JP7605983B2 - Laundry treatment composition delivery system - Google Patents

Description

A delivery system for delivering a laundry treatment composition to multiple washing machines.

There are various situations where a merchant may wish to service multiple washing machines. For example, laundromats, apartment complexes, commercial laundries, etc. have multiple washing machines at a single location. The multiple washing machines may be integrated with a delivery system for one or more laundry treatment compositions. The washing machines may be activated by coins, tokens, key cards, a wired controller system, a wireless controller system, manually via an operator, etc.

When a washing machine is integrated with a supply system, the system must be monitored to ensure that the laundry treatment composition is available when the user needs it. When the laundry treatment composition stored in the supply system is nearly depleted or depleted, steps must be taken to replenish the laundry treatment composition. Typically, a supervisor must periodically check the supply system to ensure that an adequate supply of laundry treatment composition is available to meet anticipated demand. If an adequate supply is not available, a supervisor or someone else must take steps to provide additional laundry treatment composition for the integrated supply system.

Providing a supervisor for operations at a location with multiple washing machines can be costly. Labor costs can be a large portion of the total cost of operating a laundromat or a laundry facility serving an apartment complex or commercial laundry facility. The more complex the tasks performed by the supervisor, or the longer the supervisor needs to be on-site at the laundromat or apartment complex, the greater the cost of finding a supervisor who can perform the tasks. Resupplying an integrated supply system with additional laundry treatment composition can be a complex task that may require skills beyond a typical customer service employee. Thus, responding to and resupplying an integrated laundry treatment composition supply system can be costly. If the system is resupplied on a regular schedule, there is a chance that the system will be depleted before the next scheduled resupply, or that there may be laundry treatment composition remaining when making a resupply visit. Operators also prefer that all containers are depleted to the desired level to minimize waste. If staffing levels are low or non-existent, service at the location may be interrupted as there is no one available to resupply additional laundry treatment composition.

Washing machine users pay the cost of operating the washing machine. Therefore, they stand to benefit from any advances made regarding operational efficiency in a field having an integrated delivery system for laundry treatment compositions to multiple washing machines.

One approach to an integrated delivery system of laundry treatment composition is to use a process tank that stores a sufficient volume of the laundry treatment composition so that the likelihood of the tank being empty between resupply visits is low. During resupply visits, a technician can refill the tank with the laundry treatment composition. The problem with this approach is that unless the tank is emptied and cleaned, there is a substantial chance that the carryover laundry treatment composition will become contaminated by biological growth or that the actives in the carryover composition will degrade, both of which can result in user dissatisfaction. Emptying and cleaning the tank can require additional time and waste a portion of the laundry treatment composition, resulting in the need for controlled disposal of the composition.

In view of these limitations, there remains an unmet need for systems and methods that improve the operation of a series of washing machines integrated with a delivery system for one or more laundry treatment compositions, which reduces the need for care of the system, limits the possibility of the delivery system becoming depleted prior to a scheduled or requested visit, reduces waste of laundry treatment composition during periods of low use, and reduces the possibility of soiling and degradation of the laundry treatment composition.

A first supply container, a first supply container level sensor operably engaged with the first supply container, a first supply conduit downstream of the first supply container and in fluid communication with a main supply conduit, a second supply container, a second supply conduit downstream of the second supply container and in fluid communication with the main supply conduit, one or more automatic shut-off valves, the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit in fluid communication with the one or more automatic shut-off valves, one or more pumps in fluid communication with one or both of the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit, the first supply container level sensor and and a controller system communicatively connected to the one or more shutoff valves, the controller system configured to signal the one or more automatic shutoff valves to shut off flow from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit and open the one or more automatic shutoff valves to open flow from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit after receiving a low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor; and a plurality of washing machines, each of the washing machines in fluid communication with the main supply conduit.

A method of operating the laundry treatment composition delivery system of the preceding paragraph, comprising: delivering a first laundry treatment composition from the first supply container to the washing machine; receiving, in the controller system, a low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor; in response to the low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor, sending a shutoff signal from the controller system to the one or more shutoff valves to shut off flow from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit; sending an open signal from the controller system to the one or more shutoff valves to open flow from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit in response to the open signal from the controller system; and delivering a second laundry treatment composition from the second supply container to the washing machine.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an alternative system. 1A-1C are diagrams of example supply containers including a first supply container, a second supply container, and a replacement supply container;

A laundry treatment composition delivery system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The system 10 may be installed in a laundromat environment. Optionally, the system 10 may be installed in a laundry room serving a multi-dwelling or commercial laundry operation. The system 10 may be a multiple washer laundry treatment composition delivery system 10. The system 10 may be installed in a secure area of the laundromat or laundry room such that users of the multiple washer machines 20 do not have access to accessories associated with the system beyond the typical customer or household use of the washer machines 20.

The system 10 may include a first supply container 30 and a second supply container 40. The first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 may contain a laundry treatment composition 50, 50a for the first supply container 30 and a laundry treatment composition 50b for the second supply container 40. The system 10 may further include a first supply container level sensor 60, 60a operably engaged with the first supply container 30. During operation of the system 10, the laundry treatment composition 50 from one of the first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 is delivered downstream toward the washing machine 20. The laundry treatment composition 50 may flow from within the first supply container 30 into the first supply conduit 90. Similarly, the laundry treatment composition 50 may flow from within the second supply container 40 into the second supply conduit 100.

A consumable rod may be used as part of each supply conduit to transport contents downstream from within the supply vessels, e.g., the first supply vessel 30 and the second supply vessel 40. Each supply conduit may include a check valve to help prevent the respective supply conduit from losing its priming when the supply vessels are replaced, or from spilling during replacement.

The direction of flow of the laundry treatment composition 50 is downstream from one of the first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 toward the washing machine 20, toward the washing machine 20. The laundry treatment composition 50 may be provided to the washing machine 20 through a main supply conduit 70. The main supply conduit 70 may be connected to a laundry treatment composition inlet port 80 of each washing machine 20. Each washing machine 20 may have controls and attachments that controllably dispense a desired amount of the laundry treatment composition 50 into the tub of the washing machine 20 for a desired time. Each washing machine 20 may include a frame 22, a tub 23 housed within the cabinet frame, a rotatable drum 24 within the tub 23, a door 26 providing access to the rotatable drum 24, and an inlet port 80 in fluid communication with the tub 23.

The first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 may be external to the frame 22. The first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 may be approximately one meter or more away from the frame 22 or from any of the components of the washer 20 within the frame.

The washer 20 may be an ELECTROLUX 6000 commercial washer. The washer 20 may include software and a controller that may communicate with a controller system 130 or may communicate directly with one or more pumps 120 and/or shutoff valves 110.

The system 10 may include a first supply conduit 90 downstream of the first supply container 30. The first supply conduit 90 may be in fluid communication with the main supply conduit 70. The laundry treatment composition 50 may be transported downstream from the first supply container 30 through the first supply conduit 90, further downstream to the main supply conduit 70, and ultimately to the washing machine 20.

The system 10 may further include a second supply conduit 100 downstream of the second supply container 40 in fluid communication with the main supply conduit 70. The laundry treatment composition 50 may be transported downstream from the second supply container 40 through the second supply conduit 100, further downstream to the main supply conduit 70, and ultimately to the washing machine 90.

The system 10 may include one or more automatic shutoff valves 110. The first supply conduit 90 and the second supply conduit 100 may be in fluid communication with one or more automatic shutoff valves 110. The one or more shutoff valves 110 may control whether the laundry treatment composition 50 is pumped from the first supply container 30 or the second supply container 40. The first supply conduit 90 and the second supply conduit 100 each have a shutoff valve 110 that may open or shut off flow from the supply conduit with which the shutoff valve 110 is in series. The shutoff valve 110 may be a two-way valve having an open position and a closed position.

The first supply conduit 90 and the second supply conduit 100 may both be connected to a single shutoff valve 110. This single shutoff valve 110 may be configured to open or close flow from the first supply conduit 90 and open or close flow from the second supply conduit 100 such that during operation, flow occurs from only one supply conduit and not the other. In such a configuration, a three-way shutoff valve 110 may be provided.

The first supply conduit 90, the second supply conduit 90, and the main supply conduit 70 may be metal or plastic tubing. The tubing may have an inner diameter of about 0.5 cm to about 10 cm.

The system 10 may further include one or more pumps 120 in fluid communication with one or both of the first supply conduit 90 and the second supply conduit 100. The one or more pumps 120 may provide driving energy to transport the laundry treatment composition 50 from one of the first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 to the respective supply conduit. The one or more pumps 120 may also provide driving energy to transport the laundry treatment composition 50 into and through the main supply conduit 70 to the inlet port 80 of each washing machine 20. The one or more pumps 120 may be a single pump 120 in series with the main supply conduit 70. Optionally, each of the first supply conduit 90 and the second supply conduit 100 may include a pump 120 in series with the respective supply conduit to pump the laundry treatment composition to the main supply conduit 70.

The pump 120 may be a HYDSPD0026, 8P, 10WE, 1CH, 241, NEU, V pump available from Hydro Systems, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The pump 120 may be a DOSITEC MULTITEC 10 pump sold by Hydro Systems, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The pump may be a multi-solenoid pump controlled by a programmer logic controller. Multiple chemicals, for example 2-10 chemicals, may be supplied to or part of the system 10, and the water may contain any one or more chemical portions. The washer 20 may call for a specific amount of chemical at a specific time. The multi-solenoid pump block may open to allow the pump to draw the requested chemical. The pump may be an electric diaphragm pump or an air pump. There may be a flow meter immediately downstream of the pump 120. Chemicals may be sent to specific machines by separate solenoid blocks. Chemicals may be transported to one or more machines 20 by water or, optionally, by air.

The timer 10 may include a controller system 130. The controller system 130 may be communicatively connected to the first supply vessel level sensor 60, 60a and one or more shutoff valves 110. The controller system 130 may be configured to, after receiving a low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor 60, 60a, signal one or more automatic shutoff valves 110 to shut off flow from the first supply conduit 90 to the main supply conduit 70 and open one or more automatic shutoff valves 110 to open flow from the second supply conduit 100 to the main supply conduit 70. The low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor 60, 60a and the optional second supply vessel level sensor 60, 60b may be generated by a flow sensor in the first supply conduit 90 or the second supply conduit 100.

The controller system 130 can be an integrated controller system 130 that controls the operation of the shutoff valves 110 and the pump 120. The controller system 130 can include one controller that controls one or more of the shutoff valves and another controller that controls the pump 120, with some connectivity between the controllers, between a master controller, or between distributed controller systems 130 that can operate with or between multiple washing machines 20 with on-board controllers, so that the individual components of the system 10 operate in coordination with each other.

The shutoff valve 110 may be a pneumatic solenoid valve or a solenoid valve. The shutoff valve 110 may be one made from a material that is chemically compatible with the laundry treatment composition 50, 50a, 50b.

The system 10 may be operated by a controller 130 implementing a method of operating the system 10. The method steps may include conveying the first laundry treatment composition 50a from within the first supply container 30 toward or to the washing machine 20. While operating the system 10, the controller system 130 may receive a low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a. After receiving a low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a, the controller system 130 may transmit a shutoff signal from the controller system 130 to one or more shutoff valves 110 in response to the low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a to shut off flow from the first supply conduit 90 to the main supply conduit 70. Similarly, after receiving a low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a, the controller system 130 may send a signal to one or more shutoff valves 110 to open flow from the second supply conduit 100 to the main supply conduit 70 in response to an open signal from the controller system 130. After an open signal is received by the shutoff valve 110 associated with the second supply conduit 100, the second laundry treatment composition 50b may be conveyed from within the second supply container 40 towards or to the washing machine 20.

After the supply of laundry treatment composition 50 has been switched from the first supply container 30 to the second supply container 40, the first supply container 30 may be replaced with another container of laundry treatment composition 50, a replacement supply container 140. The need for a replacement supply container 140 may be managed by an operator who periodically checks the first supply container 30 and/or the second supply container 40 and determines that if the amount of laundry treatment composition 50, 50a, 50b is below any threshold volume, a replacement supply container 140 is substituted in place of the supply container having the laundry treatment composition 50, 50a, 50b below the threshold volume. The system 10 may generate a human perceptible alarm in response to a container level sensor low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a. The human perceptible alarm may prompt a human administrator of the system 10 to replace the used first supply container 30 with a replacement supply container 140 of laundry treatment composition 50. The first supply container 40 may be removed from the system 10 and a replacement supply container 140 may be obtained in a closed state. The replacement supply container 140 containing the replacement laundry treatment composition 50 may be opened. The first supply conduit 90 may be placed in fluid communication with the replacement laundry treatment composition 50c. Optionally, the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a may be engaged with the replacement supply container 140.

Using a replacement supply container 140 as described herein presents several advantages over a system in which a single reservoir tank is used to store the laundry treatment composition and the same reservoir tank is periodically refilled. Periodically opening and refilling the laundry treatment composition in a single reservoir tank can be technically challenging for a system administrator, who may need to follow complex instructions to properly refill the reservoir tank and possibly clean components of the system 10. Periodically refilling a single reservoir tank also presents a risk that some of the laundry treatment composition may deteriorate over time. Laundry treatment composition actives may have a certain shelf life during which the actives provide a desired or expected level of performance and then the functionality of the actives decreases or ceases to function. Periodically opening and refilling the laundry treatment composition in a single reservoir tank also opens the possibility of biologically actives entering the reservoir tank and fouling the laundry treatment composition or parts of the system downstream of the reservoir tank. To overcome some of the aforementioned challenges, the reservoir tank may be cleaned as part of a refilling procedure, either every time the reservoir tank is refilled or occasionally. Cleaning the reservoir tank may result in system downtime and require a system administrator to perform a complex cleaning procedure. Furthermore, the system 10 described herein may not require an available administrator during operation hours. The volume of laundry treatment composition 50, 50b in the second supply container 40 may allow sufficient operation of the system 10 for some time before the second supply container 40 is functionally exhausted. The replacement supply container 140 only needs to be replaced in place of the first supply container 30 before the second supply container 40 is exhausted to maintain operation of the system 10.

In the system 10 described herein, a replacement supply container 140 may be delivered to the location where the system 10 is to be installed. The replacement supply container 140 may be in a closed state. The replacement supply container 140 may include a security seal or tag or other mechanism, such as one or more tamper-proof or tamper-evident seals, that indicates that the replacement supply container 140 has been properly prepared for receipt at the site of the system 10. Receiving a closed replacement supply container 140 may help ensure that the contents of the replacement supply container 140 are of the desired composition and meet the desired technical specifications, so that users of the system 10 are not disappointed with the performance of the system 10 in washing their garments.

The system 10 may include additional supply containers that supply laundry treatment compositions having compositions different from the first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40. For example, the additional supply containers may supply fabric softeners, color restorers, bleaches, whiteners, etc. Such additional supply containers may be part of the system 10 and may be connected to the main supply conduit 70 upstream of the pump 120.

The human perceptible alarm may be any signal that may be perceived by the administrator. For example, the human perceptible alarm may be a light, a sound, a mobile text, an alert on a wearable device, a phone call (by way of non-limiting example, mobile, wired, or satellite), a wireless signal to a receiver associated with the administrator, etc. The human perceptible alarm may be associated with the first supply container 30 and/or the second supply container 40 in close proximity, e.g., within the same room or space as the portion of the system 10 that is not facing the user.

The method of operating the system 10 may further include receiving a first supply container 30 in a closed state and a second supply container 40 in a closed state. The first supply container 30 may be opened to place the first supply conduit 90 in fluid communication with the first laundry treatment composition 50, 50a. The second supply container 40 may be opened to place the second supply conduit 100 in fluid communication with the second laundry treatment composition 50, 50b.

The system 10 is operated in stages, with the initial state of operation providing a first supply container 30 and a second supply container 40, both of which are filled with laundry treatment compositions 50, 50a, and 50b to a desired fill level, and may not be completely filled to leave some practical head space in the containers. During operation, the first laundry treatment composition 50a may be consumed by a user of the system 10. When the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a signals that the first laundry treatment composition 50a is depleted or functionally depleted, such that the composition may not be suitably pumped from the container, the controller system 130 may switch the supply of laundry treatment composition from the first supply container 30 to the second supply container 40 by signaling one or more shutoff valves 110 to close the path for flow from the first supply container 30 and open the path for flow from the second supply container 40. The low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a may trigger the controller system 130 to cause a human perceptible alarm. A supervisor alerted by the human perceptible alarm may go to the first supply container 30 and optionally remove or disconnect the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a from the first supply container 30 and disconnect the first supply conduit 90 from the first supply container 30. The used first supply container 30 may then be removed from the system. A replacement supply container 140 may then be installed in the system 10 by connecting the first supply conduit 90 and, optionally, the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a to the replacement supply container 140.

System 10 may be practical that further includes a second supply container level sensor 60, 60b. The second supply container level sensor 60, 60b may be operatively engaged with the second supply container 40 and communicatively connected to the controller system 130. The second supply container level sensor 60, 60b may operate similarly to the first supply container level sensor 60, 60a and trigger the controller system 130 to cause a human-perceptible alarm. When the administrator is informed by the human-perceptible alarm that the second supply container 40 has been used, the administrator may remove the second supply container 40 from the system 10 in the same or similar manner that the first supply container 30 is removed from the system 10. The administrator may then install a replacement supply container 140 in the system 10 in the same or similar manner that the first supply container 30 is replaced.

The system 10 may operate continuously as described above in that as the laundry treatment composition 50, 50a in the first supply container 30 is used, the laundry treatment composition 50, 50b in the second supply container 40 may be supplied as needed by the system 10. In the meantime, the first supply container 30 may be replaced. As the second supply container 40 is used, the system 10 may switch to a replacement supply container 140 in the position previously occupied by the first supply container 30. The used second supply container 40 may then be replaced. The continuous operation may proceed indefinitely.

The first supply conduit 90 and the second supply conduit 100 may be in fluid communication with the same shutoff valve 110 (FIG. 2). The shutoff valve 110 may be a three-way shutoff valve 110 having a first valve position that opens the first supply conduit 90 to the main supply conduit 70 and closes the second supply conduit 100 to the main supply conduit 70, and a second position that closes the first supply conduit 90 to the main supply conduit 70 and opens the second supply conduit 100 to the main supply conduit 70. Such a three-way shutoff valve 110 may open flow from one supply conduit but not the other supply conduit, switching flow from one supply conduit to the other.

The first supply vessel level sensor 60, 60a and the second supply vessel level sensor 60, 60b may be float switches. The float switches operate on the principle that a change in the alignment of the float switch completes a circuit within the float switch. The controller system 130 detects a completed circuit and program logic may follow to generate a desired response to the completed circuit. The float switches may be suspended in their respective supply vessels with slack such that as the level of the laundry treatment composition decreases, the orientation of the float switch changes.

The first supply vessel level sensor 60, 60a and the second supply vessel level sensor 60, 60b may be devices selected from a float switch, a hydraulic transducer, a load cell, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, a flow sensor, and an optical sensor.

The first supply container 30, the second supply container 40, and the replacement supply container 140 may include an upper plug port 150 (FIG. 3). To prepare each container for installation in the system 10, the plug 160 of the plug port 150 may be removed from each container. A suitable level sensor 60 may be inserted into each container through the plug port 150. As described herein, each container may have one or more plug ports 150. A suitable supply conduit may be inserted into each container. The portion of the supply conduit inserted into the container may be rigid such that the open end of the supply conduit is at or near the bottom of the interior of the container. Optionally, the portion of the supply conduit inserted into the container may be a flexible tube and may include a weight to sink the open end of the supply conduit to be at or near the bottom of the interior of the container. The container may be vented so that a vacuum is not formed in the container as the level of the laundry detergent composition decreases in the container. The vent may have an air filter above it to keep lint and other undesirable air particles from contaminating the chemicals.

Each of the first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 may contain a laundry treatment composition 50, 50a, 50b. Each of the laundry treatment compositions 50, 50a, 50b may have the same composition. That is, each of the first supply container 30 and the second supply container 40 may contain the same laundry treatment composition 50. For example, the laundry treatment composition 50a in the first supply container 30 and the laundry treatment composition 50b in the second supply container 40 may have the same surfactant at the same level. The laundry treatment composition 50a in the first supply container 30 and the laundry treatment composition 50b in the second supply container 40 may each be a detergent composition. The laundry treatment composition 50a in the first supply container 30 and the laundry treatment composition 50b in the second supply container 40 may each be a fabric softener composition. The laundry treatment compositions 50, 50a, 50b may be liquid laundry treatment compositions such as bleaches, brighteners, color restorers, degreasers, stain removers, etc.

Combinations Examples are given below.
A.
A first supply container (30);
a first supply container level sensor (60, 60a) operably engaged with said first supply container;
a first supply conduit (90) downstream of said first supply vessel and in fluid communication with the main supply conduit (70);
a second supply vessel (40); and a second supply conduit (100) downstream of the second supply vessel and in fluid communication with the main supply conduit;
one or more automatic shut-off valves (110), the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit being in fluid communication with the one or more automatic shut-off valves;
one or more pumps (120) in fluid communication with one or both of the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit;
a controller system communicatively connected to the first supply vessel level sensor and the one or more shut-off valves, the controller system configured, upon receiving a low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor, to signal the one or more automatic shut-off valves to shut off flow from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit and to open the one or more automatic shut-off valves to open flow from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit;
A laundry treatment composition delivery system (10) comprising: a plurality of washing machines (20), each of said washing machines being in fluid communication with said main delivery conduit.
B. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of paragraph A, wherein both the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit are in fluid communication with the same shutoff valve, the shutoff valve being a three-way shutoff valve having a first valve position that opens from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit and closes from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit, and a second position that closes from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit and opens from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit.
C. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of paragraph A or B, wherein said pump is in series with said main supply conduit.
D. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of any of paragraphs A-C, wherein the laundry treatment composition delivery system further comprises a second supply container level sensor operatively engaged with the second supply container and communicatively connected to the controller system.
E. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of any of paragraphs A through D, wherein the first delivery reservoir level sensor is a float switch.
F. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of any of paragraphs A-E, wherein the first delivery reservoir 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.
G. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of any of paragraphs A-F, wherein the first supply container and the second supply container each include a top plug port, the first supply conduit is inserted through the top plug port of the first supply container and the second supply conduit is inserted through the top plug port of the second supply container.
H. A method of operating the laundry treatment composition delivery system of any of paragraphs A-G, comprising:
conveying a first laundry treatment composition (50a) from said first supply container to said laundry machine;
receiving, in the controller system, a low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor;
in response to the low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor, sending a shutoff signal from the controller system to the one or more shutoff valves to shut off flow from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit;
sending an open signal from the controller system to the one or more shutoff valves and opening the flow from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit in response to the open signal from the controller system;
delivering a second laundry treatment composition from said second supply container to said washing machine.
I.
receiving said first supply container in a closed state;
receiving said second supply container in a closed state;
opening the first supply container and placing the first supply conduit in fluid communication with the first laundry treatment composition;
The method of paragraph H, further comprising the step of: opening said second supply container and placing said second supply conduit in fluid communication with said second laundry treatment composition.
J.
generating a human perceptible alarm in response to the vessel level sensor low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor;
removing the first supply container from the laundry treatment composition delivery system;
Obtaining a replacement supply container (140) in a closed state;
opening said replacement supply container containing a replacement laundry treatment composition (50c);
The method of any one of paragraphs H or I, further comprising the step of: placing said first supply conduit in fluid communication with said replacement laundry treatment composition.
K. The method of paragraph J, further comprising engaging said first supply container level sensor with said replacement supply container.

Dimensions and values disclosed herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."

All documents cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patents or applications, and any patent applications or patents to which this application claims priority or the benefit thereof, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, unless expressly excluded or limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein, or that it alone, or in combination with any other reference, teaches, suggests, or discloses such invention. Furthermore, if any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition given to that term in this document shall control.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims (10)

A first supply container (30);
a first supply container level sensor (60, 60a) operably engaged with said first supply container;
a first supply conduit (90) downstream of the first supply vessel and in fluid communication with a main supply conduit (70);
A second supply vessel (40);
a second supply conduit (100) downstream of the second supply vessel and in fluid communication with the main supply conduit;
one or more automatic shut-off valves (110), the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit being in fluid communication with the one or more automatic shut-off valves;
one or more pumps (120) in fluid communication with one or both of the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit;
a controller system communicatively connected to the first supply vessel level sensor and the one or more shut-off valves, the controller system being configured, upon receiving a low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor, to signal the one or more automatic shut-off valves to shut off flow from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit and to open the one or more automatic shut-off valves to open flow from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit;
a plurality of washing machines (20), each of said washing machines being in fluid communication with said main supply conduit;
A laundry treatment composition delivery system (10), wherein the first delivery reservoir 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. both the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit are in fluid communication with a same shutoff valve;
2. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of claim 1, wherein the shutoff valve is a three-way shutoff valve having a first valve position that opens from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit and closes from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit, and a second position that closes from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit and opens from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump is in series with the main supply conduit. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a second supply container level sensor operably engaged with the second supply container and communicatively connected to the controller system. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first delivery vessel level sensor is a float switch. The laundry treatment composition delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first supply container and the second supply container each include a top plug port, the first supply conduit is inserted through the top plug port of the first supply container, and the second supply conduit is inserted through the top plug port of the second supply container. 13. A method of operating the laundry treatment composition delivery system of claim 1, comprising:
delivering a first laundry treatment composition (50a) from said first supply container to said washing machine;
receiving, in the controller system, a low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor;
in response to the low liquid level signal from the first supply vessel level sensor, sending a shutoff signal from the controller system to the one or more shutoff valves to shut off flow from the first supply conduit to the main supply conduit;
sending an open signal from the controller system to the one or more shutoff valves and opening the flow from the second supply conduit to the main supply conduit in response to the open signal from the controller system;
delivering a second laundry treatment composition from said second supply container to said washing machine. receiving the first supply container in a closed position;
receiving the second supply container in a closed position;
opening the first supply container and placing the first supply conduit in fluid communication with the first laundry treatment composition;
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of: opening said second supply container and placing said second supply conduit in fluid communication with said second laundry treatment composition. generating a human perceptible alarm in response to the low liquid level signal from the first supply container level sensor;
removing the first supply container from the laundry treatment composition delivery system;
Obtaining a replacement supply container (140) in a closed state;
opening said replacement supply container containing a replacement laundry treatment composition (50c);
and placing said first supply conduit in fluid communication with said replacement laundry treatment composition. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising engaging the first supply container level sensor with the replacement supply container.