Automatic detergent dispenser system

Claim 2

Apparatus for preparing and collecting a concentrated detergent solution, comprising: a. a container for containing a powdered detergent, said container having a substantially open end; b. a receptacle for detergent solution, said receptacle having an upwardly facing open end; c. means including a retainer ring cooperating with said container and with said receptacle for mounting said container in an inverted position over said receptacle; d. a screen member carried by said retainer ring and covering said open end of said container, said screen member being convex with respect to the interior of said container and being constructed from a mesh extending continuously over the entirety of said open end and which is sized to prevent said powdered detergent from passing therethrough; and e. a single, vertically extending, water-spray-forming nozzle mounted in said receptacle generally below the center of said screen member so as to spray water on substantially the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve a portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen member and collecting in said receptacle.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said screen member is generally cone shaped.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said screen member is formed generally as a spherical segment.

Claim 5

Apparatus for withdrawing, as a concentrated detergent solution, the detergent from a substantially completely open end of a container of powdered detergent, comprising: a. a receptacle for detergent solution having an upwardly facing opening corresponding generally in size to the substantially completely open end of the container; b. a screen mounted over said receptacle opening, said screen being concave with respect to said open receptacle and extending continuously over said open end; c. means for mounting the container in an inverted position over said screen and receptacle, said screen being sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; and d. a single nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water upwardly onto generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen to dissolve an adjacent portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen and collecting in said receptacle.

Claim 6

Apparatus for withdrawing, as a concentrated detergent solution, the detergent from a substantially completely open end of a container of powdered detergent, comprising: a. a receptacle for detergent solution having an upwardly facing opening corresponding generally in size to the substantially completely open end of the container; b. a screen mounted over said receptacle opening, said screen being concave with respect to said open receptacle and extending continuously over said open end; c. means for mounting the container in an inverted position over said screen and receptacle, said screen being sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; and d. a single nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water upwardly onto generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen to dissolve an adjacent portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen and collecting in said receptacle.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said screen is generally conical in shape.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said screen is shaped generally as a spherical segment.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said receptacle and the container both have a circular opening, said means for mounting the container includes a cylindrical retainer ring having a support flange intermediate the ends thereof, said screen is mounted within said ring, one end of said ring extends downwardly into said opening in said receptacle with said flange resting on said receptacle, and wherein the open end of the container extends into the other end of Said ring over said screen.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 4 in combination with means for removing concentrated detergent solution from said receptacle and means for maintaining the level of concentrated detergent solution in said receptacle within a predetermined range by periodically energizing said nozzle to spray water onto said screen.

Claim 11

Apparatus for preparing and collecting a concentrated detergent solution, comprising: a. a container for containing a powdered detergent, said container having a substantially completely open end; b. a receptacle for detergent solution, said receptacle having an upwardly facing open end; c. means for securing said container to said receptacle with said open ends aligned; d. a screen member mounted between said receptacle and said container covering said open end of each, said screen member being convex with respect to the interior of said container and being constructed from a mesh extending continuously over the entirety of said open ends and which is sized to prevent said powdered detergent from passing therethrough; and e. a single water-spray-forming nozzle mounted in the center of said receptacle to spray water on generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve a portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen member and collecting in said receptacle.

Claim 12

Apparatus for preparing and collecting a concentrated detergent solution, comprising: a. a container for containing a powdered detergent, said container having a substantially completely open end; b. a receptacle for detergent solution, said receptacle having an upwardly facing open end; c. means for securing said container to said receptacle with said open ends aligned; d. a screen member mounted between said receptacle and said container covering said open end of each, said screen member being convex with respect to the interior of said container and being constructed from a mesh extending continuously over the entirety of said open ends and which is sized to prevent said powdered detergent from passing therethrough; and e. a single water-spray-forming nozzle mounted in the center of said receptacle to spray water on generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve a portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen member and collecting in said receptacle.

Claim 13

Apparatus for preparing a concentrated detergent solution comprising: a. a container adapted to carry a powdered detergent, said container having a downwardly facing, substantially completely open end; b. a screen member mounted in said container between said open end and the detergent-carrying portion thereof, said screen member being concave with respect to said open end and being constructed from a mesh extending continuously over said open end and which is sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; c. a receptacle positioned below said open end; and d. a single water-spray-forming nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water on generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve a portion of the powdered detergent through said screen member into said receptacle.

Claim 14

Apparatus for preparing a concentrated detergent solution comprising: a. a container adapted to carry a powdered detergent, said container having a downwardly facing, substantially completely open end; b. a screen member mounted in said container between said open end and the detergent-carrying portion thereof, said screen member being concave with respect to said open end and being constructed from a mesh extending continuously over said open end and which is sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; c. a receptacle positioned below said open end; and d. a single water-spray-forming nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water on generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve a portion of the powdered detergent through said screen member into said receptacle.

Claim 15

Apparatus for withdrawing, as a concentrated detergent solution, the detergent from a substantially completely open end of a container of powdered detergent, comprising: a. a receptacle for detergent solution having an upwardly facing opening corresponding generally in size to the substantially completely open end of the container; b. a screen mounted over said receptacle opening, said screen being concave with respect to said open receptacle; c. means for mounting the container in an inverted position over said screen and receptacle, said screen being sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; d. a single nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water upwardly onto generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen to dissolve an adjacent portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen and collecting in said receptacle; e. means in liquid communication with said receptacle for removing concentrated detergent solution therefrom; and f. means for maintaining the level of concentrated detergent solution in said receptacle within a predetermined range including a source of water under pressure, a first conduit connecting said source to said nozzle, a valve in said first conduit, a float device mounted in said receptacle so as to detect changes in solution level, and means responsive to said float device to open and close said valve in response to changes in solution level thereby intermittently spraying water onto said screen.

Claim 16

Apparatus for withdrawing, as a concentrated detergent solution, the detergent from a substantially completely open end of a container of powdered detergent, comprising: a. a receptacle for detergent solution having an upwardly facing opening corresponding generally in size to the substantially completely open end of the container; b. a screen mounted over said receptacle opening, said screen being concave with respect to said open receptacle; c. means for mounting the container in an inverted position over said screen and receptacle, said screen being sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; d. a single nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water upwardly onto generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen to dissolve an adjacent portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen and collecting in said receptacle; e. means in liquid communication with said receptacle for removing concentrated detergent solution therefrom; and f. means for maintaining the level of concentrated detergent solution in said receptacle within a predetermined range including a source of water under pressure, a first conduit connecting said source to said nozzle, a valve in said first conduit, a float device mounted in said receptacle so as to detect changes in solution level, and means responsive to said float device to open and close said valve in response to changes in solution level thereby intermittently spraying water onto said screen.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein a second nozzle is connected to said first conduit and is positioned within said receptacle so as to dIrect a spray of water at a wall of said receptacle generally beneath said float device when said valve is open.

Claim 18

Apparatus for withdrawing, as a concentrated detergent solution, the detergent form a substantially completely open end of a container of powdered detergent, comprising: a. a receptacle for detergent solution having an upwardly facing opening corresponding generally in size to the substantially completely open end of the container; b. a screen mounted over said receptacle opening, said screen being concave with respect to said open receptacle; c. means for mounting the container in an inverted position over said screen and receptacle, said screen being sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; d. a single nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water upwardly onto generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen to dissolve an adjacent portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen and collecting in said receptacle; and e. means for removing concentrated detergent solution from said receptacle including a continuously operating pump having an intake port and a discharge port, a first conduit having one end extending into said receptacle and another end connected to said intake port, a second conduit connected to said discharge port and having a control valve therein, and a bypass conduit having one end extending into said receptacle and the other end connected to said second conduit between said discharge port and said control valve to provide essentially constant circulation of said solution in said receptacle.

Claim 19

Apparatus for withdrawing, as a concentrated detergent solution, the detergent form a substantially completely open end of a container of powdered detergent, comprising: a. a receptacle for detergent solution having an upwardly facing opening corresponding generally in size to the substantially completely open end of the container; b. a screen mounted over said receptacle opening, said screen being concave with respect to said open receptacle; c. means for mounting the container in an inverted position over said screen and receptacle, said screen being sized to prevent the powdered detergent from passing therethrough; d. a single nozzle mounted in said receptacle to spray water upwardly onto generally the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen to dissolve an adjacent portion of the powdered detergent being carried thereby, said detergent solution passing through said screen and collecting in said receptacle; and e. means for removing concentrated detergent solution from said receptacle including a continuously operating pump having an intake port and a discharge port, a first conduit having one end extending into said receptacle and another end connected to said intake port, a second conduit connected to said discharge port and having a control valve therein, and a bypass conduit having one end extending into said receptacle and the other end connected to said second conduit between said discharge port and said control valve to provide essentially constant circulation of said solution in said receptacle.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a pipe having a plurality of water-spray-forming openings is connected to said one end of said bypass conduit, said pipe extending along one side of said receptacle within said solution to induce a constant flow of solution along the bottom of said receptacle in a direction away from said pipe.