Washing machine with pay activated bulk detergent dispenser

• US 20030154557A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Sears, Jeffrey L., Wunderlich, Daniel F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,036,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

An approved washing machine and method of washing laundry is provided wherein a user can select an amount of an additive, such as detergent, to be automatically supplied from a bulk additive reservoir to the washing machine tub during the appropriate time in the wash cycle. The selected amount of additive corresponds to the amount of payment deposited by the user in the machine. The payment may be made by coin, currency, or debit card.

Claims

1. A method of washing laundry in a washing machine, having a rotatable tub and a detergent reservoir containing detergent, the method comprising:

loading laundry into the tub;

making a monetary payment to the machine corresponding to selected quantity of detergent to be used during a wash cycle of the machine;

starting the machine operation;

automatically transferring the selected quantity of detergent from the reservoir to the tub during the wash cycle of the machine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment is made with coins or currency.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment is made with a debit card.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected quantity of detergent is less than the volume of the reservoir.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the detergent is transferred to the tub by pumping.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising making a second monetary payment to the machine corresponding to a selected quantity of a laundry additive to be used during the operation of the machine.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the additive is fabric softener.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the additive is bleach.

9. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for holding laundry to be washed;

a detergent reservoir for holding detergent;

a control panel to control operation of the machine;

a monetary payment means operatively connected to the control panel to sense a monetary payment to the machine; and

a pump operatively connected to the payment means and to the detergent reservoir to automatically pump a selected quantity of detergent from the reservoir to the tub, the selected quantity corresponding to the monetary payment.

10. The washing machine of claim 9 wherein the payment means includes a coin sensor.

11. The washing machine of claim 9 wherein the payment means includes a currency sensor.

12. The washing machine of claim 9 wherein the payment means includes a debit card reader.

13. The washing machine of claim 9 wherein the payment means includes a coin operated switch.

14. The washing machine of claim 9 wherein the reservoir holds sufficient detergent for multiple wash cycles of the machine.

15. The washing machine of claim 9 further comprising an additive reservoir and an additive pump operatively connected to the payment means to automatically transfer a selected quantity of laundry additive to the tub corresponding to a second monetary payment.