Sequenced Water Delivery in an Additive Dispenser

• US 20090119849A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Miller, Jason D., De Paoli, Stefano, Marchetto, Fabio, Hill, Chris H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,085,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments

Abstract

An automatic washing machine includes a wash additive dispenser for dispensing detergent and one or more additives into a wash tub. Water is delivered to a first wash agent chamber in the wash additive dispenser for delivery into a wash tub during a wash cycle. Water is subsequently delivered to a second wash agent chamber to flush from that chamber any unintended collection of water or additive residue therein, as may result from the water delivery to the first wash agent chamber and/or from an earlier dispensing of additive from the second wash agent chamber.

Claims

1. A method for delivering water in a wash cycle, the method comprising:

in a washing apparatus, dispensing a first wash additive into a wash chamber of the washing apparatus by delivering water into a first wash additive storage chamber;

then

flushing a second wash additive storage by delivering water into the second wash additive storage chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, dispensing a second wash additive into the wash chamber by delivering water into the second wash additive storage prior to said flushing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said dispensing of the second wash additive is performed during a first wash cycle, and the dispensing of the first wash additive is performed during a second wash cycle following said first wash cycle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the flushing of the second wash additive storage is performed during the second wash cycle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said flushing occurs after said dispensing of a second wash additive.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said flushing flushes from the second wash additive storage chamber, additive residue remaining therein after said dispensing of said second wash additive.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said flushing flushes from the second wash additive storage chamber, water flowed therein during said dispensing of a first wash additive.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the flushing of said second additive storage chamber is effected by siphon action.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the washing apparatus is a laundry washing machine.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery of water in said dispensing and flushing steps is carried out using a water distribution tray overlying a drawer containing said first and second wash additive storage chambers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the delivery of water in said dispensing and flushing steps is carried out by flowing water down first and second water delivery pathways of said water distribution tray, the first and second water delivery pathways leading to the first and second storage chambers, respectively.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said flowing of water is carried out using a plurality of water inlet nozzles directing water into said tray.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein water is directed to a pathway leading to said first wash additive storage chamber by colliding streams from at least two of the plurality of inlet nozzles.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a portion of the water from the collided streams flows into the second wash additive storage chamber.

15. A washing apparatus comprising:

a wash additive dispenser including a plurality of wash additive storage chambers; and

a wash controller configured to cause;

dispensing of a first wash additive into a wash chamber of the washing apparatus by delivering water into a first wash additive storage chamber;

then

flushing of a second wash additive storage chamber by delivering water into the second wash additive storage chamber.

16. The washing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wash controller is further configured to cause dispensing of a second wash additive into the wash chamber by delivery of water into the second wash additive storage chamber prior to said flushing.

17. The wash apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a water distribution tray overlying a drawer containing said first and second wash additive storage chambers, for the delivery of water in said dispensing and flushing steps.

18. The wash apparatus of claim 17, wherein the water distribution tray comprises first and second water delivery pathways for delivery of water in said dispensing and flushing steps, the first and second water delivery pathways leading to the first and second additive storage chambers, respectively.

19. The wash apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of water inlet nozzles for directing water into said tray.

20. The wash apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least two of the water inlet nozzles, said controller and said tray are collectively configured to direct water to a pathway leading to said first wash additive storage chamber by colliding streams from the at least two water inlet nozzles.

21. The wash apparatus of claim 20, wherein said colliding is such that a portion of the water from the collided streams flows into the second wash additive storage chamber.

22. A water flow control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of water delivery pathways;

a plurality of water inlet nozzles; and

first and second additive storage chambers;

said water delivery pathways and water inlet nozzles being configured to;

deliver water into the first additive storage chamber to thereby cause dispensing of a first liquid/additive mix therefrom; and

flush the second additive storage chamber by delivering water into the second additive storage chamber after the delivery of water into the first additive storage chamber.

23. The water control apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plurality of water inlet nozzles are further configured to dispense a second additive from the second additive storage chamber by delivering water into the second additive storage chamber prior to said flushing.

24. The water control apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plurality of water delivery pathways overlie a drawer including the first and second additive storage chambers.

25. The water control apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least two of the plurality of water inlet nozzles are configured to direct water to a water delivery pathway leading to said first additive storage chamber by colliding streams from the at least two water inlet nozzles.