Disposer Fluid Injector System and Method

Abstract

Disposer fluid injector systems for injecting fluids into waste disposers, waste disposers having such injector systems, and methods of operating such injector systems are provided. Disposer fluid injector systems may include a fluid injector assembly, and may be connected to the dishwasher inlet of a disposer by an injector coupling. A fluid injector assembly may include a base unit and a bottle that is received by the base unit. During operation, fluid is removed from the bottle, and is injected into the disposer through the injector coupling.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A waste disposer system comprising:
 a waste disposer having a primary inlet through which the waste disposer receives water and food scraps, a primary outlet through which waste and water are output from the food waste disposer, and a dishwasher inlet;   an disposer fluid injector system including a fluid injector assembly fluidly connected to the dishwasher inlet, the fluid injector assembly including a base unit and a bottle that is received by the base unit.   
     
     
         2 . The waste disposer system of  claim 1 , further comprising an injector coupling that fluidly connects to the dishwasher inlet of the waste disposer, and a tube that fluidly connects the fluid injector assembly to the injector coupling. 
     
     
         3 . The waste disposer system of  claim 2 , wherein the injector coupling includes a main body having a first end and a second end, and an injector inlet configured to receive fluid from the fluid injector assembly, wherein the first end of the main body connects to the dishwasher inlet and incudes an injection outlet configured to inject the fluid into the disposer. 
     
     
         4 . The waste disposer system of  claim 3 , wherein the injector coupling further includes a plug that removably secures to the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The waste disposer system of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit includes a housing having a bottle receiving area, and the bottle receiving area includes a neck receiving portion that extends into the base unit. 
     
     
         6 . The waste disposer system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is retained in the base unit in an inverted position. 
     
     
         7 . The waste disposer system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle includes a neck that has a top portion and at least one retaining feature, and a bottom portion. 
     
     
         8 . The waste disposer system of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit includes a latch that engages the at least one retaining feature on the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         9 . The waste disposer system of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit includes a control unit and a pump, and the control unit causes the pump to periodically perform an injection cycle in which the fluid injector assembly injects fluid into the disposer. 
     
     
         10 . An disposer fluid injector system for use with a waste disposer, the incline fluid injector system comprising:
 a fluid injector assembly configured to be fluidly connected to a dishwasher inlet of the disposer, the fluid injector assembly including a base unit and a bottle that is received by the base unit.   
     
     
         11 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 10 , further comprising an injector coupling that fluidly connects to the dishwasher inlet of the waste disposer, and a tube that fluidly connects the fluid injector assembly to the injector coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 11 , wherein the injector coupling includes a main body having a first end and a second end, and an injector inlet configured to receive fluid from the fluid injector assembly, wherein the first end of the main body connects to the dishwasher inlet and incudes an injection outlet configured to inject the fluid into the disposer. 
     
     
         13 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 12 , wherein the injector coupling further includes a plug that removably secures to the second end. 
     
     
         14 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 10 , wherein the base unit includes a housing having a bottle receiving area, and the bottle receiving area includes a neck receiving portion that extends into the base unit. 
     
     
         15 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 10 , wherein the bottle is retained in the base unit in an inverted position. 
     
     
         16 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 10 , wherein the bottle includes a neck that has a top portion and at least one retaining feature, and a bottom portion. 
     
     
         17 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 10 , wherein the base unit includes a latch that engages the at least one retaining feature on the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         18 . The disposer fluid injector system of  claim 10 , wherein the base unit includes a control unit and a pump, and the control unit causes the pump to periodically perform an injection cycle in which the fluid injector assembly injects fluid into the disposer. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating an disposer fluid injector system installed with a waste disposer, the method including:
 connecting an disposer fluid injector system to a disposer;   turning on the disposer fluid injector system; and   automatically performing at least one injection cycle by the fluid injector system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method also includes:
 priming the disposer fluid injector system prior to automatically performing at least one injection cycle.