Dispensing assembly for appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12351970-B2
Application number	US-202117163919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2021
Priority date	Feb 1, 2021
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A dispensing assembly for a laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a cartridge port. A dispensing device is coupled to the cabinet and extends into the cartridge port. A dispensing cartridge is selectively received by the cartridge port. The dispensing cartridge selectively engages the dispensing device when in an installed position within the cartridge port. The dispensing cartridge includes a nesting portion configured to house a first laundry chemistry. An insert portion is configured to house a second laundry chemistry. The nesting portion selectively receives the insert portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing assembly for an appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a cartridge port;
a dispensing device coupled to the cabinet and extending into the cartridge port; and
a dispensing cartridge selectively received by the cartridge port, wherein the dispensing cartridge selectively engages the dispensing device when in an installed position within the cartridge port, and wherein the dispensing cartridge includes:
a nesting portion defining a first reservoir configured to house a first laundry chemistry, wherein an outer wall of the nesting portion at least partially defines a supplemental receiver; and
an insert portion defining a second reservoir configured to house a second laundry chemistry, wherein the nesting portion selectively receives the insert portion, and wherein the insert portion is selectively seated in the supplemental receiver laterally adjacent to at least a portion of the nesting portion, and further wherein the nesting portion is a first size greater than a second size of the insert portion to form the supplemental receiver and define a greater volume in the first reservoir compared to the second reservoir to hold different volumes of the first and second laundry chemistries that are configured to be dispensed in different quantities during a wash cycle.

2. The dispensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nesting portion includes an engagement panel defining a handle along an edge thereof.

3. The dispensing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the insert portion is selectively coupled to the engagement panel.

4. The dispensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the nesting portion extends along at least a portion of a perimeter of the insert portion when the insert portion is selectively seated within the supplemental receiver defined by the nesting portion, and wherein the nesting portion has a greater width than the insert portion to at least partially define the greater volume in the first reservoir.

5. The dispensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert portion is selectively removable from the dispensing cartridge.

6. The dispensing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover coupled to the cabinet proximate to the cartridge port via a plurality of linkages, wherein the cover remains in a position parallel to a front surface of the cabinet as the cover is moved between an opened position and a closed position relative to the cartridge port.

7. The dispensing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover rotatably coupled to the cabinet proximate to the cartridge port; and
a latch coupled to the cabinet on an opposing side of the cartridge port relative to the cover, wherein the cover engages the latch when in a closed position to retain the dispensing cartridge within the cartridge port.

8. The dispensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nesting portion and the insert portion have mating features for coupling the insert portion to the nesting portion.

9. A dispensing assembly for an appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a cartridge port;
a dispensing cartridge selectively received in the cartridge port;
a dispensing actuator coupled to the cabinet and configured to selectively engage the dispensing cartridge when the dispensing cartridge is in an installed position in the cartridge port, wherein the dispensing actuator extends into the cartridge port at an inner end thereof and is configured to apply a force to an insertion end of the dispensing cartridge when activated;
a biasing member coupled to the dispensing actuator, being separate from the dispensing cartridge, and being disposed adjacent to the dispensing actuator to impart an outward biasing force on the insertion end of the dispensing cartridge, wherein the outward biasing force and the force of the dispensing actuator move the dispensing cartridge through an opening of the cartridge port for cartridge removal; and
a cover operably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the cover is operable between a closed position and an opened position to selectively allow access to the dispensing cartridge, and wherein the cover overcomes the outward biasing force of the biasing member and the force of the dispensing actuator and biases the dispensing cartridge into the installed position when the cover is in the closed position.

10. The dispensing assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a handle coupled to the cover via a linkage, wherein the handle rotates about a handle rotational axis that is offset from a cover rotational axis of the cover, and wherein the handle is operable between an opened position and a closed position to provide a mechanical advantage for operating the cover.

11. The dispensing assembly of claim 9 , wherein an outer wall of the dispensing cartridge proximate the cover defines a first gear, and wherein the cover defines a second gear that engages the first gear to adjust a position of the dispensing cartridge relative to the cartridge port as the cover is operated between the closed position and the opened position.

12. A dispensing system for an appliance, comprising:
a first dispensing cartridge having a first chemistry reservoir;
a second dispensing cartridge having a second chemistry reservoir, wherein the second dispensing cartridge is disposed proximate to the first dispensing cartridge;
an identification feature coupled to each of the first and second dispensing cartridges, respectively;
an identification device configured to determine information about the first and second dispensing cartridges from the identification features, the information including an initial amount of chemistry and a type of chemistry in the respective cartridge, a size of the respective cartridge, and whether the respective cartridge is a bulk-dispensing cartridge or a single-dose cartridge;
a dispensing device in selective communication with the first chemistry reservoir and the second chemistry reservoir, wherein the identification device is coupled with the dispensing device;
an engagement assembly operably coupled to at least one of the dispensing device, the first dispensing cartridge, and the second dispensing cartridge, wherein the engagement assembly is operable between a first position and a second position; and
a controller in communication with the engagement assembly, wherein the controller adjusts the engagement assembly between the first position and the second position to selectively engage the dispensing device with a selected one of the first dispensing cartridge and the second dispensing cartridge.

13. The dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein the engagement assembly includes a carousel coupled to the first dispensing cartridge and the second dispensing cartridge and a motor operably coupled to the carousel.

14. The dispensing system of claim 13 , wherein the controller activates the motor to rotate the carousel relative to the dispensing device, wherein a position of the first dispensing cartridge and a position of the second dispensing cartridge are adjusted relative to the dispensing device with rotation of the carousel.

15. The dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein the engagement assembly includes a rail and a motor, wherein the dispensing device is operably coupled to the rail.

16. The dispensing system of claim 15 , wherein the controller translates the dispensing device along the rail to adjust a position of the dispensing device relative to the first dispensing cartridge and the second dispensing cartridge.

17. The dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein the identification device reads the identification

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Murphy Sayer James
• Hartnett Christopher Aidan
• Vanfossen Tristan James
• Carpenter Scott E
• Sells Joel Matthew
• Burgess Brent Michael
• Hammond Richard Lee
• Bauman Gregory Edward
• Schaaf Demetrius

Classifications

• D06F39/02 Primary

  Devices for adding soap or other washing agents · CPC title

• D06F39/022 Primary

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