Patent Application
20230084319
The present subject matter relates generally to laundry treatment appliances, and more particularly to dispenser systems and assemblies for laundry treatment appliances.
Laundry treatment appliances such as combination washing machine and dryer appliances (washer/dryer) generally include a cabinet which receives a tub for containing wash and rinse water to perform a washing operation, or through which air is circulated to perform a drying operation. A wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the wash tub. A drive assembly may be coupled to the wash tub and configured to rotate the wash basket within the wash tub in order to cleanse articles within the wash basket. Upon completion of a wash cycle, a pump assembly can be used to rinse and drain soiled water to a draining system. In some cases, a drying operation may then be performed.
Prior to each wash cycle, cleaning agents such as detergent are added to the wash chamber. Some laundry treatment appliances include large tanks which may be prefilled with cleaning agents such that at the start of each wash cycle, a user need not manually add the cleaning agents. However, some wash operations may require additional cleaning agents (e.g., bleach, sanitizing agents, other additives, etc.) which must be manually added to the wash chamber. Thus, the convenience of the large, prefilled tank is negated by the necessity to manually add the additional cleaning agents.
Additionally or alternatively, in the case of a combination washing machine and dryer, a user must manually add drying additives such as fabric softener prior to commencing the drying operation. Accordingly, a seamless operation of washing and drying cannot be accomplished, causing inconvenience to the user. Accordingly, a laundry treatment appliance that obviates one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks would be desirable. Moreover, a combination washer/dryer laundry treatment appliance which allows for multiple additions of laundry agents would be particularly beneficial.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treatment appliance is provided. The laundry treatment appliance may define a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The laundry treatment appliance may be configured to perform a washing operation and a drying operation. The laundry treatment appliance may include a cabinet forming a receiving space therein; a tub provided within the receiving space; and a dispenser assembly provided within the receiving space, the dispenser assembly being in fluid communication with the tub. The dispenser assembly may include a dispenser body coupled to the cabinet and provided adjacent to the tub; a first drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction; a second drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction, the second drawer being provided beneath the first drawer along the vertical direction; and an outlet defined at a lower portion of the dispenser body, wherein contents from each of the first drawer and the second drawer exit the dispenser body via the outlet.
In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treatment appliance is provided. The laundry treatment appliance may define a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The laundry treatment appliance may include a cabinet forming a receiving space therein; a tub provided within the receiving space; and a dispenser assembly provided within the receiving space, the dispenser assembly being in fluid communication with the tub. The dispenser assembly may include a dispenser body coupled to the cabinet and provided adjacent to the tub, the dispenser body having a wedge shape along the transverse direction from a front face toward a rear face thereof; a first drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction into the front face; a first supply conduit selectively allowing fluid contained within the first drawer to flow into the dispenser body; a second drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction into the front face, the second drawer being provided beneath the first drawer along the vertical direction; and a second supply conduit selectively allowing fluid contained within the second drawer to flow into the dispenser body.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Cabinet 102 includes a front panel 104. A door 112 is mounted to front panel 104 and is rotatable between an open position (not shown) facilitating access to a wash drum or basket 120 (
A control panel 108 including a plurality of input selectors 110 is coupled to front panel 104. Control panel 108 and input selectors 110 collectively form a user interface input for operator selection of machine cycles and features. For example, in some embodiments, control panel 108 includes a display 111 (
As shown in
Basket 120 is rotatably mounted within tub 114 in a spaced apart relationship from tub sidewall 118 and tub back wall 116. One or more bearing assemblies may be placed between basket 120 and tub 114 and may allow for rotational movement of basket 120 relative to tub 114. Basket 120 defines a wash chamber 121 and an opening 122. Opening 122 of basket 120 permits access to wash chamber 121 of basket 120, e.g., in order to load articles into basket 120 and remove articles from basket 120. Basket 120 also defines a plurality of perforations 124 to facilitate fluid communication between an interior of basket 120 and tub 114. A sump 107 is defined by tub 114 and is configured for receipt of washing fluid during operation of appliance 100. For example, during operation of appliance 100 (e.g., the wash cycle), washing fluid may be urged by gravity from basket 120 to sump 107 through plurality of perforations 124.
A spout 130 is configured for directing a flow of fluid into tub 114. Spout 130 may be in fluid communication with a water supply (not shown) in order to direct fluid (e.g., clean water) into tub 114. A pump assembly 150 (shown schematically in
In addition, pump assembly 150 is configured for recirculating washing fluid within tub 114. Thus, pump assembly 150 is configured for urging fluid from sump 107, e.g., to spout 130. For example, pump assembly 150 may urge washing fluid in sump 107 to spout 130 via hose 176 during operation of appliance 100 in order to assist in cleaning articles disposed in basket 120. It should be understood that conduit 170, piping 174, and hose 176 may be constructed of any suitable mechanism for directing fluid, e.g., a pipe, duct, conduit, hose, or tube, and are not limited to any particular type of mechanism.
A motor 128 is in mechanical communication with basket 120 in order to selectively rotate basket 120, e.g., during an agitation or a rinse cycle of laundry treatment appliance 100 as described below. In particular, a shaft 136 mechanically couples motor 128 with basket 120 and drivingly rotates basket 120 about a shaft or central axis A, e.g., during a spin cycle. Ribs 126 extend from basket 120 into wash chamber 121. Ribs 126 assist agitation of articles disposed within wash chamber 121 during operation of laundry treatment appliance 100. For example, ribs 126 may lift articles disposed in basket 120 during rotation of basket 120.
Also shown in
As further shown in
Operation of laundry treatment appliance 100 may be controlled by a processing device or controller 180 that is operatively coupled to control panel 108 for user manipulation to select washing and/or drying cycles and features. In response to user manipulation of control panel 108, controller 180 may operate the various components of laundry treatment appliance 100 to execute selected machine cycles and features.
Controller 180 may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 180 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. Control panel 108 and other components of laundry treatment appliance 100 may be in communication with controller 180 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.
In an illustrative example of operation of laundry treatment appliance 100, laundry items are loaded into basket 120, and washing operation is initiated through operator manipulation of input selectors 110. Tub 114 is filled with water and one or more wash treatment additives from dispenser assembly 200 to form a wash fluid. One or more valves of a water inlet valve 195 can be actuated by controller 180 to provide for filling tub 114 to the appropriate level for the amount of articles being washed. Water inlet valve 195 is in fluid communication with a water source, such as e.g., a hot water heater and/or a municipal water line. Once tub 114 is properly filled with wash fluid, the contents of basket 120 are agitated with ribs 126 for cleansing of laundry items in basket 120.
After the agitation phase of the wash cycle is completed, tub 114 is drained. Laundry articles can then be rinsed by again adding wash fluid to tub 114 depending on the particulars of the cleaning cycle selected by a user, and ribs 126 may again provide agitation within wash chamber 121. One or more spin cycles may also be used. In particular, a spin cycle may be applied after the wash cycle and/or after the rinse cycle in order to wring wash fluid from the articles being washed. During a spin cycle, basket 120 is rotated at relatively high speeds.
Upon completion of the wash cycle, laundry treatment appliance 100 may perform a drying cycle. For instance, after the spin cycle is completed and excess wash fluid and/or water has been drained from the tub, laundry treatment appliance may begin the drying cycle (e.g., circulating air through tub 114 and/or wash chamber 121). The drying cycle may be performed automatically upon completion of the wash cycle, or may be initiated separately by the user upon the completion of the wash cycle. In at least one embodiment, the drying cycle commences automatically within a predetermined amount of time after the completion of the wash cycle (e.g., by utilizing additives provided in one of the two drawers of dispenser assembly 200, described below).
While described in the context of a specific embodiment of horizontal axis laundry treatment appliance 100, it will be understood that horizontal axis laundry treatment appliance 100 is provided by way of example only. Other laundry treatment appliances having different configurations, different appearances, and/or different features may also be utilized with the present subject matter as well, including, for example, vertical axis laundry treatment appliances. Thus, the teachings of the present disclosure are not limited to use with laundry treatment appliance 100.
Turning now to
Dispenser assembly 200 may include a dispenser body 202. Dispenser body 202 may be a housing or frame member configured to be installed within cabinet 102 of laundry treatment appliance 100. For instance, dispenser body 202 may be installed at or near top 103 of cabinet 102, adjacent to opening 122. Additionally or alternatively, dispenser assembly 200 may be provided at or near a side of cabinet 102 (e.g., first side 123, second side 125). Dispenser body 202 may be in fluid communication with wash tub 114. For instance, a tube or pipe (e.g., tub supply conduit 380, described in more detail below) may connect dispenser body 202 to wash tub 114. Water and/or one or more fluid additives may flow from dispenser body 202 through tub supply conduit 380 (
Dispenser body 202 may have a predominantly triangular cross-section (e.g., in the vertical direction V and transverse direction T). For instance, dispenser body 202 may define a front face 204 and a rear face 206 opposite the front face 204 along the transverse direction T. In some embodiments, the front face 204 is predominantly parallel with front panel 104 of laundry treatment appliance 100. Thus, dispenser body 202 may present a seamless appearance together with front panel 104. Front face 204 may be larger than rear face 206. For instance, a length 208 along the vertical direction V of front face 204 may be greater than a length 210 along the vertical direction V of rear face 206. Advantageously, dispenser body 202 may fit within cabinet 102 together with wash tub 114 and any additional air ducts (e.g., as may be required for a drying operation).
The elongated front face 204 of dispenser body 202 allows for a plurality of drawers to be inserted therein. For instance, dispenser assembly 200 may include a first drawer 250 (or first drawer assembly) and a second drawer 280 (or second drawer assembly). Each of first drawer 250 and second drawer 280 may be slidably received within dispenser body 202. For instance, each of first drawer 250 and second drawer 280 may be selectively withdrawn from front face 204 of dispenser body 202 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). Thus, each of first drawer 250 and second drawer 280 may be movable between a withdrawn or extended position (e.g., as shown in
In the withdrawn position, first drawer 250 and/or second drawer 280 may be at least partially withdrawn from dispenser body 202 so that a user may readily access one or more additive compartments of first drawer 250 or second drawer 280, e.g., to fill one of the compartments with an additive. In the retracted position, first drawer 250 and/or second drawer 280 is received within dispenser body 202, e.g., so that one or more of the additive compartments of first drawer 250 or second drawer 280 are in fluid communication with a water inlet valve (e.g., water inlet valve 195 described below) and wash tub 114 during operation of laundry treatment appliance 100.
First drawer 250 may include a first drawer body 252. First drawer body 252 may define a plurality of additive compartments. In particular, as shown best in
First drawer body 252 may have a first length 262. First length 262 of first drawer body 252 may be a predetermined percentage of a length 212 of dispenser body 202 along the transverse direction T. For instance, first length 262 may be between about 70% and about 90% of length 212 of dispenser body 202. Thus, first drawer body 252 may occupy a majority of length 212 of dispenser body 202 (e.g., in the retracted position).
As shown in
In some embodiments, for instance, first tank 300 is sized to hold about fifty fluid ounces (50 fl. oz.) of a fluid additive. However, it should be noted that first tank 300 may be sized to appropriately accommodate any suitable amount of fluid additive. The large capacity of first tank 300 may allow a user to run a multitude or plurality of wash cycles without need to refill the tank after each cycle. This may, for example, reduce a user's manual efforts of pouring, measuring, and filling the tank for a particular laundry load. For example, a user may execute wash cycles under normal conditions for two to four (2-4) months without need to refill first tank 300 with a new supply of fluid additive. As will be explained further herein, in some exemplary embodiments, the amount of fluid additive directed from first tank 300 to tub 114 may be controlled, e.g., based upon the cycle selected and by controlling water inlet valve 195.
Dispenser assembly 200 may include a first supply conduit 270 in fluid communication with first tank 300. First supply conduit 270 may selectively allow fluid contained within first tank 300 (or one of the additive compartments) to flow into dispenser body 202. For instance, in some embodiments, first supply conduit 270 may be a tube or pipe provided at or near a bottom of first drawer body 252. Thus, before or during a laundry operation, a predetermined amount of additive may be supplied to tub 114 (e.g., together with water). As will be described in more detail below, first supply conduit 170 may include a Venturi device (or Venturi nozzle) to aid in supplying precise amounts of additive to tub 114.
Dispenser assembly 200 may include the second drawer 280. Second drawer 280 may be provided adjacent to first drawer 250. For instance, second drawer 280 may be located beneath first drawer 250 along the vertical direction V. It should be noted that a location of second drawer 280 with respect to first drawer 150 may be altered according to specific embodiments. As discussed above, second drawer may be slidably inserted to dispenser body 202 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). Further, as will be explained in more detail below, one or both of first drawer 250 and second drawer 280 may be used during the wash cycle, the drying cycle, or both the wash and the drying cycle, according to specific embodiments.
Second drawer 280 may include a second drawer body 282. Second drawer body 282 may have a second length 264 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). Second length 264 may be shorter than first length 262. Accordingly, second drawer body 282 may be smaller than first drawer body 252. As discussed above, dispenser body 202 may have a predominantly triangular cross section in the plane defined along the vertical direction V and transverse direction T. In detail, as best shown in
Second drawer body 282 may include a second tank 302 configured to receive a fluid additive. In detail, second tank 302 may be nested within second drawer body 282. Second tank 302 may be smaller than first tank 300. For instance, second tank 302 may have a second volume less than the first volume of first tank 300. Similar to first tank 300, access to second tank 302 may be provided by an access member (or door), which may be rotatably hinged to a top wall of second tank 302 (or a top of second drawer body 282) as shown in
In some embodiments, for instance, second tank 302 is sized to hold about 32 fluid ounces (32 fl. oz.) of an additive (e.g., a fluid additive). However, it should be noted that second tank 302 may be sized to appropriately accommodate any suitable amount of additive. The capacity of second tank 300 may allow a user to run a multitude or plurality of laundry (e.g., wash or dry) cycles without need to refill the tank after each cycle. This may, for example, reduce a user's manual efforts of pouring, measuring, and filling the tank for a particular laundry load. As will be explained further herein, in some exemplary embodiments, the amount of fluid additive directed from second tank 302 to tub 114 may be controlled, e.g., based upon the cycle selected and by controlling water inlet valve 195.
According to some embodiments, laundry treatment apparatus 100 may perform each of a washing operation and a drying operation (e.g., as a combination laundry treatment appliance). Thus, second tank 302 may be configured to store certain additives that are dispensed during a drying operation (e.g., fabric softener, scent additives, etc.). Advantageously, a user may need only input one command to perform both a washing operation and a drying operation without requiring interaction between each operation. In detail, controller 180 may be configured to operate a pump (described below) to supply one or more additives (e.g., together with water) from first drawer 250 to tub 114 during a washing operation. Additionally or alternatively, controller 180 may be configured to operate the pump to supply an additive from second drawer 280 before or during a drying operation. Thus, a seamless dual wash/dry operation may be carried out without the need for a user interaction between operations. Further, operation of the pump or pumps may be controlled (e.g., by controller 180) according to a predetermined schedule. For instance, controller 180 may operate a first pump associated with first drawer 250 at a first predetermined time (e.g., during the washing operation). Subsequently, controller 180 may operate a second pump associated with second drawer 280 at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time (e.g., during the drying operation). The predetermined schedule may be input by the user, or may be preprogrammed into controller 180. In detail, an operation of the second pump may be delayed with respect to an operation of the first pump. Thus, additives provided in second drawer 280 may be released separately from additives provided in first drawer 250 (e.g., on a delayed schedule).
Dispenser assembly 200 may include a second supply conduit 272 in fluid communication with second tank 302. Second supply conduit 272 may selectively allow fluid contained within second tank 302 to flow into dispenser body 202. For instance, in some embodiments, second supply conduit 272 may be a tube or pipe provided at or near a bottom of second drawer body 282. Thus, before or during a laundry operation, a predetermined amount of additive may be supplied to tub 114 (e.g., together with water, in some embodiments). As will be described in more detail below, second supply conduit 172 may include a Venturi device (or Venturi nozzle) to aid in supplying precise amounts of additive to tub 114.
The additive supplied from either first drawer 250 or second drawer 280 may be introduced to tub 114 via outlet 220. Advantageously, only a single connection between dispenser assembly 200 and tub 114 is required, increasing functionality, reducing assembly time, and reducing potential failure points resulting in less maintenance. As described above, outlet 220 may be provided at or near a bottom of dispenser body 202. Further, outlet 220 may be provided at front face 204 of dispenser body 202. Since, as described above, dispenser body 202 has a triangular cross-section, the bottom of front face 204 may be a low point within dispenser body 202. Accordingly, the contents of each of first drawer 250 and second drawer 280 may easily and naturally flow into tub 114 via outlet 220.
According to at least one alternate embodiment, a pump for selectively directing or delivering fluid additive FA from first tank 300 to the tub 114 will be described with reference to
Aspirator 360 produces a vacuum by means of the Venturi effect to draw fluid additive from first tank 300. In particular, as shown best in
Laundry treatment appliance 100 disclosed herein provides a number of advantages. For instance, the large capacity of first tank 300 allows users to run a multitude of wash cycles without need to refill first tank 300 after each cycle. Further, as first tank 300 is positioned at or adjacent a top portion of cabinet 102, space below the tub 114 may be utilized for other uses, such as e.g., machinery to drive basket 120 or drain tub 114. In addition, the second tank 302 and second drawer 280 may provide additional bulk storage of additives, which may be used in a washing operation or a drying operation. As will be appreciated, the exemplary embodiments of laundry treatment appliance 100 described herein may have other advantages and benefits.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
