Method and apparatus for dispensing solid product

Abstract

A dispensing system includes a dispenser, a logic device, a nozzle, a diluent source, and a solid product. The logic device controls spray on and spray off cycles to pulse diluent supplied to the nozzle. The diluent contacts the solid product to dissolve a portion of the solid product and create a use solution. Pulsing the spray of diluent controls the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution by limiting the amount of excess dilutant added to the dispensed product. The product is more consistently dispensed and the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution is more consistent. Additionally, the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution can be controlled by changing at least one of a volume of diluent dispensed through the nozzle, a pressure of diluent, a pulsed diluent spray frequency, and a pulsed diluent spray duration.

1 . A dispensing system, comprising:
 a dispenser including a cavity and a nozzle;   a solid product positioned within the cavity;   a diluent source in fluid communication with the dispenser supplying a diluent to the nozzle; and   a logic device controlling spray on and spray off cycles to pulse the diluent supplied to the nozzle as a pulsed diluent spray during a product dispensing process, the diluent contacting a surface of the solid product to dissolve at least a portion of the solid product and create a use solution, wherein the pulsed diluent spray increases the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution by limiting an amount of excess diluent in the use solution during the product dispensing process.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a volume of diluent dispensed through the nozzle, a pressure of diluent, a pulsed diluent spray frequency, and a pulsed diluent spray duration affects the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid product is a solid enzyme product and the concentration of the dissolved solid enzyme product in the use solution increased from 2.0 to 4.0% to 3.0 to 6.0% by weight of the use solution by utilizing the pulsed diluent spray versus a non-pulsed diluent spray. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution is approximately 3.0 to 10.0% by weight of the use solution and the solid product is selected from the group consisting of a solid enzyme product, a solid neutral product, a solid alkaline product, and a solid acid product. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic device is a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing system of  claim 5 , wherein the printed circuit board contains a microprocessor. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic device is in a utilization vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic device is equipped with discrete adjustments to control the pulsed diluent spray. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulsed diluent spray is controlled through a closed loop control system. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing system of  claim 9 , wherein the closed loop control system utilizes at least one of a load cell to measure weight loss of the solid product, a conductivity cell to measure the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution, and a refractometer to measure the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulsed diluent spray is controlled through an open loop control system. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing system of  claim 11 , wherein the open loop control system adjusts pulsed spray of diluent based on diluent temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing system of  claim 11 , wherein the open loop control system adjusts pulsed spray of diluent based on ambient temperature. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing system, comprising:
 a dispenser including a cavity and a nozzle;   a solid product positioned within the cavity;   a diluent source in fluid communication with the dispenser supplying a diluent to the nozzle;   a logic device controlling spray on and spray off cycles to pulse the diluent supplied to the nozzle as a pulsed diluent spray during a product dispensing process, the diluent contacting a surface of the solid product to dissolve at least a portion of the solid product and create a use solution, wherein the pulsed diluent spray increases the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution by limiting an amount of excess diluent in the use solution during the product dispensing process, wherein the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution is approximately 3.0 to 10.0% by weight of the use solution and the solid product is selected from the group consisting of a solid enzyme product, a solid neutral product, a solid alkaline product, and a solid acid product.   
     
     
         15 . The dispensing system of  claim 14 , wherein the logic device is a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing system of  claim 14 , wherein the pulsed diluent spray is controlled through a closed loop control system, the closed loop control system utilizing at least one of a load cell to measure weight loss of the solid product, a conductivity cell to measure the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution, and a refractometer to measure the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution. 
     
     
         17 . A method of dispensing a solid product, comprising:
 placing a solid product in a cavity of a dispenser having a nozzle in fluid communication with a diluent source, the diluent source supplying a diluent to the nozzle;   pulsing the diluent onto a surface of the solid product as a pulsed diluent spray to dissolve a portion of the solid product and create a use solution during a product dispensing process, wherein the pulsed diluent spray increases a concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution by limiting an amount of excess diluent in the use solution during the product dispensing process.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising changing at least one of a volume of diluent dispensed through the nozzle, a pressure of diluent, a pulsed diluent spray frequency, and a pulsed diluent spray duration to adjust the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising utilizing a closed loop control system to control the pulsed diluent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the closed loop control system utilizes at least one of a load cell to measure weight loss of the solid product, a conductivity cell to measure the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution, and a refractometer to measure the concentration of the dissolved solid product in the use solution. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising utilizing an open loop control system to control the pulsed diluent. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the open loop control system adjusts pulsed spray of diluent based on diluent temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the open loop control system adjusts pulsed spray of diluent based on ambient temperature.