Supply system for laundry treatment composition

Abstract

A laundry treatment composition supply system to supply laundry treatment composition to multiple washing machines. The system can include a first supply container and a second supply container. Each of the supply containers can be operably engaged with a level sensor. Upon a low liquid level signal from a sensor associated with a container, a controller system can switch supply of the laundry treatment composition from the container having a low level to another container. The laundry treatment composition can be pumped from one supply container or the other supply container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treatment composition supply system comprising:
 a first supply container;   a first supply container level sensor operably engaged with said first supply container;   a first supply conduit downstream of said first supply container and in fluid communication with a main supply conduit;   a second supply container;   a second supply conduit downstream of said second supply container and in fluid communication with said main supply conduit;   one or more automatic block valves, wherein said first supply conduit and said second supply conduit are in fluid communication with said one or more automatic block valves;   one or more pumps in fluid communication with one or both of said first supply conduit and said second supply conduit;   a controller system communicatively coupled with said first supply container level sensor and said one or more block valves, wherein said controller system is configured to signal said one or more automatic block valves to shut off flow from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit after receipt of a low liquid level signal from said first supply container level sensor and open said one or more automatic block valves to permit flow from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit; and   a plurality of washing machines, wherein each said washing machine is in fluid communication with said main supply conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein both said first supply conduit and said second supply conduit are in fluid communication with the same block valve, wherein said block valve is a three-way block valve having a first valve position open from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and closed from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit and a second position closed from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and open from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein said pump is in-line with said main supply conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein said laundry treatment composition supply system further comprises a second supply container level sensor operably engaged with said second supply container and communicatively coupled with said controller system. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first supply container level sensor is a float switch. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first supply container level sensor is a device selected from a float switch, a liquid pressure transducer, a load cell, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, and an optical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first supply container and said second supply container comprise a top bunghole, wherein said first supply conduit is inserted through said top bunghole of said first supply container and said second supply conduit is inserted through said top bunghole of said second supply container. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein both said first supply conduit and said second supply conduit are in fluid communication with the same block valve, wherein said block valve is a three-way block valve having a first valve position open from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and closed from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit and a second position closed from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and open from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit, wherein each of said first supply container and said second supply container comprise a top bunghole, wherein said first supply conduit is inserted through said top bunghole of said first supply container and said second supply conduit is inserted through said top bunghole of said second supply container. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 8 , wherein said laundry treatment composition supply system further comprises a second supply container level sensor operably engaged with said second supply container and communicatively coupled with said controller system. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein both said first supply conduit and said second supply conduit are in fluid communication with the same block valve, wherein said block valve is a three-way block valve having a first valve position open from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and closed from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit and a second position closed from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and open from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit, wherein said pump is in-line with said main supply conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein both said first supply conduit and said second supply conduit are in fluid communication with the same block valve, wherein said block valve is a three-way block valve having a first valve position open from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and closed from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit and a second position closed from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and open from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit, wherein said first supply container level sensor is a device selected from a float switch, a liquid pressure transducer, a load cell, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, and an optical sensor. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating the laundry treatment composition supply system according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 conveying a first laundry treatment composition from within said first supply container to said washing machines; 
 receiving at said controller system a low liquid level signal from said first supply container level sensor; 
 sending a shut off signal from said controller system to said one or more block valves to shut off flow from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit in response to said low liquid level signal from said first supply container level sensor; and 
 sending an open up signal from said controller system to said one or more block valves to open said flow from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit in response to said open up signal from said controller system; and 
 conveying a second laundry treatment composition from within said second supply container to said washing machines. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 receiving said first supply container in a closed condition; 
 receiving said second supply container in a closed condition; 
 opening said first supply container and placing said first supply conduit in fluid communication with said first laundry treatment composition; and 
 opening said second supply container and placing said second supply conduit in fluid communication with said second laundry treatment composition. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 generating a human perceptible alarm in response to said container level sensor low liquid level signal from said first supply container level sensor; 
 removing said first supply container from said laundry treatment composition supply system; 
 obtaining a replacement supply container in a closed condition; 
 opening said replacement supply container containing replacement laundry treatment composition; and 
 placing said first supply conduit in fluid communication with said replacement laundry treatment composition. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of engaging said first supply container level sensor with said replacement supply container. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein both said first supply conduit and said second supply conduit are in fluid communication with the same block valve, wherein said block valve is a three-way block valve having a first valve position open from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and closed from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit and a second position closed from said first supply conduit to said main supply conduit and open from said second supply conduit to said main supply conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said laundry treatment composition supply system further comprises a second supply container level sensor operably engaged with said second supply container and communicatively coupled with said controller system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said first supply container level sensor is a device selected from a float switch, a liquid pressure transducer, a load cell, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, and an optical sensor.