Treating agent dispensing apparatus for a washing appliance

• US 4,488,666 A
• Filed: 12/24/1981
• Issued: 12/18/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Herbst, LeRoy J., Preher, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaggs, H. Grant
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handren, Frederick R.
• Application Number:
  US06/334,403
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 222/651, 222/652, 222/516, 222/517, 134/56 D, 134/57 D, 134/57 DL, 134/58 D, 134/58 DL, 134/93, 68/17 R
• US Class Current: 222/651
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0052 Noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer

Abstract

Motor controlled dispenser apparatus for a washing appliance includes a first dispenser for storing and dispensing a first treating agent having a dispensing member movable between a closed position in which the interior of the dispenser is sealed and an open position in which the interior of the dispenser is exposed to enable the dispensing of a first treating agent; a second dispenser for storing and dispensing a second treating agent; a dispenser actuating member movable between a rest position, a first dispensing position and a second dispensing position; and a gear assembly coupling the dispenser actuating member to a motor-driven shaft, for controlling the rate of movement of the dispenser actuating member in accordance with the rate of rotation of the shaft. The dispensing member is coupled to the dispenser actuating member for movement therewith. The rate of movement of the dispensing member from its closed to its open position being determined by the rate of rotation of the motor-driven shaft. The dispenser actuating member in moving from its first to its second dispensing position places the second dispenser in condition for dispensing the second treating agent. The dispenser actuating member is returned to its rest position by user movement of the dispensing member to its closed position.

Claims

1. Dispensing apparatus for dispensing treating agents into the wash chamber of an automatic washing appliance having sequence control means for controlling the sequence of operation of the appliance, said dispensing apparatus comprising:

dispensing means to store and dispense a treating agent;

said dispensing means including a dispensing member adapted to move between a closed position storing the treating agent and an open position enabling dispensing of the treating agent;

a motor and a drive shaft adapted for rotation by said motor;

driving gear means comprising a plurality of driving gear teeth, said driving gear means being coupled to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

dispensing gear means comprising a plurality of dispensing gear teeth, said dispensing gear means being coupled to said dispensing member for movement of said dispensing member therewith;

biasing means for biasing said dispensing member toward its open position, said biasing means being operative to urge said dispensing gear teeth into engagement with said driving gear teeth;

said driving gear teeth being arranged to successively engage corresponding ones of said dispensing gear teeth as said drive shaft rotates;

thereby permitting said biasing means to move said dispensing member toward its open position at a rate determined by the rate of rotation of said drive shaft.

2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving gear teeth are part of a segmental gear having an idle position in which said driving gear teeth are disengaged from said dispensing gear teeth, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

retaining means for yieldingly retaining said dispensing member in its closed position including;

a latching member coupled to said dispensing member for movement therewith;

a movable retaining arm having a latching position, said retaining arm being biased toward its latching position and effective in its latching position to engage and retain said latching member when said dispensing member is in its closed position;

release means operatively coupled to said drive shaft and effective to move said retaining arm away from its latching position thereby disengaging said retaining arm from said latching member as said segmental gear moves away from its idle position thereby releasing said dispensing member for movement to its open position.

3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein a one of said plurality of driving gear teeth includes an elongated cam surface which is moved into engagement with a corresponding one of said dispensing gear teeth as said segmental gear moves from its idle position to assure proper meshing of said driving gear teeth with said dispensing gear teeth.

4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3 further comprising arm biasing means effective to urge said retaining arm toward its latching position;

and wherein;

said release means comprises a cam member operatively coupled to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; and

said retaining arm includes a cam surface along a portion of its length;

said cam member being operative to engage said retaining arm cam surface to move said retaining arm away from its latching position as said drive shaft rotates said segmental gear away from its idle position thereby releasing said dispensing member for movement to its open position.

5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a rotating dispenser shaft;

said dispensing member, said dispensing gear means and said latching member each being secured to said dispenser shaft for rotational movement therewith, said dispensing member being rotatably movable between its open and closed positions.

6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said dispensing means further comprises a container for receiving the treating agent and wherein said dispensing member comprises a cover;

said cover sealing said container when in its closed position and exposing said container when in its open position, said container being operative to dispense the treating agent received therein when exposed.

7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2 further comprising first switch means responsive to the sequence control means for initiating energization of said motor;

and second switch means responsive to rotation of said drive shaft for terminating energization of said motor.

8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a switch actuating member secured to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

and wherein

said first and second switch means are connected in parallel, the parallel combination being connected in series with said dispenser motor, each of said switch means being operative when actuated to connect said dispenser motor to an external power supply;

said first switch means being adapted for actuation by said sequence control means;

said second switch means being adapted for actuation by said switch actuating member;

said switch actuating member having an off position and being operative to deactuate said second switch means when in its off position and to actuate said switch when not in its off position, said off position being arranged to correspond to the idle position of said segmental gear;

said sequence control means being operative to initiate the dispensing of a treating agent by actuating said first switch means for a time period sufficient to rotate said switch actuating member away from its off position but less than the period required for a complete revolution of said segmental gear whereby each rotational movement of said drive shaft is initiated by said controller and terminated by said switch actuating means.

9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second switch means comprises a snap action switch having a pushbutton actuator, and said switch actuating means comprises cam means including an annular cam surface portion concentric with said drive shaft;

and a radial groove portion adapted to receive said pushbutton actuator;

said second switch means being mounted adjacent said cam means, said pushbutton actuator being adapted for depression by said cam surface portion and loosely received in said groove when said switch actuating means is in its off position, said cam surface being operative to depress said actuator thereby actuating said second switch means, and said groove portion being operative to release said actuator thereby deactuating said second switch means, whereby the rotation of said drive shaft is stopped by deactuation of said second switch means when said switch actuating means assumes its off position at the end of each revolution of said drive shaft to assure that each revolution is stopped at the same rotational position.