Dosage system and method for preparing a cleaning mixture

Abstract

In a dosage system for delivering a predetermined amount and type of cleaning concentrate to a solvent inside a fluid tank, a pod holder is configured to form an inner volume for holding a pod containing the cleaning concentrate. A connector is configured to form a fluid connection between the inner volume of the pod holder and the inside of the fluid tank. A piercing device is configured to pierce the pod held by the pod holder. A push mechanism is configured to push the piercing device into the inner volume of the pod holder for piercing the pod to release the cleaning concentrate from the pod via the fluid connection of the connector into the inside of the fluid tank.

1 . A system for delivering a predetermined amount and type of cleaning concentrate to a solvent inside a fluid tank, the system comprising:
 a pod holder configured to form an inner volume for holding a pod containing the cleaning concentrate;   a connector configured to form a fluid connection between the inner volume of the pod holder and the inside of the fluid tank;   a piercing device for piercing the pod held by the pod holder; and   push mechanism for pushing the piercing device into the inner volume of the pod holder for piercing the pod to release the cleaning concentrate from the pod via the fluid connection of the connector into the inside of the fluid tank.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing comprises at least a bottom piercing device; wherein the pod holder comprises a bottom platform for placement of the pod thereon; and wherein the bottom platform comprises an opening through which the bottom piercing device can penetrate into the pod. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the bottom platform comprises an open grate structure with passageways for passing the cleaning concentrate there through, wherein the system comprises a funnel structure between the open grate structure and the connector, wherein the funnel structure is configured to direct a stream of the cleaning concentrate towards a center of the fluid connection. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing means each comprise a respective asymmetric flat top chisel edge. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , the pod holder comprises interconnected sections capable of opening the inner volume for receiving the pod, and closing the inner volume for keeping the pod inside, wherein the interconnected sections of the pod holder are configured to seal together when the pod holder is closed, preventing the cleaning concentrate from leaking there between. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a first section of the pod holder is interconnected to a second section of the pod holder via a hinge mechanism there between, wherein the interconnected sections of the pod holder comprise respective interlocking parts configured to form a snap connection between the interconnected sections. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pod holder comprises a top section connected to a bottom section via a hinge, wherein the hinge rotates in a rotation plane around a rotation vector transvers to the rotation plane, wherein the piercing comprises a top piercing device with a chisel edge oriented in a first knife direction parallel to the rotation plane, wherein the piercing comprises a bottom piercing device with a chisel edge oriented in a second knife direction parallel to the rotation vector, transverse to the first knife direction. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the pod holder comprises a top abutment surface; wherein the top abutment surface comprises an opening through which a top piercing device can push the pod towards and into the bottom piercing device, wherein the pod holder is configured to hold the pod between the bottom platform and the top abutment surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a top resilient element biased to restore a position of the push mechanism and pull a top piercing device from the pod; and   a bottom resilient element biased to restore a position of the bottom platform and pull the bottom piercing device from the pod.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a screw thread for screwing the onto the fluid tank acting as a substitute cap. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is connected to a fluid tank to form an interconnected assembly, wherein the fluid connection is formed between the inner volume of the pod holder and the inside of the fluid tank. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluid tank has at least two separate openings for delivering fluids into the fluid tank, including a first opening for connecting the connector to the fluid tank and delivering the predetermined amount and type of cleaning concentrate to the fluid tank, and a second opening for filling the fluid tank with the solvent via the second opening while the connector is connected to the first opening of the fluid tank. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the fluid tank has an elongate shape with a height of the fluid tank being more than a thickness of the fluid tank, wherein the second opening is disposed at least partly facing in a direction where the thickness of the fluid tank is less than the height such that the fluid tank can be filled while holding an end of the fluid tank in a relative narrow space between a typical faucet and sink. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11  forming part of a wet cleaning machine, wherein the wet cleaning machine is configured to retrieve a cleaning mixture from the fluid tank and deliver the cleaning mixture onto a target surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 connecting a dosage system to a fluid tank with a solvent, wherein the dosage system comprises a pod holder configured to form an inner volume for holding a pod containing the cleaning concentrate; a connector configured to form a fluid connection between the inner volume of the pod holder and an inside of the fluid tank; a piercing device for piercing the pod held by the pod holder; and a push mechanism for pushing the piercing device into the inner volume of the pod holder for piercing the pod to release the cleaning concentrate from the pod via the fluid connection of the connector into the inside of the fluid tank;   filling the pod holder with a pod comprising a predetermined amount and type of cleaning concentrate; and   pushing the push mechanism to pierce the pod with the piercing device and release the cleaning concentrate from the pod via the fluid connection of the connector into the inside of the fluid tank for mixing with the solvent and forming a cleaning mixture.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid tank has at least two separate openings for delivering fluids into the fluid tank, including a first opening where the dosage system is connected to the fluid tank, and a second opening, wherein the fluid tank has an elongate shape with a height of the fluid tank being more than a thickness of the fluid tank, wherein the second opening is disposed at least partly facing in a direction where the thickness of the fluid tank is less than the height, wherein the fluid tank is filled with water from a faucet via the second opening while the dosage system is connected to the first opening wherein, while filling, the tank is held in a space between the faucet and a sink below the faucet. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  further comprising:
 determining a type of target surface to be cleaned; 
 selecting a specific pod from a plurality of different pod types, wherein each different pod type comprises a predetermined different amount and/or type of cleaning concentrate optimized for cleaning a different type of surface, wherein a type of the selected pod is optimized for cleaning the target surface; 
 using the selected type of pod for delivering the predetermined amount and/or type of cleaning concentrate a solvent inside a fluid tank of a wet cleaning machine to form a cleaning mixture; and 
 using the wet cleaning machine to deliver the cleaning mixture onto the target surface for cleaning the target surface. 
 
     
     
         18 . A pierceable pod with cleaning concentrate for use in a dosage system of a wet cleaning machine, wherein the cleaning concentrate comprises one or more cleaning agents including at least one of a soap, a detergent, and/or a disinfectant for cleaning a target surface, wherein the pod comprises a body of pierceable material to contain the cleaning concentrate therein until it is released, wherein the pod has a transparent or translucent window to view a color of the cleaning concentrate, wherein the color is determined in accordance a color coding standard such as HACCP for different types of pods. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the piercing device further comprises a top piercing device; wherein the bottom platform is moveable over a maximum first range; wherein the top piercing device is moveable over a maximum second range; wherein the maximum second range is larger than the maximum first range; and wherein after pushing the bottom platform via the pod over its maximum first range, the top piercing device moves further over its larger maximum second range to pierce the pod also from the top. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the connector is configured to reversibly connect as a cap onto a fluid opening of the fluid tank.