Washing machine operable with supply distribution, dispensing and use system method

• US 20050033647A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Crisp, Harry Lee III
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/082 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output

Abstract

An appliance supply distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing appliance supplies to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which facilitates dispensing or using one or more supplies from an appliance. The computerized system monitors the supply level(s) and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers additional supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing, use or appliance problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a housing;

a tank supported by the housing, the tank configured to hold a load of clothing;

a supply mechanism connected to the housing, the supply mechanism operable to receive a clothing washing supply, the supply mechanism operable to move portions of the clothing washing supply to the tank during a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine;

a sensing device supported by the housing, the sensing device operable to gather data related to how much of the clothing washing supply is dispensed by or remains in the supply mechanism;

a processor operatively coupled to the supply mechanism and the sensing device, the processor operable to communicate with an order processing system; and

at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a condition relating to a designated amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to;

(a) determine, on one or more occasions, the amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism based on the data gathered by the sensing device;

(b) determine when the condition is met; and

(c) send data to the order processing system after the condition is met, said data associated with an order for an amount of the clothing washing supply, thereby causing said amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the clothing washing supply has a form selected from the group consisting of a liquid form and a solid form.

3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the clothing washing supply includes a supply selected from the group consisting of a wash supply, a rinse supply, a bleach supply and a fabric softener supply.

4. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism includes a container holder connected to the housing, the container holder configured to hold at least one container containing the clothing washing supply, wherein the portions of the clothing washing supply are moved from the container to the tank when designated events occur.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the designated amount of the clothing washing supply is a designated percentage of an initial amount of the clothing washing supply received by the supply mechanism, the designated percentage ranging from zero percent to a percent less than one hundred percent.

6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism includes a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanism including at least one actuator, a mechanism including at least one pump and a mechanism including at least one supply line.

7. The washing machine of claim 1, which includes:

(a) an input device operable with the processor to enable a user to input an order for an amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to an address associated with the washing machine; and

(b) at least one instruction stored by the memory device, said instruction executable by the processor to;

(i) receive an input signal from the input device, the input signal associated with the user'"'"'s order for an amount of the clothing washing supply; and

(ii) send data associated with the user'"'"'s order to the order processing system, thereby causing the ordered amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine.

8. The washing machine of claim 1, which includes a supply level indicator under control of the processor, the supply level indicator producing an output when the supply mechanism is empty or when the amount of the clothing washing supply in the supply mechanism reaches the designated amount.

9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the memory device stores a condition associated with a problem with the washing machine, wherein a plurality of the instructions are executable by the processor to:

(a) determine when said condition is met; and

(b) send data to the order processing system after said condition is met, thereby transmitting an order for a repair visit to the washing machine.

10. A washing machine comprising:

a housing;

a tank supported by the housing, the tank configured to hold a load of clothing;

at least one door coupled to the housing;

a supply mechanism connected to the housing, the supply mechanism operable to receive a clothing washing supply, the supply mechanism operable to move portions of the clothing washing supply to the tank during a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine;

a sensing device supported by the housing, the sensing device operable to gather data related to how much of the clothing washing supply is dispensed by or remains in the supply mechanism;

a processor operatively coupled to the supply mechanism and the sensing device, the processor operable to communicate with an order processing system;

an input device operable with the processor to enable a user to input an order for an amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to an address associated with the washing machine; and

at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a condition relating to a designated amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to;

(a) receive an input signal from the input device, the input signal associated with the user'"'"'s order for an amount of the clothing washing supply;

(b) send data associated with the user'"'"'s order to the order processing system, thereby causing the ordered amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine;

(c) determine, on one or more occasions, the amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism based on the data gathered by the sensing device;

(d) determine when the condition is met; and

(e) send data to the order processing system after the condition is met, said data associated with an order for an amount of the clothing washing supply, thereby causing said amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine.

11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the clothing washing supply has a form selected from the group consisting of a liquid form and a solid form.

12. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the clothing washing supply includes a supply selected from the group consisting of a wash supply, a rinse supply, a bleach supply and a fabric softener supply.

13. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the supply mechanism includes a container holder connected to the housing, the container holder configured to hold at least one container containing the clothing washing supply, wherein the portions of the clothing washing supply are moved from the container to the tank when designated events occur.

14. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the designated amount of the clothing washing supply is a designated percentage of an initial amount of the clothing washing supply received by the supply mechanism, the designated percentage ranging from zero percent to a percent less than one hundred percent.

15. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the supply mechanism includes a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanism including at least one actuator, a mechanism including at least one pump and a mechanism including at least one supply line.

16. The washing machine of claim 10, which includes a supply level indicator under control of the processor, the supply level indicator producing an output when the supply mechanism is empty or when the amount of the clothing washing supply in the supply mechanism reaches the designated amount.

17. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the memory device stores a condition associated with a problem with the washing machine, wherein a plurality of the instructions are executable by the processor to:

(a) determine when said condition is met; and

(b) send data to the order processing system after said condition is met, thereby transmitting an order for a repair visit to the washing machine.

18. A washing machine comprising:

a housing;

a tank supported by the housing, the tank configured to hold a load of clothing;

at least one door coupled to the housing;

a supply mechanism connected to the housing, the supply mechanism operable to receive a plurality of different types of clothing washing supplies, the supply mechanism operable to cause portions of the clothing washing supplies to flow to the tank during a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine, the flow occurring at a flow rate over a time period during each of the wash cycles;

a processor operatively coupled to the supply mechanism, the processor operable to communicate with an order processing system;

an input device operable with the processor to enable a user to input an order for an amount of each of the different types of clothing washing supplies to be delivered to an address associated with the washing machine; and

at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a plurality of conditions, one of the conditions relating to a designated amount of one of the types of clothing washing supplies remaining in the supply mechanism and another one of the conditions relating to a designated amount of another one of the types of clothing washing supplies remaining in the supply mechanism, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to;

(a) receive an input signal from the input device, the input signal associated with the user'"'"'s order for an amount of one or more of the types of clothing washing supplies;

(b) send data associated with the user'"'"'s order to the order processing system, thereby causing the ordered amount of the one or more of the types of clothing washing supplies to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine;

(c) determine how much of the types of clothing washing supplies are remaining in the supply mechanism based on the time periods and the flow rates;

(d) determine, for each of the clothing washing supplies, when the condition relating to said clothing washing supply is met;

(e) send data to the order processing system after one of the conditions is met, said data associated with an order for an amount of the type of clothing washing supply relating to said condition, thereby causing said amount of said clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine; and

(f) send data, independent of step (e), to the order processing system after another one of the conditions is met, said data associated with an order for an amount of the type of clothing washing supply relating to said condition, thereby causing said amount of said clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine.

19. The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the clothing washing supply includes a supply selected from the group consisting of a wash supply, a rinse supply, a bleach supply and a fabric softener supply.

20. The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the supply mechanism includes a container holder connected to the housing, the container holder configured to hold a plurality of containers, the containers containing the different types of clothing washing supplies.