US3592254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing multicolored spray dried detergent particles
Assignee: Lever Brothers Co
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Filing: 1968-12-09
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1988-12-09
Abstract
Abstract As described herein, hot colorless liquid detergent is continuously supplied under pressure to a plurality of spaced nozzles extending into a spray drying tower. A coloring solution is also supplied under pressure for controlled periods of time to the nozzles wherein the liquid detergent and the coloring solution are thoroughly mixed to form a uniformly colored liquid detergent. The nozzles spray either the colorless liquid detergent or the colored liquid detergent into the interior of the tower wherein the sprayed detergent is dried into either discrete colorless detergent particles or discrete uniformly colored detergent particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert E Bauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:14
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D11/00; C11D11/02; C11D3/00; C11D3/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for producing spray-dried multicolored detergent particles comprising: a source of pressurized hot liquid detergent; a source of pressurized coloring solution having an intake means and a discharge means, spray drying tower means including a drying tower having a gaseous drying medium inlet and exhaust gas outlet, a plurality of injector means responsive to liquid under pressure for injecting the liquid detergent as a spray of same into the drying tower and gas flow means to provide a gaseous drying medium within said drying tower for drying the spray into discrete particles; means forming a first open flow path between the source of pressurized hot liquid detergent and the injector means, means forming a normally open shunt flow path for the pressurized color solution between the intake and discharge means of the source of pressurized coloring solution; means forming a normally closed second flow path for the pressurized coloring solution between the discharge means of the source of pressurized coloring solution and the injector means; and timer means including both means for periodically opening the second flow path for the pressurized coloring solution and means for simultaneously closing the shunt flow path for the pressurized coloring solution;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for producing spray-dried multicolored detergent particles comprising: a source of pressurized hot liquid detergent; a source of pressurized coloring solution having an intake means and a discharge means, spray drying tower means including a drying tower having a gaseous drying medium inlet and exhaust gas outlet, a plurality of injector means responsive to liquid under pressure for injecting the liquid detergent as a spray of same into the drying tower and gas flow means to provide a gaseous drying medium within said drying tower for drying the spray into discrete particles; means forming a first open flow path between the source of pressurized hot liquid detergent and the injector means, means forming a normally open shunt flow path for the pressurized color solution between the intake and discharge means of the source of pressurized coloring solution; means forming a normally closed second flow path for the pressurized coloring solution between the discharge means of the source of pressurized coloring solution and the injector means; and timer means including both means for periodically opening the second flow path for the pressurized coloring solution and means for simultaneously closing the shunt flow path for the pressurized coloring solution;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the source of pressurized coloring solution comprises receptacle means for containing the coloring solution having inlet and outlet openings and variable pump means coupled to the outlet opening of the receptacle means for drawing out controlled quantities of coloring solution from the receptacle means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising agitator means connected to the receptacle means for maintaining the coloring solution in an agitated state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising back pressure valve means disposed in the normally open shunt flow path for restricting the flow of coloring solution in the shunt flow path to maintain an elevated pressure in the normally closed second flow path during the transitional period in which transfer of flow between the shunt flow path and the second flow path occurs, thereby minimizing the time required to pressurize the second flow path and effect flow to the injector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a continuous measuring and signal transmission means responsive to the quantity of hot liquid detergent flowing in the first flow path for controlling the operation of the variable pump means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of injector means comprise a plurality of spray nozzles mounted within the wall of the drying tower and wherein a ball check valve is interposed between each spray nozzle and the normally closed second flow path for the pressurized coloring solution.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of producing spray-dried multicolored detergent particles comprising the steps of: a. supplying a hot liquid detergent under pressure in a closed first flow path with an exit branch; b. supplying a coloring solution under pressure in a closed second flow path with an exit branch, said flow paths having a common segment; c. periodically diverting the coloring solution from the second flow path and supplying the coloring solution under pressure to its flow path exit branch and thence to the hot liquid detergent exit branch; d. mixing together the hot liquid detergent and the coloring solution when the latter is supplied to the first flow path exit branch to uniformly color the hot liquid detergent; e. alteRnately and sequentially spraying first the hot liquid detergent alone and then the colored hot liquid detergent mixed with hot liquid detergent in droplet form into a defined region; and f. drying the sprayed droplets respectively into discrete detergent particles and into discrete colored detergent particles in the sequence supplied.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of producing spray-dried multicolored detergent particles comprising the steps of: a. supplying a hot liquid detergent under pressure in a closed first flow path with an exit branch; b. supplying a coloring solution under pressure in a closed second flow path with an exit branch, said flow paths having a common segment; c. periodically diverting the coloring solution from the second flow path and supplying the coloring solution under pressure to its flow path exit branch and thence to the hot liquid detergent exit branch; d. mixing together the hot liquid detergent and the coloring solution when the latter is supplied to the first flow path exit branch to uniformly color the hot liquid detergent; e. alteRnately and sequentially spraying first the hot liquid detergent alone and then the colored hot liquid detergent mixed with hot liquid detergent in droplet form into a defined region; and f. drying the sprayed droplets respectively into discrete detergent particles and into discrete colored detergent particles in the sequence supplied.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 7 comprising the further step of: a. blending the discrete detergent particles and the discrete colored detergent particles to produce a uniform distribution of the colored detergent particles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |