Method and apparatus for mixing a container of concentrate with diluent from supply systems

A method and apparatus for mixing a containerized concentrate with diluent from a supply system. In the method, a container of concentrate is placed within a container station. The container is opened. A flowable portion of the concentrate from the container is drained into a mixing volume. A first portion of diluent is introduced into the mixing volume. A residual portion of the concentrate is washed from the container with a second portion of the diluent to produce a volume of wash diluent. The wash diluent is added to the mixing volume. The first and second portions of diluent have a total volume proportional to the total volume of concentrate. The draining is at least substantially completed prior to the washing. The apparatus has a mixing tank and a container that retains the container and delivers the concentrate, through a concentrate outlet, to a mixing tank. An opener is disposed to open the container within the container station. A diluent source receives diluent from the diluent supply system and delivering an aloquot of diluent to the mixing tank. The diluent source is directly coupled to the supply system. The diluent source is separated from the mixing tank by an air gap. A washer receives diluent from the diluent source. The washer delivers diluent to the container station through the concentrate outlet to rinse the container. A controller actuates the washer at least substantially after the delivering of the concentrate to the mixing tank.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to mixing equipment and more particularly relates to 
a method and apparatus for mixing a container of concentrate with diluent 
from a supply system. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In a variety of fields, chemical solutions and mixtures and the like are 
shipped as concentrates, but are later used after diluting. A problem is 
presented if the diluted solution or mixture is not stable on a long term 
basis and, at the same time, is subject to variable usage demands. The 
diluted solution or mixture needs to be made up quickly and easily in 
small batches. This presents a further shortcoming. Small batches magnify 
the problem of disposing of empty concentrate containers, particularly if 
residual concentrate is retained in the containers. The containers can be 
collected and the residual concentrate manually rinsed out, but this 
creates waste water and a further disposal problem. Another problem is 
presented in the dilution of concentrate if regulations require an 
anti-siphoning provision in equipment connected to a civic water supply or 
the like. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,358 to Gacki et al teaches a fluid mixing and 
dispensing system that washes the outsides of containers. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,941,131 to Daly et al teaches a container flush for a fluid mixing 
system like that in U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,358. The flush and other water 
delivery components are coupled to a supply of pressurized water. U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,312,595 to Houseman et al teaches another fluid mixing system 
in which a container flush and other water delivery components are coupled 
to a supply of pressurized water. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,813 teaches a cup for use with a pipette probe in which 
fluid is introduced into a cup having an overflow element. 
It would thus be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for mixing a 
container of concentrate with diluent from a supply system in which 
container rinsing is delayed until concentrate is substantially drained 
from one or more containers. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in its broader 
aspects, provides a method and apparatus for mixing a containerized 
concentrate with diluent from a supply system. In the method, a container 
of concentrate is placed within a container station. The container is 
opened. A flowable portion of the concentrate from the container is 
drained into a mixing volume. A first portion of diluent is introduced 
into the mixing volume. A residual portion of the concentrate is washed 
from the container with a second portion of the diluent to produce a 
volume of wash diluent. The wash diluent is added to the mixing volume. 
The first and second portions of diluent have a total volume proportional 
to the total volume of concentrate. The draining is at least substantially 
completed prior to the washing. The apparatus has a mixing tank and a 
container that retains the container and delivers the concentrate, through 
a concentrate outlet, to a mixing tank. An opener is disposed to open the 
container within the container station. A diluent source receives diluent 
from the diluent supply system and delivering an aloquot of diluent to the 
mixing tank. The diluent source is directly coupled to the supply system. 
The diluent source is separated from the mixing tank by an air gap. A 
washer receives diluent from the diluent source. The washer delivers 
diluent to the container station through the concentrate outlet to rinse 
the container. A controller actuates the washer at least substantially 
after the delivering of the concentrate to the mixing tank. 
It is an advantageous effect of at least some of the embodiments of the 
invention that there is provided a method and apparatus for mixing a 
container of concentrate with diluent from a supply system in which 
container rinsing is delayed until concentrate is substantially drained 
from one or more containers.

DESCRIPTION OF TICULAR EMBODIMENTS 
The term "concentrate" is used herein in a broad sense to refer to a liquid 
or solid material that is mixed with a second material, the diluent, prior 
to use. The second material is a liquid and in most uses is water. The 
concentrate can be dissolved or dispersed in the "diluent". The product of 
the mixing of concentrate and diluent is referred to herein as the 
"diluted mixture". 
Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1B and 2, in an embodiment of the method and 
apparatus 10 of the invention, a concentrate container 14 (the location of 
the container is indicated in FIG. 2 by dashed lines) is placed (200) in a 
container station 12. The station 12 is actuable to deliver a volume of 
concentrate, i.e., the batch within the container 14, into and through the 
funnel 20 and then outward through the concentrate outlet 18. The station 
12 can be actuated by opening a container 14, pouring the contents into 
the station 12, and placing the container 14 on the container receiver 16. 
It is highly preferred, however, that the station 12 include a container 
opener 22 and that actuation of the station 12 comprise a single procedure 
in which the container 14 is opened and drained within the station 12. 
This minimizes the chance of spillage, since the operator does not pour 
the concentrate from the container 14. The nature of the actuation of the 
station 12 depends upon the nature of the container 14. In order to be 
used with the apparatus 10, the container 14 must be capable of retaining 
the concentrate until needed, be capable of being opened and drained 
within the station 12, and must be internally accessible after the 
concentrate has been drained. It is currently preferred that the container 
14 be opened and drained by puncturing. Preferred containers 14; after 
puncturing, draining, and washing within the apparatus 10 of the 
invention, and without further operator action; can be recycled as single 
material polymer objects. A specific example of a container 14 suitable 
for use with the apparatus 10 of the invention is a bottle made of high 
density polyethylene that has a puncturable high density polyethylene cap. 
The placement (200) of the container 14 in the station 12 and the opening 
(202) of the container by means of an opener 22 can occur simultaneously, 
that is, placing the containerized concentrate in the container station 
can cause the container to encounter and be pierced by a fixed opener. 
Alternatively, the container can first be placed in the container station 
and then subsequently can be opened while in the container station by a 
movable opener. It is preferred that the container be placed in the 
container station and opened and then be retained continuously within the 
container station until the method of the invention is completed. 
A flowable portion of the concentrate is then drained (204) out of the 
container 14, through a funnel 20, and into a mixing volume or mixing tank 
32 where a mixing mechanism 40, such as a stirrer, provides mixing. The 
term "flowable" is used herein to refer to that portion of a liquid, 
within an open container, that can be removed by upending the container 
and waiting until flow stops. With relatively dilute aqueous solutions, 
the rate limiting factor for drainage of the flowable portion of a liquid, 
is generally the the configuration of the container opening. The term 
"residual" is used herein to refer to that portion of the liquid that does 
not drain, but rather remains in the container as a thin, and generally 
discontinuous, layer or pattern on the interior wall of the container. 
The original volume of diluted mixture in the mixing tank, indicated by 
dashed line 100, is increased to a new level, indicated by dashed line 102 
and sensor 54 detects (206) the volume increase or new volume due to the 
delivery of the flowable portion of concentrate to the mixing volume 32 
and sends a signal to a controller 58. Concentrate volume information 
provided by the signal, or a calculated total diluent volume based upon 
the concentrate volume information, is recorded (208) by the controller 
58. 
A convenient controller 58 utilizes a microprocessor and stores the volume 
information in a memory element associated with the microprocessor. The 
sensor 54 provides a signal compatible with the microprocessor. Suitable 
sensors are discussed in greater detail below. The functions provided by 
the controller are not complex. Thus, the controller can be "hard-wired" 
using discrete electronic components. Memory storage can be provided by an 
array of flip-flops (bistable multivibrators) or switches or the like. 
The controller 58 determines (216) a value of total diluent volume based 
upon the concentrate volume information and a proportionality factor or 
proportional value. The proportionality factor, the relative ratio of 
concentrate and diluent, is a function of the chemistry of the materials 
used and for many embodiments of the invention, is predetermined by the 
manufacturer of the concentrates, prior to use of the apparatus for a 
particular diluted mixture. The mixer can include provision to accommodate 
concentrate containers of different standard sizes, if desired. Necessary 
sensors and controls for varying the diluent added with a parameter of the 
concentrate added, for example, concentrate weight, can be incorporated in 
the mixer. Provision can similarly be made to modify the diluted mixture 
in response to variations in a particular parameter; for example, specific 
gravity, if desired for a particular purpose. 
The value of the proportionality factor can thus be determined (210) as 
needed from current parameters of the diluted mixture or can be preset by 
programming the controller or otherwise setting an operating parameter of 
the apparatus. It is currently preferred that the proportionality factor 
is predetermined and is the dilution ratio necessary to produce a solution 
of a particular concentration from a concentrate having a standarized 
concentration and total volume. The controller 58 can be limited to a 
single predetermined proportionality factor or a series of such factors. 
If limited to a single factor, the controller can be very simple and can 
be limited to an on-off or error-no error function. This approach reduces 
complexity, but inhibits the use of multiple sizes of containers and 
precludes fine manipulation of the proportionality factor to meet 
individual requirements. It is preferred that the proportionality factor 
be provided by software or hardware incorporating a look-up table or 
calulation that can be manipulated to meet changes in container sizes, or 
individual variability or the like. Provision can also be made to preclude 
withdrawls of the diluted mixture (a mixing tank outlet is indicated by 
element 42), prior to addition of required amounts of both concentrate and 
diluent. 
In a particular embodiment of the invention, when the concentrate is added 
to the mixing volume 54, the concentrate volume information is also 
compared (212) to a predetermined minimum value. If the concentrate volume 
information exceeds the predetermined minimum value, then introduction of 
the first portion of diluent is started (218). If the concentrate volume 
information does not exceed the predetermined minimum value, the 
controller does not respond and waits for more concentrate to be added. An 
error signal (214) can be generated, if the predetermined minimum value is 
not exceeded within a particular time. The error signal can be used to 
halt the operation and notify the operator of the error condition. The 
predetermined minimum value can represent the minimal flowable volume of 
the smallest size container usable in the apparatus. Alternatively, the 
predetermined minimum value could be set to the size of the container in 
the container station, either manually, or automatically by means of a 
sensor in the container station. 
After the addition of the flowable portion of concentrate is completed or 
is substantially completed, introduction is started of a first portion of 
diluent. The diluent is provided by a diluent supply system (indicated by 
coupling 48), to a diluent source 44 having an allocation unit 46 that 
provides the aloquot of diluent of appropriate volume. The diluent is 
provided through a diluent outlet 50 of the diluent source 44, and into 
the mixing tank 54. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the 
sensor 54 detects (220) the volume change in the mixing tank and sends a 
signal corresponding to an initial diluent volume increase and the 
controller 58 compares (222) this increase to a minimal initial diluent 
value, ordinarily zero. If there is no volume change relative to the 
minimal initial diluent value, an error signal (224) is generated, which 
can be used to halt the operation and notify the operator of the error 
condition. If a greater volume is detected, then introduction of the first 
portion of diluent is continued (226). 
A second portion of diluent is initially introduced (228) from the diluent 
outlet 50 of the diluent source 44, after, or substantially after, the 
addition of the flowable concentrate. During or after the introduction of 
the second portion of diluent, the washer 88 is actuated by the controller 
58, resulting in the washing (not separately indicated in FIGS. 1A-1B) of 
the container. The draining (204) of the flowable portion of the 
concentrate is completed or substantially completed prior to the washing 
of the container with the second portion of diluent. The second portion of 
diluent can be introduced contemporaneous with, prior to, or after the 
introduction of the first portion of diluent into the mixing tank. The 
first and second portions of diluent have a total volume that is 
proportional to the total volume of the concentrate. 
The second portion of diluent is used to wash the residual portion of the 
concentrate from the container, resulting in a volume of liquid referred 
to herein as "wash diluent". The wash diluent is added to the mixing 
volume. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the diluent 
source 44 has two diluent outlets 50a and 50b. One of the outlets 50a 
drops diluent directly into the mixing tank 54. The other 50b drops 
diluent into a washer or pump 88 through an intake 89. The washer 88 has 
an exhaust line 94 that extends through the funnel 20 and opener 22 and 
opens into the container station 12 in the location of the interior of the 
container 14. The controller 58 can be operatively connected to the 
diluent source 44 and washer 88 so as to only operate the washer 88 when 
the second portion of diluent is being supplied. The controller 58 can 
switch the delivery of diluent between the diluent outlets or can deliver 
through both outlets simultaneously depending upon the requirements of a 
particular use. In an embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 3-7, and 
discussed in detail below, the diluent source 44 has a single outlet 50 
that supplies both first and second portions of diluent. In that 
embodiment, the second portion of diluent is first admitted to a reservoir 
62, and the washing step includes the emptying of the reservoir 62. 
Diluent continues (230) to be added until the volume of the diluted mixture 
(104) is in accord with the total diluent volume. In the embodiment shown 
in FIGS. 1A-1B, the first and second portions continue to be introduced 
(230) until the total diluent volume is reached; however, first and second 
portions could instead be added sequentially or in reverse sequence such 
that addition of one the portions stops while addition of the other 
portion is continued. The sensor 54 is used to detect (232) the volume 
increase which is then compared (234) by the controller to the total 
diluent volume. This is repeated until the total diluent volume has been 
reached. The diluent source is the deactuated (236) to complete the 
process. 
During the method of the invention, although the diluent source is or can 
be directly coupled to the supply system, back-siphoning of diluent into 
the supply system is deterred. It is preferred that the first portion of 
diluent fall through an air gap 52, an area of free fall in which the 
liquid is incapable of being confined, prior to its introduction into the 
mixing tank 54. It is also preferred that the second portion of diluent 
fall through an air gap 52 prior to the use of the second portion to wash 
the container 14. It is more preferred both first and second portions pass 
through an air gap 52 after exiting the diluent source 44. It is further 
preferred, that the air gap 52 be located above the mixing tank 54 to 
protect the air gap 52 from any possible overflow of the tank 54. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3-7, in other embodiments of the invention, the 
apparatus 10 of the invention has a station 12 for a concentrate container 
14. The station 12 has a container receiver 16 and a concentrate outlet 18 
communicating with the container receiver 16. Between the container 
receiver 16 and the concentrate outlet 18 is a funnel 20. The container 
receiver 16, funnel 20, and concentrate outlet 18 are tightly sealed 
together, or other measures are taken, to ensure that concentrate entering 
the container receiver 16 and funnel 20 must pass through to the 
concentrate outlet 18. The container receiver 16 supports the container 14 
and holds the container 14 in position over the funnel 20. The station 12 
includes a container opener 22. 
The container receiver 16 can be complementary in shape to a particular 
container 14. This is useful where multiple concentrates are used that 
must be stored in separate containers 14. For example, concentrates could 
be supplied in a container having a round cross-section and a second 
container having a square cross-section (not shown). The station 12 would 
include a pair of container receivers 16 having similar cross-sections. 
Container receivers 16 can be united to form a single receiver unit 24, as 
illustrated in FIG. 7. In this embodiment of the invention, three 
concentrates can be provided by rectangular cross-section containers (not 
shown) having three different width dimensions, or if desired, by a single 
multiple chambered container having three separate punctureable caps. 
The container receiver or receivers 16 can be configured to help prevent 
concentrate spillage when the container 14 is opened. An example of a 
suitable shape is the trough shaped container unit 24 shown in FIG. 7. Any 
spilled concentrate is directed into funnels 20. Another example is a 
covered container receiver 16 as illustrated schematically in FIGS. 3-4. 
The container opener 22 can have a variety of configurations. In the 
embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the container 14 is 
a bottle having a punctureable cap 28. (For convenience, the container, 
cap and the like are here referred to in the singular. The same 
principles, as discussed here, apply to multiple bottles or a 
multiple-necked bottle.) The container opener 22 is rigidly mounted within 
the funnel 20 and has the shape of an upwardly directed broadhead 
arrowhead, having vanes 19 mounted to a core 21. In this embodiment, the 
station 12 is actuated by driving the container 14 against the opener 22 
so as to puncture the cap 28. The concentrate drains by gravity. The 
container 14 can be slammed against the container opener 22 manually or 
can be driven against the opener 22 by a piston (illustrated in FIG. 3 as 
element 30) or the like operated by hand or powered by a solenoid or other 
linear drive mechanism (not shown). The container 14 can also be held in 
place while the opener 22 is moved to puncture the container 14. 
Similarly, the opener 22 can puncture the bottom or sidewall of a 
container rather than the cap. The container need not include a cap and 
can be a flexible bag rather than a rigid bottle or the like. Appropriate 
mechanisms for opening and draining wide varieties of containers are well 
known to those skilled in the art. 
The funnel 20 directs concentrate to the concentrate outlet 18. In the 
embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the funnel 20 also 
houses the opener 22. Located below the container receiver 16 is a mixing 
tank 32. Between the container receiver 16 and the mixing tank 32 is a 
reservoir lid 34. Concentrate travels from the container 14, through the 
funnel 20, and into a mixing tank 32; without collecting on the reservoir 
lid 34. The concentrate outlet 18 can be above the reservoir lid 34 such 
that concentrate cascades freely through an opening in the reservoir lid 
34. It is preferred, however, that the funnel 20 have a tube portion 36 
such that the concentrate outlet 18 is disposed below the upper margin 38 
of the mixing tank 32. The tube portion 36 can pass through an opening in 
the reservoir lid 34 or bypass the reservoir lid 34 as desired. The tube 
portion 36 can be cylindrical in cross-section and straight or can be 
modified as necessary to meet space constrains. 
The mixing tank 32 has a volume greater than a single batch of concentrate 
and any necessary diluent and can have a volume great enough to hold 
several batches of concentrate and diluent. The top of the mixing tank 32 
is open and accepts the reservoir lid 34. The mixing tank 32 includes a 
mixing mechanism 40, such as a stirrer or pump, that acts to blend the 
mixing mechanism mixing mechanism 40 is operated as needed for a 
particular diluted mixture or can be continuously operated or can be 
operated as convenient, depending upon the requirements of a particular 
use. The mixing tank 32 has a tank outlet 42 from which tank contents are 
dispensed for use. 
Diluent is supplied to the mixing tank 32 from a diluent source 44 as an 
aloquot proportional to the concentrate added. The diluent source 44 can 
have a capacity limited to the diluent necessary for a single batch of 
diluted mixture. It is preferred, however, that the diluent source 44 have 
provision for multiple batches of diluted mixture. The diluent source 44 
has an allocation unit 46, a connection 48 to a large diluent delivery 
system, and a diluent outlet 50. In preferred embodiments of the 
invention, the diluent is water and the diluent delivery system is a 
municipal water supply system or the like. 
Some regulations require an anti-siphoning provision in equipment connected 
to public water systems. The concentrate apparatus 10 meets such 
requirements by supplying water through a diluent outlet 50, which is 
separated from other components of the apparatus 10 by a vertical air gap 
(indicated by arrow 52 in FIG. 2), through which the water falls by 
gravity. 
Aloquots of diluent delivered by the diluent source 44 can have a uniform 
volume matching the standardized volume of a single batch of concentrate 
or can be variable, either automatically or by semi-automatically or 
manually, to match variable volumes of concentrate. The volume of added 
concentrate is detected by a sensor 54, which is connected to a controller 
58 by a signal path 56 to a controller 58, that, in turn, sends a signal 
via a signal path 60 to the diluent source 44 to provide the appropriate 
aloquot of diluent. The sensor can take a variety of forms, such as, a 
float attached to a switch or a column of photocells. In a particular 
embodiment of the invention, the sensor is an ultrasonic detector, which 
is mounted above the diluted mixture and senses the distance from the 
diluted mixture to the detector. An example of a suitable ultrasonic 
detector is marketed by Honeywell Inc., as Model No. 945-F4Y-2D-1C0-180E. 
In this embodiment the controller has a microprocessor with a memory unit 
that includes a look-up table to relate the distance measured by the 
ultrasonic detector to the volume of the mixing tank. 
The diluent source 44 can also take a variety of forms, such as, a holding 
tank and "flush" mechanism (actuable siphon), a tank and a pump, or a 
valve operated by a solenoid. The controller 58 can be a simple dedicated 
electronic circuit of discrete circuit elements or can be a function of a 
digital logic circuit that can report or monitor temperature, diluted 
mixture usage and the like. A mechanical or hydraulic controller could 
also be used. 
The reservoir lid 34 receives the diluent delivered by the diluent outlet 
50 in a reservoir 62 that has a volume that is less than the volume of the 
aloquot of water or other diluent. The reservoir 62 has an overflow 
reservoir outlet 64 that drains excess diluent into the mixing tank 32 as 
the diluent is received. The capacity of the overflow reservoir outlet 64, 
desirably, exceeds the rate of flow of the diluent source 44, so that 
excess diluent does not overflow the top of the reservoir lid 34. The 
reservoir lid 34 includes a through-passage or opening 66, through which 
the concentrate enters the mixing tank 32, bypassing the reservoir 62. 
The reservoir lid 34 has a shell 68 having a downwardly directed peripheral 
margin 70 that engages the upper margin of the mixing tank 32. The 
through-passage 66 is central and the reservoir 62 has a U-shape that 
curves around the through-passage 66. The reservoir 62 is disposed in the 
underside of the shell 68 between the peripheral margin 70 and the 
through-passage 66. The reservoir 62 has an upwardly directed inlet 72, 
that preferably includes a strainer-diffuser 74 to help reduce splashing. 
The overflow reservoir outlet 64 is laterally directed and, in the 
embodiment shown in the figures, faces the through-passage 66. The 
reservoir 62 has a downwardly directed weep hole 76. The weep hole 76 has 
a rate of flow substantially less than the rate of flow of the diluent 
outlet 50. The floor 82 of the reservoir 64 is sloped toward the weep hole 
76. Except for the inlet 72, the overflow reservoir outlet 64, the weep 
hole 76, and a pump intake hole 77; the reservoir 62 is fully enclosed by 
the top 80 of the shell 68, a floor 82, a laterally disposed peripheral 
wall 84, and a spillway wall 86 adjoining the overflow reservoir outlet 
64. The shell 68 of the reservoir lid 34 can include cutouts 87 as 
necessary to meet the size constraints imposed by other components of the 
apparatus 10. 
A pump 88 has an intake 78 that extends, through hole 77, into the 
reservoir 64 and an exhaust 90 directed into the container receiver 16. 
Passages 92,94 connect the intake 78, the pump 88, and the opener 22. The 
exhaust 90 consists of ports in a hollow opener 22 which, in effect, acts 
as a spray head for the pump 88. The pump 88 can be operated continuously 
(if self priming) or can be actuated by the controller 58 via a signal 
path 96 to operate at the same time diluent is supplied (or operate 
slightly thereafter). The pump 88, in that embodiment of the invention, 
can have a rate of flow less than the rate of flow of the diluent outlet 
50 so that the pump 88 will not run dry. 
Referring now primarily to FIGS. 3 and 4, a batch of concentrate is added 
to the container receiver 16 and the station 12 is actuated. The container 
14 is opened and drains (arrows 98) into the mixing tank 32 through the 
central opening 66 in the reservoir lid 34. The original volume of diluted 
mixture in the mixing tank, indicated by dashed line 100, is increased to 
a new level, indicated by dashed line 102, tripping the sensor 54. The 
diluent source 44 is actuated and delivers an aloquot of diluent (arrow 
104) proportional to the concentrate added to the mixing tank 32. 
Replacement diluent (arrow 106) is drawn from the supply system as needed. 
The diluent (arrow 104) is delivered by the diluent source 44 into the 
reservoir lid 34 and first fills the reservoir lid 34 to the depth 
(indicated by dashed line 108 in FIG. 2) determined by the vertical height 
of the spillway wall 86. Excess diluent (arrow 110) then drains over the 
spillway wall 86 until delivery of the diluent is completed. The pump 88 
draws diluent (arrows 111) from the reservoir 62 and sprays the diluent 
into the emptied container 14 (arrows 112). The diluent that was sprayed 
(arrows 98), including any washed down residual concentrate, drains 
through the central opening into the mixing tank 32. Residual diluent not 
drawn from the reservoir by the pump drains through the weep hole into the 
mixing tank 32 (arrow 114) and the reservoir is thus emptied. Concentrate 
and diluent entering the mixing tank 32 is mixed and the depth of the 
mixture in the mixing tank reaches a new level, indicated by dashed line 
118. The diluted mixture is drawn down as needed (arrow 116 in FIG. 3). 
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described 
herein for purposes of illustration, the protection afforded by any patent 
which may issue upon this application is not strictly limited to a 
disclosed embodiment; but rather extends to all modifications and 
arrangements which fall fairly within the scope of the claims which are 
appended hereto. 
Parts List 
mixer 10 
station 12 
container 14 
container receiver 16 
concentrate outlet 18 
vanes 19 of opener 
funnel 20 
core 21 of opener 
container opener 22 
receiver unit 24 
Weep holes in receiver unit 26 
cap of bottle 28 
piston 30 
mixing tank 32 
reservoir lid 34 
tube portion 36 
upper margin of the mixing tank 38 
mixing mechanism 40 
tank outlet 42 
diluent source 44 
allocation unit 46 
connection 48 to a large diluent delivery system 
diluent outlets 50, 50a, 50b 
air gap 52 
sensor 54 
signal signal 
controller 58 
signal path 60 
reservoir 62 
overflow reservoir outlet 64 
through-passage 66 
shell 68 
peripheral margin 70 of reservoir lid 
inlet 72 
strainer 74 
weep hole 76 of reservoir lid 
pump intake 78 
top 80 of shell 
floor 82 of reservoir 
peripheral wall 84 or reservoir 
spillway wall 86 
pump 88 
pump intake 89 
exhaust 90 
passages 92,94 
signal path 96 
arrows identifying flow of materials: 98,100,102,104,108,110,112,114,116 
depth of reservoir 106 
placing step (200) 
opening step (202) 
draining step (204) 
detecting step (206) 
recording step (208) 
obtaining step (210) 
comparing step (212) 
error signal step (214) 
determining step (216) 
starting introduction step (218) 
detecting step (220) 
comparing step (222) 
error signal step (224) 
continuing introduction step (226) 
start introducing step (228) 
continuing introducing step 230 
detecting step (232) 
comparing step 234 
deactuating step 236