Patent Application
20200397219
Dishwashers are used in many single-family and multi-family residential applications to clean dishes, silverware, cutlery, cups, glasses, pots, pans, etc. (collectively referred to herein as “utensils”). Most conventional dishwashers rely on a single-use detergent dispenser, often located on the interior of the door of the dishwasher. Such conventional dispensers include an opening allowing for a volume of liquid, powder, or dissolvable pod or capsule detergent to be loaded for a single wash. During a wash cycle such a dispenser is opened allowing the entirety of the contents of be expelled; as such, a user is required to reload the dispenser before each wash cycle is started. In certain instances, it may be desirable to minimize the number of times a user is required to fill the detergent dispenser. A need therefore exists in the art for a multi-use dispenser.
The herein-described embodiments address these and other problems associated with the art by providing a dishwasher using a multiple use detergent dispenser. In some embodiments of the invention, for example, a dishwasher may include a wash tub and a detergent dispenser. In various embodiments, the detergent dispenser may be positioned in the wash tub to dispense detergent into the wash tub. In addition, in some embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a stationary circular blister pack having a plurality of detergents arranged about a rotational axis. In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a backing plate adjacent one side of the circular blister pack and having one or more outlets in fluid communication with the wash tub. In various embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include one or more rotating members adjacent the other side of the circular blister pack. In some embodiments, the one or more rotating members rotate about the rotational axis. Moreover, in various embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include one or more drive mechanisms rotating the one or more rotating members about the rotational axis between a plurality of rotational positions, and wherein one or more of the plurality of rotational positions may orientate the one or more rotating members proximate the plurality of detergents and the one or more outlets to dispense detergent into the wash tub.
In some embodiments, the one or more rotating members may include one or more rollers rotated to the plurality of rotational positions to dispense detergent into the wash tub through the one or more outlets. In various embodiments, the one or more rotating members may include one or more actuators rotated to the plurality of rotational positions to dispense detergent into the wash tub through the one or more outlets. Moreover, in some embodiments, the one or more actuators may extend the one or more rotating members between a first radial length and a second radial length, wherein the first radial length is larger than the second radial length. In various embodiments, the one or more actuators may extend at least a portion of the one or more rotating members in a direction parallel to the rotational axis towards the circular blister pack between a first length and a second length, wherein the second length may be larger than the first length. In some embodiments, the one or more rotating members may include a first rotating member and a second rotating member, wherein the first rotating member may be longer than the second rotating member, wherein the first rotating member may engage the plurality of detergents at a first radial distance from the rotational axis and the second rotating member may engage the plurality of detergents at a second radial distance, and wherein the first radial distance may be larger than the second radial distance. In various embodiments, the one or more rotating members may include a first rotating member and a second rotating member, and the first rotating member may rotate independently from the second rotating member. In some embodiments, the backing plate may rotate about the rotational axis. In addition, in some embodiments, the backing plate may include a blade proximate the one or more outlets.
In addition, in some embodiments, a dishwasher may include a wash tub and a detergent dispenser positioned in the wash tub to dispense detergent into the wash tub. In various embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a motor with a rotating shaft defining a rotational axis. In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a stationary circular blister pack having a plurality of detergents arranged about the rotational axis. In various embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a backing plate adjacent one side of the circular blister pack and may have one or more outlets in fluid communication with the wash tub. In addition, in some embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include one or more rotating members adjacent the other side of the circular blister pack, each one of the one or more rotating members may have a first end engaging the shaft of the motor and a second end projecting radially outward therefrom, wherein the one or more rotating members rotate with the shaft about the rotational axis. In various embodiments, the shaft of the motor may rotate the second end of the one or more rotating members between a plurality of rotational positions, and wherein one or more of the plurality of rotational positions may orientate the one or more rotating members proximate the plurality of detergents and the one or more outlets to dispense detergent into the wash tub.
In some embodiments, the one or more rotating members may include a first rotating member with a roller proximate the second end. In various embodiments, the first rotating member may include an actuator, wherein the actuator extends the first rotating member between a first radial length and a second radial length, wherein the first radial length is larger than the second radial length. Moreover, in some embodiments, the one or more rotating members may include a second rotating member with a roller proximate the second end. In various embodiments, the second rotating member may include a radial length shorter than the first rotating member. In some embodiments, each of the first rotating member and the second rotating member may include a one-way bearing engaging the shaft, wherein the first rotating member rotates only in a first rotational direction and the second rotating member rotates only in a second rotational direction different from the first rotational direction. In various embodiments, the backing plate may engage the shaft and may rotate between a plurality of rotational positions positioning the one or more outlets proximate the one or more rotating members. In addition, in some embodiments, the one or more rotating members may include a first rotating member having one or more actuators proximate the second end, wherein the one or more actuators may extend at least a portion of the first rotating member in a direction parallel to the rotational axis towards the circular blister pack between a first length and a second length, wherein the second length is larger than the first length and when in the first length the first rotating member is disengaged from the plurality of detergents and when in the second length the first rotating member engages the plurality of detergents. In various embodiments, the one or more actuators may include a first actuator and a second actuator, wherein the first actuator may be positioned at a first radial distance from the rotational axis and the second actuator may be positioned at a second radial distance from the rotational axis less than the first radial distance. In some embodiments, the backing plate may rotate with the shaft of the motor about the rotational axis.
In some embodiments, a detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a household appliance. In various embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a motor with a rotating shaft defining a rotational axis. In addition, in some embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a stationary circular blister pack having a plurality of detergents arranged about the rotational axis. In various embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include a backing plate adjacent one side of the circular blister pack and may have one or more outlets in fluid communication with a wash tub. Moreover, in some embodiments, the detergent dispenser may include one or more elongated rotating members adjacent the other side of the circular blister pack, each one of the one or more elongated rotating members may have a first end engaging the shaft of the motor and a second end projecting radially outward therefrom wherein the one or more elongated rotating members rotate with the shaft about the rotational axis. In various embodiments, the shaft of the motor may rotate the second end of the one or more elongated rotating members between a plurality of rotational positions, and wherein one or more of the plurality of rotational positions may orientate the one or more elongated rotating members proximate the plurality of detergents and the one or more outlets to dispense detergent into a wash tub.
In other aspects, the backing plate may rotate with the shaft of the motor about the rotational axis. In some embodiments, the one or more elongated rotating members may include one or more actuators to vary a radial length, vary an axial length parallel to the rotational axis, or both to dispense one or more of the plurality of detergents.
These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the figures, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments of the invention. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views,
In addition, consistent with some embodiments of the invention, dishwasher 10 may include a detergent dispenser 30 with multiple dishwashing cycles' worth of detergent 2 within the dispenser 30, so that it is not necessary for a user to add additional detergent before each dishwashing cycle. Such a detergent dispenser 30 may be positioned, as illustrated in
The embodiments discussed hereinafter will focus on the implementation of the hereinafter-described techniques within a hinged-door dishwasher. However, it will be appreciated that the herein-described techniques may also be used in connection with other types of dishwashers in some embodiments. For example, the herein-described techniques may be used in commercial applications in some embodiments. Moreover, at least some of the herein-described techniques may be used in connection with other dishwasher configurations, including dishwashers utilizing sliding drawers or dish sink dishwashers, e.g., a dishwasher integrated into a sink.
Numerous variations and modifications to the dishwasher 10 illustrated in
Now turning to the Figures, which illustrate an example detergent dispenser 30 in which the various technologies and techniques described herein may be implemented. In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser 30 may include one or more rotating members 20, 120, 220 to dispense one or more detergents 2 into the wash tub 16. The rotating members 20, 120, 220 rotate about at least one rotational axis R to one or more rotational positions to orientate the one or more rotating members 20 proximate the detergent 2/compartment 3 or outlet 42 to expel the detergent from a blister pack 1. The rotating members 20 may follow one or more paths to a variety of rotational positions and/or radial positions about the rotational axis R, and engage detergents other than in an arcuate or circumferential pattern within the blister pack 1 as shown in the embodiments. At least one rotating member 20 may engage a plurality of detergents 2 along a radial distance from the rotational axis or engage a plurality of detergents along a plurality of radial distances from the rotational axis.
In some implementations, the rotating or moveable members 20 or portions thereof may engage/disengage from the blister 3 and/or expel detergent 2 from the blister pack 1 via rotational movement (e.g. clockwise and/or counterclockwise), axial movement (e.g. parallel movement to the rotational axis away from or towards the blister pack), linear/radial movement away from or towards the rotational axis, or a combination thereof in one or more sequences or washing cycles. For example, as shown in the embodiments in
In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser 30 may include one or more blister packs 1. In various embodiments, the one or more detergents 2 may be positioned by one or more blister packs 1. Each blister pack 1 may be configured to hold one or more detergents 2; this includes detergent of all varieties, including, but not limited to, liquid detergent, rinse aids, powder detergent, and/or dissolvable pod or capsule detergent. As illustrated in Figures, the detergent may be a dissolvable dishwashing pod/capsule/tablet within a blister or compartment 3 of the detergent blister pack 1. One or more detergents 2 may be dispensed for a variety of wash cycles. Each blister pack 1 may include a plurality of unit doses. In the one blister pack 1 shown, the blister pack is a circular or wheel-like plate. The plurality of detergents 2 may be arranged about a rotational axis R. In some implementations of the blister pack, blisters and/or compartments 3 formed with the plastic material may be positioned along one or more circumferences or arcuate paths thereof may receive the tablets of detergent 2. For example, the compartments 3 or detergents 2 at the larger radius/circumference R1 may be the tablet detergent and the compartments 3 at the smaller radius/circumference R2, if used, may be the rinse-aid tablets. The compartments 3 filled with tablets/detergents 2 may be covered by a foil or material. For ejection of the detergents 2 for the compartments during operation, weakening lines or the like may be provided for around or within each single compartment 3. Moreover, a blade 60, if used, may be used in various embodiments to aid in the tearing/ejection of the blister or package. For example, as shown in the embodiments in
In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser 30 may include one or more backing plates 40, 140. The backing plate, if used, may support the blister pack 1 or compartments 3 of the blister pack 1 (e.g. when the detergent/blister is engaged/disengaged by the rotating members 20, 120, 220) under compression. The backing plate 40, 140 may be positioned on or adjacent to at least one side of the blister pack 1. The other side of the backing plate 40, 140 may include the rotating members 20, 120, 220. The backing plate 40, 140 may include one or more outlets 42 in communication with or upstream from the wash tub 16. The outlets 42 of the backing plate are proximate the detergent/compartment 2, 3 and/or the plurality of rotational positions or the rotating members. One embodiment of the outlet 42 in
Shown in one embodiment in
In some implementations, the detergent dispenser 30 may include one or more rotating members or arms 20, 120, 220 and/or backing plates 140 rotating about at least one rotational axis R between a plurality of rotational positions to dispense detergent 2 towards the wash tub 16. The rotational positions of the backing plate and/or rotating members, proximate the one or more detergents 2 and/or outlets 42 to dispense the detergents from the blister pack, may be a variety of rotational positions or degrees θ between positions. Moreover, the rotational positions may be between or spaced from detergents and therefore do not have to be proximate the detergents 2 or blisters 3 in each rotational position. The one or more rotating members and/or backing plate may rotate in the same or different rotational directions/positions and/or degrees of rotation. The spacing or degrees between rotational positons of one or more rotational members and/or backing plates may be the same, but may be different in some embodiments. For example, as shown in
As illustrated in the Figures, the detergent dispenser 30 may include one or more drive mechanisms 70. The one or more drive mechanisms 70 may rotate the rotating members 20, 120, 220 and/or backing plate 140, or other portions of the detergent dispenser. One embodiment of the drive mechanism may be a motor 72 (e.g. a DC motor) with a shaft 73 that may rotate at least one of the one or more rotating members and/or backing plate in multiple rotational positions and/or directions, so that at any point during the rotation at least one of the outlet, roller, actuator, and/or portion of the rotating arm may be positioned near one of the detergents.
The motor 72 may include the shaft 73 extended along the rotational axis R. The shaft 73 may rotate in one or more rotational directions. The rotating shaft 73 may define the rotational axis R. The shaft 73 may engage one or more portions of the detergent dispenser 30 (e.g. one or more rotating arms, backing plate, actuators, rollers, etc.). As shown in the Figures, the motor 72 may rotate the one or more rotating members 20, 120, 220 between multiple rotational positions and/or directions. Moreover, in some embodiments, the one or more rotating members 20 or detergent dispenser 30 may include one or more one-way bearings 21a, 21b. The one way bearing, if used, allows the motor 72/shaft 73 to turn one or more portions of the detergent dispenser in single rotational direction, but not the other rotational direction when the shaft 73 reverses or changes rotational direction. For example, as shown in
In other embodiments not shown, the drive mechanism 70 may be a user-pretensioned spring (e.g. a clock spring) that may allow energy to be provided by a user and then be stored and used in order to change the rotational positions of one or more portions of the detergent dispenser. In such an embodiment, a user may “wind up” the pretensioned spring. A solenoid may then push a pawl in order to release a ratcheted segment to eject at least one detergent and/or rotate one or more portions of the detergent dispenser (e.g. rotating members and/or backing plate.
In some implementations, the detergent dispenser 30 may include one or more actuators 50 to variably control at least a portion of the ejection mechanism (e.g. one or more rotating members, backing plate, etc.). The rotating member 20, 120, 220 may include one or more of the actuators 50 for one or more applications. One example of the actuator 50 may be a solenoid (e.g. electric, linear, etc.). The one or more actuators 50 may control the variable length (e.g. radial and/or axial) of one or more rotating members 120, 220 to expel the detergent 2. In some embodiments not shown, for example, one dispenser 30 may have the length of one rotating member be fixed in length and/or another rotating member may have a variable length/position or actuator. In some embodiments, as shown in
The rotating members may be a variety of constructions, quantities, shapes, and sizes and still rotate or eject the detergent from the blister pack. As shown in the figures, one embodiment of the rotating members 20, 120, 220 may be elongated with opposing ends. One or a first end 22, 122, 222 may be adjacent to and may engage the shaft 73 and the other or second end 23, 123, 223 may extend or project radially outward from the shaft 73 or rotational axis R. When the shaft 73 rotates, the second end 23, 123, 223 may rotate about the shaft or first end 22, 122, 222 of the member between the plurality of rotational positions or directions. The second end or portions 23, 123, 223 of the rotating member may include the one or more rollers 24 and/or one or more actuators 50, if used. The actuators 50 at the second end 223 of the rotating members may be spaced (e.g. radially) from each other along the rotating member or plate to engage and expel detergents 2 at multiple radial distances from the rotational axis R. The actuators 50 at the second end 223 may vary the axial length at the same or different times at their respective radial distances from the rotational axis. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some implementations, a housing 32 (e.g. compartment and/or lid) within the wash tub 16 may (removably or fixedly) receive the detergent dispenser 30. In some embodiments, the housing 32 may be a separate component of the detergent dispenser 30 separable from the dishwasher 10; while in other embodiments, the housing 32 may be incorporated (e.g. by molding or the like) directly into the door 12 of the dishwasher 10. The housing (e.g. a lid or cover dispose over the backing plate or dispenser) may additionally include a dispensing outlet or ejection window configured to guide or direct the detergent contained in each detergent blister pack to the proper location within the wash tub when dispensed from the backing plate.
In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser or portions thereof may be removable from the housing 32 or dishwasher door 12 so that a user may load another detergent blister pack 1 or clean the detergent dispenser. The backing plate 40, 140 and/or a cover (not shown) of the housing 32 with ejection window disposed over the backing plate or dispenser may be opened and a new or unused detergent blister pack may be installed and cover and/or backing plate subsequently closed with the dishwasher door.
In the one embodiment shown in
In the one embodiment shown in
In the one embodiment shown in
In some implementations, dishwasher 10 may be under the control of a controller that receives inputs from a number of components and drives a number of components in response thereto. Controller may for example, include one or more processors and a memory (not shown) within which may be stored program code for execution by the one or more processors. The memory may be embedded in controller, but may also be considered to include volatile and/or non-volatile memories, cache memories, flash memories, programmable read-only memories, read-only memories, etc., as well as memory storage physically located elsewhere from controller, e.g., in a mass storage device or on a remote computer interfaced with controller.
The controller may be interfaced with various components of the dishwasher 10, including an inlet valve that is coupled to a water source to introduce water into wash tub, which when combined with detergent, rinse agent and/or other additives, forms various wash fluids. Controller may also be coupled to a heater that heats fluids, a pump that recirculates wash fluid within the wash tub by pumping fluid to the wash arms and other spray devices in the dishwasher, an air supply that may provide a source of pressurized air for use in drying utensils in the dishwasher, a drain valve that is coupled to a drain to direct fluids out of the dishwasher, and a diverter that controls the routing of pumped fluid to different spray arms and/or other sprayers during a wash cycle.
The controller may also be coupled to the detergent dispenser 30 to trigger the dispensing of detergent into the wash tub at appropriate points during a wash cycle. More particularly, the controller may be coupled to the drive mechanism 70 (e.g. motor) of the detergent dispenser 30, which may include one or more micro switches or a stepper motor in order to control and/or determine the rotational positioning or direction of the various rotating members 20, 120, 220, actuators 50, and/or backing plate 40, 140 (discussed in greater detail herein). The actuators 50 may also be coupled to the controller to dispense and/or engage/disengage the rotating members or portions thereof (e.g. radially and/or axially, etc.). Additional sensors and actuators may also be used in some embodiments, including a temperature sensor to determine a wash fluid temperature, a door switch to determine when door 12 is latched, and a door lock to prevent the door from being opened during a wash cycle. If used, a break beam sensor or other suitable sensors may be used to detect tablet ejection from the detergent dispenser 30, backing plate, etc. The tablet or detergent 2 dispensed from the detergent blister pack may break the beam upon ejection. Moreover, controller may be coupled to a user interface including various input/output devices such as knobs, dials, sliders, switches, buttons, lights, textual and/or graphics displays, touch screen displays, speakers, image capture devices, microphones, etc. for receiving input from and communicating with a user. In some embodiments, controller may also be coupled to one or more network interfaces, e.g., for interfacing with external devices via wired and/or wireless networks such as Ethernet, Bluetooth, NFC, cellular and other suitable networks.
Moreover, in some embodiments, at least a portion of controller may be implemented externally from a dishwasher, e.g., within a mobile device, a cloud computing environment, etc., such that at least a portion of the functionality described herein is implemented within the portion of the controller that is externally implemented. In some embodiments, controller may operate under the control of an operating system and may execute or otherwise rely upon various computer software applications, components, programs, objects, modules, data structures, etc. In addition, controller may also incorporate hardware logic to implement some or all of the functionality disclosed herein. Further, in some embodiments, the sequences of operations performed by controller to implement the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented using program code including one or more instructions that are resident at various times in various memory and storage devices, and that, when read and executed by one or more hardware-based processors, perform the operations embodying desired functionality. Moreover, in some embodiments, such program code may be distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of computer readable media used to actually carry out the distribution, including, for example, non-transitory computer readable storage media. In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations described herein may be combined, split, reordered, reversed, varied, omitted, parallelized and/or supplemented with other techniques known in the art, and therefore, the invention is not limited to the particular sequences of operations described herein.
Although described herein with respect to a dishwasher, this is not intended to be limiting. The technology and techniques disclosed herein may be utilized in any household appliance that requires dispensing of a detergent, such as, for example a washing machine.
Various additional modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments consistent with the invention. Therefore, the invention lies in the claims hereinafter appended.
