DUAL COMPARTMENT CONTAINER

Abstract: A dispensing container (12) for dispensing solids, powders or liquids has a first compartment (14) to contain the material to be dispensed and a second compartment (16) having an inlet/outlet opening (26) amongst which the material is dispensed. The compartments (14, 16) communicate through an opening (18) and curved passage (17) located adjacent a base wall (28) of the first compartment (14). A second opening (30) adjacent a top wall (20) alleviates air locks in the first compartment (14).

Description: 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. Consequendy, 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 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 desirable 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 the Invention In accordance with the present invention there is provided a container having a first main compartment with a base wall means and upwardly extending side wall means, a separate, second compartment communicating with the main compartment by at least one opening or passage through the side wall means adjacent the base wall means, and an inlet/outlet opening in the second compartment at an upper end portion thereof. 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. The at least one passage or opening interconnecting the compartments is preferably located immediately adjacent the base wall of the container. 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, i.e., 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 designed particularly for use in detergent dispensing apparatus, the second compartment is constructed to receive dispensing fluid inlet means and dispensed product outlet means. In one arrangement, 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 provided a container having a first compartment to receive a product, a second compartment from which the product is to be dispensed, the first and second compartments communicating through at least one opening therebetween through which product in the first compartment passes into the second compartment, a filling opening in the first compartment and an outlet opening in the second compartment. Containers according to the invention are particularly suited for dishwashing detergent powder dispensed through dispensing apparatus. A dispensing fluid, i.e., water, 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. In a preferred form of the invention, 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. 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 wall 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/outiet opening 26 at its upper end, the opening 26 being closed by a replaceable cap 24. 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 compartments 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". 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: Claims :- 1. A container having a first, main compartment, with a base wall means and upwardly extending side wall means, a separate, second compartment communicating with the main compartment by at least one opening or passage through the side wall means adjacent the base wall means, and an inlet/outlet opening in the second compartment at an upper end portion thereof. 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the upper end portion of the second compartment is adjacent a top wall of the first compartment. 3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first compartment has a closable filling opening and the inlet/outlet opening of the second compartment has removable closure. 4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the second compartment comprises an elongated tubular structure mounted to the first compartment by an integral web, the tubular structure having a lower end portion of reduced cross-section which curves towards and engages the first compartment to form said at least one passage. 5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the communicating opening between the first and second compartments comprises one or more holes in the side wall means. 6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the base wall means of the first container slopes upwardly from said at least one opening. 7. A container according to claim 3 wherein either one or both filling and outlet openings are closed by removable caps. 8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the second compartment communicates with the first compartment through a second opening at the upper end portion of the second compartment whereby during pouring of liquid from the container inlet/outlet opening air passes from the second compartment to the first compartment to alleviate air locks. 9. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a handle is provided on the first compartment. 10. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: ORETTI JOHN ERNEST, VANDERTOP MICHAEL JULIAN, ORETTI, JOHN, ERNEST, VANDERTOP, MICHAEL, JULIAN
Applicants: GIBSON CHEM LTD, GIBSON CHEMICALS LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D1