System for dispensing substances into a washing machine
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing a substance into a washing machine comprisinga plurality of cartridges, a plurality of level indicators, a plurality of barcode readers, a plurality of dispensing tubes, and a cover,where each barcode reader comprises an elongated protrusion,where each cartridge comprises a handle, a barcode, a vent, and a delivery tube adapter,where each of the plurality of dispensing tubes mates with the delivery tube of one of the cartridges, where a substance contained within each cartridge may flow through the delivery tube, where fluid that flows through the delivery tube is inserted into the washing machine,where each level indicator mates with the vent of one of the cartridges and determines the amount of substance contained within the cartridge, where each barcode reader reads data from the barcode of one of the cartridges and destroys the barcode of the cartridge,whereby the system for dispensing a substance dispenses a substance from each cartridge at a time and volume determined by the data read from the barcode of each cartridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for dispensing substances into a washing machine is disclosed. A plurality of preferably different sized or shaped cartridges are located within removable drawers. Each cartridge contains a particular substance, such as laundry detergent, bleach, or fabric softener, that is released into the washing machine. The system also includes a means to identify the substance contained within the cartridge as well as when and how much of the substance should be released into the washing machine. At the appropriate time, the system dispenses an appropriate amount of substance into the washing machine. A pump pulls the substance out of the container and into the washing basin of a washing machine. Alternatively, a valve is opened and the substance pours into the washing basin due to gravitational forces.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing a substance into a washing machine comprising
a plurality of cartridges, a plurality of level indicators, a plurality of barcode readers, a plurality of dispensing tubes, and a cover, where each barcode reader comprises an elongated protrusion, where each cartridge comprises a handle, a barcode, a vent, and a delivery tube adapter, where each of the plurality of dispensing tubes mates with the delivery tube of one of the cartridges, where a substance contained within each cartridge may flow through the delivery tube, where fluid that flows through the delivery tube is inserted into the washing machine, where each level indicator mates with the vent of one of the cartridges and determines the amount of substance contained within the cartridge, where each barcode reader reads data from the barcode of one of the cartridges and destroys the barcode of the cartridge, whereby the system for dispensing a substance dispenses a substance from each cartridge at a time and volume determined by the data read from the barcode of each cartridge.
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6. A method of dispensing a substance into a washing machine comprising the steps of:
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accepting a cartridge, where the cartridge comprises a vent and a barcode; scanning the barcode of the cartridge; destroying the barcode of the cartridge such that it cannot be read again; inserting a level indicator through the vent and into the cartridge; and dispensing the substance contained within the cartridge into the washing machine; whereby data collected from scanning the barcode is used to determine the volume and timing of dispensing the substance contained within the cartridge into the washing machine. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19)
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13. A system for dispensing a substance comprising:
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a barcode reader, a level indicator, and a cartridge, where the cartridge comprises a vent and a barcode, where the cartridge contains the substance, where the barcode reader reads the barcode of the cartridge, where the barcode reader, comprising an elongated protrusion, destroys the barcode of the cartridge after the barcode reader has read the barcode, where the level indicator is inserted through the vent and determines the level of the substance remaining within the cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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Specification