Automatic and manual detergent type identification to select a wash algorithm based on detergent type
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A detergent module or dispensing detergent during a wash-cycle, comprising:
- at least one compartment operative to store and dispense detergent,a sensor mounted in a sensor portion located at or near a bottom of the at least one compartment and proximate to a detergent stored in the at least one compartment, the sensor is operative to produce a detergent-type signal indicating whether the detergent stored in the at least one compartment is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent;
the at least one compartment including an opening allowing fluid to enter the at least one compartment to rinse at least a portion of the at least one compartment proximate to the sensor during the wash cycle.
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Abstract
A detergent module for dispensing detergent during a wash-cycle is presented in which a sensor senses and indicates or a user via control input indicates whether the detergent in the module is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent, and the detergent-type indication is used by a dishwashing machine or a laundry washing machine to select a washing algorithm tailored to exploit the cleaning efficiency of the detergent.
26 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A detergent module or dispensing detergent during a wash-cycle, comprising:
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at least one compartment operative to store and dispense detergent, a sensor mounted in a sensor portion located at or near a bottom of the at least one compartment and proximate to a detergent stored in the at least one compartment, the sensor is operative to produce a detergent-type signal indicating whether the detergent stored in the at least one compartment is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent; the at least one compartment including an opening allowing fluid to enter the at least one compartment to rinse at least a portion of the at least one compartment proximate to the sensor during the wash cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18)
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10. A dishwasher, comprising:
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a housing having a wash chamber, a connection to a water supply, a connection for water removal, and a heating element; a door; a detergent module operative to store and dispense detergent during a wash-cycle having a sensor located in a sensor portion of the detergent module, the sensor portion located at or near a bottom of a compartment of the detergent module, the sensor is operative to produce a detergent-type signal indicating whether the detergent stored in the compartment is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent; and a machine controller configured to implement different first and second detergent-type wash algorithms which determine an operation of the connection to the water supply, the connection for water removal, the heating element, and the detergent module during the wash-cycle, the machine controller operative to selectively employ a selected one of the first and second algorithms based at least in part on whether the detergent contained in the detergent module is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A clothes washer, comprising:
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a housing having a wash chamber, a connection to a water supply, and a connection for water removal; a door; a detergent module operative to store and dispense detergent during a wash-cycle having a sensor operative to produce a detergent-type signal indicating whether the detergent stored in the detergent module is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent, the sensor located in a sensor portion of the detergent module, the sensor portion located at or near a bottom of the detergent module; and a machine controller configured to implement different first and second detergent-type wash algorithms which determine the operation of at least one of the connection to the water supply, the connection for water removal, and the detergent module during the wash-cycle, the machine controller being operative to selectively employ a selected one of the first and second algorithms based at least in part on whether the detergent contained in the detergent module is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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19. The clothes washer 17, wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor.
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22. A method of washing items comprising:
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providing detergent to at least one compartment of a detergent module in a machine; receiving a detergent-type signal or value from a sensor located in a sensor portion of the at least one compartment, the sensor portion located at or near a bottom of the at least one compartment which indicates whether the detergent in the at least one compartment of the detergent module is a solid-type detergent or a liquid-type detergent; selecting one of a plurality of different wash algorithms based at east in part on the detergent-type signal or value; and controlling the machine to perform a wash-cycle based on the selected wash algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification