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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9420935-B2
Application number	US-201314134473-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Nov 23, 2010
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

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:
at least one treating chemistry container configured to store multiple doses of treating chemistry;
a chemistry detector outputting a first signal indicative of an amount of treating chemistry in the at least one treating chemistry container;
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 indicating a predetermined amount of treating chemistry and the second signal indicating a predetermined amount of illumination.

2. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of treating chemistry is less than or equal to a low level of treating chemistry.

3. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 2 wherein the low level of treating chemistry comprises a predetermined number of doses of treating chemistry remaining in the at least one treating chemistry container.

4. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 2 wherein the low level of treating chemistry comprises an empty treating chemistry container.

5. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of illumination is greater than 30 lux.

6. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 , further comprising multiple treating chemistry containers with corresponding chemistry detectors.

7. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the chemistry detector comprises a level sensor.

8. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 7 wherein the level sensor is an array of spaced electrodes.

9. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the illumination detector comprises a photo-detector.

10. The dispensing cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the human-detectable signal comprises at least one of a visible signal and an audible signal.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Beshears Jr Paul E
• Sundaram Sathish A

Classifications

• A47L2401/023

  Quantity or concentration of the consumable product · CPC title

• A47L15/449

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

• A47L15/0055 Primary

  Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration · CPC title

• A47L2401/26

  Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state · CPC title

• A47L2501/26

  Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user · CPC title