Dishwashers and detergent dispensers
First Claim
1. A liquid dispenser for dispensing a first liquid to a reservoir, said dispenser comprisinga pumping device having an inlet adapted to receive said liquid and an outlet adapted to be placed in communication with said reservoir, andcontrol means controlling operation of the pumping device and effecting operation of the pumping device to pump a metered amount of said first liquid into said reservoir, said control means comprisinga timer circuit, andsensing means adapted to sense the commencement of delivery of other liquid to said reservoir,said sensing means operating, during use of the dispenser and pursuant to said sensing, to activate the timer circuit to thereby actuate said pumping device for a first predetermined time,said timer circuit including a monostable multivibrator, said sensing means including first switch means actuated, in use of the dispenser, to activate the multivibrator by application of electric supply thereto,said timer circuit further including second switch means operated, pursuant to said application of supply to the multivibrator, to effect said actuation of the pumping device by switching electric supply thereto, said multivibrator being switched to a first state upon said application of said supply thereto at which state said actuation of the second switch means is not precluded, but passing to a second state after said predetermined time at which the second switch means is deactuated to end dispensing,said timer circuit further including latching means for latching said second switch means following application of supply to said multivibrator, until deactuation thereof under control of the multivibrator occurs, irrespective of any intervening deactuation of said first switch means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing and dispensing system for dispensing a first liquid to a reservoir, the dispenser comprising a pumping device having an inlet adapted to receive said liquid and an outlet adapted to be placed in communication with the reservoir and a control mechanism controlling operation of the pumping device whereby, in use of the dispenser to effect operation of the pumping device to pump a metered amount of the first liquid into the reservoir. The control circuit may include a sensor for detecting the commencement of delivery of another liquid to the reservoir or a detector for monitoring the conductivity of the liquid in the reservoir.
76 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A liquid dispenser for dispensing a first liquid to a reservoir, said dispenser comprising
a pumping device having an inlet adapted to receive said liquid and an outlet adapted to be placed in communication with said reservoir, and control means controlling operation of the pumping device and effecting operation of the pumping device to pump a metered amount of said first liquid into said reservoir, said control means comprising a timer circuit, and sensing means adapted to sense the commencement of delivery of other liquid to said reservoir, said sensing means operating, during use of the dispenser and pursuant to said sensing, to activate the timer circuit to thereby actuate said pumping device for a first predetermined time, said timer circuit including a monostable multivibrator, said sensing means including first switch means actuated, in use of the dispenser, to activate the multivibrator by application of electric supply thereto, said timer circuit further including second switch means operated, pursuant to said application of supply to the multivibrator, to effect said actuation of the pumping device by switching electric supply thereto, said multivibrator being switched to a first state upon said application of said supply thereto at which state said actuation of the second switch means is not precluded, but passing to a second state after said predetermined time at which the second switch means is deactuated to end dispensing, said timer circuit further including latching means for latching said second switch means following application of supply to said multivibrator, until deactuation thereof under control of the multivibrator occurs, irrespective of any intervening deactuation of said first switch means.
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8. A liquid dispenser for dispensing a first liquid to a reservoir, said dispenser comprising
a pumping device having an inlet adapted to receive said liquid and an outlet adapted to be placed in communication with said reservoir, and control means controlling operation of the pumping device and effecting operation of the pumping device to pump a metered amount of said first liquid into said reservoir, said control means comprising: -
detector means for detecting, in use of the dispenser, the electrical conductivity of liquid in said reservoir and first switch means operated under control of the detector means to cause actuation of said pumping device, said detector means being responsive to a decrease in electrical conductivity of said liquid below a predetermined level to effect said operation of said first switch means and said actuation of the pumping device at least until sufficient said first liquid is added to the liquid in the reservoir to increase the conductivity at least up to said predetermined level, said detector means including circuit elements making up three arms of a bridge circuit, means coupled to spaced electrodes affixable in the liquid of the reservoir so that the fourth arm of the bridge circuit is made up of the effective resistance of liquid between said electrodes, a first controllable switch, and means for applying an alternating voltage across one pair of opposed junctions of said bridge circuit, said first controllable switch being connected between the other pair of opposed junctions of the bridge circuit so as to be sensitive to the existence of an out of balance voltage therebetween, caused by an increase of resistance between the electrodes above a predetermined resistance representing said predetermined level of conductivity, said first controllable switch to then be operated to effect said operation of said first switch means and said actuation of said pumping device, said first controllable switch deactuating said pumping device pursuant to a subsequent decrease of said resistance below said predetermined resistance. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification