Dishwasher multiple additive dispensing apparatus

• US 4,149,654 A
• Filed: 05/20/1977
• Issued: 04/17/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Jenkins, Thomas E., Nelson, Thomas E., Cushing, Donald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverberg, Fred A.
• Application Number:
  US05/798,974
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 222/70, 222/129, 222/164, 222/166, 222/167, 222/427, 222/516, 222/517, 222/531, 222/532, 134/95, 134/100, 134/101, 134/56 D, 134/57 D, 134/57 DL, 134/58 D, 134/58 DL, 134/93, 68/17 R, 68/207
• US Class Current: 222/651
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer

Abstract

A dishwashing apparatus having two dispensers operable at preselected times in a dishwashing cycle for dispensing treating additives such as detergent and a rinse aid additive. The dispensers are arranged so that in response to a programmer-timer controlled cam an interlock device to which the detergent dispenser cover is mounted is released and the cover swings away from the dispenser container opening. The interlock includes a shaft integral with a handle used to close the dispenser cover, the other end of the shaft having a unitary detent member secured for rotation with said shaft, said detent including a plurality of latching extensions for operative engagment with the timer controlled cam. Mounted adjacent the detergent dispensing mechanism is the rinse aid dispenser which is also activated by the interlock device. One of the latching members holds the shaft from rotation until the detergent is required, and another of the latching members holds the shaft from rotation until the rinse aid is required. After a complete wash and rinse operation the rinse aid device is held in an inoperative position until the detergent cup cover is closed by the operator.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing multiple additives into a wash chamber of an automatic washing machine, the operational cycles of the machine being controlled by a programmer-timer control unit, and wherein the machine includes detergent dispensing means and rinse additive dispensing means operatively controlled by said control unit, said detergent dispensing means including a container and a cover therefor movable between an open and closed position, the improvement comprising:

interlock means operatively interconnecting said detergent and said rinse additive dispensing means with said timer control unit, said detergent container being opened by movement of said cover in response to said interlock means at a first preselected time, said rinse additive dispensing means being caused to dispense rinse additive in response to said interlock means at a second preselected time, said rinse additive dispensing means being held in an inoperative mode by said interlock means after said second preselected time and until said cover is moved to said closed position;

wherein said interlock means comprises;

a shaft member jounralled in the inner wall of the washing machine door, said shaft connected to said detergent dispensing cover;

detent means mounted for rotation with said shaft interior of said inner door wall, said detent means including first and second latching means radially spaced each from the other, and a radially extending rinse dispenser control arm, said detent means having spring biasing means operative to rotate said shaft and said cover into an open position; and

cam means including a cam follower, operatively connected to said timer control unit, said cam follower including pawl means for engagement with said first and second latching means;

whereby said first latch means engages said pawl means when said cover is moved to its closed position and is released by said pawl means thereby opening said cover at said first preselected time, said second latching means engaging said pawl means when said first latching means is released, said second latching means being released by said pawl means at said second preselected time thereby causing said rinse dispenser control arm to activate said rinse additive dispensing means, said rinse additive dispensing means being held in an inoperative mode by said detent means after said second preselected time and until said cover is moved to said closed position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second latching means comprise radially extending arms of said detent means, said latching means including a pluraltiy of axially extending teeth at their radially terminal ends for connection to said pawl means of said cam follower.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cam means comprises a generally circular member mounted for rotation in response to said timer control unit, the circumferential surface of said member having a plurality of radially extending recesses formed therein and adapted to receive a projection of said cam follower, said follower and said recesses operative with said pawl means to release said first and second latching means at said first and second preselected times in the operational cycle.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cam member and said cam follower operatively interact such that revolution of said cam member at a rotational speed substantially greater than that caused by said timer control unit will cause the follower to override one of said recesses thereby not releasing said second latching means.

5. Apparatus for dispensing multiple additives into a wash chamber of an automatic washing machine having a programmer-timer control unit, first additive dispensing means having a storage reservior for storing a first additive, additive measuring and dispensing means operable between a first position immersed in the first additive in the door open position and a second dispensing position over a discharge means when in the door closed position, said dispensing means including an extended dispensing arm;

second additive dispensing means having a storage container formed in the door adjacent said first dispensing means for storing a second additive, said second additive dispensing means further having closure means movable between a first uncovered position and a second sealed position over said container, said closure means being in communication with said timer control unit through a rotating cam means and a first latching device, said device located proximate to said dispensing arm, the improvement comprising;

a second latching device operatively connected to said first latching device and said cam means so that when said first latching device is released by said cam means thereby opening said second additive container at a first perselected time, said second latching device engages said cam means until separately released at a second preselected time in the wash/rinse cycle, said second latching device including a control member for engaging said dispensing arm thereby activating said arm for dispensing said first additive when said second latching device is released by said cam means, and said cam means including means for overriding the release of said second latching device when said cam means rotates at a speed substantially greater than that experienced under the control of said timer control unit, whereby rapid rotation of said cam means resulting from operator rotation of the timer control unit avoids dispensing of said first additive.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a stop member mounted adjacent said second latching device, said second latching device being spring biased thereby operatively engaging said dispensing arm with said stop member after being released by said cam means at said second preselected time.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first latching device and said cam means are operatively disconnected until said closure means is moved from said first to said second position.