Dispenser for a drawer-type dishwasher

• US 20070039634A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Hruby, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,699,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/25.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer

Abstract

A drawer-type dishwasher includes a dispenser mounted to one of front and opposing side walls of a basin. The basin is slidably supported in an outer body of the dishwasher. The dispenser includes a main body portion, first and second reservoirs and an actuator. Each of the first and second reservoirs includes upper and lower openings. The first reservoir includes a cover that selectively closes the upper opening, while the lower opening is opened by the actuator. The second reservoir is provided with first and second lids pivotally mounted to the main body portion. The first lid is opened to allow loading of wash aid, while the second lid is opened during a wash operation to release the wash aid. After the wash operation concludes, the second lid is closed, causing the first lid to open allowing detergent to again be loaded into the second reservoir.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

an outer body;

a basin slidably supported by the outer body between an extended, loading/unloading position and a retracted, in-use position, said basin including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a wash chamber; and

a dispenser assembly mounted to one of the front and opposing side walls of the basin, said dispenser assembly including;

a main body portion including at least a top section, a front section and a bottom section;

a first reservoir provided in the main body portion, said first reservoir including a first opening exposed at the top section for receiving a first wash aid, and a second opening for dispensing the first wash aid, said second opening leading to an outlet formed on one of the front and bottom sections;

a cover for selectively closing the first opening of the first reservoir;

a second reservoir provided in the main body portion, said second reservoir including a first opening exposed at one of the top and front sections for receiving a second wash aid, and a second opening exposed at one of the front and bottom sections for dispensing the second wash aid;

a first lid pivotally mounted relative to the main body portion for selectively covering the first opening of the second reservoir;

a second lid pivotally mounted relative to the main body portion for selectively covering the second opening of the second reservoir; and

an actuator mechanism for automatically releasing the first wash aid through the outlet, opening the second lid, and releasing the second wash aid from the second opening in the second reservoir during a wash operation.

2. A dishwasher comprising:

an outer body;

a basin slidably supported by the outer body, said basin including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a wash chamber; and

a dispenser assembly mounted to one of the front and opposing side walls of the basin, said dispenser assembly including;

a main body portion including at least a top section, a front section and a bottom section;

a first reservoir provided in the main body portion, said first reservoir including a first opening exposed at one of the top and front sections for receiving a first wash aid and a second opening for dispensing the first wash aid, said second opening leading to an outlet formed on one of the front and bottom sections;

a second reservoir provided in the main body portion, said second reservoir including a first opening exposed at one of the top and front sections for receiving a second wash aid, and a second opening exposed at one of the front and bottom sections for dispensing the second wash aid; and

an actuator mechanism for automatically releasing the first wash aid through the outlet and releasing the second wash aid from the second opening in the second reservoir during a wash operation.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the main body portion is mounted to the front wall of the basin.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 2, further comprising:

a cover for selectively closing the first opening, said cover including a sight glass for providing a visual indication of a level of first wash aid present in the first reservoir.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the dispenser assembly further includes:

a first lid for selectively covering the first opening of the second reservoir; and

a second lid for selectively covering the second opening of the second reservoir.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a linear actuator, a pivoting lever, a charging lever and a door release lever, said pivoting lever being acted upon by the linear actuator and adapted to shift the charging lever and operate the door release lever.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 6, wherein the dispenser includes a rinse aid cup operatively connected to the charging lever wherein, substantially simultaneous with the operation of the door release lever, the charging lever causes the first wash aid to enter the rinse aid cup.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a spring connected between the main body portion and the charging lever wherein, upon shifting of the linear actuator, said spring forces the charging lever towards the rinse aid cup to release the first wash aid into the wash chamber.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a spring connected between the main body portion and the charging lever wherein, upon shifting of the linear actuator, said spring forces the charging lever towards the rinse aid cup to release the first wash aid into the wash chamber.

9. A dishwasher comprising:

an outer body;

a basin slidably supported by the outer body, said basin including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a wash chamber; and

a dispenser assembly mounted to one of the front and opposing side walls of the basin, said dispenser assembly including;

a main body portion including at least a top section, a front section and a bottom section;

a reservoir provided in the main body portion, said reservoir including a first opening exposed at the top section for receiving a wash aid, and a second opening exposed at one of the front and bottom sections for dispensing the wash aid;

a first lid mounted relative to the main body portion for selectively covering the first opening of the reservoir;

a second lid mounted relative to the main body portion for selectively covering the second opening of the reservoir; and

an actuator mechanism for opening the second lid and releasing the wash aid from the reservoir during a wash operation.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the reservoir includes a chute portion, said chute portion guiding wash aid from the reservoir, through the second opening and into the wash chamber.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the dispenser assembly further includes a latch, said latch being operatively coupled to the actuator mechanism and the second lid, wherein said actuator mechanism is adapted to shift the latch to open the second lid and expose the reservoir.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the dispenser assembly further includes a second reservoir for storing a rinse aid.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a linear actuator, a pivoting lever, a charging lever and a door release lever, said pivoting lever being acted upon by the linear actuator and adapted to shift the charging lever and operate the door release lever.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein the dispenser assembly further includes a rinse aid cup operatively connected to the charging lever wherein, substantially simultaneous with the operation of the door release lever, the charging lever causes the first wash aid to enter the rinse aid cup.

16. A method of performing a washing operation in a drawer-type dishwasher having a dispenser mounted to a wall of a wash chamber comprising:

opening a first lid to expose an upper opening of a reservoir provided in the dispenser;

loading a wash aid into the reservoir through the upper opening;

closing the first lid to cover the wash aid; and

activating an actuator mechanism to open a second lid to expose a lower opening of the reservoir and release the wash aid into the dishwasher during a select portion of the washing operation.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

closing the second lid upon completion of the washing operation; and

opening the first lid upon closing the second lid.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

filling another reservoir with a rinse aid.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

substantially simultaneous with an opening of the second lid, the actuator mechanism charges a rinse aid cup with rinse aid from the another reservoir.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

resetting the actuator mechanism; and

automatically dispensing rinse aid from the another reservoir into the dishwasher upon resetting the actuator mechanism.