compartment 16 is curved, as at 27, and is narrowed in diameter so as to form a channel which is able to direct fluid into the first compartment 14 through the opening 18. The bottom wall 28 of the first compartment is shaped with an upward slope extending from the opening 18 which further assists in directing fluid from the second compartment 16 into contact with detergent powder or the like in the first compartment 14.

In this embodiment, the second compartment 16 is separated from the first compartment 14, being joined only at the base and by the connecting web 21. It will be understood, however, that the invention may be performed by providing a partition or wall in a container to divide the container into two compartments.

In use of the container of this embodiment, a product, such as powdered detergent, is introduced into the first compartment 14 through the filler opening 22 which is then sealed with the closure 23. The opening 18 between the compartments 14 and 16 may be made up of a number of relatively small holes, but preferably, the opening is relatively large to allow the free flow of water therethrough. When engaged with a dispensing machine, an inlet and outlet tube are sealed into the second compartment opening 26. Water, or other dispensing fluid, introduced through an inlet pipe into the second compartment 16 is directed by the curved passage 17 through the opening 18 and slurries or dissolves detergent powder. The solution or slurry is removed from the second compartment 16 by the outlet tube as described in our copending application.

Referring to Figure 4, a further embodiment of the container of the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the container is designed particularly for dispensing a liquid such as a lubricant, fuel, beverage or the like. The container is substantially identical to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 except for the provision of a second passageway 30 extending between the first and second compartments 14 and 16. This second passageway 30 is located adjacent the top of the compartment- 14 and 16 and is provided to allow air to enter the first compartment 14 during a pouring of fluid from the second compartment 16. By allowing air to enter the first compartment 14 during pouring, the liquid in the container can flow from the outlet opening 26 in a smooth stream without spills, commonly associated with fuel or lubricant containers, or "glugging".

WO 91/13811 P~J/AU91 Y00080 6 It will be seen that the effect of the dual compartment container of the invention is that liquids can be poured from the container as though the container is only the relatively small second compartment 16 whilst retaining the advantages of a large container having the capacity of both first and second compartments 14 and 16.

It will be appreciated that the size of the opening 18 and the passage 17 will be determined in accordance with the use for which the container is to be designed.

Thus, the size of opening 18 can provide some degree of control over the flow of product from the container, where the container may be used for oil or other liquid.

Where the container is designed to be used with a detergent dispensing apparatus, however, a relatively large opening will enable a stream of inlet water to be directed from the second compartment 16 around the curved passage 17 and into the first compartment 14 to turbulate therein to slurry and dissolve a detergent powder.

Claims (9)

1. A detergent container for detergent dispensing apparatus which incorporates a fluid inlet means, and a dispensed product outlet means, said container having a first, main compartment to receive and store product to be dispensed, the main compartment having, a base wall means, upwardly extending side wall means and top wall means, a second, dispensing compartment extending upwardly along side the side wall means whereby the main compartment and second compartment are located side by side when the container is in a normal upright position, the second compartment having a dispensing opening at its upper end which is adjacent the top wall means, and a lower end of the second compartment being of reduced cross--section and curved towards the side wall of the first compartment, and then upwardly, to form a curved dispensing passage which opens into the first compartment through a communicating opening in the side wall means adjacent the base wall means, said base wall means sloping upwardly away from said communicating opening, and said dispensing opening adapted to sealingly receive the fluid inlet means and dispensed product outlet means which, in the operative position, are disposed within said second compartment.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the first compartmer:t has a sealable filling opening and the dispensing opening of the second compartment has a removable closure.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second compartment conlprises an elongated tubular structure mounted to the side wall means of the first compartment by an integral web, the tubular structure receiving and locating the inlet :",means of the dispensing apparatus so that the fluid introduced thereby passes around the curved dispensing passage causing the fluid to flow smoothly into the first compartment 25 and mix with detergent product therein.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the communicating 9 i opening between the first and second compartments comprises a plurality of holes in the S •side wall means.

5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the upwardly sloping base wall means of the first compartment forms a recess in the container base and provides a guide wall for fluid introduced into the second compartment.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the second compartment "rG-O.SPC 9 Septecmbcr 1993 communicates with the first compartment through a venting opening at the upper end portion of the second compartment.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a handle is provided on the first compartment.

8. A container for dispensing a powdered detergent product comprising a first compartment to receive the product to be dispensed, a sealable filling opening in a top wall of the first compartment, a bottom wall sloping downwardly towards one side of the first compartment, a second compartment from which product is to be dispensed extending upwardly from said one side and integral therewith, the second compartment having an outlet opening at an upper end adjacent the filling opening, a lower end of the second compartment being of reduced cross-section and being curved inwardly and upwardly towards the first compartment to define a passage which communicates with the first compartment through an opening in said one side, said second compartment having dimensions to receive and locate a fluid inlet tube and a product outlet tube of dispensing apparatus to which the container is mounted in its operative position, so that fluid from the inlet tube is directed by the inwardly and upwardly curved passage into impinging contact with powder in the container to form a powder slurry solution which is extracted from the second compartment by said outlet tube.

9. A container according to claim 8 wherein the first compartment also communicates with the second compartments through a venting opening adjacent the outlet opening. A container as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 9th day of September, 1993. GIBSON CHEMICALS LIMITED CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell 3124 Victoria Australia TG-#7680.SPC 9 Septembcr 1993