Laundry treating appliance with stain station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10914028-B2
Application number	US-201615228603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2016
Priority date	Aug 4, 2015
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes washer, either vertical or horizontal axis, can have a bulk dispenser capable of dispensing multiple doses of treating chemistry from a reservoir of treating chemistry. A housing fluidly couples a supply of water and the treating chemistry for supplying both to a treating chamber within the laundry treating appliance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to a cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a chassis defining an interior and defining an access opening;
a fascia mounted to the chassis;
a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the access opening;
a pump; and
a treating chemistry station comprising a treating chemistry dispenser, at least one dedicated actuator dedicated to actuating the treating chemistry dispenser, and a treating chemistry conduit, the at least one dedicated actuator located on the fascia in communication with the pump, and the treating chemistry conduit directed toward the treating chamber and coupling the treating chemistry dispenser with the treating chamber, wherein actuation of the at least one dedicated actuator causes the pump to discharge a treating chemistry from the treating chemistry dispenser through the treating chemistry conduit toward the treating chamber.

2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , further comprising at least one nozzle disposed on a terminal end of the treating chemistry conduit.

3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises multiple actuators, and the at least one nozzle comprises multiple nozzles, and wherein the multiple actuators are coupled to the multiple nozzles.

4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor providing a sensor output indicative of an amount of treating chemistry dispensed through the treating chemistry conduit.

5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 4 , further comprising a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor to receive the sensor output and reduce a volume of treating chemistry supplied to the treating chamber for a selected cycle of operation based on the sensor output.

6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 5 , wherein the volume of treating chemistry is reduced by the amount of treating chemistry indicated by the sensor output.

7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the treating chemistry conduit is adjacent the at least one actuator.

8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 7 , wherein the treating chemistry conduit passes through the fascia.

9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 8 , wherein the treating chemistry conduit is directed toward the treating chamber.

10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the treating chemistry station further comprises a water conduit, providing for a mixed discharge of water and treating chemistry from the treating chemistry station.

11. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the pump.

12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 , wherein the pump can be selectively controlled by a user through the user interface.

13. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the pump is in fluid communication with hot or cold water.

14. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the pump is in fluid communication with multiple treating chemistries.

15. The laundry treating appliance of claim 14 , wherein the multiple treating chemistries comprises one of a detergent, stain treatment, and fabric softener.

16. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 , wherein the fascia covers and protects the at least one nozzle.

17. The laundry treating appliance of claim 16 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises multiple actuators, and the at least one nozzle comprises multiple nozzles, and wherein the multiple actuators are coupled to the multiple nozzles.

18. The laundry treating appliance of claim 17 , wherein the treating chemistry conduit comprises multiple treating chemistry conduits such that the multiple nozzles are coupled to the multiple conduits for dispensing multiple different treating chemistries.

19. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the treating chemistry conduit is opaque.

20. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the treating chemistry is at least one of a detergent, bleach, fabric softener, or stain treatment.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Gallagher Eric A
• Masciovecchio Kurt L
• Moore Michael T
• Pinkowski Robert J
• Rogers Brian
• Scharich Iii David
• Stormo Guy
• Thompson Ray

Classifications

• D06F39/02

  Devices for adding soap or other washing agents · CPC title

• D06F35/006

  for washing or rinsing only · CPC title

• D06F39/12

  Casings; Tubs · CPC title

• D06F39/088

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F39/022 Primary

  in a liquid state (D06F39/024 takes precedence) · CPC title