US4976137A — Chemical mixing and dispensing system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 164 words

An apparatus for mixing and dispensing chemical solutions, comprising: (a) a manifold having a main passage, a plurality of chemical inlet ports connected to said passage, an outlet port connected to said passage, and a water inlet port connected to a source of pressurized water; (b) a plurality of pumps which are selectively controllable, one of said pumps being connected to each of said chemical inlet ports so as to pump a chemical solution therethrough; (c) selectively controllable valve means associated with each said chemical inlet ports; (d) a dispensing outlet connected to said outlet port for dispensing said chemical solutions and water into a container; and (e) quality control means for determining whether the proper chemical solutions have been dispensed, wherein said quality control means comprises: (i) means for repeatedly measuring the conductivity of the chemical solutions flowing through said main passage of said manifold to produce a conductivity output; and (ii) means for comparing said conductivity output with a standard conductivity output.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 164 words

An apparatus for mixing and dispensing chemical solutions, comprising: (a) a manifold having a main passage, a plurality of chemical inlet ports connected to said passage, an outlet port connected to said passage, and a water inlet port connected to a source of pressurized water; (b) a plurality of pumps which are selectively controllable, one of said pumps being connected to each of said chemical inlet ports so as to pump a chemical solution therethrough; (c) selectively controllable valve means associated with each said chemical inlet ports; (d) a dispensing outlet connected to said outlet port for dispensing said chemical solutions and water into a container; and (e) quality control means for determining whether the proper chemical solutions have been dispensed, wherein said quality control means comprises: (i) means for repeatedly measuring the conductivity of the chemical solutions flowing through said main passage of said manifold to produce a conductivity output; and (ii) means for comparing said conductivity output with a standard conductivity output.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said quality control means comprises: (a) means for weighing the container having the chemical solutions therein to produce a weight output; and (b) means for comparing said weight output with a standard weight range.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said quality control means comprises: (a) means for measuring the volume of the chemical solutions flowing through said manifold outlet port to produce a volume output; and (b) means for comparing said volume output with a standard volume range.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said dispensing outlet is interconnected to selectively controllable, pneumatic position control means so as to be movable between a first, non-operative position and a second, fill position in which said dispensing outlet is located within said container.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said position control means includes means for withdrawing said dispensing outlet from the container at a first, relatively slow speed until said dispensing outlet breaks a liquid surface, and at a second, relatively fast speed thereafter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 81 words

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a drip cup assembly including: (a) a hinged plate movable by said dispensing outlet between a first closed position and a second open position corresponding respectively to said first and second positions of said dispensing outlet; (b) a drainage cavity having an upper end and a lower end, said plate being mounted proximate said upper end and said lower end including a drain, wherein fluid on said plate is directed into said drainage cavity.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said manifold passage has first and second ends, said plurality of chemical inlet ports being intermediate between said ends, said outlet port being at said second end and said water inlet port being at said opposite, first end of said manifold.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 174 words

An apparatus for mixing and dispensing chemical solutions, comprising: (a) a manifold with a first and opposite second end and having a main passage, a plurality of chemical inlet ports connected to said passage intermediate between said ends, an outlet port at said second end connected to said passage, and a water inlet port at said first end connected to a source of pressurized water; (b) a plurality of pumps which are selectively controllable, one of said pumps being connected to each of said chemical inlet ports so as to pump a chemical solution there through; (c) selectively controllable valve means associated with each said chemical inlet ports; (d) a dispensing outlet connected to said outlet port for dispensing said chemical solutions and water into a container; and (e) control means operatively associated with said pumps and said valve means to operate said pumps and said valve means automatically in response to a pre-selected volume, sequential combination and concentration of chemical fluids to discharge the desired volume and combination of chemicals into said manifold.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 174 words

An apparatus for mixing and dispensing chemical solutions, comprising: (a) a manifold with a first and opposite second end and having a main passage, a plurality of chemical inlet ports connected to said passage intermediate between said ends, an outlet port at said second end connected to said passage, and a water inlet port at said first end connected to a source of pressurized water; (b) a plurality of pumps which are selectively controllable, one of said pumps being connected to each of said chemical inlet ports so as to pump a chemical solution there through; (c) selectively controllable valve means associated with each said chemical inlet ports; (d) a dispensing outlet connected to said outlet port for dispensing said chemical solutions and water into a container; and (e) control means operatively associated with said pumps and said valve means to operate said pumps and said valve means automatically in response to a pre-selected volume, sequential combination and concentration of chemical fluids to discharge the desired volume and combination of chemicals into said manifold.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control means causes at least two types of chemical solutions to flow through said manifold simultaneously during a dispensing cycle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said dispensing outlet is interconnected to selectively controllable pneumatic position control means so as to be movable between a first, non-operative position and a second fill position in which said dispensing outlet is located within said container.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said position control means includes means for withdrawing said dispensing outlet from the container at a first, relatively slow speed until said dispensing outlet breaks a liquid surface, and at a second, relatively fast speed thereafter.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 81 words

The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a drip cup assembly including: (a) a hinged plate movable by said dispensing outlet between a first closed position and a second open position corresponding respectively to said first and second positions of said dispensing outlet; (b) a drainage cavity having an upper end and a lower end, said plate being mounted proximate said upper end and said lower end including a drain, wherein fluid on said plate is directed into said drainage cavity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising lid attachment means for securing a lid upon the container.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said valve means comprises a pneumatically-activated ball valve.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pumps are positive displacement gear pumps.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a storage tank of concentrated liquid chemical is connected by a supply line to each of said chemical inlet ports.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising electrical sensing means associated with each storage tank for indicating to said control unit the amount of liquid chemical within said storage tank.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a bar code reader for reading a product type bar code from a label on the product container.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of mixing and dispensing chemical solutions, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a dispensing outlet within a product container; (b) pumping a plurality of concentrated chemicals from storage tanks through selectively controllable valve means by pump means connected to chemical inlet lines, through a manifold, and through said dispensing outlet; (c) simultaneously metering a predetermined amount of water through said manifold and said distribution outlet; (d) automatically controlling said pump means and said valve means by electronic control means in response to a pre-selected volume, sequential combination, and concentration of chemical fluid; and (e) monitoring the quality of said dispensed chemical solutions to determine whether the proper chemical solutions have been dispensed.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of mixing and dispensing chemical solutions, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a dispensing outlet within a product container; (b) pumping a plurality of concentrated chemicals from storage tanks through selectively controllable valve means by pump means connected to chemical inlet lines, through a manifold, and through said dispensing outlet; (c) simultaneously metering a predetermined amount of water through said manifold and said distribution outlet; (d) automatically controlling said pump means and said valve means by electronic control means in response to a pre-selected volume, sequential combination, and concentration of chemical fluid; and (e) monitoring the quality of said dispensed chemical solutions to determine whether the proper chemical solutions have been dispensed.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 19, wherein at least two of said concentrated chemicals are pumped simultaneously through said manifold by said pump means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said quality monitoring step includes: (a) repeatedly measuring the conductivity of the chemical solutions flowing through said manifold to produce a conductivity output; and (b) comparing said conductivity output with a standard conductivity output.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said quality monitoring step includes: (a) weighing the container having the chemical solutions therein to produce a weight output; and (b) comparing said weight output with a standard weight range.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said quality monitoring step includes: (a) measuring the volume of the chemical solutions flowing through said manifold outlet port to produce a volume output; and (b) comparing said volume output with a standard volume range.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of attaching a lid to the product container before said pumping step.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of attaching a label to the product container.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-12-10	1994-06-11	1994-12-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-12-10	1998-06-11	1998-12-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-12-10	2002-06-11	2002-12-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Chemical mixing and dispensing system

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