Method and apparatus for cooking starch

An apparatus for cooking a starch solution and dispensing the cooked solution to a commercial laundry washer, comprising:

• a) a vessel with an interior surrounded by a wall for holding a volume of liquid;
• b) a water supply inlet for supplying water to the vessel interior to make a starch solution that includes the volume of liquid and uncooked starch;
• c) a steam supply inlet for adding steam to the vessel so that the volume of liquid within the vessel can be heated;
• d) a level controller for controlling the level of fluid within the vessel and in between minimum and maximum fluid levels;
• e) a recirculation flow line that has an inlet and an outlet that each communicate with the vessel interior;
• f) a pump mounted in the recirculation flow line for pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet for recirculating fluid within the vessel interior, said pump having a geared portion that breaks up any starch lumps flowing in the recirculation flow line;
• g) a commercial washer;
• h) a discharge flow line for transmitting a heated starch solution from the vessel interior to a laundry washer;
• and
• i) a discharge pump for dispensing the heated starch solution from the discharge flow line to the laundry washer.

An apparatus for cooking a starch solution and dispensing the cooked solution to a commercial laundry washer and an access opening for adding dry starch to the interior, comprising:

• a) a vessel with an interior surrounded by a wall for holding a volume of liquid;
• b) a water supply inlet for supplying water to the vessel interior;
• c) a steam supply inlet for adding steam to the vessel interior so that the volume of liquid within the vessel can be heated;
• d) a level controller for controlling the level of fluid within the vessel and in between minimum and maximum fluid levels;
• e) a recirculation flow line that has an inlet and an outlet that each communicate with the vessel interior;
• f) a pump mounted in the recirculation flow line for pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet and recirculating fluid within the vessel interior so that starch lumps flowing in the recirculation line must flow through the pump enabling the pump to break up the starch lumps;
• g) a discharge flow line for transmitting a heated solution of starch and water from the vessel interior to the laundry washer;
• and
• h) a discharge pump for dispensing the heated solution of starch and water from the discharge flow line to the laundry washer.

An apparatus for cooking a starch solution and dispensing the cooked solution to a commercial laundry washer, comprising:

• a) a vessel with an interior surrounded by a wall for holding a volume of liquid;
• b) a water supply inlet for supplying water to the vessel interior to make a starch solution that includes the volume of liquid and uncooked starch;
• c) a heating element disposed within the vessel;
• d) a steam supply inlet for adding steam to the heating element so that the volume of liquid within the vessel can be heated;
• e) a recirculation flow line that has an inlet and an outlet that each communicate with the vessel interior;
• f) a pump mounted in the recirculation flow line for pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet for recirculating fluid within the vessel interior;
• g) a commercial washer;
• h) a discharge flow line for transmitting a heated starch solution from the vessel interior to a laundry washer;
• i) a discharge pump for dispensing the heated starch solution from the discharge flow line to the laundry washer;
• and
• j) at least one of said pumps having a portion that breaks up any starch lumps flowing through the pump.

A method for cooking a starch solution and dispensing the cooked solution to a commercial laundry washer comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a vessel with an interior for holding a volume of liquid;
• b) supplying water and dry uncooked starch to the vessel interior;
• c) adding heat to the vessel interior to heat the volume of liquid within the vessel;
• d) controlling the level of fluid within the vessel between minimum and maximum fluid levels;
• e) recirculating liquid within the vessel during heating of step "c" with a recirculating flow line;
• f) transmitting the heated liquid solution of starch and water from the vessel interior to the laundry washer;
• and
• g) mechanically breaking up starch that flows in the recirculating flow line in step "f".