This invention relates generally to dishwashers, and more particularly, to detergent dispensers for dishwashers.
At least some known dishwashers include a cabinet, a tub within the cabinet that defines an open sided wash chamber, and a door assembly that seals the open side of the wash chamber when the dishwasher is in use. Soiled dishes, glasses, utensils, food and beverage containers, etc. are loaded into the dishwasher tub through the open side of the wash chamber when the door is open, and after the door is closed, a dishwasher cycle may be executed to clean the items placed therein. The wash chamber includes a sump portion where washing fluid is pumped from a fluid circulation assembly through spray arm conduits to wash items loaded onto dishwasher racks in the wash chamber, and also where wash fluid is collected after being circulated throughout the wash chamber. The door assembly is attached to the dishwasher at a bottom end of the door and pivots about a hinge between fully open and fully closed positions.
Some known dishwashers include a detergent dispenser attached to an inner portion of the door assembly. The detergent dispenser includes a trough and a hinged lid or cover that closes the trough and prevents solid or powdered detergent therein from contacting moisture until a designated time in a wash cycle. At a point in time, the cover is opened and the detergent in the reservoir is released. To facilitate removal of all of the detergent from the dispenser, or to more quickly release detergent from the dispenser, a water spray jet may be directed into the trough to clear detergent from the dispenser trough.
However, the detergent dispenser is refilled between each dishwasher use by an operator, thereby adding additional steps and time. In addition, consistently and accurately filling the dispenser trough according to the selected wash cycle can be challenging. If too little detergent is added, wash cycle efficiency and effectiveness is decreased. If too much detergent is added, the additional detergent may be wasted or increase the risk of etching or spots.
In one aspect, a system for dispensing a liquid is provided, the system includes a reservoir comprising a plurality of apertures disposed therein, and at least one dispenser in flow communication with the reservoir, the dispenser comprising a first and a second tube operatively coupled to said reservoir.
In another aspect, a system for dispensing a liquid detergent for a dishwasher door assembly is provided, wherein the system includes a reservoir coupled to the door assembly and comprising a housing including a first inlet aperture, a second inlet aperture, and an outlet aperture operatively disposed therein, a plurality of tubes in flow communication with the reservoir, and a dispenser comprising a plurality of check valves and a body, wherein the check valves are configured to direct the liquid detergent in one direction, and wherein the body includes a trough and a cover pivotably coupled to the body configured to dispense the liquid detergent.
In another aspect, a dishwasher is provided that includes a cabinet that includes a tub having a front opening and a door assembly forming a wash chamber, at least one system for dispensing a liquid in flow communication with said wash chamber. The system includes a reservoir coupled to the door assembly and comprising a housing including an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture operatively disposed therein, the inlet is configured to receive the liquid in the reservoir, the outlet aperture is configured to facilitate passage of the liquid from the reservoir, and a plurality of tubes in flow communication with said reservoir. The system also includes a dispenser in flow communication with said reservoir and said plurality of tubes that includes a check valve and a body, wherein the check valve configured to receive the liquid from the tube in a first direction only, and wherein the body includes a trough and a cover pivotably coupled to the body configured to dispense the liquid into the dishwasher.
Dishwasher 100 includes a cabinet 102 having a tub 104 therein and forming a wash chamber 106. Tub 104 includes a front opening (not shown in
A control panel (not shown in
A lower spray-arm-assembly 144 is rotatably mounted within a lower region 146 of wash chamber 106 and above tub sump portion 142 so as to rotate in relatively close proximity to lower rack 132. A mid-level spray-arm assembly 148 is located in an upper region of wash chamber 106 and is located in close proximity to upper rack 130 and at a sufficient height above lower rack 132 to accommodate a larger item, such as a dish or platter (not shown), that can be placed in lower rack 132 and washed in dishwasher system 100. In another embodiment, an upper spray arm assembly (not shown) is located above upper rack 130 at a sufficient height to accommodate a taller item that can be placed in upper rack 130, such as a glass (not shown) of a selected height.
Lower and mid-level spray-arm assemblies 144, 148 and the upper spray arm assembly are fed by the fluid circulation assembly, and each spray-arm assembly includes an arrangement of discharge ports or orifices 145, 149, respectively, for directing washing liquid onto dishes located in upper and lower racks 130, 132, respectively. The arrangement of the discharge ports 145 in at least lower spray-arm assembly 144 provides a rotational force by virtue of washing fluid flowing through the discharge ports 145. The resultant rotation of lower spray-arm assembly 144 provides coverage of dishes and other dishwasher contents with a washing spray. In various alternative embodiments, mid-level spray arm 148 and/or the upper spray arm are also rotatably mounted and configured to generate a swirling spray pattern above and below upper rack 130 when the fluid circulation assembly is activated and door assembly 120 is properly closed to seal wash chamber 106 for operation.
Inner door panel 162, in an exemplary embodiment, includes an opening 164 therethrough for a vent assembly (not shown) and an opening 166 therethrough for receiving a liquid delivery system 168. Delivery system 168 includes a reservoir 170 and a dispenser 172 in flow communication with reservoir 170. Inner door panel 162 is contoured in a bottom region 174 for accommodating lower rack 132 (shown in
In general, reservoir 170, as explained further below, is filled with known dishwasher detergent (not shown in
It is noted that exemplary inner door panel 162 and outer door panel 160 are intended for illustrative purposes only, and that that the herein described dispensers may be used with differently configured inner and/or outer door panels than illustrated. It is further contemplated that reservoir 170, and supporting mechanisms (such as a pump, etc.), as explained further below, may be located elsewhere relative to wash chamber 106 (shown in
Reservoir 170 is sized to fit inside housing 180. Reservoir 170 is, in one embodiment, integral with housing 180 and formed from a clear high-impact plastic or other clear suitable material. In another embodiment, reservoir 170 is sealed and pre-filled and removable cartridge that may be secured by a user, such as for example with a snap-fit engagement or other known locking or latching arrangement.
Reservoir 170 includes an inlet aperture 186 and an inlet cap 188. When door assembly 120 (shown in
A generally flat outer surface 200 surrounds reservoir 170 and includes a first side wall 202 extending from and substantially perpendicular to outer surface 200, a second side wall 204 extending from and substantially perpendicular to outer surface 200 opposite first side wall 202, and an angled bottom wall 206 extending from and substantially perpendicular to outer surface 200. Bottom wall 206 extends between respective ends of side walls 202, 204 and is angled downward from side wall 202 towards side wall 204. Reservoir 170 also includes a top wall 208 extending from and substantially perpendicular to outer surface 200 and an angled rear wall 210 extending between respective ends of bottom wall 206 and top wall 208 and is angled downwards from top wall 208 towards bottom wall 206. Reservoir 170 is sized and dimensioned to contain an adequate amount of liquid 190 for multiple wash cycles, and, when vertically oriented (as illustrated in
Reservoir 170 is in flow communication with a first hollow tube 212 operatively attached to outlet aperture 214. Tube 212 extends from a lower portion 216 of housing 180 and directs liquid 190 from reservoir bottom wall 206 and reservoir rear wall 210 to a first check valve 218. Tube 212 has a length 220 and a diameter 222, wherein tube diameter 222 is equal to an outlet aperture diameter 224. Length 220, diameter 222, and diameter 224 are all variably sized relative to door assembly 120. In one embodiment, tube 212 is sized to receive a metered amount of liquid 190. Tube 212 may be formed from soft plastic or rubber such as silicone rubber or surgical-type rubber tubing. However, any suitable elastic or rubber material may be used.
Check valve 218 is in flow communication with metered dispenser 172. Check valve 218 is configured to allow liquid 190 flow in a first direction 226 only and prevents back flow into reservoir 196 when dispenser 172 is opened.
Dispenser 172 includes a body 230 defining a trough 232, and a cover 234 attached to body 230 to close trough 232 until a designated time in a dishwasher wash cycle. Cover 234 is selectively positionable between an open position 236 wherein liquid dishwasher detergent may be released from trough 232 while in the open position, and a closed position (shown in
Liquid 190 is added to reservoir 172 and flows gravitationally through tube 212 and valve 218 into trough 232. As such, it is not necessary to manually add liquid 190 directly in to dispenser 172 between wash cycles. As wash cycle dictates, cover 234 may be opened from the closed position to the open position to release liquid 190 from trough 232 with known mechanisms, including but not limited to cam operated mechanisms (not shown) familiar to those in the art and adapted to open the dispenser at a pre-selected time in a wash cycle.
In one embodiment, dispenser body 230 is fabricated from a known plastic material according to known techniques and includes a generally flat outer surface 240 surrounding trough 232. In one embodiment, trough 232 includes a first side wall 242 extending from and substantially perpendicular to outer surface 240, an inclined or angled side wall 244 extending from outer surface 240 opposite first side wall 242, and a flat rear wall 246 extending between respective ends of side walls 242, 244 and substantially parallel to outer surface 240. Trough 232 is sized and dimensioned to contain an adequate amount of liquid 190 for more than one wash cycle, and, when vertically oriented (as illustrated in
Cover 234, in one embodiment, is also fabricated from a known plastic material according to known techniques and includes opposite rounded ends 250, 252, a generally planar outer surface 254. Cover 234 is pivotally attached at one end via a hinge 256 coupled to dispenser body 230 such that cover 234 pivots wash cycle setting. In one embodiment, pump 300 is spring-loaded pump, and reservoir 170 is a pre-filled removable reservoir filled with liquid 190. In another embodiment, pump 300 is in flow communication with dispenser 172.
Piston pump 400 includes a housing 402 that includes a cavity 404 and a piston 406 disposed therein. It is appreciated that housing 402, cavity 404, and piston 406 are variably sized depending on the dishwasher capacity. Housing 402 is pivotably coupled to a door member 408 of dishwasher door 120 by a first hinge 410. Piston 406 is pivotably coupled to door member 121 by a second hinge 412. Pump 400 is actuated by opening and closing door 120.
In operation, cap 188 is removed and reservoir 170 is filled through inlet aperture 186 with liquid 190 while door 120 is ajar, and substantially vertically upright. As reservoir 170 is filled, gravity feeds liquid 190 into tube 212 until reservoir 170 is full. Cap 188 is replaced after reservoir 170 is full, and door 120 may then be opened substantially horizontally such that items to be washed may be disposed in the wash chamber 106 (shown in
In the event door 120 is opened and closed several times prior to initiating the wash cycle, liquid 190 may continue to pump in to dispenser 172. about hinge 256 between an open position (shown in
Dispenser 172 is in flow communication with a second check valve 260. Check valve 260 is in flow communication with a second hollow tube 262. Tube 262 extends to an upper portion 264 of housing 180 and is in flow communication with reservoir 170 via an overflow aperture 266. Check valve 260 is configured to allow dispenser 172 to be filled with liquid 190. Additionally, liquid 190 can not flow out of reservoir 170 via tube 262 to dispenser 172. A third check valve 270 is coupled to upper portion 264 of housing 180. Check valve 270 is configured to vent air during refilling of reservoir 170.
In
In
Cartridges 604 are in fluid communication with pump mechanism 602 via a plurality of hollow tubes 606 and connectors 608 such that cartridges 604 may be attached and detached. In one embodiment, connectors 608 include a shut off valve (not shown) such that cartridges 604 may be removed with out spillage of residual liquid in tubes 606. In another embodiment, tubes 606 extend inside cartridges 604 to a bottom portion of cartridge 604.
Pump 602 is a known electromechanical liquid pump, including but not limited to cam-operated mechanisms (not shown), piston-operated mechanisms (not shown), and compressed air mechanisms (not shown). Pump 602 is in electrical communication 609 with dishwasher main control (not shown) such that pump 602 is regulated based on a user selected wash cycle. In an alternative embodiment, pump 602 is manually controlled by a pump control panel 610.
Pump 602 is in fluid communication with dispenser 172 via a hollow tube 612 and check valve 218. Tube 612 is disposed through an aperture 614 in dishwasher cabinet 102 and fitted with a grommet 616. Tube 612 has a length 618 and a diameter 620, wherein tube diameter 620 is sized to fit cavity aperture 614. Length 618, diameter 620, and aperture 614 are all variably sized relative to dishwasher 100 as well as a distance 622 between dishwasher 100 and dispensing system 600.
In one embodiment, dispensing system 600 is mounted inside and underneath an adjacent kitchen cabinet (not shown), although it is appreciated that other relative orientations of dispensing system 600 may be employed in alternative embodiments.
A reliable bulk detergent dispensing system is therefore provided that may be implemented with reduced time and steps in comparison to conventional dishwasher systems.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20050000551 A1 | Jan 2005 | US |