Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Batcher

Thomas J. Batcher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9376306
    Abstract: Methods of dispensing an ingredient and measuring an amount of the ingredient dispensed, e.g., at a customer's location usually as the ingredient is used by the customer, in order to improve the dispensing process by adjusting future dispense cycles, accurately dispensing the ingredient, predicting an amount of ingredient to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ECOLAB INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher, Bryan A. Maser, Michael N. Shulman
  • Publication number: 20140017142
    Abstract: Methods of dispensing an ingredient and measuring an amount of the ingredient dispensed, e.g., at a customer's location usually as the ingredient is used by the customer, in order to improve the dispensing process by adjusting future dispense cycles, accurately dispensing the ingredient, predicting an amount of ingredient to be dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher, Bryan A. Maser, Michael N. Shulman
  • Patent number: 8020578
    Abstract: A dispenser (10) uses first and second flow controls (70, 73). The flow controls maintain first and second flow ranges independent of diluent pressure within a pressure range, wherein the use solution's concentration is maintained over the pressure range. A third flow control (75) may also be utilized in a third diluent passageway for maintaining a third flow range independent of the diluent pressure within the pressure range. A bypass valve assembly (41) is operatively connected to the third incoming diluent passageway. The bypass valve has a temperature control valve. The temperature control valve having a bypass passageway, wherein additional diluent is added to the use solution, thereby controlling the use solution's concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Robert J. Plantikow, Thomas P. Berg, Thomas J. Batcher, Daniel F. Brady, Scott T. Russell, Terrence P. Everson
  • Patent number: 7896198
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, Thomas J. Batcher, Henry J. McCarrick
  • Patent number: 7891523
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher
  • Patent number: 7437213
    Abstract: A method and system for collecting information associated with warewashing activities is disclosed. Articles to be cleaned by a warewasher are placed in racks designed to fit inside a wash chamber of the warewasher. Each rack is assigned a unique identifier (ID). No two racks are associated with the same unique ID. An Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag is embedded within or placed on the outer shell of each rack. The RFID tag of a rack is programmed with the unique ID assigned to the rack. An RFID reader reads the unique ID of each rack as the racks are placed into the warewasher. The RFID reader transmits the unique ID to a host computer where the unique ID is stamped with a time reference, stored and eventually uploaded to a server computer. The unique ID and associated time reference are analyzed by the server computer, the host computer or a client computer connected to the server computer in order to monitor performance of the warewasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Batcher
  • Patent number: 7201290
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher
  • Patent number: 6885306
    Abstract: A monitor for monitoring presence or absence of a liquid product in a system for pumping the liquid product from a supply through tubing. A capacitive sensor is coupled to the outside of the tubing at a sensing location having an inlet and an outlet, the capacitive sensor being responsive to the presence or absence of the liquid product in the tubing. The tubing is selected from a material and having an inside diameter at the sensing location selected such that the tubing is substantially evacuated or substantially drains when the liquid product is substantially absent from the tubing preceding the sensing location but small enough so that the liquid product can be sensed by the capacitive sensor when the liquid product is substantially present in the supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Louis M. Holzman, Thomas J. Batcher
  • Patent number: 6871674
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a use solution of a concentrate diluted, with a dilution rate of not more than 1:130, into a diluent flowing under pressure in a line. A normally-closed, user activatable valve is operatively coupled in the line allowing the diluent to flow in the line upon user activation. A flow regulator is operatively coupled in the line downstream of the valve, configured to maintain a constant flow rate for the diluent in the line. A constant flow rate pump having an inlet and an outlet is operatively coupled to the valve. The inlet is adapted to be operatively fluidly coupled to the concentrate. The outlet is fluidly coupled to the line downstream of the flow regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher
  • Publication number: 20040226961
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher
  • Publication number: 20040226959
    Abstract: Methods of dispensing an ingredient and measuring an amount of the ingredient dispensed, e.g., at a customer's location usually as the ingredient is used by the customer, in order to improve the dispensing process by adjusting future dispense cycles, accurately dispensing the ingredient, predicting an amount of ingredient to be dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Richard J. Mehus, John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher, Bryan A. Maser, Michael Shulman
  • Publication number: 20040211483
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a use solution of a concentrate diluted, with a dilution rate of not more than 1:130, into a diluent flowing under pressure in a line. A normally-closed, user activatable valve is operatively coupled in the line allowing the diluent to flow in the line upon user activation. A flow regulator is operatively coupled in the line downstream of the valve, configured to maintain a constant flow rate for the diluent in the line. A constant flow rate pump having an inlet and an outlet is operatively coupled to the valve. The inlet is adapted to be operatively fluidly coupled to the concentrate. The outlet is fluidly coupled to the line downstream of the flow regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher
  • Publication number: 20040088075
    Abstract: A method and system for collecting information associated with warewashing activities is disclosed. Articles to be cleaned by a warewasher are placed in racks designed to fit inside a wash chamber of the warewasher. Each rack is assigned a unique identifier (ID). No two racks are associated with the same unique ID. An Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag is embedded within or placed on the outer shell of each rack. The RFID tag of a rack is programmed with the unique ID assigned to the rack. An RFID reader reads the unique ID of each rack as the racks are placed into the warewasher. The RFID reader transmits the unique ID to a host computer where the unique ID is stamped with a time reference, stored and eventually uploaded to a server computer. The unique ID and associated time reference are analyzed by the server computer, the host computer or a client computer connected to the server computer in order to monitor performance of the warewasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Batcher