Household appliance having a physical alteration element

• US 9,271,627 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Black, Brian A., Latack, Thomas A., Rhodes, Matthew D., Alexander, Benjamin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CORMIER, DAVID G
• Application Number:
  US13/596,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20140060594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4445 Detachable devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/38 Conditioning or finishing, e.g. control of perfume injection
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/20 Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation, includes a treating chamber for receiving the at least one item for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation, a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container having an optically sensible element, a physical alteration element located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and operable to physically alter at least a portion of the optically sensible element, and a sensor to sense the physical alteration.

Claims

1. A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation, comprising:

a treating chamber for receiving the at least one item for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation;

a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container, where the unit dose container itself has an optically sensible element;

a physical alteration element located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and operable to physically alter at least a portion of the optically sensible element; and

an optical sensor located proximate the unit dose container to optically sense a presence of the optically sensible element and provide an output indicative of the presence of the optically sensible element;

wherein the physical alteration element sufficiently physically alters enough of the optically sensible element of the unit dose container that the output from the optical sensor is indicative of the physical alteration of the optically sensible element of the unit dose container upon physical alteration of the unit dose container by the physical alteration element.

2. The household appliance of claim 1 wherein the physical alteration element comprises a piercer operable to perforate the unit dose container at the location of the optically sensible element.

3. The household appliance of claim 2 wherein the piercer comprises a piercing element movable between a piercing position, where the piercing element extends through the optically sensible element and into the unit dose container, and a non-piercing position, where the piercing element resides exteriorly of the unit dose container.

4. The household appliance of claim 3 wherein the piercing element comprises a needle having a hollow interior through which treating chemistry may be withdrawn.

5. The household appliance of claim 4 wherein the treating chemistry dispenser comprises a pump fluidly coupled to the hollow interior of the needle to pump the treating chemistry from the unit dose container.

6. The household appliance of claim 1 wherein the optically sensible element comprises indicia on the unit dose container.

7. The household appliance of claim 6 wherein the indicia has a reflectance different from an adjacent portion of the unit dose container.

8. The household appliance of claim 1 wherein the treating chemistry dispenser further comprises a drawer being slidable between a load position, where the unit dose container may be loaded into the drawer, and a use position, where the unit dose container is positioned for dispensing.

9. The household appliance of claim 1, further comprising a controller implementing the at least one cycle of operation and receiving the output from the optical sensor.

10. The household appliance of claim 9 wherein the optical sensor is operably coupled to and controlled by the controller, which activates the physical alteration element after a dispensing of treating chemistry from the unit dose container during implementation of the at least one cycle of operation.