Washing machine operable with supply distribution, dispensing and use system method

• US 7,689,476 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Crisp, Harry Lee III
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Obaid; Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US10/931,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,037 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/082 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output

Abstract

An appliance supply distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing appliance supplies to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which facilitates dispensing or using one or more supplies from an appliance. The computerized system monitors the supply level(s) and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers additional supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing, use or appliance problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a housing;

a tank supported by the housing, the tank configured to hold a load of clothing;

a supply mechanism connected to the housing, the supply mechanism sized to hold an amount of a clothing washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine, the supply mechanism operable to move portions of the clothing washing supply to the tank during the plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine;

a sensing device supported by the housing, the sensing device operable to gather data related to how much of the clothing washing supply is dispensed by or remains in the supply mechanism;

a display device supported by the housing;

an input device supported by the housing;

a processor operatively coupled to the supply mechanisms, the sensing device, the display device, and the input device, the processor operable to communicate with an order processing system; and

at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a condition relating to a designated amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to;

(a) determine, on one or more occasions, the amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism based on the data gathered by the sensing device;

(b) determine when the condition is met; and

(c) as a result of the determination that the condition is met;

(i) cause the display device to display a plurality of selections, each one of the displayed selections being associated with a separate clothing washing supply;

(ii) enable a user to pick one of the displayed selections; and

(iii) send to the order processing system, an order for an amount of the clothing washing supply associated with the picked selection, the order including data associated with an thereby causing said amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine where the amount of the clothing washing supply associated with the user'"'"'s picked selection will be delivered.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism is configured to hold clothing washing supply having a form selected from the group consisting of a liquid form and a solid form.

3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism is configured to hold clothing washing supply having selected from the group consisting of a wash supply, a rinse supply, a bleach supply and a fabric softener supply.

4. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism includes a container holder connected to the housing, the container holder configured to hold at least one container containing the clothing washing supply, wherein the portions of the clothing washing supply are moved from the container to the tank when designated events occur.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the designated amount of the clothing washing supply is a designated percentage of an initial amount of the clothing washing supply received by the supply mechanism, the designated percentage ranging from zero percent to a percent less than one hundred percent.

6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism includes a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanism including at least one actuator, a mechanism including at least one pump and a mechanism including at least one supply line.

7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the input device is operable with the processor to enable a user to input an order for an amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to an address associated with the washing machine;

and at least one of the instructions stored by the memory device is executable by the processor to;

(i) receive an input signal from the input device, the input signal associated with the user'"'"'s order for an amount of the clothing washing supply; and

(ii) send data associated with the user'"'"'s order to the order processing system, thereby causing the ordered amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine.

8. The washing machine of claim 1, which includes a supply level indicator under control of the processor, the supply level indicator producing an output when the supply mechanism is empty or when the amount of the clothing washing supply in the supply mechanism reaches the designated amount.

9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the memory device stores a condition associated with a problem with the washing machine, wherein a plurality of the instructions are executable by the processor to:

(a) determine when said condition is met; and

(b) send data to the order processing system after said condition is met, thereby transmitting an order for a repair visit to the washing machine.

10. A washing machine comprising:

a housing;

a tank supported by the housing, the tank configured to hold a load of clothing;

at least one door coupled to the housing;

a supply mechanism connected to the housing, the supply mechanism operable to receive a clothing washing supply, the supply mechanism operable to move portions of the clothing washing supply to the tank during a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine;

a sensing device supported by the housing, the sensing device operable to gather data related to how much of the clothing washing supply is dispensed by or remains in the supply mechanism;

a display device supported by the housing;

a processor operatively coupled to the supply mechanism, the sensing device and the display device, the processor operable to communicate with an order processing system;

an input device operable with the processor to enable a user to input an order for an amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to an address associated with the washing machine; and

at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a condition relating to a designated amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to;

(a) cause the display device to display a plurality of selectable supply indicators, each one of the selectable supply indicators being associated with a separate clothing washing supply;

(b) receive an input signal from the input device, the input signal associated with the user'"'"'s selection of one of the selectable supply indicators;

(c) send data associated with the user'"'"'s selected supply indicator to the order processing system, thereby causing the clothing washing supply associated with the user'"'"'s selected supply indicator to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine;

(d) determine, on one or more occasions, the amount of the clothing washing supply remaining in the supply mechanism based on the data gathered by the sensing device;

(e) determine when the condition is met; and

(f) send data to the order processing system after the condition is met, said data associated with the order for an amount of the clothing washing supply, thereby causing said amount of the clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine.

11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the supply mechanism is configured to hold clothing washing supply having a form selected from the group consisting of a liquid form and a solid form.

12. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the supply mechanism is configured to hold clothing washing supply having selected from the group consisting of a wash supply, a rinse supply, a bleach supply and a fabric softener supply.

13. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the supply mechanism includes a container holder connected to the housing, the container holder configured to hold at least one container containing the clothing washing supply, wherein the portions of the clothing washing supply are moved from the container to the tank when designated events occur.

14. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the designated amount of the clothing washing supply is a designated percentage of an initial amount of the clothing washing supply received by the supply mechanism, the designated percentage ranging from zero percent to a percent less than one hundred percent.

15. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the supply mechanism includes a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanism including at least one actuator, a mechanism including at least one pump and a mechanism including at least one supply line.

16. The washing machine of claim 10, which includes a supply level indicator under control of the processor, the supply level indicator producing an output when the supply mechanism is empty or when the amount of the clothing washing supply in the supply mechanism reaches the designated amount.

17. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the memory device stores a condition associated with a problem with the washing machine, wherein a plurality of the instructions are executable by the processor to:

(a) determine when said condition is met; and

(b) send data to the order processing system after said condition is met, thereby transmitting an order for a repair visit to the washing machine.

18. A washing machine comprising:

a housing;

a tank supported by the housing, the tank configured to hold a load of clothing;

at least one door coupled to the housing;

a supply mechanism connected to the housing, the supply mechanism operable to receive a plurality of different types of clothing washing supplies, the supply mechanism operable to cause portions of the clothing washing supplies to flow to the tank during a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine, the flow occurring at a flow rate over a time period during each of the wash cycles;

a display device supported by the housing;

an input device supported by the housing;

a processor operatively coupled to the supply mechanism, the display device and the input device, the processor operable to communicate with an order processing system; and

at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a first condition relating to a designated amount of a first one of the types of clothing washing supplies remaining in the supply mechanism and a second, different condition relating to a designated amount of a second, different one of the types of clothing washing supplies remaining in the supply mechanism, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to;

(a) cause the display device to display a plurality of selectable supply indicators, a first one of the selectable supply indicators indicating the first type of clothing washing supply, a second one of the selectable supply indicators indicating the second type of clothing washing supply;

(b) receive a first input signal from the input device, the first input signal associated with the user'"'"'s selection of the first one of the selectable supply indicators, the supply mechanism operable to cause portions of the first clothing washing supply associated with the first selectable supply indicator to flow to the tank during a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine based on the user'"'"'s selection of the first selectable supply indicator;

(c) receive a second input signal from the input device, the second input signal associated with the user'"'"'s selection of the second one of the selectable supply indicators, the supply mechanism operable to cause portions of the second clothing washing supply associated with the second selectable supply indicator to flow to the tank during a plurality of wash cycles of the washing machine based on the user'"'"'s selection of the second selectable supply indicator;

(d) determine how much of the selected first and second types of clothing washing supplies are remaining in the supply mechanism based on the time periods and the flow rates;

(e) determine when the first condition relating to said first clothing washing supply is met;

(f) after the first condition is met, send data to the order processing system, said data associated with an order for an amount of the first type of clothing washing supply relating to said first condition, thereby causing said amount of said first clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine;

(g) determine when the second condition relating to said second clothing washing supply is met; and

(h) after the second condition is met, independent of step (e), send data to the order processing system, said data associated with an order for an amount of the second type of clothing washing supply relating to said second condition, thereby causing said amount of said second clothing washing supply to be delivered to the address associated with the washing machine.

19. The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the supply mechanism is configured to hold first and second clothing washing supplies which each include a supply selected from the group consisting of a wash supply, a rinse supply, a bleach supply and a fabric softener supply.

20. The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the supply mechanism includes a container holder connected to the housing, the container holder configured to hold a first container containing the first type of clothing washing supply and a second container containing the second type of clothing washing supply.