EP3119503B1

EP3119503B1 - Detergents vending machine

Info

Publication number: EP3119503B1
Application number: EP15715428.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dino PAOLINO; Marco Benvenuti; Massimo PLEBANI
Original assignee: Ecogenia Srl
Current assignee: Ecogenia Srl
Priority date: 2014-03-18
Filing date: 2015-03-11
Publication date: 2018-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-11
Also published as: EP3119503A1; WO2016016737A1

Description

The present invention refers to a detergents vending machine, and to a method for mixing water with concentrated detergents.
In the field of detergents sales and even more so in that of commercial cleaning it is necessary to have multiple types of detergents to meet various cleaning needs.
It is therefore necessary to have warehouses available with all sorts of detergents that need to be used.
To avoid this, and to reduce storage space, machines which distribute various types of detergents with or without the addition of water have been implemented.
The machines contain only the concentrated detergents to which water is added.
The document US 6 705 358 describes a vending machine that mixes water and detergent in a container which is then tapped to fill bottles.
The document WO 03 095080 describes a system for mixing concentrated detergents with water and for filling bottles in an automatic way.
The object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine for cleaning detergents with controlled dosing having the function of optimizing the effectiveness and use thanks to a dilution system of concentrated formula detergents.
Another purpose is to provide a more effective mixing with water.
According to the present invention, these and other objectives are achieved by a detergents vending machine comprising: a first water inlet pipe connected to a compensation tank; the outlet of said compensation tank is connected to a pump for increasing the water pressure to at least 2 bar; the outlet of said pump being connected to a first activated carbon and resin filter; at least one container of a concentrated detergent; a Venturi effect mixer having a first inlet and an outlet aligned with each other along an axis and a second inlet transverse to said axis; the outlet of said first filter is connected to said first inlet of said mixer; the outlet of said at least one container, of a concentrated detergent, is connected to said second inlet of said mixer, so that the detergent is sucked from said at least one container; said second inlet comprises an interchangeable nozzle having a predetermined inner diameter, so as to dose the correct amount of detergent; the outlet of said mixer provides detergent mixed with water, to a conveyor.
Said objectives are also achieved by a method for mixing water with concentrate detergents making use of the machine of claim 1. Additional features of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
The advantages of this solution compared to the solutions of the prior art are several.
The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a functional hydraulic circuit of the detergents vending machine, according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a detail of the functional hydraulic circuit of the detergents vending machine, relative to the Venturi tube and to the tube supplying the mixture to the conveyer according to the present invention;
Figure 3 shows a detail of the functional hydraulic circuit of the detergents vending machine relative to the bushing arranged inside the tube supplying the mixture to the conveyor, according to the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a detail of the functional hydraulic circuit of the detergents vending machine, relative to the tube supplying the mixture to the conveyor and to the conveyor, according to the present invention;
Figure 5 shows a block diagram of a control system of the detergents vending machine, according to the present invention.

Referring to the attached figures, a detergents vending machine, according to the present invention, comprises a system water inlet pipe 10 followed by a manual valve 11, a water filter 12 of a netting-type (optional), followed by a solenoid valve 13 and then by a compensation tank 14 comprising a float 15 closing the inlet water. The tank 14 also comprises a discharge pipe 16 of the tank comprising a manual valve 17.
The filter 12 is used to protect the entire system from impurities that may, over time, damage the system in addition to compromising the correct functioning of the same.
The compensation tank 14, which acts as a flywheel, allows having a continuous flow of water for the system and for compensating for sudden demands of water.
The outlet of the tank 14 comprises a manual valve 20 followed by a pump 21 and by a pressure control 22, for regulating the water pressure at the desired pressure.
The pump 21, and the pressure control 22, bringing the water pressure to a predefined pressure, between 2.2 and 3.4 bar and in any case greater than 2 bar and preferably greater than 3 bar.
The tank 14 has been provided so as to supply the pump 21 with a flow of water, constant and independent from the inlet pressure, so that the pump 21 can freely operate and provide the desired pressure in a constant way.
The float 15 is used to adjust the amount of water inside the tank 14, and to block the influx of water when the tank 14 is full.
The pipe continues with a solenoid valve 23 and with a manual valve 24 and reaches the inlet to an activated carbon and resin softener filter 25, then a manual valve 26 supplies the filtered pressurized water to a manifold 27 having an inlet 28 and, in the case shown in the figure, eight outlets 29.
The filter 25 is a filter providing purified water, having, for example, dissolved solids less than 100 ppm, a hardness less than 35 ppm, an alkalinity less than 60 ppm, a pH between 7 and 8.5, chlorine lower than 0.2 ppm, and chloride lower than 30 ppm.
Each of the eight outlets 29 comprises a solenoid valve 30 and the pipes continue and enter (each) in a first inlet 40 (water) of a three-way mixer 31 having two inlets 40 and 41 and an outlet 42, of a Venturi effect type.
The vending machine comprises, in the case shown in the figure, eight containers 32 containing different types of concentrated detergents.
With concentrated detergents it is meant specific detergents for various uses with a very low water content, for example less than 2%.
The outlet pipe of each container 32 comprises a solenoid valve 33, and then, each, continues towards the second inlet 41 (detergent) of the mixers 31.
The outlets 42 of the mixers 31, (water and detergent) reach a conveyor 34 which comprises eight inlets and one outlet 35 from which the detergent mixed with water comes out so as to fill a container 36.
Each second inlet 41 (detergent) of the mixer 31 comprises an interchangeable nozzle 43, having a predetermined inner diameter, so as to allow a predefined quantity of detergent to pass, proportional to the water pressure at the inlet 40 and to the diameter of the nozzle 43.
The inner diameter of the nozzle 43 is arranged so as to obtain a mixture with a volume between 5% and 15% of detergent out of the total volume mixed, depending on necessity.
The pipe 44 which connects the outlet 42 of the mixers 31 to the conveyor 34 is shaped so as to form a first upward curve and a second downward curve, so as to avoid the continuous dripping of product after the dispensing thereof and to provide a stable dosage with its shape.
Inside the pipe 44 a bushing 45 is arranged, that with its substantially cylindrical shape (tube open longitudinally at the upper part) avoids the vortices thus making the dosing even more stable and constant.
It is, in application, a small plastic bar having a width of about 2-3 cm, rolled up and inserted into the pipe 44. Said bushing 45, reduces, for a small portion, the inner diameter of the pipe, slowing down the flow and thus avoiding the vortices that could arise.
The eight pipes 44 flow into the conveyor 34, which has a single outlet 35. The conveyor 34 reduces the foaming of the mixture, because by passing/stopping inside the conveyor, it has time to settle before reaching the outlet 35.
An electronic control center 50 manages the operation of the vending machine.
On the front of the vending machine a control panel 51 is arranged, comprising a series of buttons, and a display 52 that displays the status of the vending machine.
The control center 50 activates the set of solenoid valves 53 to provide the desired detergent in the desired quantity, according to a stored program and to the input set by the user, starts the pump 21, and receives the operating values of the vending machine from sensors 54 (as by the pressure regulator 22) found in the vending machine.
In the hydraulic diagram of Figure 1 various manual valves and/or solenoid valves have been provided. In the practical implementation of the vending machine more or fewer valves and of different types according to necessity can be used. The valves have been introduced for reasons of automatic operation, safety, installation and repair, to prevent fluid leakage from the vending machine.
The operation of the invention is apparent to the skilled in the art from what has been described and, in particular, is the following.
The operator who wishes to have a detergent, places a container 36 under the outlet 35 and presses one of the buttons on the control panel 51 relative to the desired detergent and quantity.
The electronic control center 50 activates the solenoid valves and lets the filtered water flow under pressure, for example at a pressure of 3 bar, to the collector 27.
The electronic control center 50 activates one or more of the valves 33, and the corresponding valves 30, thus supplying the mixture of water and one or more detergents to the conveyor 34. The conveyor 34 is preferably in the shape of a funnel which allows a proper mixing of the liquids and the supply of the final product.
Consequently the mixture ready for use is delivered at the outlet 35.
During mixing, the water is at a specific pressure while the detergent is sucked from the containers 32, regardless of the position of the same, that can be placed above or below the mixer 31. The concentrate is sucked from the containers 32 by means of the Venturi effect created by the mixer 31. Within the mixer 31 the mixing of pressurized water with the detergent sucked is carried out.
The mixing of water and detergent takes place in a limited time, with the difference in pressure between the two liquids. The water, assumes a particular condition, given by its pressure, and binds to the surfactant present in the detergent, more effectively. The mixing takes place between the water that has been filtered, in the filter 25, at high pressure (between 2.2 and 3.4 bar) with a detergent that is almost at atmospheric pressure. In the mixer 31 and subsequently into the conveyor 34, which are not pressurized environments, mixing takes place between the water in expansion and the detergent at almost atmospheric pressure or lower. Facilitating, in this way, the aggregation between the active substance and the water.
After dispensing the detergent mixed with water, once the container 36 is removed from the pouring station, the electronic control center 50 activates all solenoid valves except those 33 of the detergent containers 32, so as to deliver a flow of only water to clean all pipes for a few seconds.

Claims

A detergents vending machine comprising: a first water inlet pipe (10) connected to a compensation tank (14); the outlet of said compensation tank (14) is connected to a pump (21) for increasing the water pressure to at least 2 bar; the outlet of said pump (21) being connected to a first activated carbon and resin filter (25); at least one container (32) of a concentrated detergent; a Venturi effect mixer (31) having a first inlet (40) and an outlet (42) aligned with each other along an axis and a second inlet (41) transverse to said axis; the outlet of said first filter (25) is connected to said first inlet of said mixer (31); the outlet of said at least one container (32), of a concentrated detergent, is connected to said second inlet (41) of said mixer (31), so that the detergent is sucked from said at least one container (32); said second inlet (41) comprises an interchangeable nozzle (43), having a predetermined inner diameter, so as to dose the correct amount of detergent; the outlet (42) of said mixer (31) provides detergent mixed with water, to a conveyor (34).
The vending machine according to claim 1 characterized in that said pump (21) increases the water pressure to at least 3 bar.
The vending machine according to the preceding claim characterized in that the outlet (42) of said mixer (31) flows into a conveyor (34) through a pipe (44) shaped so as to forms a first upward curve and a second downward curve, so as to avoid the continuous dripping of product after dispensing thereof; said conveyor (34) having an outlet from which the detergent mixed with water flows out.
The vending machine according to the preceding claim characterized in that said pipe (44) comprises therein a bushing (45) having a substantially cylindrical shape.
The vending machine according to one of the preceding claims characterized by comprising a second water filter (12) upstream of said pump (21).
The vending machine according to one of the preceding claims characterized by comprising a plurality of detergent containers (32) whose outlet is connected to a second inlet (41) of a plurality of mixers (31), the first inlet (40) of each of said plurality of mixers (31) being connected to the outlet of said first filter (25).
The vending machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first inlet (40) of each of said plurality of mixers (31) being connected to a manifold (27) having an inlet at the outlet of said first filter (25) and a plurality of outlets, one for each of said plurality of mixers (31).
A method for mixing water with concentrated detergents making use of the vending machine according to anyone of claims 1-7.