Method of indicating operational information for a bulk dispensing system

• US 8,615,834 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: McAllister, Karl D., Dalton, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US13/608,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 68/121.2, 68/122.3, 68/121.8, 68/17.R, 134/18, 134/25.2, 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/58.D
• US Class Current: 8/158
• 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 15/4454 with automatic identification means, e.g. barcodes, RFID tags or magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/026 Nature or type of the consumable product, e.g. information on detergent, e.g. 3-in-1 tablets, rinsing aid or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/04 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/026 Nature or type of the consumable product, e.g. information on detergent, e.g. 3-in-1 tablets, rinsing aid or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/22 Number of operational cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/265 about the number of remaining operation cycles or the remaining operation time
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/57 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/14 Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of determining the number of doses and the types of a treating chemistry available in the bulk dispensing system, and providing an indication of the determination on a user interface.

Claims

1. A method of operating a cleaning appliance having a cabinet containing a bulk treating chemistry dispenser comprising multiple undiluted treating chemistries and a controller operably coupled to the dispenser and controlling a plurality of cycles of operation, the method comprising:

determining the types in the bulk treating chemistry dispenser of undiluted treating chemistries required for a selected one of a plurality of cycles of operation; and

providing an indication of the dispensing, while dispensing, for each of the required undiluted treating chemistries.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the bulk treating chemistry dispenser comprising multiple undiluted treating chemistries is operably coupled to a controller having a user interface through which a user may select a cycle of operation to be implemented by the controller, and the indication of the dispensing, while dispensing, is provided on the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises providing an indication for each undiluted treating chemistry at approximately the commencement of dispensing of each undiluted treating chemistry.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the indication is maintained until approximately the completion of dispensing for each undiluted treating chemistry.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises providing an alpha-numerical representation of the types of undiluted treating chemistries.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises providing an iconic representation of the types of undiluted treating chemistries.

7. A method of operating a cleaning appliance having a cabinet containing a treating chamber for receiving an article for cleaning, a bulk treating chemistry dispenser for dispensing multiple undiluted treating chemistries, and a controller operably coupled to the bulk treating chemistry dispenser and implementing a selected one of a plurality of cycles of operation, the method comprising:

determining the type of each undiluted treating chemistry in the bulk treating chemistry dispenser required for the selected cycle of operation;

dispensing the required undiluted treating chemistries into the treating chamber according to the selected cycle of operation; and

during the selected cycle of operation, providing an indication of the dispensing for each of the required undiluted treating chemistries.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising determining the selected cycle of operation from a plurality of cycles of operation.