Non-integrated bulk dispenser and method of operating a dishwasher having same

• US 10,285,563 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2018
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Beshears, Jr., Paul E., Sundaram, Sathish A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osterhout, Benjamin L
• Application Number:
  US15/949,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20180220866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0047 Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/26 Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user

Abstract

A dispensing assembly including at least one treating chemistry container configured to store a treating chemistry and selectively fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the dispensing assembly and output a first signal based thereon, an illumination detector outputting a second signal indicative of ambient illumination and an indicator outputting a human-detectable signal.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising:

a tub having an open face and at least partially defining a treating chamber configured for holding dishes during a cycle of operation;

a door moveably mounted between an opened position, wherein the treating chamber is accessible, and a closed position, wherein the door closes the open face of the tub; and

a dispensing assembly, comprising;

at least one treating chemistry container configured to store a treating chemistry and selectively fluidly coupled to the treating chamber;

a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the dispensing assembly and output a first signal based thereon;

an illumination detector outputting a second signal indicative of ambient illumination;

an indicator outputting a human-detectable signal; and

a controller receiving the first signal and the second signal and operably coupled to the indicator to activate the indicator to emit the human-detectable signal when the ambient illumination is indicative of the open face being at least partially opened and wherein the human-detectable signal is based on the detected characteristic of the dispensing assembly.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the dispensing assembly further comprises a base configured to receive the at least one treating chemistry container.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the sensor is located in the base and outputs the first signal indicative of at least one of a presence of the at least one treating chemistry container or an absence of the at least one treating chemistry container.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the controller is configured to track when the at least one treating chemistry container is received within the base.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to track usage of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container and the detected characteristic is based thereon.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the controller is further configured to determine an amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container based on when the at least one treating chemistry container is received within the base and usage of the treating chemistry and the human-detectible signal is based thereon.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured to at least one of:

determine a low amount of the treating chemistry from the first signal and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the low amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container, determine an emptiness of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the emptiness of the at least one treating chemistry container, or determine a remaining number of doses of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the remaining number of doses.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first signal is related to a volume, level, or amount of treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to at least one of:

determine a low amount of the treating chemistry from the first signal and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the low amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container, determine an emptiness of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the emptiness of the at least one treating chemistry container, or determine a remaining number of doses of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the remaining number of doses.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising multiple treating chemistry containers.

11. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to cease the emitting of the human-detectable signal after a predetermined time.

12. A dispensing assembly, comprising:

at least one treating chemistry container configured to store a treating chemistry and selectively dispense the treating chemistry;

a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the dispensing assembly and output a first signal based thereon;

an illumination detector outputting a second signal indicative of ambient illumination;

an indicator outputting a human-detectable signal; and

a controller receiving the first signal and the second signal and operably coupled to the indicator to activate the indicator to emit the human-detectable signal when the ambient illumination is indicative of a predetermined amount of illumination and wherein the human-detectable signal is based on the detected characteristic of the dispensing assembly.

13. The dispensing assembly of claim 12 wherein the dispensing assembly further comprises a base configured to receive the at least one treating chemistry container and wherein the sensor is located in the base and outputs the first signal indicative of at least one of a presence of the at least one treating chemistry container or an absence of the at least one treating chemistry container.

14. The dispensing assembly of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to track when the at least one treating chemistry container is received within the base and usage of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container and the detected characteristic is based thereon.

15. The dispensing assembly of claim 14 wherein the controller is further configured to determine an amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container based on when the at least one treating chemistry container is received within the base and usage of the treating chemistry and the human-detectible signal is based thereon.

16. The dispensing assembly of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to at least one of:

determine a low amount of the treating chemistry from the first signal and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the low amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container, determine an emptiness of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the emptiness of the at least one treating chemistry container, or determine a remaining number of doses of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the remaining number of doses.

17. The dispensing assembly of claim 12 wherein the first signal is related to a volume, level, or amount of treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container.

18. The dispensing assembly of claim 17 wherein the controller is configured to at least one of:

determine a low amount of the treating chemistry from the first signal and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the low amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container, determine an emptiness of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the emptiness of the at least one treating chemistry container, or determine a remaining number of doses of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir and wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the remaining number of doses.

19. The dispensing assembly of claim 12, further comprising multiple treating chemistry containers.

20. The dispensing assembly of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to cease the emitting of the human-detectable signal after a predetermined time.