Automatic detergent dispensing system for a warewasher

• Main Authors: UHEN, DAVID A, REICHOLD, KURT A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.09.2007
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: COFFEE MILLS; CONTROLLING; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; FURNITURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING, DISPERSING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TRANSPORTING

An apparatus dispenses detergent into a warewasher from a reservoir (50) wherein a flow control device (54) controls the flow of the detergent. A sensor (not shown) measures the electrical conductivity of water within the warewasher (10) and produces a conductivity measurement. A controller (32) operates the flow control device (54) in a first mode in which the quantity of detergent dispensed into the warewasher (10) is determined in response to the electrical conductivity of the water. If the conductivity measurement is determined to be unreliable, the controller operates in a second mode in which a predefined quantity of detergent is dispensed into the warewasher (10). The reliability of the conductivity measurement is determined based on the amount that the conductivity changes upon detergent being added to the warewasher.