ADDITIVE DISPENSER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE

• US 3,736,773 A
• Filed: 10/12/1971
• Issued: 06/05/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Waugh
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Waugh
• Inventors: Waugh, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, William I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US05/188,328
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17R,17A,18FA
• US Class Current: 68/17.00A
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/024 mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Abstract

A dispenser for receiving additives such as a cleaning agent, an oxidizing agent and a fabric conditioner, diluting these additives where necessary and then dispensing them into the basket of an automatic washing machine at the proper time during an operating cycle of the machine. A plurality of chambers are located within the dispenser. These chambers include an inner chamber for storing the fabric conditioner during a wash cycle; a holding chamber for receiving the fabric conditioner ejected from the inner chamber by centrifugal force during a spin cycle; and a dilution chamber for receiving, dispensing and diluting the oxidizing agent, as well as for receiving, diluting, and dispensing the fabric conditioner which falls into this chamber at the start of a rinse cycle. In addition, a provision for receiving a detergent and dispensing it into the basket during a wash cycle is also included. Means are also provided for automatically cleaning the fabric conditioner residue from the holding chamber by forcefully propelling thereinto, rinse water from the dilution chamber so as to prepare the dispenser for the next operative cycle.

Claims

1. In a washing machine including a basket and an agitator, and arranged to provide spaced wash, spin and rinse cycle, a dispenser for dispensing first and second additives into the basket, said dispenser being mounted for movement with said agitator and comprising:

a. a body member includig a dilution chamber for receiving a first additive, said dilution chamber having a first port for receiving a liquid during a wash cycle to dilute said first additive placed therein, said dilution chamber having a second port for discharging the diluted first additive from said chamber, b. said diluted first additive being at least partially discharged through said second port during said wash cycle, said diluted first additive being fully discharged from said dilution chamber by centrifugal force resulting from spinning movement of the agitator during a first spin cycle to fully empty said dilution chamber, c. said body member including an inner chamber for receiving said second additive, a holding chamber disposed outwardly of said inner chamber and communicating therewith, said second additive being discharged from said inner chamber into said holding chamber by said centrifugal force during said first spin cycle, said second additive falling by gravity into said dilution chamber at the end of said spin cycle, d. said dilution chamber receiving a liquid through said first port during a rinse cycle to dilute said second additive contained therein, said diluted second additive being at least partially discharged through said second port of said dilution chamber during said rinse cycle, said diluted second additive being fully discharged by said centrifugal force from said dilution chamber during a second spin cycle to fully empty said dilution chamber, and e. means extending into said dilution chamber for expelling liquid from the dilution chamber into said holding chamber during a rinse cycle to completely flush said second additive from said holding chamber.

2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said agitator includes a hollow center post, and pumping means for recirculating said liquid from said basket through said post to said first port for diluting said first and second additives.

3. In a washing machine including a basket and an agitator, and arranged to provide spaced wash, spin and rinse cycles, a dispenser for dispensing first and second additives into the basket, said dispenser being mounted for movement with said agitator and comprising:

a. a body member including a dilution chamber for receiving a first additive, said dilution chamber having a first port for receiving a liquid during a wash cycle to dilute said first additive placed therein, said dilution chamber having a second port for discharging the diluted first additive from said chamber, b. said diluted first additive being at least partially discharged through said second port during said wash cycle, said diluted first additive being fully discharged from said dilution chamber by centrifugal force resulting from spinning movement of the agitator during a first spin cycle to fully empty said dilution chamber, c. said body member including an inner chamber for rceiving said second additive, a holding chamber disposed outwardly of said inner chamber and communicating therewith, said second additive being discharged from said inner chamber into said holding chamber by said centrifugal force during said first spin cycle, said second additive falling by gravity inTo said dilution chamber at the end of said spin cycle, d. said dilution chamber receiving a liquid through said first port during a rinse cycle to dilute said second additive contained therein, said diluted second additive being at least partially discharged through said second port of said dilution chamber during said rinse cycle, said diluted second additive being fully discharged by said centrifugal force from said dilution chamber during a second spin cycle to fully empty said dilution chamber, e. a filter pan mounted on said agitator, said body member being supported by said filter pan, said body member and said filter pan having frictionally engaging surfaces whereby said body member moves with said filter pan and said agitator.

4. A dispenser as recited in claim 3 and further including a coating on one of said engaging surfaces for controlling the friction therebetween.

5. A dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner chamber is disposed in the central upper portion of said body member, said holding chamber is disposed radially outward of said inner chamber, and said diltution chamber is disposed in the lower portion of said body member and below said holding member.