Non-integrated bulk dispenser and method of operating a dishwasher having same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016353967-A1
Application number	US-201615241125-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2010
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A removable non-integrated treating chemistry dispensing cartridge assembly may emit a signal in response to a predetermined amount of treating chemistry being detected and in response to a predetermined amount of illumination being detected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dispensing cartridge assembly, comprising:
a base configure to receive at least one treating chemistry reservoir that is configured to store multiple doses of treating chemistry; a sensor outputting a first signal indicative of at least one of a presence of the at least one treating chemistry reservoir or an absence of the at least one treating chemistry reservoir; an illumination detector outputting a second signal indicative of ambient illumination; an indicator outputting a human-detectable signal; and a controller receiving the first and second signals and operably coupled to the indicator to activate the indicator to emit the human-detectable signal in response to the first signal and the second signal indicating a predetermined amount of illumination.

2 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the absence of the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

3 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to track when the at least one treating chemistry reservoir is received within the base.

4 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 3 wherein the controller is further configured to track usage of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

5 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to determine an amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir based on when the at least one treating chemistry reservoir is received within the base and usage of the treating chemistry.

6 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to determine a low amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

7 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 6 wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the low amount of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

8 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to determine an emptiness of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

9 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 8 wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the emptiness of the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

10 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to determine a remaining number of doses of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

11 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 10 wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the remaining number of doses.

12 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 , further comprising multiple reservoirs with corresponding sensors.

13 . A method of operating a removable dispensing cartridge assembly provided in a treating chamber with an open face at least partially defined by a tub of a dishwasher having a cover for selectively opening/closing the open face, the method comprising:
detecting a characteristic of the removable dispensing cartridge assembly; detecting an amount of illumination in the treating chamber; and emitting a human-detectable signal from the removable dispensing cartridge assembly when the detected amount of illumination is indicative of the open face being at least partially opened and wherein the human-detectable signal is based on the detected characteristic of the removable dispensing cartridge assembly.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the detecting the characteristic of the removable dispensing cartridge assembly comprises detecting an absence of a treating chemistry reservoir in the removable dispensing cartridge assembly.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the human-detectable signal indicates the absence of the at least one treating chemistry reservoir.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising ceasing the emitting of the human-detectable signal after a predetermined time.

17 . A dispensing cartridge assembly, comprising:
at least one treating chemistry reservoir configured to store multiple doses of treating chemistry; a base configure to receive the at least one treating chemistry reservoir; a sensor outputting a first signal indicative of a presence of the at least one treating chemistry reservoir in the base; an illumination detector outputting a second signal indicative of ambient illumination; an indicator outputting a human-detectable signal; a timer outputting a third signal indicative of elapsed time from a time the indicator is activated; and a controller receiving the first and second signals and operably coupled to the indicator to activate the indicator to emit the human-detectable signal in response to the first signal and the second signal indicating a predetermined amount of illumination and where the controller is configured to receive the third signal and cease emitting the human-detectable signal based thereon.

18 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 17 wherein the controller is configured to compare the third signal indicative of elapsed time to a threshold time.

19 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 18 wherein the controller is configured to cease emitting the human-detectable signal when the comparison indicates the elapsed time is greater than or equal to the threshold time.

20 . The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 19 wherein the controller is further configured to track usage of the treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry reservoir and the human-detectable signal is indicative thereof.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Beshears Jr Paul E
• Sundaram Sathish A

Classifications

• A47L15/44 Primary

  Devices for adding cleaning agents; {Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants} · CPC title

• A47L15/4293

  Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels · CPC title

• A47L15/0047 Primary

  Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water · CPC title

• A47L15/449

  Metering controlling devices (A47L15/4229 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47L15/4463

  Multi-dose dispensing arrangements · CPC title