GB2306302A

GB2306302A - Detergent dispenser with an overflow conduit

Info

Publication number: GB2306302A
Application number: GB9621918A
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: GB9521718D0; GB9621918D0

Abstract

A receptacle 102 to receive an inverted container which holds a cleaning agent in either powdered or solid form has upper inclined sides 104, 105 and a lower funnel portion 116, which provides the normal route for the cleaning agent solution, leading to an outlet 120 at a spigot 118. An alternative route 122 for the water by-passes at least a part of the lower portion 116 connecting at the outlet 120. Preferably the receptacle also provides a spacing 124 as part of the alternative route. A tubular ring 114 may provide a conically converging plurality of jets of water which are sprayed into the inverted container through a grid 112 to dissolve the cleaning agent. A sensor (not shown) may also be used to detect the use of the alternative route 122 and may give a visual of audible indication. In another embodiment the alternative route 122 may communicate with an entirely independent conduit leading from the receptacle to the machine.

Description

DISPENSING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning with water to which there is added a powdered or solid cleaning agent, and particularly, but not exclusively, to dishwashing apparatus of industrial type for use in large catering establishments such as hospitals, hotels, canteens and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a reliable and efficient dispensing apparatus for ware-washing apparatus.

According to the present invention, there is provided dispensing apparatus for use with a cleaning machine which requires water to which there is added a cleaning agent, which dispensing apparatus comprises a receptacle adapted removably to support a container containing the cleaning agent, thereby to permit dispensing of the cleaning agent through the neck of the container, wherein the receptacle comprises a lower portion beneath the neck of the container, which lower portion provides the normal route for water containing the dispensed agent, and wherein the receptacle provides an alternative route for water containing the dispensed agent, which alternative route by-passes at least a part of said lower portion.

Suitably said lower portion comprises a funnel portion leading to an outlet. The outlet may be an opening, but is preferably a spigot of the receptacle.

Preferably the alternative route by-passes at least the funnel portion.

In one embodiment the alternative route communicates with a conduit which leads from the receptacle to the cleaning machine. In another embodiment the alternative route communicates with the cleaning machine by a conduit which is entirely independent of a conduit leading from said outlet of the lower portion of the receptacle to the cleaning machine. In such embodiments the receptacle has an independent outlet, for example a spigot, for the alternative route. In another embodiment having a said spigot beneath the funnel portion, the alternative route communicates with that spigot.

water containing the dispensed cleaning agent upwardly within the receptacle, and then downward, by the action of gravity, towards the cleaning machine. When the receptacle comprises a said funnel portion, preferably the alternative route entails flow over the top of the funnel portion.

Suitably, the receptacle has an upper portion adapted to support the inverted container. The upper portion may have inclined support surfaces, which support slant shoulders of the container. Preferably there is a spacing therebetween in a region, which spacing is part of said alternative route. The spacing may be provided by, for example, a groove formed in one of the shoulders of the container but is preferably provided by, for example, a groove formed in the appropriate support surface of the upper part of the receptacle.

The invention is of particular interest in relation to the dispensing of powdered or solid cleaning agents.

Under certain conditions, such cleaning agents can give rise to corrosive deposits within dispensing apparatus, and/or may form undissolved lumps of material. In both cases blockages can form.

Preferably, a sensor is provided in said alternative route, to detect the utilisation of this alternative route and, by inference, a problem with the primary route. A sensor may trigger a visual or audible indication, so informing the operator of the problem.

The invention further relates to a cleaning machine or ware-washing apparatus comprising dispensing apparatus as hereinbefore described.

The invention further relates to a method of washing articles, comprising use of apparatus as herein defined.

The invention will now further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a sectional side elevation of powdered or solid detergent dispensing means for an industrial dishwashing machine.

Referring now to the drawing, 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, 55"C.

Detergent is progressively dispensed from an inverted container 100 into a downwardly tapering plastics receptacle 102. The receptacle 102 has an upper portion which is generally rectangular in plan view, but which, in sectional side elevation as shown in the drawing, has inclined support surfaces 104, 105. These support surfaces receive and support corresponding inclined shoulders 106, 107 of the inverted container 100. The container 100 has a removable cap (not shown) engageable on an external screw thread 108 formed on its neck 110 and in the case of a powdered detergent there is provided a grid 112 which is a push-fit in the neck. Water, either abstracted from the dishwashing apparatus or supplied by the mains, is delivered to a spray ring 114.The spray ring 114 is disposed concentrically within and closely beneath the neck 110 and the grid 112 therein if provided, and has a plurality of holes (not shown) formed in its upper side. The holes are slightly inclined so as to provide a very slightly conically-converging array of upwardly-directed jets and are, typically, 1.5 mm in diameter and the rate of supply of water to said holes is, typically, between 0.5 and 2 litres per minute.

It will be seen from the drawing that the receptacle comprises, beneath the support surfaces 104, 105, a lower portion comprising a funnel portion 116 and, beneath that funnel portion 116, a spigot 118. The spigot 118 terminates in an outlet 120 which communicates with the dishwashing machine via a conduit (not shown).

It will be seen from the drawing that, extending between one of the support surfaces 104, 105 of the receptacle and the spigot 118, is a conduit 122. It will be observed also that, between the inlet 123 to this conduit 122 and the upper region of the funnel portion 116, there is a small gap 124 between the support surface of the receptacle and the shoulder of the container, the support surface in fact being withdrawn somewhat from the shoulder. Although not apparent from the drawing, this gap does not extend across the whole width of the support surface but only across a relatively narrow central portion of the support surface, the withdrawn part of the support surface in effect being a groove.

In operation, the cap is removed from a container 100 of powdered or solid detergent and said container is inverted and placed in the receptacle 102, adopting the position shown in the drawing. Water is delivered to the spray ring 114 and is sprayed in a very slightly conically-converging array of upwardly-directed jets, through the neck 110 and the grid 112 therein, if provided, onto the detergent. Thus, there is furnished in effect a blanket of water which impinges at a slight angle on different segments of the detergent, so as to slice off segments at an angle towards the centre. The detergent is thus efficiently displaced from the container 100, into the receptacle 102 whence it should be carried by the water down into the funnel portion, and then into the spigot, and then, via the outlet 120, to the dishwashing machine.

The funnel portion and the spigot are relatively wide and so are not particularly susceptible to blocking.

Nevertheless, problems may sometimes arise with "clumping" of a cleaning agent, particularly of the powdered type.

Furthermore, corrosive deposits may build up over time.

Should a blockage build up, as it may do over time in the region at which the funnel portion connects to the spigot such that water containing the cleaning agent cannot freely flow into the spigot, the water may rise up in the receptacle, and can flow through the gap 124, and into the conduit 122. It will be seen, therefore, that the gap 124 and the conduit 122 act together as an overflow.

In another embodiment the receptacle may be provided with its own outlet, for example a second spigot, independent of the spigot 118, to entirely by-pass the lowermost portion of the receptacle. If wished the second spigot may be connected to the conduit between the outlet 120 and the machine. Alternatively the second spigot may be connected to the machine by an entirely separate conduit. Of course, rather than conduit(s) being connected to the spigot(s) as described, in certain cases described water containing the cleaning agent may simply flow from the receptacle into an inlet of the dishwashing machine without any conduits, in which case the "spigot(s)" may more accurately be called "spout(s)".

The invention is also potentially applicable to other ware-washing machines, such as machines for washing clothes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Dispensing apparatus for use with a cleaning machine which requires water to which there is added a cleaning agent, which dispensing apparatus comprises a receptacle adapted removably to support a container containing the cleaning agent, thereby to permit dispensing of the cleaning agent through the neck of the container, wherein the receptacle comprises a lower portion beneath the neck of the container, which lower portion provides the normal route for water containing the dispensed agent, and wherein the receptacle provides an alternative route for water containing the dispensed agent, which alternative route by-passes at least a part of said lower portion.

2. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lower portion comprises a funnel portion leading to an outlet.

3. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the outlet is a spigot of the receptacle.

4. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the alternative route by-passes at least the funnel portion.

5. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said alternative route communicates with a conduit which leads from the receptacle to the cleaning machine.

6. Dispensing apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said alternative route communicates with the cleaning machine by a conduit which is entirely independent of a conduit leading from the receptacle to the cleaning machine.

7. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said alternative route entails flow over the top of the funnel portion.

8. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle has an upper portion adapted to support the inverted container.

9. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the upper portion has inclined support surfaces, which support slant shoulders of the container.

10. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein spacing is provided between a said support surface and a slant shoulder of the container and wherein said spacing forms part of said alternative route.

11. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said spacing is provided by a groove formed in a shoulder of the container or in a said support surface.

12. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a sensor is provided in said alternative route, to detect the utilisation of said alternative route.

13. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sensor is adapted to trigger a visual or audible indication.

14. A cleaning machine or ware-washing apparatus comprising dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim.

15. A method of washing articles comprising use of a dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim.

16. Dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A cleaning machine, ware-washing apparatus or method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.