Carpet cleaning powder dispenser

Claim 1

An apparatus for dispensing a carpet cleaning powder and which is adapted to be mounted on a vacuum cleaner having a source of vacuum, said apparatus comprising: a hopper for containing a supply of powder, said hopper defining an elongated, lower outlet slot; a metering drum rotatably mounted within said hopper in spaced generally parallel relationship with said outlet slot, said metering drum defining a plurality of perforations for receiving powder; a stationary mandrel supported by said hopper and extending within said metering drum, the peripheral surface of said mandrel preventing passage of powder through said perforations to said outlet slot; a dispensing roller rotatably mounted within said metering drum, said roller including a plurality of radially extending projections dimensioned and positioned to mesh with some of said metering drum perforations; means operatively engaging one of said metering drum and said dispensing roller for rotating said metering drum and said dispensing roller whereby upon rotation of said metering drum, powder within said hopper will be collected within said perforations, be moved towards said outlet slot and said dispenser roller projections will push powder from said perforations allowing the powder to drop through said outlet slot, said means including an air driven motor supported on said hopper, said motor including an air inlet, an air outlet and an output shaft, said output shaft being operatively connected to said metering drum and said air outlet being adapted for connection to the vacuum source of the vacuum cleaner; and a control valve within said air outlet for opening and closing said air outlet to thereby control the speed of the motor and the rate of dispensing of the powder.

Claim 2

An apparatus for dispensing a carpet cleaning powder and which is adapted to be mounted on a vacuum cleaner having a source of vacuum, said apparatus comprising: a hopper for containing a supply of powder, said hopper defining an elongated, lower outlet slot; a metering drum rotatably mounted within said hopper in spaced generally parallel relationship with said outlet slot, said metering drum defining a plurality of perforations for receiving powder; a stationary mandrel supported by said hopper and extending within said metering drum, the peripheral surface of said mandrel preventing passage of powder through said perforations to said outlet slot; a dispensing roller rotatably mounted within said metering drum, said roller including a plurality of radially extending projections dimensioned and positioned to mesh with some of said metering drum perforations; means operatively engaging one of said metering drum and said dispensing roller for rotating said metering drum and said dispensing roller whereby upon rotation of said metering drum, powder within said hopper will be collected within said perforations, be moved towards said outlet slot and said dispenser roller projections will push powder from said perforations allowing the powder to drop through said outlet slot, said means including an air driven motor supported on said hopper, said motor including an air inlet, an air outlet and an output shaft, said output shaft being operatively connected to said metering drum and said air outlet being adapted for connection to the vacuum source of the vacuum cleaner; and a control valve within said air outlet for opening and closing said air outlet to thereby control the speed of the motor and the rate of dispensing of the powder.

Claim 7

An apparatus for dispensing a powder, said apparatus comprising: a hopper for containing a supply of powder, said hopper defining an elongated, lower outlet slot; a metering drum rotatably mounted within said hopper in spaced generally parallel relationship with said outlet slot, said metering drum defining a plurality of perforations for receiving powder; a stationary mandrel supported by said hopper and extending within said metering drum, the peripheral surface of said mandrel preventing passage of powder through said perforations to said outlet slot; a dispensing roller rotatably mounted within said metering drum, said roller including a plurality of radially extending projections dimensioned and positioned to mesh with some of said metering drum perforations; means operatively engaging one of said metering drum and said dispensing roller for rotating said metering drum and said dispensing roller whereby upon rotation of said metering drum, powder within said hopper will be collected within said perforations, be moved towards said outlet slot and said dispenser roller projections will push powder from said perforations allowing the powder to drop through said outlet slot, said perforations on said drum being arranged in a plurality of parallel circumferentially extending rows spaced longitudinally along said drum and said perforations being tapered inwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said drum to the inner peripheral surface of said drum; and a plurality of spaced induction means positioned circumferentially around said metering drum for contacting said powder and preventing bridging of the powder over said metering drum, said metering drum defining with said hopper an upper induction and supply zone and a lower discharge zone, said dispensing roller being mounted within said discharge zone.

Claim 8

An apparatus for dispensing a powder, said apparatus comprising: a hopper for containing a supply of powder, said hopper defining an elongated, lower outlet slot; a metering drum rotatably mounted within said hopper in spaced generally parallel relationship with said outlet slot, said metering drum defining a plurality of perforations for receiving powder; a stationary mandrel supported by said hopper and extending within said metering drum, the peripheral surface of said mandrel preventing passage of powder through said perforations to said outlet slot; a dispensing roller rotatably mounted within said metering drum, said roller including a plurality of radially extending projections dimensioned and positioned to mesh with some of said metering drum perforations; means operatively engaging one of said metering drum and said dispensing roller for rotating said metering drum and said dispensing roller whereby upon rotation of said metering drum, powder within said hopper will be collected within said perforations, be moved towards said outlet slot and said dispenser roller projections will push powder from said perforations allowing the powder to drop through said outlet slot, said perforations on said drum being arranged in a plurality of parallel circumferentially extending rows spaced longitudinally along said drum and said perforations being tapered inwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said drum to the inner peripheral surface of said drum; and a plurality of spaced induction means positioned circumferentially around said metering drum for contacting said powder and preventing bridging of the powder over said metering drum, said metering drum defining with said hopper an upper induction and supply zone and a lower discharge zone, said dispensing roller being mounted within said discharge zone.

Claim 20

A device for dispensing a moist coherent carpet cleaning powder and which is adapted for use with a vacuum cleaner of the type including a housing, a source of vacuum and a powdered agitator brush, said device comprising: a hopper for containing a supply of the carpet cleaning powder; a discharge assistant means supported within said hopper for discharging the powder from said hopper, said discharge assistant means dividing said hopper into an upper supply zone and a lower discharge zone and including: a metering drum rotatably mounted within said hopper, said metering drum including powder retaining means thereon for retaining powder and said metering drum having an inner surface and an outer surface; means supported by said hopper for preventing passage of the powder from the supply zone to said discharge zone except upon rotation of said metering drum; idler means disposed within said metering drum for causing powder retained by said powder retaining means to fall into the discharge zone upon rotation of said metering drum; an air driven motor supported on said hopper, said motor including an air inlet, an air outlet and an output shaft, the output shaft being operatively connected to one of said metering drum and said idler means, said air outlet adapted to be connected to the source of vacuum of the vacuum cleaner; and an air control means on said air driven motor for controlling the speed of the motor and the rate of dispensing of the powder.

Claim 21

A device for dispensing a moist coherent carpet cleaning powder and which is adapted for use with a vacuum cleaner of the type including a housing, a source of vacuum and a powdered agitator brush, said device comprising: a hopper for containing a supply of the carpet cleaning powder; a discharge assistant means supported within said hopper for discharging the powder from said hopper, said discharge assistant means dividing said hopper into an upper supply zone and a lower discharge zone and including: a metering drum rotatably mounted within said hopper, said metering drum including powder retaining means thereon for retaining powder and said metering drum having an inner surface and an outer surface; means supported by said hopper for preventing passage of the powder from the supply zone to said discharge zone except upon rotation of said metering drum; idler means disposed within said metering drum for causing powder retained by said powder retaining means to fall into the discharge zone upon rotation of said metering drum; an air driven motor supported on said hopper, said motor including an air inlet, an air outlet and an output shaft, the output shaft being operatively connected to one of said metering drum and said idler means, said air outlet adapted to be connected to the source of vacuum of the vacuum cleaner; and an air control means on said air driven motor for controlling the speed of the motor and the rate of dispensing of the powder.