Apparatus and method for mixing and dispensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809442-B2
Application number	US-201514813663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Nov 14, 2008
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A system and method for mixing and dispensing two substances are provided. The system includes: a first substance a first container for containing a first substance, a second container for containing a second substance, a feeding tube, and a pumping system connected to the first container, the second container, and the feeding tube; wherein the system comprises at least three modes of operation: combining the first and second substances into one combined substance, mixing the combined substance, and dispensing the mixed substance; and wherein the pumping system is adapted to perform the at least three modes of operation and dispense the mixed substance to the feeding tube.

First claim

We claim:

1. A mixing and dispensing apparatus, comprising:
a first container for containing a first substance;
a second container for containing a second substance, the second container having a top including an input neck and an output neck, each of which is sealed by a sealing device;
an input pipe disposed inside the second container and attached to the sealing device at the input neck;
an output pipe disposed inside the second container and attached to the sealing device at the output neck;
a tube system configured to combine the first and second substances into one combined substance, mix the combined substance, and dispense the mixed substance;
a feeding tube connected to the tube system and configured to receive the mixed substance from said tube system; and
a fluid-impermeable enclosure enclosing the first container, the second container, and the tube system,
wherein the tube system comprises:
a main tube;
a first valve connected between the first container and one end of the main tube;
a second valve connected between the main tube and the feeding tube; and
a third valve connected between the main tube and the input neck, and

wherein the main tube comprises:
a first tube section connecting the first valve and a first Y-connector;
a second tube section connecting the output neck and the first Y-connector;
a third tube section connecting the first Y-connector to a second Y-connector;
a fourth tube section connecting the second Y-connector to the third valve;
a fifth tube section connecting the second Y-connector to the second valve; and
a sixth tube section connecting the third valve to the input neck.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first substance; and
the second substance,
wherein first substance comprises an active disinfectant and the second substance comprises a diluting solution.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second container comprises an outer layer, an inner drum, and a space of insulation therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second container is a 200-liter container and the first container is smaller than the second container.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main tube and the feeding tube are flexible.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main tube and the feeding tube are hard pipes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first container includes a body and at least one of a neck and a nozzle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input pipe is approximately half the height of the second container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output pipe extends almost to a bottom of the second container.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a peristaltic pump.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second Y-connectors are one-way connectors.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube system is configured to combine only the first substance, the second substance, and air.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first container, the second container, and the tube system are enclosed in the fluid-impermeable enclosure without a pump.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a pump is configured to be removably connected to the main tube and the main tube is configured to provide a fluid impermeable path from the first Y-connector to the second Y-connector regardless of whether the pump is connected to the main tube.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust pipe attached to the output neck, the exhaust pipe including an seventh tube section connected between the output neck and a fourth valve, and a eighth tube section connected between the fourth valve and an exhaust cap, wherein the exhaust cap includes a first filter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a tube connected to the output neck and disposed inside the second container, the tube comprising a filter.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 ,
wherein, during a combining of the first substance and the second substance, the first and third valves are configured to be opened and the second valve are configured to be closed,
wherein, during a mixing of the combined substance, the first and second valves are configured to be closed and the third and fourth valves are configured to be opened, and
wherein, during a dispensing of the mixed substance, the first and third valves are configured to be closed and the second and fourth valves are configured to be opened.

Assignees

• Veltek Ass Inc

Inventors

• Vellutato Jr Arthur
• Vellutato Sr Arthur L

Classifications

• B67D7/62

  power operated · CPC title

• B67D7/78

  Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines · CPC title

• B67D7/741 Primary

  mechanically operated · CPC title

• B67D7/58

  Arrangements of pumps · CPC title

• B65D83/38

  Details of the container body (pressure relief devices B65D83/70) · CPC title