Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPENSER AND DISPENSING METHOD FOR PULSATOR
WASH SYSTEM
This application is related to the Canadian patent application entitled
"PULSATOR WASH SYSTEM" (Atty. Dkt. No. 09HL 228636), filed concurrently
herewith, commonly assigned to General Electric Company.
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure generally relates to washing machines, and
more particularly relates to a dispenser and dispensing method for a pulsator
wash system. In one embodiment, a dispenser for a pulsator washing
machine includes an inner cup defining an inner chamber for receiving an
additive and an outer cup defining an outer chamber annularly disposed about
the inner cup, wherein the inner and outer cups are disposed within a pulsator
hub of a pulsator washing machine. The dispenser and dispensing method
will be described with particular reference to this embodiment, but it is to
be
appreciated that it is also amenable to other like applications.
Conventional vertical axis washing machines are known to include a
center agitator disposed within a vertical axis wash basket, which is
rotatably
supported within a tub. Typically, the agitator extends upwardly from the
bottom wall of the basket and has a height that is substantially equal to the
height of the wash basket.
Several dispensers are known for agitator-type washing machines,
including those that use a centrifugal force developed by a washing machine
during a spin phase to effect release of a fabric softener or the like, which
is
typically most effective in the rinse cycle. In one known arrangement, the
agitator-type dispenser is mounted on an agitator post and uses centrifugal
force to transfer a fabric softener from a reservoir compartment to a release
compartment. At the same time, a washing tub and an agitator are rotating to
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spin out wash water. As the agitator comes to a stop at the end of a spin
cycle, the laundry additive drains into the tub. Dispensers of this type are
disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,227 issued to Manthei; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,186,574 issued to Sundstrom; U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,957 issued to
Marcussen; U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,773 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,785 both issued
to Waugh; U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,054 issued to Drews et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
3,596,480 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,135 issued to Douglas; U.S. Pat. No.
3,481,163 issued to Bochan et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,059 issued to
Yates. Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,081 to Savkar et af. also
discloses an agitator-type fabric softener dispenser. Other types of
dispensers which utilize centrifugal force to release an additive but which
are
not attached to the agitator are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,515 to
Townsend and U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,573 to Brenner et al.
Many of the prior art agitator-type fabric softener dispensers,
particularly those received on the end of the agitator post, are designed to
reside above, or at least partially above, a maximum water level within the
washing machine. A second type of vertical axis washing machine is known
wherein a pulsator or disc-like impeller is provided adjacent or along the
bottom wall of the wash basket, the basket being rotatably supported within
the tub of the washing machine. In the pulsator washing machine, there is no
agitator post extending upward to a location above a maximum fill level for a
dispenser to reside above, or at least partially above, a maximum water level
within the washing machine.
In view of the lack of an agitator post extending upward to a location
above or near a maximum fill level, many pulsator washing machines use a
flow-through type fabric dispenser. Flow-through dispensers are disclosed,
for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,307 to Obata; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,791,168 to Smock. These types of dispensers are somewhat complex and
therefore add substantially to the cost and overall complexity of the washing
machine when employed.
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SUMMARY
According to one aspect, a dispenser for a pulsator washing machine
is provided. More particularly, in accordance with this aspect, the dispenser
includes an inner cup defining an inner chamber for receiving an additive. An
outer cup defines an outer chamber annularly disposed about the inner cup.
The inner and outer cups are disposed within a pulsator hub of the pulsator
washing machine.
According to another aspect, a dispensing method for a pulsator
washing machine is provided. More particularly, in accordance with this
aspect, an additive is added to an inner chamber of a dispenser inner cup
disposed within a pulsator hub of the pulsator washing machine. A wash tub
of the pulsator washing machine is filled with water. The water enters and
rises within an outer chamber defined about the inner cup by an outer cup. A
predetermined amount of the water in the outer cup is permitted to enter the
inner chamber of the inner cup to pre-dilute the additive.
According to yet another aspect, a submersible dispenser for a
washing machine is provided. More particularly, in accordance with this
aspect, the dispenser includes an outer cup disposed within or formed
integrally with an agitator element of the washing machine at a submersible
location thereon. An inner cup is disposed in the outer cup for receiving an
additive to be dispensed during a wash cycle of the washing machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine.
FIG. 2 is an elevational schematic view of the washing machine of
FIG. 1 shown having a pulsator.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the pulsator having a dispenser
disposed or formed with a central hub of the pulsator.
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FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the pulsator showing a lid of
the dispenser in an open position.
FIG. 4A is a front cross-sectional view of the pulsator and the
dispenser.
FIG. 4B is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the pulsator and
the dispenser of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4C is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the dispenser,
taken from the side and showing the lid pivoted to its open position.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser, including a
portion of the pulsator, an inner cup, a cap main body, and the lid.
FIG. 6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cap main body
showing a dip tube formed thereby.
FIG. 6B is an underside view of the cap main body, again showing the
dip tube.
FIGS. 7A-F are operational views of the pulsator and dispenser.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a pulsator and a dispenser
according to an alternate embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein showings are for purposes of
illustrating one or more exemplary embodiments, FIG. 1 shows a pulsator
wash system or machine 50 including a cabinet 52 and a cover 54. A
backsplash 58 extends from the cover 54, and a control panel 56 including a
plurality of input selectors 66 is coupled to the backsplash 58. As is known
and understood by those skilled in the art, the control panel 56 and the input
selectors 66 can collectively form a user interface input for operator
selection
of machine cycles and features. A display 60 can indicate the selected
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features, a countdown timer, and/or other items of interest to machine users.
A lid 62 is mounted to the cover 54 and is pivotable about a hinge (not shown)
between an open position facilitating access to a wash tub 64 (FIG. 2) located
within the cabinet 52, and a closed position (as shown) forming an enclosure
over the wash tub 64.
With additional reference to FIG. 2, the wash tub 64 is located or
positioned within the cabinet 52, and a wash basket 70 is movably disposed
and rotatably mounted within the wash tub 64. As is known and understood
by those skilled in the art, the basket 70 can include a plurality of
apertures or
perforations to facilitate fluid communication between an interior 100 of the
basket 70 and the wash tub 64. An agitator element, such as the illustrated
pulsator 116, is rotatably positioned within the basket 70 on vertical axis
118
for imparting motion to articles and liquid received within the basket 70.
The wash tub 64 includes a bottom wall 67 and a side wall 68, the
basket 70 being rotatably mounted or supported within the tub 64 in spaced
apart relation from the tub bottom wall 67 and the side wall 68. A pump
assembly 72 is located beneath the wash tub 64 and the basket 70 for gravity
assisted flow when draining the tub 64. The pump assembly 72 includes a
pump 74, a motor 76, and in an exemplary embodiment a motor fan (not
shown). A pump inlet hose 80 extends from a wash tub outlet 82 in tub
bottom wall 67 to a pump inlet 84, and a pump outlet hose 86 extends from
pump outlet 88 to an appliance washing machine water outlet 90 and
ultimately to a building plumbing system discharge line (not shown) in flow
communication with the outlet 90.
A hot liquid valve 102 and a cold liquid valve 104 deliver fluid, such as
water, to the basket 70 and the wash tub 64 through a respective hot liquid
hose 106 and a cold liquid hose 108. Liquid valves 102,104 and liquid hoses
106,108 together form a liquid supply connection for the washing machine 50
and, when connected to a building plumbing system (not shown), provide a
water supply for use in the washing machine 50. Liquid valves 102,104 and
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liquid hoses 106,108 are connected to a basket inlet tube 110, and fluid is
dispersed from the inlet tube 110 through a nozzle assembly 112 having a
number of openings therein to direct washing liquid into basket 70 at a given
trajectory and velocity. A known dispenser (not shown in FIG. 2) may also be
provided to produce a wash solution by mixing fresh water with a known
detergent or other composition for cleansing of articles in the basket 70.
In an alternate embodiment, a spray fill conduit 114 (shown in
phantom in FIG. 2) can be employed in lieu of the nozzle assembly 112.
Along the length of the spray fill conduit 114 can be a plurality of openings
arranged in a predetermined pattern to direct incoming streams of water in a
downward tangential manner towards articles in the basket 70. The openings
in the conduit 114 can be located a predetermined distance apart from one
another to produce an overlapping coverage of liquid streams into the basket
70. Articles in the basket 70 may therefore be uniformly wetted even when
the basket is maintained in a stationary position.
In an exemplary embodiment, the basket 70 and the pulsator 116 are
driven by a motor 120 through a transmission and clutch system 122. A
transmission belt 124 is coupled to respective pulleys of a motor output shaft
126 and a transmission input shaft 128. Thus, as motor output shaft 126 is
rotated, transmission input shaft 128 is also rotated. Clutch system 122
facilitates driving engagement of the basket 70 and the pulsator 116 (e.g.,
through shaft 172) for rotatable movement within the wash tub 64, and clutch
system 122 facilitates relative rotation of the basket 70 and the pulsator 116
for selected portions of wash cycles. Motor 120, transmission and clutch
assembly 122 and belt 124 can collectively be referred to as a machine drive
system, the drive system for rotating the basket 70 and/or the pulsator 116.
As shown, the pulsator 116 is disposed adjacent bottom 92 of the wash
basket 70 and drivingly connected to the illustrated drive system. As will be
appreciated by those of skill in the art, the drive system 120,122,124 of the
illustrated embodiment can be replaced by any other suitable drive system.
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The washing machine 50 can also include a brake assembly (not
shown) selectively applied or released for respectively maintaining the basket
70 in a stationary position within the tub 64 or for allowing the basket 70 to
spin within the tub 64. Pump assembly 72 is selectively activated to remove
liquid from the basket 70 and the tub 64 through drain outlet 90 during
appropriate points in washing cycles as machine 50 is used. In an exemplary
embodiment, as illustrated, the washing machine also includes a reservoir
132, a tube 134 and a pressure sensor 136. As fluid levels rise in the wash
tub 70, air is trapped in the reservoir 132 creating a pressure in the tube
134
that pressure sensor 136 monitors. Liquid levels, and more specifically
changes in liquid levels in the wash tub 70, may therefore be sensed, for
example, to indicate laundry loads and to facilitate associated control
decisions. In further alternative embodiments, load size and cycle
effectiveness can be determined or evaluated using other known indicia, such
as motor spin, torque, load weight, motor current, voltage, current phase
shifts, etc. It is to be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the
art,
that the reservoir 132, tube 134 and pressure sensor 136 need not be
employed in the washing machine 50 of the subject disclosure. In particular,
it
may be advantageous to simplify the washing machine 50 so as to reduce
manufacturing costs and the ultimate end cost to a consumer by eliminating
the reservoir 132, tube 134 and pressure sensor 136.
Operation of the machine 50 can be controlled by a controller 138,
though this is not required (for example, simple electromechanical controls
can be employed for controlling and operating the washing machine 50). The
controller 138 can be operatively connected to the user interface input
located
on the washing machine backsplash 58 for user manipulation to select
washing machine cycles and features. In response to user manipulation of
the user interface input, the controller 138 operates the various components
of
the machine 50 to execute selective machine cycles and features. The
controller 138 is operatively coupled to the drive system 120,122,124 and the
nozzle assembly 112 (or alternatively the spray conduit 114).
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With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pulsator 116 can include a
base portion 150, a central hub 152 extending upward from the base portion
150, and a plurality of radially extending vanes 154 extending upward from the
base portion 150. The pulsator 116 can be the same or similar to the pulsator
disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. Patent Application entitled
"PULSATOR WASH SYSTEM," though this is not required. In the illustrated
embodiment, the pulsator 116 has a bell-shape and each of the vanes 154
extends radially from about a peripheral radial edge 156 of the base portion
150 to a location radially spaced apart from the central hub 152. The pulsator
116 can be mounted within the washing machine 50 such that the base
portion 150 is disposed closely adjacent the bottom 92 of the rotatably
supported wash basket 70.
With additional reference to FIGS. 4A-C, the central hub 152 of the
illustrated pulsator 116 can be mounted to a shaft 172 by a suitable fastener,
such as the illustrated bolt 176. Also, a dispenser, such as illustrated
dispenser 180, for the washing machine 50 can be disposed within the
pulsator 116 and/or formed integrally therewith at a submersible location on
the pulsator. As will be described in more detail below, dispenser 180 can
automatically dispense an additive (e.g., fabric softener) during operation of
the pulsator wash system 50 (e.g., such as between the wash and rinse
cycles) and is self-cleaning during operation of the wash system 50. More
particularly, in accordance with one embodiment, the dispenser 180 is a
submersible, centrifugal-type dispenser for a vertical axis close washer
(e.g.,
pulsator wash machine or system 50), which is self-cleaning and does not
require pre-dilution of an additive (e.g., fabric softener). While shown and
described as being disposed within and/or formed integrally with the pulsator
116, it is to be understood and appreciated that the submersible dispensers of
the subject disclosure could be used on any washing machine agitator
element. Thus, the agitator element need not be a pulsator, but could instead
be a conventional agitator or a cross between a conventional agitator and the
illustrated pulsator 116 (e.g., a short agitator) with the dispenser (e.g.,
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dispenser 180) vertically positioned so as to become submersed during the
wash cycle.
With additional reference to FIG. 5, the dispenser 180 includes an
inner cup 182 defining an inner chamber 184 for receiving an additive (e.g.,
fabric softener, etc.) that is to be dispensed, such as during a wash cycle of
the pulsator washing machine 50. The dispenser 180 also includes an outer
cup 186 defining an outer chamber 188 annularly disposed about the inner
cup 182. The outer cup 186 can be disposed within or formed integrally with
the pulsator 116, or some other agitator element at a submersible location
thereon (i.e., a vertical position that becomes submerged during the wash
cycle), and the inner cup 186 can be disposed in the outer cup 186. In the
illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 4A-5, the outer cup 186 is formed integrally
with the pulsator 116 of the pulsator washing machine 50 and the inner cup
182 is removably received in the outer cup 186 and thus the inner cup 182 is
removable from the outer cup 186. In addition to the outer cup being formed
integrally with the pulsator 116, the inner and outer cups 182,186 of the
illustrated embodiment are disposed within the pulsator hub 152 of the
pulsator washing machine 50.
As shown, the dispenser 180 can include a cap or cap assembly 190
closing an open end of the outer cup 186. The cap 190 of the illustrated
embodiment includes a main body or portion 192 that closes the open end of
the outer cup 186 and defines an aperture 194 therethrough, and further
includes an openable lid 196 pivotally mounted to the main body or portion
192. The lid 196 is pivotally movable from a closed position (illustrated in
FIGS. 3A and 4A-B) and an open position (illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 4C) in
which a receiving chamber 198 is accessible. The aperture 194 fluidly
connects the receiving chamber 198 with the inner chamber 184. However,
when the lid 196 is in its closed position, a downward depending portion 200
of the lid closes the aperture 194 preventing fluid communication from the
receiving chamber 198 to the inner chamber 184. As shown, the depending
portion 200 can include a seal structure 201 and a seal 202 that is received
in
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the aperture 194 for closing and sealing thereof when the lid 196 is in its
closed position. I
As best shown in FIG. 4B, the cap 190 closing the open end of the
outer cup 186, even with the lid 196 in its closed position, allows fluid
communication between the inner chamber 184 and the outer chamber 188
over a radial side wall 204 defining the inner cup 182. This arrangement is
facilitated by the depth of the outer cup 186 being greater than the inner cup
182, which allows the inner chamber 184 of the inner cup 182 to communicate
with the outer chamber 188 of the outer cup 186 with the cap 190 closing the
open end of the outer cup 186.
The outer cup 186 includes a base portion 206 and a radial side wall
or side wall portion 208 extending from the base portion or base wall 206. In
the illustrated embodiment, the outer cup base portion 206 and the outer cup
radial side wall 208 are formed integrally with the pulsator 116, and
particularly the pulsator hub 152. That is, the wall defining the pulsator hub
152 also forms the radial side wall portion 208. In the illustrated
embodiment,
the base wall 206 has a raised central portion 210 that is configured to mount
around the shaft 172 and includes an aperture 212 through which the fastener
176 secures the pulsator 116 to the shaft 172, though this configuration is
not
required. When so configured, a base wall or base wall portion 214 of the
inner cup 182 likewise includes a raised portion 216, though again such a
configuration is not required.
As best shown in FIG. 4C, the dispenser 180 can include one or more
drain holes 220 that allow an additive of the dispenser to drain into the wash
tub 64 of the pulsator washing machine 50 from the outer chamber 188, as
will be described in more detail below. In particular, in the illustrated
embodiment, the dispenser 180 includes a plurality of drain holes 220, which
extend axially and radially through the pulsator hub 152. Specifically, each
drain hole 220 includes a first end or opening 222 defined in the base wall
206
of the outer cup 186 and a second end or opening 224 defined as an aperture
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in the pulsator 116 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). The inner cup 182 defines a weep
hole 228 for admitting water into the inner chamber 184 from the outer
chamber 188 when filled through the drain holes 220 to mix with an additive
received in the inner chamber 184 as wash water fills in the wash tub 64. As
shown in the illustrated embodiment, the weep hole 228 is formed more
adjacent (i.e., closer to) the open end of the inner cup 182 than to the base
wall 214, though the weep hole 228 is disposed axially below the open end of
the inner cup 182.
With additional reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the main body 192 of
the cap 190 is shown. More particularly, as shown, the main body 192
defines an orifice 230 along a top side 232. The orifice 230 communicates
with the inner chamber 184 of the inner cup 182. More specifically, the cap
190, and particularly the main body 192 thereof, includes a dip tube 234
depending downwardly from the top side 232 into or toward the inner chamber
184 from the orifice 230. The first end of the dip tube 234 is the orifice 230
and a second end 236 is formed as an aperture spaced apart from the orifice
230 in a direction of the inner chamber 184. As best shown in FIG. 6A, the
dip tube 234 can include a tapered passage 238 extending between the ends
230,236, and particularly increasing in size from the end 230 toward the end
236. As will be described in more detail below, the dip tube 234 extends
down into or toward the inner chamber 184 of the inner cup 182 to prevent
water entering the inner chamber 184 through the weep hole 228 from filling
the inner cup 182 to its open end (i.e., the distal end 204a of radial wall
204).
Turning now to FIGS. 7A-7F, a dispensing method for a pulsator
washing machine, such as the machine 50, will now be described. First, an
additive A (e.g., fabric softener, etc.) is added to the inner chamber 184 of
the
dispenser inner cup 182, which is disposed within the pulsator hub 152 of a
pulsator washing machine. In the illustrated embodiment, adding the additive
A to the inner chamber 184 includes opening the lid 196 to its open position
(FIG. 3B) and pouring (or otherwise adding) the additive A into the receiving
chamber 198. For reasons that will become more apparent upon reading the
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description below, the additive A need not be prediluted (e.g., mixed with
water) at this time.
From the receiving chamber 198, the additive A flows through the
aperture 194 into the inner chamber 184 of the inner cup 182. Once the
additive A is added to the inner chamber 184, the lid 196 can be closed and
then the machine 50 can be operated through its normal wash cycles. More
particularly, the wash tub 64 of the machine 50 is next filled with water W
for
washing and thus water begins rising up the pulsator 116 as shown in FIG. 7A.
As the water W rises past the apertures 224 of the drain holes 220 (see FIGS.
3A-B and 4C), the water W enters the outer chamber 188 of the outer cup 186
and begins filling (i.e., rises within) the outer chamber as shown in FIG. 7B.
The radial side wall 204 of the inner cup 182 precludes, at least for a time,
the
water W in the outer chamber 188 from entering the inner chamber 184.
As the water W continues to rise in the wash tub 64 and in the outer
chamber 188, a predetermined amount of the water W from the outer cup 186
is permitted to enter the inner chamber 184 of the inner cup 182 to pre-dilute
the additive A as shown in FIG. 7C. In particular, the water W of the outer
chamber 188 enters the inner chamber 184 through the weep hole 228. The
water W from the outer chamber 188 enters the inner chamber 184 through
the weep hole 228 until the water fills the inner cup 182 to a level of a
distal
end of the dip tube 234. That is, the water fills the inner cup 182 until its
level
reaches the second end 236 of the dip tube 234 thereby prediluting the
additive A. Meanwhile, the water W surrounding the pulsator 116 rises
thereabove to submerse the pulsator 116 and the dispenser 190 as shown.
The dip tube 234 creates an air pocket AP within the dispenser 190 that
continues to preclude the water level of the inner cup 182 from rising past
the
distal end 236 of the dip tube 234 even as the dispenser 190 becomes
submersed.
Next, with the dispenser 190 submerged, the machine 50 is operated
to wash any articles received therein. During the wash cycle, the water W in
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the inner cup 182 and the additive A mix to form a prediluted additive mixture
PA. The dip tube 234 can extend into the inner chamber 184 of the inner cup
186 a sufficient distance so that the mixing of the additive A and the water W
during the wash cycle results in little or no splashing or spilling into the
outer
chamber 186. After completion of the wash cycle, the water W is drained from
the wash tub 64 and the machine 50 is operated in a wash spin cycle. During
this spin cycle, the prediluted additive PA vacates the inner chamber 184 of
the inner cup 182. More particularly, the prediluted additive PA is
centrifugally
forced from the inner chamber 184 over the radial side wall 204 and into the
outer chamber 184 as illustrated in FIG. 7D. The centrifugal force causes the
prediluted additive PA to reside against the outer cup radial wall 208 and not
drain through the drain holes 220 as urged by gravity.
At the end of the spin cycle, however, the centrifugal force on the pre-
diluted additive PA ends and from the outer cup 186 it is gravitationally
forced
to flow into the wash tub 64 through the drain holes 220 fluidly connecting
the
outer chamber 188 to the wash tub 64. Thus, the pre-diluted additive PA is
dispensed from the inner cup 182 into the wash tub 64. Next, after
dispensing, the wash tub 64 is again filled with water W for the rinse cycle.
The water W again enters and rises within the outer chamber 188 and enters
the inner chamber 184 through the weep hole 228 to automatically rinse any
residual additive remaining in the inner chamber 184 of the inner cup 182 (see
FIGS. 7E and 7F). This water entering the inner cup 182 for a second time
evacuates from the dispenser 190 during the rinse spin cycle in the same
manner as described above in reference to the pre-diiuted additive PA
evacuating the outer chamber 188.
Turning to FIG. 8, a dispenser 1800 is shown according to an
alternate embodiment. More particularly, the dispenser 1800 includes an
inner cup 1820 that is similar to the inner cup 182. The dispenser 1800 also
includes an outer cup 1860 however, the outer cup is formed by pulsator 1160
and cap 1900. More particularly, a base wall 2060 of the outer cup 1860 is
formed by the pulsator 1160, but radial side wail 2040 is formed by the cap
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1900. In operation, the cap 1900 is removed from the pulsator 1160 and the
inner cup 1820 filled with an additive. Thereafter, the cap 1900 is replaced
on
the pulsator 1160. In most other respects, the alternate dispenser 1800
operates as described above in reference to the dispenser 190.
Advantageously, the dispensers described herein, including the
dispenser 180 and the dispenser 1800, provide a means by which a
centrifugal-type dispenser can perform an automatic dilution of an additive,
such as a fabric softener, and is self cleaning. Such automatic dilution
eliminates the need for pre-diluting an additive prior to adding the same to a
dispenser of a washing machine. The self-cleaning feature eliminates or at
least reduces the need to periodically clean the dispenser due to additive
build-up (e.g., repeat accumulations of residual additive). The dispensers
described herein are also advantageous in that they are low cost, simple and
reliable, and of course usable with a pulsator-type washing system, such as
system 50. As water and energy usage regulations become more stringent,
the inherently efficient pulsator wash system, such as system 50, will likely
be
required or encouraged for vertical axis washing machines. While high-end or
more sophisticated washers with pulsators may be able to afford a more
costly flow-through dispenser, lower end, cost competitive washers may not
be able to afford such complex and expensive flow-through dispensers.
The exemplary embodiment or embodiments have been described
with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and
alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding
detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiments be
construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they
come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
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