CONFIGURABLE CONSUMABLE HOLDER FOR AN APPLIANCE
First Claim
1. A consumable holder for an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article comprising:
- a receptacle,an array of actuators, each actuator controlling access to a conduit adapted to be in fluid communication with an appliance, anda circuit adapted to connect to a process control apparatus to control activation of the actuators,wherein the receptacle is sized to hold more than one compartment, each compartment being adapted to hold a consumable to be used in a cycle of operation and having a port to connect to a actuator in the actuator array, and wherein the controller can control the dispensing of a consumable from each compartment by actuating at least one actuator in the actuator array.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A removably coupled consumable holder for an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article comprises a receptacle sized to hold one or more compartments for holding a consumable. The compartments are connected with an array of actuators for controlling the delivery of the consumable from the compartment to the appliance. A controller is connected with the array of actuators for actuation of the actuators during a cycle of operation. The consumable holder is further connected with an internal communications network in the appliance for communication with one or more components of the appliance.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A consumable holder for an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article comprising:
a receptacle, an array of actuators, each actuator controlling access to a conduit adapted to be in fluid communication with an appliance, and a circuit adapted to connect to a process control apparatus to control activation of the actuators, wherein the receptacle is sized to hold more than one compartment, each compartment being adapted to hold a consumable to be used in a cycle of operation and having a port to connect to a actuator in the actuator array, and wherein the controller can control the dispensing of a consumable from each compartment by actuating at least one actuator in the actuator array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article, the appliance comprising:
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an array of actuators, each actuator controlling access to a conduit in fluid communication with a component in the appliance, and a process control apparatus configured to control activation of the actuators, a receptacle sized to hold more than one compartment, each compartment being adapted to hold a consumable to be used in a cycle of operation and having a port to connect to a actuator in the actuator array, and wherein the process control apparatus can control the dispensing of a consumable from each compartment by actuating at least one actuator in the actuator array. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A consumable holder for an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article comprising:
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a receptacle having more than one outlet port, each port adapted to connect to a actuator in a actuator array that controls access to a conduit adapted to be in fluid communication with an appliance, wherein the receptacle is sized to hold more than one compartment, each compartment being adapted to hold a consumable to be used in a cycle of operation and having a port to connect to an outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article, the appliance comprising:
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a controller, and a software component configured to cause the controller to alter a cycle of operation based on information it obtains about a connected accessory where the accessory is a configurable consumable holder.sd.
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Specification