Multi-station liquid dispensing apparatus with automatic selection of proper flow rate
View Patent ↗A multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a first pocket for supporting a first container and a second pocket for supporting a second container, a first door pivotably coupled to the housing and enclosing the first pocket, and a second door pivotably coupled to the housing opposite the first door. The first door includes a first window through which the first container can be identified. The second door encloses the second pocket and includes a second window through which the second container can be identified. The apparatus also includes a valve coupled to the housing to control flow of chemical concentrate to at least one of the first container and the second container.
1. A multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising:
a housing at least partially defining a first pocket configured to support a first container, a second pocket configured to support a second container, and a third pocket configured to support a third container, the housing including a bottom panel, the third pocket located vertically above the first pocket relative the bottom panel;
a first door pivotably coupled to the housing and movable from an opened position in which the first container can be inserted within the first pocket, and a closed position in which the first pocket is substantially closed, the first door including a first window through which the first or third container can be identified, the first window elongated in a vertical direction to provide visibility of product level in the first or third container;
a second door pivotably coupled to the housing and movable from an opened position in which the second container can be inserted within the second pocket, and a closed position in which the second pocket is substantially closed, the second door including a second window through which the second container can be identified, the second window elongated in a vertical direction to provide visibility of product level in the second container; and
a valve coupled to the housing, the valve operable by a user to select which of the containers from which to dispense chemical concentrate.
2. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a central support section located between the first door and the second door, and a latch to secure the first door in the closed position of the first door.
3. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an additional pocket at least partially defined by the housing and configured to receive a fourth container; and
a fluid line extending to the additional pocket for fluid dispense into the fourth container, the fluid line receiving fluid including chemical concentrate from at least one of the first, second, and third containers.
4. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an eductor providing a flow rate of fluid drawing chemical concentrate from at least one of the first container, the second container, and the third container, and
a hinged panel providing access to the eductor.
5. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the valve is operable by a user-manipulatable control having an indicator, the indicator movable by movement of the user-manipulatable control to different positions each pointing generally toward the container from which chemical concentrate is dispensed in the corresponding position of the valve.
6. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel is at least partially defined by an outwardly curved profile, and wherein each of the first door and the second door is curved to substantially match the outwardly curved profile of the bottom panel.
7. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each of the first window and the second window is positioned and dimensioned to permit user identification of:
i) the presence or absence of the first, second, or third containers in the first, second, and third pockets, respectively; and
ii) the level of liquid in those containers enabling identification of the same.
8. A multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising:
a housing at least partially defining a first pocket configured to support a first container and a second pocket configured to support a second container, the housing including a bottom panel having an edge defining an outwardly curved profile, and the housing further at least partially defining a third pocket configured to support a third container, the third pocket located vertically above the first pocket relative the bottom panel;
a first door pivotably coupled to the housing and movable from an opened position in which the first container can be inserted within the first pocket, and a closed position in which the first pocket is substantially closed, the first door having a curvature substantially matching the outwardly curved profile of the bottom panel;
a second door pivotably coupled to the housing and movable from an opened position in which the second container can be inserted within the second pocket, and a closed position in which the second pocket is substantially closed, the second door having a curvature substantially matching the outwardly curved profile of the bottom panel; and
a valve coupled to the housing, the valve having a knob operable by a user to select which of the first and second containers from which to dispense chemical concentrate, the valve further having an indicator pointing toward the selected container.
9. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the housing further includes a central support section located between the first door and the second door, and a latch to secure the first door in the closed position of the first door.
10. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
an eductor providing a flow rate of fluid drawing chemical concentrate from at least one of the first container and the second container, and
a hinged panel providing access to the eductor.
11. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the hinged panel is located between and partially covered by the first door and the second door.
12. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the valve is operable by a user-manipulatable control having the indicator, the indicator movable by movement of the user-manipulatable control to different positions each pointing generally toward the container from which chemical concentrate is dispensed in the corresponding position of the valve.
13. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first door includes a first window through which the first container can be identified, and wherein the second door includes a second window through which the second container can be identified.
14. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of the first window and the second window is positioned and dimensioned to permit user identification of:
i) the presence or absence of the first and second containers in the first and second pockets, respectively; and
ii) the level of liquid in the first and second containers in those containers enabling identification of the same.
15. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising
a fluid line extending to the third pocket for fluid dispense into the third container, the fluid line receiving fluid including chemical concentrate from at least one of the first and second containers.
16. A multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising:
a housing including a bottom panel and at least partially defining a first pocket configured to support a first container, a second pocket configured to support a second container, a third pocket disposed between the first pocket and the second pocket and configured to support a third container, and a fourth pocket located vertically above the first pocket relative the bottom panel and configured to support a fourth container;
a first door pivotably coupled to the housing and movable from an opened position in which the first container can be inserted within the first pocket, and a closed position in which the first pocket is substantially closed;
a second door pivotably coupled to the housing and movable from an opened position in which the second container can be inserted within the second pocket, and a closed position in which the second pocket is substantially closed;
a valve coupled to the housing, the valve operable by a user to select which of the first and second containers from which to dispense chemical concentrate; and
a fluid line extending to the third pocket for fluid dispense into the third container, the fluid line receiving fluid including chemical concentrate from at least one of the first and second containers.
17. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first door includes a first window through which the first container can be identified, and wherein the second door includes a second window through which the second container can be identified.
18. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein each of the first window and the second window is positioned and dimensioned to permit user identification of:
i) the presence or absence of the first and second containers in the first and second pockets, respectively; and
ii) the level of liquid in the first and second containers in those containers enabling identification of the same.
19. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:
the bottom panel is at least partially defined by an outwardly curved profile; and
each of the first door and the second door is curved to substantially match the outwardly curved profile of the bottom panel.
20. The multi-station liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the indicator on the knob is rotatable along an arced pathway so as to point to each of the pockets defined by the housing.