Patents Assigned to Ecolab Inc.
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Patent number: 7896198Abstract: A dispenser (200) dispenses an amount of concentrate using a diluent to form a use solution. The dispenser (200) includes a housing (201) having a cavity. A product holder (210) is positioned to support the concentrate in the cavity of the housing (201). A load cell housing (207) is operatively supported by the housing. More than one load cell (240) is positioned in the load cell housing (207). The product holder (210) is supported on the more than one load cell (240), wherein weight of the concentrate is determined.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2004Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, Thomas J. Batcher, Henry J. McCarrick
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Patent number: 7891523Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing of a product based on weight as a load cell (22) which supports a structure holding the product (20a) to be dispensed. The weight of the product (20a) that is dispensed is determined by use of a controller (23).Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher
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Patent number: 7893012Abstract: A solid cleaning composition includes methacrylate, water, defoamer, carboxylate, sodium carbonate, metasilicate, and surfactant. The solid cleaning composition includes between about 1% and about 10% methacrylate by weight, less than about 5% water by weight, between about 1% and about 5% defoamer by weight, between about 10% and about 30% carboxylate by weight, between about 15% and about 80% sodium carbonate by weight, between about 1% and about 5% metasilicate by weight, and between about 1% and about 5% surfactant by weight. The solidification system may be used, for example, in a solid detergent composition.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Brenda Lynn Tjelta, Lisa Maureen Sanders, Michael Edward Besse
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Patent number: 7887850Abstract: A method for reducing pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract of a live animal comprising orally administering to the animal an effective amount of an aqueous antimicrobial solution, wherein the aqueous antimicrobial solution comprises from about 0.01% to about 0.1% by weight of a metal chlorite and a sufficient quantity of an acid having a first pKa of from about 2.0 to about 4.4 to adjust the pH of the aqueous antimicrobial solution to about 2.2 to about 4.5 and to maintain the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid to not more than about 35% by weight of the total chlorite ion present in the aqueous antimicrobial solution, is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: C. Cayce Warf, Jr., G. Kere Kemp, John Richards
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Patent number: 7888303Abstract: A solidification matrix includes methacrylate, sodium carbonate, and water. The methacrylate, sodium carbonate, and water interact to form a hydrate solid having a growth exponent of less than about 3%.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Brenda L. Tjelta, Lisa M. Sanders, Michael E. Besse
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Patent number: 7879785Abstract: A method for foaming a cleaning composition is provided. The method includes mixing a cleaning composition and air in a mechanical foaming head to generate a foam without the use of a non-air containing propellant. The cleaning composition includes about 0.01 wt. % to about 10 wt. % total amount of surfactant, at least about 80 wt. % water and a glycol ether solvent. The glycol ether solvent includes one or more glycol ethers, each having a HLB value of at least about 6.9 and an OHLB value of between about 12 and about 20. The weight ratio of the glycol ether solvent to the total amount of surfactant is at least about 1:100.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2010Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Keith E. Olson
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Publication number: 20110017945Abstract: A water hardness controlling agent includes an acrylate polymer having a molecular weight of about 4,500 g/mol, an acrylate-maleic copolymer having a molecular weight of about 40,000 g/mol and a 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid. A ratio of acrylate-maleic copolymer to acrylate polymer to the 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid in parts per million is about 5-30:10-40:6-20.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Altony Miralles, Carter Silvernail
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Patent number: 7871521Abstract: A system for regulating a reverse osmosis system to obtain zero wastewater includes a fresh water supply, a reverse osmosis apparatus, a concentrate storage tank and a permeate storage tank, a concentrate solenoid valve and a permeate solenoid valve, a permeate heater, an institutional dishmachine and a control system. The reverse osmosis apparatus filters water from the fresh water supply into a concentrate rinse stream and a permeate rinse stream. The concentrate storage tank and the permeate storage tank are downstream of the reverse osmosis apparatus and receiving the concentrate rinse stream and the permeate rinse stream, respectively. The concentrate solenoid valve and the permeate solenoid valve control the flow of the concentrate rinse stream and the permeate rinse stream, respectively, from their respective storage tank. The permeate heater heats the permeate rinse stream to a predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Lee J. Monsrud, Adrian E. Hartz
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Patent number: 7863237Abstract: Solid cleaning products suitable for use as a floor cleaner are disclosed. Methods of making and using solid cleaning products are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Karen O. Rigley, Tami Jo Tadrowski, Peter J. Barnett
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Publication number: 20100328476Abstract: Techniques are described for determining cleanliness of various surfaces by processing images of the surfaces. The surfaces may comprise, for example, drinking glasses, dishes, fabric swatch arrays, Tosi plates, ceramic tiles, or stainless steel coupons. In one example, a system includes a camera to capture a digital image of a surface, a light source to illuminate the surface, a housing to enclose the surface, the camera, and the light source in a light-tight environment, and an analysis computer to receive the digital image, calculate a luminosity value for the surface from the digital image, and determine a cleanliness value for the surface from the calculated luminosity value. The analysis computer may automatically configure an environment in which to capture the digital image such that the environment is suited for the particular surface to be analyzed. The analysis computer may also cause the camera to automatically capture the digital image.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Ecolab Inc.Inventor: Christopher C. Wagner
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Publication number: 20100328450Abstract: A control unit may automatically enable and/or disable a washing apparatus based on processing of an image of wares to be washed by the washing apparatus. In one example, a system includes a camera configured to capture an image of one or more wares to be washed by a washing apparatus, a computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of item profiles, each of the item profiles comprising a visual signature and one or more wash cycle characteristics, and a control unit configured to retrieve the image, detect one of the visual signatures of the plurality of item profiles in the image, select the one of the item profiles corresponding to the detected visual signature, enable the washing apparatus, and automatically disable the washing apparatus after the ware is determined to be clean in accordance with the selected one of the item profiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Ecolab Inc.Inventor: Christopher Carroll Wagner
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Publication number: 20100323940Abstract: Solid block alkaline detergent compositions are disclosed comprising a source of alkalinity, and other detergent additives including sequestrants. The solid block detergents of the invention used a mixed inorganic and organic sequestrant composition that successfully softens service water used in manufacturing aqueous detergents from the composition, but also obtains substantially improved organic soil removal on dishware or flatware. The solid block detergents of the invention comprise large masses of the chemical ingredients having a weight of greater than about 500 grams in a solid block product format that is typically dispensed using a spray on water dispenser that creates an aqueous concentrate that is used in a washing machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Steven E. Lentsch, Keith E. Olson
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Patent number: 7850772Abstract: The present invention provides a beverage surfactant composition that includes a surfactant, a phosphonium compound, and a carrier; wherein the beverage surfactant composition exhibits stability as a solution or as a dispersion at a temperature of about 0 EC to about 8 EC. The present invention also provides a container or a conveyor for a container having a surface that is at least partially coated with the composition. The present invention also provides a process for lubricating a container that includes contacting at least a portion of a surface of the container and the composition together. The present invention also provides a process for lubricating a conveyor that includes contacting at least a portion of a surface of the conveyor and the composition together.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Minyu Li, Kim Person Hei, Joy G. Herdt, Amy Haupert
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Publication number: 20100304494Abstract: A microflow analytical system includes a laminate pump assembly connectable with one or more sources of fluid, one or more pneumatic control pumps, a mixer, and a sensor. The laminate pump assembly is adapted to deliver predetermined volumes of the fluid(s) through a plurality of flow paths which are formed within layers of the assembly. Each flow path can include an inlet valve, a pump valve, and an outlet valve each of which are controllable by the pneumatic control pumps. A series of manifolds can be formed within the layers of the pump assembly to provide for simultaneous activation of selected flow paths. Delivered fluid volumes can be mixed in the mixer which, in some embodiments, may be integral with the laminate pump assembly. The sensor can measure one or more characteristics of the mixed fluids to determine one or more properties of the fluids.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: ECOLAB INC.Inventors: Eugene Tokhtuev, Christopher Owen, Anna Pilipchenko
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Publication number: 20100305014Abstract: A degreasing composition is disclosed comprising an alkyl polyglucoside; and a nonionic surfactant having a carbon chain of C6 or less. The nonionic surfactant comprises linear C6 alcohol ethoxylate. In an embodiment the linear C6 alcohol ethoxylate comprises from about 3 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide. In another embodiment the alkyl polyglucoside and the alcohol ethoxylate comprise an active ratio of from about 3:1 to about 1:1 in the composition. The composition of the invention is useful in formulating a laundry detergent, a hard surface cleaner, an automatic dishwashing detergent, a hand dishwashing detergent, an oven cleaner, hand soap, or an automotive detergent.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: ECOLAB INC.Inventors: Altony J. Miralles, Amanda R. Blattner, Charles A. Hodge
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Patent number: 7841131Abstract: Several embodiments of an insect trap using attractant light displayed on a projection surface are disclosed. The insect trap can be mounted on a vertical surface such as a wall or on a horizontal surface such as a ceiling. The trap has a light source configured to direct substantially all light from the source to the projection surface. Insects attracted by the light pattern on the projection surface are immobilized on an adhesive surface. A method of trapping insects is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventor: Thomas D. Nelson
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Publication number: 20100297029Abstract: The invention relates to a virucidal composition comprising based on the composition from 80 to 99 wt-% of a C2-C4 monoalcohol or a mixture thereof, from 0.1 to lower 2 wt-% of an organic acid, from 0.1 to 1 wt-% of an alkoxylated monoglyceride and/or alkoxylated diglyceride, wherein the pH value of the composition is from pH 3.3 to 5 and the remainder up to 100 wt-% is water. The invention further describes a method of inactivating viruses, and a product comprising the virucidal composition and means for applying it.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2006Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: ECOLAB INC.Inventors: Holger Biering, Silke Denzin, Friedrich Von Rheinbaben, Bernhard Meyer
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Publication number: 20100297316Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating food products by applying an antimicrobial composition and processing the food product using selected processing methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Timothy Allen Gutzmann, Scott L. Burnett, Richard Keith Staub, Erin Mertz, Seth Young Raley
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Publication number: 20100294307Abstract: The invention relates to a acidic composition for cleaning surfaces of metal or alloys which are susceptible to corrosion comprising i) an ester of phosphoric acid, diphosphoric acid or polyphosphoric acid, ii) a benzotriazole derivative of the general formula (I) in which each of the groups R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 is the same or different and is hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or an acyl group, iii) a phosphonic acid of the general formula R6—PO—(OH)2 (II) in which the group R6 is alkyl group, alkenyl group, aryl group, or arylalkyl group and iv) an acidic source. The invention further relates to a use solution and to a method for cleaning.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2006Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: ECOLAB INC.Inventor: Thomas Tyborski
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Patent number: D629984Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Brian P. Carlson, Scott R. Limback, Christine M. Rock, Joseph P. Kaper