Abstract:
A multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a first pocket for supporting a first container and a second pocket for supporting a second container, a first door pivotably coupled to the housing and enclosing the first pocket, and a second door pivotably coupled to the housing opposite the first door. The first door includes a first window through which the first container can be identified. The second door encloses the second pocket and includes a second window through which the second container can be identified. The apparatus also includes a valve coupled to the housing to control flow of chemical concentrate to at least one of the first container and the second container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/397,110, filed Mar. 3, 2009, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 7,963,304, issued on Jun. 21, 2011; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/203,315, filed Aug. 12, 2005, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 7,516,763, issued on Apr. 14, 2009; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/707,399, filed on Aug. 11, 2005. The entire contents of all of these earlier-filed applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to liquid handling and more particularly, to combining and dispensing multiple liquids in a manner that the usage is simplified and maintenance is substantially reduced. 
         [0003]    In the maintenance of large buildings such as office buildings or stores in shopping centers, it is customary to mix the required cleaning agents from a source of concentrate with water. The resulting solutions are then filled into suitable containers such as bottles or buckets. Apparatuses of this type are available from JohnsonDiversey, Inc. of Sturtevant, Wis., as the Quattro SS Solutions Center, J-Fill Select and Taski Ultra Easy. 
         [0004]    While the previously described units afford accurate, reliable and safe dispensing of solutions, their operating could be simplified as well as their maintenance. For example, these apparatuses require the hand movement of one knob or button for selection of concentrates and the movement of a valve or another button for flow of water. 
         [0005]    It would simplify the operation of these types of apparatuses if only a single selector knob had to be manipulated and a valve could be activated by a container or a trigger. 
         [0006]    The objects of the invention therefore are:
       a. Providing an improved liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus.   b. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus which allows for easier filling of containers.   c. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of the foregoing type which reduces labor costs to repair.   d. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of the foregoing type which minimizes training.   e. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of the foregoing type which improves work productivity.       
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of the invention which includes a support member with a plurality of containers placed on the support member. There are first and second valve members with one of the first and second valve members being container activated. A liquid intake manifold is connected to the first and second valve members. There are first and second eductors, one of the eductors having a flow rate slower than the other with the first and second valve members connected to the first and second eductors. A multi-port valve member is connected to the first and second eductors. A liquid product supply line is operatively connected to each container and to the multi-port valve member. Liquid outlet lines are connected to the first and second eductors. The first and second valve members and the first and second eductors are constructed and arranged so that when one of the first and second valve members is container activated, liquid flows to the eductor with the slower flow rate and when the other of the first and second valve members is activated, liquid flows to the other eductor. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, there is a bar member and linkage connecting the bar member to the container activated valve and a valve activating member connected to the other of the first and second valve members, wherein the valve activating member includes a trigger and cable member. 
         [0014]    In another preferred embodiment, the multi-port valve is operated by a single selector member. 
         [0015]    In one aspect, one of the first and second eductors has a flow rate of 1.0 to 1.7 gpm to provide a slow flow and the other eductor has a flow rate of 3.0 to 4.0 gpm to provide a fast flow rate. 
         [0016]    In another aspect, the support member has a multiplicity of pockets to support a plurality of containers. 
         [0017]    In still another aspect, there is a drip tray positioned at a bottom of the pocket for a container. 
         [0018]    In yet another aspect, the pockets include product identification windows, the pockets for the containers are housed in door members, and the door members are composed of stainless steel or powder coated mild steel with the doors attached to a molded cabinet. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the multi-station liquid dispensing apparatus; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the doors of the cabinet of the apparatus in an open condition for viewing the inside thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the cabinet similar to  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view illustrating the supply and control system for the dispensing apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the linkage for activating one of the valves; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the linkage shown in  FIG. 5  illustrating the linkage in a non-operative condition; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  showing the linkage in an operative condition. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the mixing and dispensing apparatus generally  10  includes a cabinet member  12  which provides a housing  16  composed of two hinged doors  17  and  18  connected to side panels  20  and  21 , respectively. The housing also includes a rear wall  23  and a top wall  25 . There are slots such as  24  in the rear wall  23  to afford connection to a wall by means of screws or bolts. There is also a central section generally  27  formed with walls  37  and  39 . There are flanges  29  and  30  extending from walls  37  and  39  as well as from side panels  16  and  21  to provide a support for plates  32 . These plates  32  inside cabinet  12  provide pockets  33  for supporting containers such as  34  for liquid chemical concentrate. Bottom panels  26  and  31  connect side walls  37  and  39  with side panels  20  and  21 , respectively. There is also a hinged panel  28  connected to top wall  25 . 
         [0027]    There is an additional alcove-like pocket  36  in central section  27  with a drip tray  38  which is slideably supported and positioned at the bottom thereof. It affords support for a liquid container  40  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Alcove pocket is provided by back wall  35  and side walls  37  and  39 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , there is a water supply hose  42  with a filter valve  44  for supplying water to the header  46  in the customary manner There are two valves  48  and  50  connected to the header  46 . Water supply line  52  supplies water to a low flow rate eductor  56  whereas water supply line  54  supplies high flow rate to eductor  58 . The preferred eductors  56  and  58  are those described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/195,052 filed Aug. 2, 2005, which teachings are incorporated herein by reference. An outlet line  60  conveys product from eductor  56  to container  40 . Similarly hose outlet line  64  and gun/nozzle  66  convey product to bucket  69 . The gun of gun/nozzle  66  is connected to cable  67  which is also connected to valve  50 . Gun nozzle  66  as well as valve  50 , are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,035, which teachings are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0029]    A four-way valve  68  is connected to eductors  56  and  58  and positioned inside central section  27 . It is controlled by knob  70 . There are four product inlet lines  72 ,  73 ,  74  and  75  connected to the four-way valve  68  as well as to container caps  80 ,  81 ,  82  and  83 , respectively. The preferred four-way valve  68  is described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/707,399 filed Aug. 11, 2005, which teachings are incorporated herein by reference. There is an outlet line  86  interconnected with common line  88  as well as eductors  56  and  58 . Two check valves  90  and  92  are positioned in line  88 , for purposes as will be explained later in the Operation. 
         [0030]    As seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , a bottle contact bar  84  extends through opening  76  in alcove back wall  35 . Bar  84  extends from arm  78  pivotally connected at  79  to flanges (not shown) extending from the bottom of alcove side walls  37  and  39 . Arm  78  contacts crank portion  89  pivotally attached at  91  by trunion  87  to flanges  85  connected to rear wall  23  (see  FIG. 3 ). Yoke  94  connects pull chain  96  to valve  48  in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,035. The previously described components comprise the linkage  97  for actuating valve  48 . 
       Operation 
       [0031]    A better understanding of the dispensing apparatus will be had by a description of its operation. Referring to  FIG. 3 , containers with chemical concentrate such as shown. at  34  are placed in pockets such as  33  in cabinet  12  and connected to caps  80 ,  81 ,  82  and  83 . Each container will preferably contain a different chemical concentrate. Doors  17  and  18  are closed and latched such as by latches  19  engaging cut outs  22  in central support section  27 . Filter valve  44  is connected to a source of pressurized water which causes water to flow to header as seen in  FIG. 4 . The operator then selects which of the chemical concentrates is to be diluted and educted by means of knob  70  and pointer  71 . 
         [0032]    The pointer  71  of a knob  70  is directed toward which container in which pocket  33  is to be activated by means of the four way valve  68 . The operator then determines whether a bottle  40  is to be filled with the diluted chemical concentrate or a bucket  69 . 
         [0033]    If a bottle  40  is to be filled, it is placed in alcove pocket  36 . Placement of bottle  40  therein presses against bar  84  which by means of linkage  97  activates valve  48  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Activation is effected by arm  78  moving away from wall  35  which causes arm  98  of crank portion  89  to move downwardly. This exerts a pulling effect on connector  94  and chain  96  to open valve  48 . This causes pressurized water to flow into low flow rate eductor  56 . At the same time, reduced pressure is effected in lines  88  and  86  as well as one of the conduit lines  72 - 75  depending upon which is selected by the operator by means of the four-way valve  68 . In this instance check valve  90  opens whereas check valve  92  closes so there is no siphoning effect beyond line  86  and eductor  58 . Diluted chemical concentrate flows through outlet line  60  into bottle  40 . Once battle  40  is filled with diluted concentrate, it is removed from the alcove pocket  36  which releases the force on bar  84  and closes valve  48 . This is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0034]    If a bucket  69  is to be filled with diluted chemical concentrate, gun nozzle  66  is activated by pressing lever  99  (see  FIG. 3 ). This creates a pulling force on cable  67  to activate valve  50  which causes pressurized water to flow into high flow rate eductor  58 . A siphoning action is effected in outlet lines  88  and  86  with an opening of check valve  92  and a closing of check valve  90 . This in turn draws chemical concentrate from one of the conduit lines  72 - 75  and accordingly the selected container  34 . When the lever is released, valve  50  closes and the previously described siphoning action ceases. 
         [0035]    It will thus be seen that there is now provided a mixing and dispensing apparatus which affords ease of dispensing. Once the selector knob  70  is moved to a position to select the desired chemical concentrate, all that is required to activate the dispenser  10  is to place a bottle  40  in alcove  36  and against bar  84 . This is accomplished with one hand. The same advantages pertain to filling bucket  69 . All that is required is a selection of the desired concentrate by means of selector knob  70  and four-way valve  68 , and a pressing of lever  99  of gun nozzle  66 . This also affords remote bucket filling. 
         [0036]    Other important features of the dispenser  10  are latches  19  which are key locks and afford a locking of the doors  17  and  18 . This is seen in  FIG. 3 . The doors  17  and  18  are composed of stainless steel or powder coated mild steel whereas the cabinet is composed of durable molded ABS plastic. This affords a reduced maintenance dispenser. Product identification is easily made through windows  15 . 
         [0037]    The cabinet  12  affords on-wall repair, compatibility with multiple packages, in field retrofit as well as quick connect of serviceable components and improved ergonomics. Hinged panel  28  provides ready access to the eductors  56  and  58  which are connected to panel  61 . Eductors  56  and  58  are connected to valves  48  and  50  by a Gardena connector  57  such as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . This provides ease of connection or disconnection. If desired, a battery powered indicator light could be employed in conjunction with knob  70  and pockets  33  to indicate which chemical concentrate is selected for dispensing. 
         [0038]    Particular magnetic, pull-chain operated valves  48  and  50  are employed in conjunction with linkage  97  and gun/nozzle  66 . Any valve which can be linkage or cable operated could be substituted. While eductors  56  and  58  are of the non-air gap type, depending on plumbing codes, air gap eductors can be employed such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,338 and No. 6,279,598. A four-way valve  68  is described for use in conjunction with dispenser  10 . If desired, a valve with any number of product inlet lines could be used depending on the size of the cabinet  12 . All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within its scope, as defined by the appended claims.