Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing machine for dispensing concentrated cleaning products comprising several containers (5) of different concentrated products connected with a water supply conduit (6) in a distributor (7), where they are mixed in a certain dosage in a pre-established proportion and are poured into a container (9), wherein the machine comprises a first outlet opening (8), intended for filling a first type of hand-held refilling container (9), suitable for placement in a housing (10) provided in an accessible manner in the casing (2), and a second outlet opening (11) provided for filling a second type of container (12) located externally to the casing (2).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention, as expressed in the title of this specification, refers to a dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants that provides, for the function for which it is intended, advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail below.

[0002] The object of the present invention relates to a machine, designed for installation in establishments that require frequent cleaning service, such as hotels, restaurants, offices, hospitals, cleaning companies, public buildings, etc., which constitutes an automatic dosing system for a concentrated cleaning product, selected from among two or more different products, such as window cleaner, floor cleaner, degreaser, air freshener, disinfectants, etc., dispensing it already diluted with the corresponding proportion of water to fill a container, which may consist of a small can-type container or a larger capacity container such as a mop bucket, allowing, among other advantages, ease of use, control of the consumption of said type of concentrated products and reduce the use of containers.FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The field of application of the present invention is framed within the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture of product dosing machines, focusing particularly on the area of cleaning and disinfection products and tasks.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention arises from the need that exists, on the part of establishments such as healthcare centres, public bodies, hotels, restaurants, general industries, cleaning companies or the establishments themselves that frequently use cleaning services, whether their own or through external contracting, to facilitate the dosage of the different cleaning products that, in order to be more economical, in addition to helping to preserve the environment with the reduction of more than 90% of the use of containers, as well as transport and storage, in this type of services they are usually consumed from concentrates that are diluted in water.

[0005] Thus, currently, professionals of this type of cleaning services must refill the different products themselves by hand or using rudimentary dilutors, with the disadvantage that, in addition to the time that must be invested in the operation of pouring the product and water, the concentrations do not always come out the same, product is wasted due to spills or lack of use of remains, lack of control of the products consumed, and what is worse, there is a risk of coming into direct contact with some of these products which, in some cases, can be harmful to the skin or health by coming into direct contact with them at the time of pouring them.

[0006] Furthermore, in this type of cleaning work it is common to use these concentrated products because they represent a significant economic saving compared to conventional products already diluted in water, and in many cases it is even more economical to consume products from the same distributor of such concentrated products.

[0007] For all these reasons, the objective of the present invention is to provide the market with a means to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks and to take advantage of the technology of dispensing machines to develop a machine specifically designed to carry out the controlled mixing of the concentrated product with the ideal amount of water for each type of product, making it easier for all cleaning service personnel at the establishment where it is installed to easily access, whenever necessary, the different types of cleaning product they need in each case to carry out their work in a practical, comfortable and safe manner, and also controlled by the person managing the service in order to be able to know the availability and consumption of each product, even remotely through a computer application, and to be able to alert the supplier.

[0008] Furthermore, and as a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, although other types of product dosing machines of different kinds are known on the market, at least by the applicant, the existence of any that present structural and constitutive technical characteristics equal or similar to those of the machine claimed here is unknown.EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants proposed by the invention is configured as the ideal solution to the aforementioned objective, the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently collected in the final claims that accompany this description.

[0010] Specifically, what the invention proposes, as indicated above, is a product dispensing machine, particularly cleaning products, detergents and liquid disinfectants, which is especially intended for installation in establishments that require frequent cleaning service, such as hotels, restaurants, offices, hospitals, etc., which has the particularity of providing the dosage of a concentrated cleaning product, selected from among two, three, four or more different cleaning products, preferably four, such as for example glass cleaner, floor cleaner, degreaser, air freshener, or others, and dispensing it, through an outlet mouth conveniently diluted in water with the corresponding proportion, as previously established based on the type of product, to fill a container suitable for use.

[0011] The dosing machine object of the invention allows a significant saving of containers since it allows the reuse of the containers as they can be refilled indefinitely. The refilling of the containers at the place of use by the users avoids the transport of the same from the warehouse to the place of use of the containers and saves storage space for them in the warehouse.

[0012] Preferably, the machine has two different types of outlet, one for filling a container of smaller capacity, specifically a canister or spray bottle type container for use by hand, for example of between 75 cl and 1.5 L, which the user deposits in a housing of the machine specially provided for this purpose, and another for filling a container of greater capacity, specifically a standard mop bucket, for example of about 7 L or an industrial bucket, for example of about 14 or 20 L. Preferably, in the housing of the machine provided for depositing the canister or hand-held container of smaller capacity, which consists of a specific container provided for its filling with the machine of the invention, the inclusion of means is foreseen, preferably a load cell, to detect whether the container is empty or not and to determine the exact quantity of diluted product that the machine must dispense to fill it to complete its capacity. To do this, the empty container will have been previously tared, so that, thanks to said load cell, the machine can determine if the container is completely empty or if it still contains product and calculate the volume required to completely fill it.

[0013] Furthermore, said housing of the machine includes means for detecting the type of product for which the specific container placed in it for refilling is intended, said means preferably consisting of an identification code reader which, in turn, will have been incorporated into the container. In this way, the machine automatically identifies the type of concentrated product that must be mixed to dilute in water and dispense until refilling without the user having to perform any product selection operation. Furthermore, said detector, in the event of not recognizing the intended identification code, prevents the refilling of containers that do not belong to those intended by the machine, preventing the use of unsuitable containers.

[0014] Preferably, the housing for placing the refill container (can or similar) has a safety and anti-splash closure lid that detects whether said container is properly placed to activate the corresponding dispensing of the product, avoiding possible unwanted spills.

[0015] Preferably, said housing for the hand-held refill container incorporates a light that is activated while refilling is taking place, to facilitate the user's observation of the operation and to see that it is being carried out correctly.

[0016] The outlet for filling larger containers is connected to a manually operated supply hose, so the user must select the type of product they want to fill the container with, as well as the amount of diluted product they need, using a touch screen, display or interface provided for this purpose on the machine.

[0017] Preferably, the aforementioned hand-held hose incorporates a non-return valve at its distal end that prevents dripping and the formation of excessive foam when dispensing the product into the container and, at the same time, by acting as a weight on said end of the hose, prevents it from coming out of the inside of the bucket due to the pressure of the product flow.

[0018] In any case, the machine also includes a third outlet, in this case an outlet for water only, without mixing any concentrated product, in order to be able to purge the circuit if necessary and, if necessary, rinse the container to remove any traces of a product previously used other than the one to be refilled.

[0019] Preferably, this third outlet is connected to a drain pipe which either ends in a receptacle at the bottom of the machine suitable for incorporating a tray or glass for collecting removable water or surplus product, which must be emptied periodically, or is connected to a pipe in an installation which leads it to the sewerage network.

[0020] In any case, the machine has, on its upper part, a water inlet pipe, preferably connectable to a mains water supply installation, although it is not ruled out that it may come from a water tank provided for this purpose, in which, preferably, a filter is provided to prevent the passage of foreign elements into the dispensing circuit of the machine, a pressure sensor and a pressure limiter, to regulate the pressure of the water flow that passes into said circuit, and a solenoid valve that automatically activates the passage of water when the dispensing of product is requested, either by placing a smaller capacity container on the housing provided for this purpose, or by requesting the exit of product through the manually used hose.

[0021] Furthermore, the machine comprises, in addition to respective solenoid valves connected to each of the mouths of the different containers of concentrated product, at least one pump, preferably a peristaltic pump with a distributor, which sucks the corresponding product from the container to the pump for mixing with the water and towards the corresponding outlet mouth, with the existence of a flow meter being provided, which measures the quantity of water and product that are mixed in said distributor, as well as an electronic control unit that controls the operation of said elements as requested through the interface and as previously programmed. In addition, an emergency stop button is included in case of need.

[0022] On the other hand, preferably, the machine has an external casing configured as a parallelepiped piece of furniture, made of an appropriately resistant material, inside which, divided into different compartments and shelves, it incorporates the set of functional elements and containers of concentrated products conveniently protected to prevent access by unauthorized personnel, and which has an access door, preferably on its front face, provided with a safety lock to proceed with the replacement or refilling of the concentrate containers and for maintenance or repair work. Optionally, the access door is associated with a switch that, when opened, activates a light that illuminates the interior of the casing to facilitate the inspection of the elements incorporated therein.

[0023] In turn, preferably, the casing or cabinet of the machine is designed to be fixed to a wall, preventing it from being subject to unwanted movements for any reason that could lead to a malfunction of its internal components and / or disconnection of the water inlet pipe and, where appropriate, the drain outlet.

[0024] Preferably, the casing consists of walls equipped with ventilation holes or grids, to prevent the possible accumulation of fumes generated by concentrated detergent and disinfectant products.

[0025] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the casing has support legs to reinforce its support and facilitate its placement at a height that is comfortable for users to use without having to bend down, at least as regards the position of the housing for the hand-held refill container, which will preferably be located at mid-height, that is, approximately one or one and a half metres from the ground.

[0026] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the machine comprises an electronic access device to control the operation of the machine and allow its use only by authorized personnel, for example, through a card or a user code that unlocks its operation, which may be different for each person. Preferably, in the compartments or shelves inside the machine intended for the placement of the different containers of concentrated product, the inclusion of as many means is foreseen to detect the type of product contained in the container that is incorporated in said compartment, for which said container, in turn, will have a product identifier, preferably, an identification code (such as a QR code for example), thereby avoiding the use of the machine with products not intended by the manufacturer or manager of the machine and, in addition, that the same type of product is always placed in the same compartment connected to the same solenoid valve and the same conduit of the product flow circuit, avoiding unwanted mixtures if said circuit has not been strictly washed. Optionally, the electronic control unit can be programmed so that, when a container of concentrated product other than the one replaced is added to a compartment, the pump is activated to circulate purge water through the circuit that connects to the solenoid valve of said compartment.

[0027] In any case, each product container will be connected to a level sensor, which can be optical or capacitive, which indicates to the machine the quantity of product it contains so that it can be replaced when necessary.

[0028] Preferably, the containers for the different concentrated products are optimised containers made of recyclable material that allows for an environmental improvement, ensuring a more optimised environmental supply of the same, by reducing the use of plastic packaging. For its part, the refilling of the containers with the products dosed by the machine of the invention also represents an improvement in environmental protection.

[0029] In any case, in a preferred embodiment, the electronic control unit of the machine comprises a programmable microprocessor so that, either through the screen or display of the machine, or through a series of indicator lights, it warns the user of different alert situations, such as: low level of any of the concentrated products, any of the concentrated products are out of stock emptying the drain collection tray, lack of water supply, system failure, others. Logically, all electrical and electronic components of the machine will be conveniently installed with the level of safety protection required for this type of machine.

[0030] Finally, in one embodiment of the invention, the electronic switchboard preferably has a universal connection socket and a remote communication modem for internet connection that allows it to be connected to a PC or external computing device and to make changes or checks on its operation on-site or remotely, for example to change the concentration of the solution of one of the products, control supply and expenses, optionally allowing its link to an app to carry out the control of the machine from a smartphone or similar by the managers or the person in charge of the establishment or the cleaning services company, to manage the purchase of products and replacement notices in a more comfortable way. The information on the use of the machine is preferably stored in an external database (for example, in the cloud) that allows the administrator of the dispensing machine to know data on the use of the machine such as the users who have used it or the products that have been dispensed associated with a date and a specific machine.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] To complement the description being made and in order to assist in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to this descriptive report, as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the dosing machine for concentrated detergent and disinfectant products, object of the invention, represented including the concentrated product tanks and the canister and bucket type containers for filling with the dissolved product dispensed by the machine, as well as without the front door, showing the main parts and elements that will comprise it. Figure 2 and 3 show perspective views of the example of the machine of the invention shown in Figure 1, represented respectively with the door closed and with the door open, but without including concentrate tanks or containers for filling, as well as other functional elements, mainly showing the configuration and parts of the casing or cabinet of the machine; and Figure 4 shows a schematic front elevation view of another example of the machine of the invention, in this case represented without the door and with the main functional elements thereof.PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them two non-limiting embodiments of the dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0033] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the machine (1) of the invention comprises, housed inside a casing (2), a liquid dispensing mechanism (3) with a circuit of pipes (4) that connect the mouth of two, three, four or more containers (5) of concentrated products of different detergents and disinfectants, preferably four, with a water supply conduit (6) in a distributor (7), where they are mixed in a certain dose of the content of one of said containers (5) with a certain quantity of water in a pre-established proportion, and, at least, a first outlet (8) through which the mixture of concentrated product and suitably diluted water emerges, to pour it, at least, into a first type of filling container (9).

[0034] Preferably, as shown in the example in Figure 1, the machine (2) comprises two distinct outlets for the diluted product, a first outlet (8), provided for filling a first type of hand-filling container (9), with a can-type container of between 75cl and 1.51, suitable for placement in a housing (10) provided for this purpose in an easily accessible manner in the casing (2) of the machine (1), and a second outlet (11) provided for filling a second type of container (12) of greater capacity, for example a bucket of about 141 or about 60 / 701, located externally to the casing (2).

[0035] Preferably, the hand-filling container (9) is a specific container for use with the machine (1). Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-filling container (9) comprises a load cell (13) located at the base thereof, or other means, to detect whether said specific container (9) is empty or not and to determine the quantity of diluted product to be dispensed through the outlet (8) located above. Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-filling container (9) comprises an identification code reader (14), or other means, to detect the type of product for which the specific container (9) placed therein is intended, and which, in turn, incorporates an identification code (such as a QR code) indicating the type of product for which it is intended.

[0036] Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-filling container (9) has a safety and anti-splash closing lid (15).

[0037] Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-held filling container (9) incorporates a light (16) that is activated while the diluted product is being dispensed through the corresponding outlet (8) for refilling.

[0038] For its part, the second outlet (11) of diluted product to fill the second type of container (12) is connected to a hose (17) that extends along the outside of the casing (2) to facilitate its manual handling and to place it in said container (12).

[0039] Preferably, said hose (17) incorporates, at its distal end, a non-return valve (18) that prevents the formation of foam and, at the same time, provides a weight that prevents it from coming out of the container (12) when the product dispensing is activated.

[0040] Preferably, one or two supports (39) are provided on the outside of the housing (2) to hold the hose (17) and the non-return valve (18) when not in use.

[0041] Optionally, the hose (17) can be connected to the first outlet (8), as shown in the example in figure 1.

[0042] Preferably, the machine (1) also comprises a third outlet (19), in this case for the outlet of only water, without mixing with any concentrated product, which is connected to a drain pipe (20) which either ends in a lower receptacle (21) of the casing (2) suitable for removably incorporating a tray (22), drum or other container for collecting purge water or surplus product, or is connected to a pipe of an installation that leads it to the sewerage network.

[0043] In any case, preferably, the water supply line (6) is fitted with a water inlet connection (23) that connects it either to a pipe of a mains water supply installation or to a water tank provided for this purpose.

[0044] Preferably, for the automatic operation of the machine, it comprises a screen (24) or another user interface connected to an electronic control unit (25) which, in turn, is connected to each of the solenoid valves (26) coupled to the mouth of each of the containers (5) of concentrated products of different detergents and disinfectants that the machine incorporates to control its dosage. In addition, at the beginning of the water supply conduit (6), it also comprises a filter (27), a pressure sensor (28), a pressure limiter (29) and another solenoid valve (26) which, controlled by the control unit (25), automatically activates the passage of water when the dispensing of product is requested. In turn, both the load cell (13) and the code reader (14), provided in the housing (10) for the hand-filling container (9), are also connected to the electronic control unit (25) to automatically activate the corresponding dose of the product.

[0045] Likewise, the machine comprises, in the dispensing mechanism (3), a drive pump (30) connected, together with the distributor (7), to the control unit (25) to ensure the flow of product from the corresponding container (5) and / or water from the water supply line (6) to the corresponding outlet (8, 11 or 19), with the existence of a flow meter (31) being provided, which measures the quantity of water and product that are mixed in said distributor (7) and also connected to the electronic control unit (25).

[0046] Preferably, the machine also includes an emergency stop button (32) to prevent overfilling.

[0047] Preferably, the casing (2) is a parallelepiped piece of furniture, the interior of which is divided into different compartments and shelves and which has a front access door (33) provided with a safety lock (34). Optionally, another interior lighting light (16) is provided inside the casing (2) connected to a switch which is activated when the door (33) is opened.

[0048] Optionally, the casing (2) has walls provided with ventilation holes and has support legs (35). Advantageously, the electronic control unit (25) is connected to an electronic access restriction device (36) to control its operation, for example, through a card or a user code.

[0049] Preferably, the interior compartments provided for the placement of the different containers (5) of concentrated product, also include an identification code reader (14) or other means to detect the type of product contained in the container (5) that is incorporated in said compartment, for which, for its part, each container 5, has a product identifier, preferably, an identification code (such as a QR code).

[0050] Preferably, each container (5) comprises a level sensor (37), optical or capacitive, which connects to the control unit and indicates to the machine the quantity of product it contains.

[0051] Preferably, the container tanks (5) of concentrated products are optimized containers made of recyclable material.

[0052] Optionally, the electronic control unit (25) is connected to a series of light indicators (38), preferably LEDs of different colors, which show the operating phases of the dispensing process of the diluted product and / or possible incidents.

[0053] Preferably, the electronic control unit (25) has a universal connection socket (40) and remote communication modem to connect, by cable and / or via Wi-Fi, to a PC or external computing device and, optionally, link it to a specific remote control and management app.

[0054] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages derived from it.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0032]In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them two non-limiting embodiments of the dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0033]Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the machine (1) of the invention comprises, housed inside a casing (2), a liquid dispensing mechanism (3) with a circuit of pipes (4) that connect the mouth of two, three, four or more containers (5) of concentrated products of different detergents and disinfectants, preferably four, with a water supply conduit (6) in a distributor (7), where they are mixed in a certain dose of the content of one of said containers (5) with a certain quantity of water in a pre-established proportion, and, at least, a first outlet (8) through which the mixture of concentrated product and suitably diluted water emerges, to pour it, at least, into a first type of fi...

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention, as expressed in the title of this specification, refers to a dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants that provides, for the function for which it is intended, advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail below.

[0002] The object of the present invention relates to a machine, designed for installation in establishments that require frequent cleaning service, such as hotels, restaurants, offices, hospitals, cleaning companies, public buildings, etc., which constitutes an automatic dosing system for a concentrated cleaning product, selected from among two or more different products, such as window cleaner, floor cleaner, degreaser, air freshener, disinfectants, etc., dispensing it already diluted with the corresponding proportion of water to fill a container, which may consist of a small can-type container or a larger capacity container such as a mop bucket, allowing, among other advantages, ease of use, control of the consumption of said type of concentrated products and reduce the use of containers.FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The field of application of the present invention is framed within the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture of product dosing machines, focusing particularly on the area of cleaning and disinfection products and tasks.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention arises from the need that exists, on the part of establishments such as healthcare centres, public bodies, hotels, restaurants, general industries, cleaning companies or the establishments themselves that frequently use cleaning services, whether their own or through external contracting, to facilitate the dosage of the different cleaning products that, in order to be more economical, in addition to helping to preserve the environment with the reduction of more than 90% of the use of containers, as well as transport and storage, in this type of services they are usually consumed from concentrates that are diluted in water.

[0005] Thus, currently, professionals of this type of cleaning services must refill the different products themselves by hand or using rudimentary dilutors, with the disadvantage that, in addition to the time that must be invested in the operation of pouring the product and water, the concentrations do not always come out the same, product is wasted due to spills or lack of use of remains, lack of control of the products consumed, and what is worse, there is a risk of coming into direct contact with some of these products which, in some cases, can be harmful to the skin or health by coming into direct contact with them at the time of pouring them.

[0006] Furthermore, in this type of cleaning work it is common to use these concentrated products because they represent a significant economic saving compared to conventional products already diluted in water, and in many cases it is even more economical to consume products from the same distributor of such concentrated products.

[0007] For all these reasons, the objective of the present invention is to provide the market with a means to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks and to take advantage of the technology of dispensing machines to develop a machine specifically designed to carry out the controlled mixing of the concentrated product with the ideal amount of water for each type of product, making it easier for all cleaning service personnel at the establishment where it is installed to easily access, whenever necessary, the different types of cleaning product they need in each case to carry out their work in a practical, comfortable and safe manner, and also controlled by the person managing the service in order to be able to know the availability and consumption of each product, even remotely through a computer application, and to be able to alert the supplier.

[0008] Furthermore, and as a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, although other types of product dosing machines of different kinds are known on the market, at least by the applicant, the existence of any that present structural and constitutive technical characteristics equal or similar to those of the machine claimed here is unknown.EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants proposed by the invention is configured as the ideal solution to the aforementioned objective, the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently collected in the final claims that accompany this description.

[0010] Specifically, what the invention proposes, as indicated above, is a product dispensing machine, particularly cleaning products, detergents and liquid disinfectants, which is especially intended for installation in establishments that require frequent cleaning service, such as hotels, restaurants, offices, hospitals, etc., which has the particularity of providing the dosage of a concentrated cleaning product, selected from among two, three, four or more different cleaning products, preferably four, such as for example glass cleaner, floor cleaner, degreaser, air freshener, or others, and dispensing it, through an outlet mouth conveniently diluted in water with the corresponding proportion, as previously established based on the type of product, to fill a container suitable for use.

[0011] The dosing machine object of the invention allows a significant saving of containers since it allows the reuse of the containers as they can be refilled indefinitely. The refilling of the containers at the place of use by the users avoids the transport of the same from the warehouse to the place of use of the containers and saves storage space for them in the warehouse.

[0012] Preferably, the machine has two different types of outlet, one for filling a container of smaller capacity, specifically a canister or spray bottle type container for use by hand, for example of between 75 cl and 1.5 L, which the user deposits in a housing of the machine specially provided for this purpose, and another for filling a container of greater capacity, specifically a standard mop bucket, for example of about 7 L or an industrial bucket, for example of about 14 or 20 L. Preferably, in the housing of the machine provided for depositing the canister or hand-held container of smaller capacity, which consists of a specific container provided for its filling with the machine of the invention, the inclusion of means is foreseen, preferably a load cell, to detect whether the container is empty or not and to determine the exact quantity of diluted product that the machine must dispense to fill it to complete its capacity. To do this, the empty container will have been previously tared, so that, thanks to said load cell, the machine can determine if the container is completely empty or if it still contains product and calculate the volume required to completely fill it.

[0013] Furthermore, said housing of the machine includes means for detecting the type of product for which the specific container placed in it for refilling is intended, said means preferably consisting of an identification code reader which, in turn, will have been incorporated into the container. In this way, the machine automatically identifies the type of concentrated product that must be mixed to dilute in water and dispense until refilling without the user having to perform any product selection operation. Furthermore, said detector, in the event of not recognizing the intended identification code, prevents the refilling of containers that do not belong to those intended by the machine, preventing the use of unsuitable containers.

[0014] Preferably, the housing for placing the refill container (can or similar) has a safety and anti-splash closure lid that detects whether said container is properly placed to activate the corresponding dispensing of the product, avoiding possible unwanted spills.

[0015] Preferably, said housing for the hand-held refill container incorporates a light that is activated while refilling is taking place, to facilitate the user's observation of the operation and to see that it is being carried out correctly.

[0016] The outlet for filling larger containers is connected to a manually operated supply hose, so the user must select the type of product they want to fill the container with, as well as the amount of diluted product they need, using a touch screen, display or interface provided for this purpose on the machine.

[0017] Preferably, the aforementioned hand-held hose incorporates a non-return valve at its distal end that prevents dripping and the formation of excessive foam when dispensing the product into the container and, at the same time, by acting as a weight on said end of the hose, prevents it from coming out of the inside of the bucket due to the pressure of the product flow.

[0018] In any case, the machine also includes a third outlet, in this case an outlet for water only, without mixing any concentrated product, in order to be able to purge the circuit if necessary and, if necessary, rinse the container to remove any traces of a product previously used other than the one to be refilled.

[0019] Preferably, this third outlet is connected to a drain pipe which either ends in a receptacle at the bottom of the machine suitable for incorporating a tray or glass for collecting removable water or surplus product, which must be emptied periodically, or is connected to a pipe in an installation which leads it to the sewerage network.

[0020] In any case, the machine has, on its upper part, a water inlet pipe, preferably connectable to a mains water supply installation, although it is not ruled out that it may come from a water tank provided for this purpose, in which, preferably, a filter is provided to prevent the passage of foreign elements into the dispensing circuit of the machine, a pressure sensor and a pressure limiter, to regulate the pressure of the water flow that passes into said circuit, and a solenoid valve that automatically activates the passage of water when the dispensing of product is requested, either by placing a smaller capacity container on the housing provided for this purpose, or by requesting the exit of product through the manually used hose.

[0021] Furthermore, the machine comprises, in addition to respective solenoid valves connected to each of the mouths of the different containers of concentrated product, at least one pump, preferably a peristaltic pump with a distributor, which sucks the corresponding product from the container to the pump for mixing with the water and towards the corresponding outlet mouth, with the existence of a flow meter being provided, which measures the quantity of water and product that are mixed in said distributor, as well as an electronic control unit that controls the operation of said elements as requested through the interface and as previously programmed. In addition, an emergency stop button is included in case of need.

[0022] On the other hand, preferably, the machine has an external casing configured as a parallelepiped piece of furniture, made of an appropriately resistant material, inside which, divided into different compartments and shelves, it incorporates the set of functional elements and containers of concentrated products conveniently protected to prevent access by unauthorized personnel, and which has an access door, preferably on its front face, provided with a safety lock to proceed with the replacement or refilling of the concentrate containers and for maintenance or repair work. Optionally, the access door is associated with a switch that, when opened, activates a light that illuminates the interior of the casing to facilitate the inspection of the elements incorporated therein.

[0023] In turn, preferably, the casing or cabinet of the machine is designed to be fixed to a wall, preventing it from being subject to unwanted movements for any reason that could lead to a malfunction of its internal components and / or disconnection of the water inlet pipe and, where appropriate, the drain outlet.

[0024] Preferably, the casing consists of walls equipped with ventilation holes or grids, to prevent the possible accumulation of fumes generated by concentrated detergent and disinfectant products.

[0025] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the casing has support legs to reinforce its support and facilitate its placement at a height that is comfortable for users to use without having to bend down, at least as regards the position of the housing for the hand-held refill container, which will preferably be located at mid-height, that is, approximately one or one and a half metres from the ground.

[0026] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the machine comprises an electronic access device to control the operation of the machine and allow its use only by authorized personnel, for example, through a card or a user code that unlocks its operation, which may be different for each person. Preferably, in the compartments or shelves inside the machine intended for the placement of the different containers of concentrated product, the inclusion of as many means is foreseen to detect the type of product contained in the container that is incorporated in said compartment, for which said container, in turn, will have a product identifier, preferably, an identification code (such as a QR code for example), thereby avoiding the use of the machine with products not intended by the manufacturer or manager of the machine and, in addition, that the same type of product is always placed in the same compartment connected to the same solenoid valve and the same conduit of the product flow circuit, avoiding unwanted mixtures if said circuit has not been strictly washed. Optionally, the electronic control unit can be programmed so that, when a container of concentrated product other than the one replaced is added to a compartment, the pump is activated to circulate purge water through the circuit that connects to the solenoid valve of said compartment.

[0027] In any case, each product container will be connected to a level sensor, which can be optical or capacitive, which indicates to the machine the quantity of product it contains so that it can be replaced when necessary.

[0028] Preferably, the containers for the different concentrated products are optimised containers made of recyclable material that allows for an environmental improvement, ensuring a more optimised environmental supply of the same, by reducing the use of plastic packaging. For its part, the refilling of the containers with the products dosed by the machine of the invention also represents an improvement in environmental protection.

[0029] In any case, in a preferred embodiment, the electronic control unit of the machine comprises a programmable microprocessor so that, either through the screen or display of the machine, or through a series of indicator lights, it warns the user of different alert situations, such as: low level of any of the concentrated products, any of the concentrated products are out of stock emptying the drain collection tray, lack of water supply, system failure, others. Logically, all electrical and electronic components of the machine will be conveniently installed with the level of safety protection required for this type of machine.

[0030] Finally, in one embodiment of the invention, the electronic switchboard preferably has a universal connection socket and a remote communication modem for internet connection that allows it to be connected to a PC or external computing device and to make changes or checks on its operation on-site or remotely, for example to change the concentration of the solution of one of the products, control supply and expenses, optionally allowing its link to an app to carry out the control of the machine from a smartphone or similar by the managers or the person in charge of the establishment or the cleaning services company, to manage the purchase of products and replacement notices in a more comfortable way. The information on the use of the machine is preferably stored in an external database (for example, in the cloud) that allows the administrator of the dispensing machine to know data on the use of the machine such as the users who have used it or the products that have been dispensed associated with a date and a specific machine.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] To complement the description being made and in order to assist in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to this descriptive report, as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the dosing machine for concentrated detergent and disinfectant products, object of the invention, represented including the concentrated product tanks and the canister and bucket type containers for filling with the dissolved product dispensed by the machine, as well as without the front door, showing the main parts and elements that will comprise it. Figure 2 and 3 show perspective views of the example of the machine of the invention shown in Figure 1, represented respectively with the door closed and with the door open, but without including concentrate tanks or containers for filling, as well as other functional elements, mainly showing the configuration and parts of the casing or cabinet of the machine; and Figure 4 shows a schematic front elevation view of another example of the machine of the invention, in this case represented without the door and with the main functional elements thereof.PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them two non-limiting embodiments of the dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0033] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the machine (1) of the invention comprises, housed inside a casing (2), a liquid dispensing mechanism (3) with a circuit of pipes (4) that connect the mouth of two, three, four or more containers (5) of concentrated products of different detergents and disinfectants, preferably four, with a water supply conduit (6) in a distributor (7), where they are mixed in a certain dose of the content of one of said containers (5) with a certain quantity of water in a pre-established proportion, and, at least, a first outlet (8) through which the mixture of concentrated product and suitably diluted water emerges, to pour it, at least, into a first type of filling container (9).

[0034] Preferably, as shown in the example in Figure 1, the machine (2) comprises two distinct outlets for the diluted product, a first outlet (8), provided for filling a first type of hand-filling container (9), with a can-type container of between 75cl and 1.51, suitable for placement in a housing (10) provided for this purpose in an easily accessible manner in the casing (2) of the machine (1), and a second outlet (11) provided for filling a second type of container (12) of greater capacity, for example a bucket of about 141 or about 60 / 701, located externally to the casing (2).

[0035] Preferably, the hand-filling container (9) is a specific container for use with the machine (1). Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-filling container (9) comprises a load cell (13) located at the base thereof, or other means, to detect whether said specific container (9) is empty or not and to determine the quantity of diluted product to be dispensed through the outlet (8) located above. Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-filling container (9) comprises an identification code reader (14), or other means, to detect the type of product for which the specific container (9) placed therein is intended, and which, in turn, incorporates an identification code (such as a QR code) indicating the type of product for which it is intended.

[0036] Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-filling container (9) has a safety and anti-splash closing lid (15).

[0037] Preferably, the housing (10) for placing the hand-held filling container (9) incorporates a light (16) that is activated while the diluted product is being dispensed through the corresponding outlet (8) for refilling.

[0038] For its part, the second outlet (11) of diluted product to fill the second type of container (12) is connected to a hose (17) that extends along the outside of the casing (2) to facilitate its manual handling and to place it in said container (12).

[0039] Preferably, said hose (17) incorporates, at its distal end, a non-return valve (18) that prevents the formation of foam and, at the same time, provides a weight that prevents it from coming out of the container (12) when the product dispensing is activated.

[0040] Preferably, one or two supports (39) are provided on the outside of the housing (2) to hold the hose (17) and the non-return valve (18) when not in use.

[0041] Optionally, the hose (17) can be connected to the first outlet (8), as shown in the example in figure 1.

[0042] Preferably, the machine (1) also comprises a third outlet (19), in this case for the outlet of only water, without mixing with any concentrated product, which is connected to a drain pipe (20) which either ends in a lower receptacle (21) of the casing (2) suitable for removably incorporating a tray (22), drum or other container for collecting purge water or surplus product, or is connected to a pipe of an installation that leads it to the sewerage network.

[0043] In any case, preferably, the water supply line (6) is fitted with a water inlet connection (23) that connects it either to a pipe of a mains water supply installation or to a water tank provided for this purpose.

[0044] Preferably, for the automatic operation of the machine, it comprises a screen (24) or another user interface connected to an electronic control unit (25) which, in turn, is connected to each of the solenoid valves (26) coupled to the mouth of each of the containers (5) of concentrated products of different detergents and disinfectants that the machine incorporates to control its dosage. In addition, at the beginning of the water supply conduit (6), it also comprises a filter (27), a pressure sensor (28), a pressure limiter (29) and another solenoid valve (26) which, controlled by the control unit (25), automatically activates the passage of water when the dispensing of product is requested. In turn, both the load cell (13) and the code reader (14), provided in the housing (10) for the hand-filling container (9), are also connected to the electronic control unit (25) to automatically activate the corresponding dose of the product.

[0045] Likewise, the machine comprises, in the dispensing mechanism (3), a drive pump (30) connected, together with the distributor (7), to the control unit (25) to ensure the flow of product from the corresponding container (5) and / or water from the water supply line (6) to the corresponding outlet (8, 11 or 19), with the existence of a flow meter (31) being provided, which measures the quantity of water and product that are mixed in said distributor (7) and also connected to the electronic control unit (25).

[0046] Preferably, the machine also includes an emergency stop button (32) to prevent overfilling.

[0047] Preferably, the casing (2) is a parallelepiped piece of furniture, the interior of which is divided into different compartments and shelves and which has a front access door (33) provided with a safety lock (34). Optionally, another interior lighting light (16) is provided inside the casing (2) connected to a switch which is activated when the door (33) is opened.

[0048] Optionally, the casing (2) has walls provided with ventilation holes and has support legs (35). Advantageously, the electronic control unit (25) is connected to an electronic access restriction device (36) to control its operation, for example, through a card or a user code.

[0049] Preferably, the interior compartments provided for the placement of the different containers (5) of concentrated product, also include an identification code reader (14) or other means to detect the type of product contained in the container (5) that is incorporated in said compartment, for which, for its part, each container 5, has a product identifier, preferably, an identification code (such as a QR code).

[0050] Preferably, each container (5) comprises a level sensor (37), optical or capacitive, which connects to the control unit and indicates to the machine the quantity of product it contains.

[0051] Preferably, the container tanks (5) of concentrated products are optimized containers made of recyclable material.

[0052] Optionally, the electronic control unit (25) is connected to a series of light indicators (38), preferably LEDs of different colors, which show the operating phases of the dispensing process of the diluted product and / or possible incidents.

[0053] Preferably, the electronic control unit (25) has a universal connection socket (40) and remote communication modem to connect, by cable and / or via Wi-Fi, to a PC or external computing device and, optionally, link it to a specific remote control and management app.

[0054] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages derived from it.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0032]In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them two non-limiting embodiments of the dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0033]Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the machine (1) of the invention comprises, housed inside a casing (2), a liquid dispensing mechanism (3) with a circuit of pipes (4) that connect the mouth of two, three, four or more containers (5) of concentrated products of different detergents and disinfectants, preferably four, with a water supply conduit (6) in a distributor (7), where they are mixed in a certain dose of the content of one of said containers (5) with a certain quantity of water in a pre-established proportion, and, at least, a first outlet (8) through which the mixture of concentrated product and suitably diluted water emerges, to pour it, at least, into a first type of fi...

Claims

1. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants comprising, housed in a housing (2), a liquid dispensing mechanism (3) with a circuit of pipes (4) that connect the mouth of two, three, four or more containers (5) of concentrated detergent and disinfectant products different, with a water supply conduit (6) in a distributor (7), where they are mixed in a certain dose of the content of one of said containers (5) with a certain quantity of water in a pre-established proportion, and, at least, a first outlet (8) through which the diluted mixture emerges to pour it, at least, into a first type of filling container (9). The machine is modular and can change shape to adapt to the space available for its installation, the machine being characterized in that it comprises two different outlets for the diluted product, a first outlet (8), intended to fill a first type of hand-filling container (9), suitable for placement in a housing (10) provided in an accessible manner in the casing (2), and a second outlet (11) intended to fill a second type of container (12) located externally to the casing (2).

2. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to claim 1, characterized in that the hand-held filling container (9) is a specific container for use with the machine (1).

3. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing (10) for placing the hand-filled container (9) comprises a load cell (13), or other means, to detect whether said container (9) is empty or not and determine the quantity of diluted product to be dispensed through the outlet (8) located above.

4. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the housing (10) for placing the hand-filled container (9) comprises an identification code reader (14), or other means, to detect the type of product for which the container (9) is intended.

5. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing (10) for placing the hand-filling container (9) has a safety and anti-splash closing lid (15).

6. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (10) for placing the hand-held refill container (9) incorporates a light (16) that is activated while the diluted product is being dispensed through the outlet (8).

7. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second outlet (11) is connected to a hose (17) that extends along the outside of the casing (2).

8. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to claim 7, characterized in that the hose (17) incorporates, at its distal end, a non-return valve (18) and can be attached to the housing (2) with the help of one or two supports (39), when not in use.

9. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a third outlet (19) for water only, connected to a drain pipe (20) which either empties into a lower receptacle (21) suitable for incorporating a tray (22), drum or container for collecting purge water or surplus product, or is connected to a pipe of an installation that leads to the sewer network.

10. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water supply conduit (6) is assembled with a water inlet connection (23) connectable to a pipe of a network water supply installation or to a water tank provided for this purpose.

11. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a screen (24) or other user interface connected to an electronic control unit (25) which, in turn, is connected to solenoid valves (26) that can be coupled to the mouth of each container (5) of concentrated products, to a delivery pump (30), to the distributor (7) and to a flow meter (31).

12. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to claim 11, characterized in that, at the beginning of the water supply conduit (6), it comprises, in addition to a filter (27), a pressure sensor (28), a pressure limiter (29) and another solenoid valve (26) which, controlled by the control unit (25), automatically activates the flow of water when the dispensing of product is requested.

13. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the electronic control unit (25) is connected to an electronic access restriction device (36) to control its operation.

14. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the electronic control unit (25) is connected to a series of indicator lights (38) that show the operating phases and / or possible incidents.

15. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the electronic control unit (25) has a universal connection socket (40) and a remote communication modem.

16. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes an emergency stop button (32) to avoid overfilling.

17. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing (2) is a parallelepiped piece of furniture, with the interior divided into different compartments and shelves, which has an access door (33) provided with a safety lock (34).

18. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to claim 17, characterized in that the internal compartments provided for the placement of the different containers (5) of concentrated product, include an identification code reader (14) or other means to detect the type of product contained in the container (5) provided, in turn, with an identification code or product identifier.

19. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each container (5) comprises a level sensor (37), optical or capacitive.

20. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 11-19, characterized in that the electronic control unit (25) sends the information on the use of the machine to an external database that allows the administrator of the dosing machine to know data on the use of the machine such as the users who have used it or the products that have been dispensed associated with a date and a specific machine.

21. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 11-20, characterized in that the electronic control unit (25) sends the information on the use of the machine to an external database that allows the owner or manager of the dosing machine to make substantial modifications to the use of the machine such as changing the dosing concentrations, adding or removing users or blocking the machine, among others.

22. Dosing machine for concentrated cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants, according to any of claims 1-21, characterized in that the electronic control unit (25) sends the information on the use of the machine to an external database that allows the owner or manager of the dosing machine to know, through an internet connection and in a visual manner, the status of the machine, consumption statistics both by machine, by period of time, product or user

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