Method of indicating operational information for a bulk dispensing system

• US 9,445,704 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: McAllister, Karl David, Dalton, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US14/104,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20140096797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 bulk treating chemistry dispenser comprising multiple treating chemistries, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, a selected cycle of operation;

sensing types of treating chemistries available from the bulk treating chemistry dispenser;

determining, by the controller, at least one type of treating chemistry to be dispensed for the determined selected cycle of operation;

comparing, in the controller, the types of treating chemistries determined to be available from the bulk treating chemistry dispenser and determined to be dispensed for the determined selected cycle of operation; and

providing an indication of the determined type of treating chemistries that are required for the determined selected cycle of operation,

wherein the bulk treating chemistry dispenser is operably coupled to the 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 determined types of treating chemistries may be provided on the user interface.

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

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

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the iconic representation of the determined types of treating chemistries is an icon, an alpha-numeric reading, a bar reading to be proportionally illuminated, and/or a stack of lights to be proportionally illuminated.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the controller, an indication of at least one of the treating chemistries being dispensed during a dispensing operation of the selected cycle of operation.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the indication is provided as the at least one of the treating chemistries is being dosed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication of at least one of the sensed types of treating chemistries based on output provided to the controller.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensing comprises sensing a RFID tag included in a treating chemistry cartridge in the bulk treating chemistry dispenser.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensing comprises sensing via a sensor operably coupled to the bulk treating chemistry dispenser.