Method for automatically flushing a bulk dispensing system in a cleaning appliance

• US 8,246,756 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Hendrickson, Michael Stephen, Dalton, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLING, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US13/242,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20120012137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 134/57.R, 134/58.R, 134/18, 134/22.1, 134/22.11, 134/22.12, 134/22.18, 134/26, 134/29
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0424 Liquid cleaning or flushing

Abstract

A household cleaning appliance includes a bulk dispensing system configured to receive a removable cartridge containing multiple doses of treating chemistry and configured to deliver a charge of treating chemistry from the cartridge to a treating chamber and a water supply configured to be selectively coupled to the bulk dispensing system to flush at least a portion of the bulk dispensing system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber and a bulk dispensing system having a removable cartridge configured to contain a treating chemistry, the bulk dispensing system configured to deliver a charge of treating chemistry from the cartridge to the treating chamber, the method comprising:

determining the cartridge is empty by sensing an amount of treating chemistry in the cartridge; and

flushing at least a portion of the bulk dispensing system after the cartridge is determined empty.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the flushing comprises flushing the cartridge.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the flushing of the cartridge effects the flushing of at least a portion of the bulk dispensing system.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the flushing comprises flushing a pump fluidly coupled to the cartridge.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the flushing comprises flushing a drawer carrying the cartridge and slideably mounted relative to a housing.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the drawer is a single use dispensing drawer having at least one treatment cup and the cartridge is removeably received in the treatment cup.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the flushing of the drawer effects flushing of the housing.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the household cleaning appliance is a clothes washer.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the flushing comprises flushing a housing of the bulk dispensing system containing the cartridge.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the flushing comprises flushing at least one conduit fluidly coupling the housing to the treating chamber.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the flushing comprises flushing a pump fluidly coupled to the cartridge and the conduit.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the flushing comprises flushing the cartridge with water when it is determined the cartridge is empty.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the flushing of the cartridge comprises supplying water to the cartridge when the cartridge is determined to be empty and pumping the water from the cartridge.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the water pumped from the cartridge also flushes other portions of the bulk dispensing system.