Household cleaning appliance with a dispensing system operable between a single use dispensing system and a bulk dispensing system

• US 8,196,441 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Hendrickson, Michael S., Luckman, Joel Adam, Doyle, Colleen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US12/165,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20100000022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 682/07
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/12 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/026 the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for operating a dispensing system as a non-bulk dispensing system or a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.

Claims

1. A household cleaning appliance configured to execute a cleaning cycle on an article, comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior;

a treating chamber located within the interior for receiving an article for cleaning;

a non-bulk dispensing system having a drawer defining a dispensing chamber that is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, where the drawer is configured to be slideably moveable between an opened position, where the dispensing chamber is accessible exteriorly of the cabinet, and a closed position, where the dispensing chamber is within the cabinet and wherein the dispensing chamber stores a single dose of treating chemistry that the non-bulk dispensing system dispenses to the treating chamber as part of the execution of the cleaning cycle;

a bulk dispensing cartridge configured to be received within the dispensing chamber and to store multiple doses of a treating chemistry;

a treating chemistry meter operable to couple the bulk dispensing cartridge to the non-bulk dispensing system when the drawer is in the closed position to control the dosing of the treating chemistry from the bulk dispensing cartridge to the non-bulk dispensing system; and

wherein when the bulk dispensing cartridge is received within the dispensing chamber, the non-bulk dispensing system is provided with the functionality of a bulk dispensing system.

2. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 1 wherein the bulk dispensing cartridge defines an interior treating chemistry chamber accessible through an opening configured to be selectively closed by a closing element that is operable between an opened and closed position through which the interior treating chemistry chamber may be filled when the closing element is in the opened position.

3. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator operable to indicate the amount of treating chemistry in the cartridge.

4. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a treating chemistry meter coupled with the bulk dispensing cartridge and the dispensing system, the treating chemistry meter operable to control the dosing of the treating chemistry from the bulk dispensing cartridge to the dispensing system.

5. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 4 wherein the treating chemistry meter is configured to dispense multiple doses of treating chemistry during the cleaning cycle.

6. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 4 wherein the treating chemistry meter comprises a pump.

7. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 6, further comprising a controller configured to implement the cleaning cycle and operably coupled to the dispensing system and pump to control the operation of the pump to thereby control the dosing of the treating chemistry from the bulk dispensing cartridge to the dispensing system.

8. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing system further comprises an access panel moveable between an opened position, where the dispensing chamber is accessible, and a closed position, where the dispensing chamber is inaccessible by a user.

9. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing system further comprises a housing located within the cabinet and underlying the drawer at least in part when it is in the closed position, and the treating chemistry meter is carried by the housing and has a fluid outlet coupled to the housing.

10. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 9, further comprising a fluid coupling configured to fluidly couple the bulk dispensing cartridge to the treating chemistry meter when the drawer is in the closed position such that the treating chemistry meter can dispense treating chemistry from the bulk dispensing cartridge and dispense it to the housing.

11. The household cleaning appliance according to claim 10, further comprising a water diverter configured to divert a flow of water to the dispensing chamber in the absence of the bulk dispensing cartridge and to the housing in the presence of the bulk dispensing cartridge.