Packets for treating chemistry

A dishwasher treating packet for use in a dishwasher having a treating chamber comprising a body defining a reservoir, a treating chemistry in the reservoir, and a manual dispenser coupled to the reservoir and selectively operable to dispense at least a portion of the treating chemistry from the reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Contemporary dishwashers have a treating chamber in which utensils are received for treatment using one or more treating liquids to wash off food soil from the surface of the utensils according to a washing cycle. The treating liquid may include at least one of water and treating chemistry. The treating liquid is recirculated throughout the treating chamber to aid in the removal of soils. Most soils are easily removed. However, heavy soils or baked-on soils still present a problem for removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A dishwasher treating packet having a body defining a reservoir and having at least a portion made from a dissolvable material, a treating chemistry in the reservoir, and a manual dispenser coupled to the reservoir and selectively operable to dispense at least a portion of the treating chemistry from the reservoir.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally directed toward a dishwasher treating packet having a treating chemistry in the interior of the dishwasher treating packet. The particular approach of the invention is to provide the treating packet having one or more treating chemistries to selectively dispense first treating chemistry to utensils having heavy soils prior to dispensing second treating chemistry during a cycle of operation. For purposes of this description, the term “utensil(s)” is intended to be generic to any item, single or plural, that may be treated in the dishwasher10, including, without limitation; dishes, plates, pots, bowls, pans, glassware, and silverware.

FIG. 1is a schematic, side view of a treating appliance, which is illustrated in the context of an automatic dishwasher10. While the illustrated treating appliance may be a dishwasher10, other treating appliances are possible, non-limiting examples of which include other types of dishwashing units, such as in-sink dishwashers, multi-tub dishwashers, drawer-type dishwashers. The dishwasher10, which shares many features of a conventional automatic dishwasher, will not be described in detail herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the invention.

The dishwasher10may have a cabinet12defining an interior, which is accessible through a door13. The cabinet12may comprise a chassis or frame to which optional decorative panels may be mounted. For built-in dishwashers, the outer panels are typically not needed. At least one wash tub14is provided within the interior of the cabinet12and defines a treating chamber16to receive and treat utensils according to a cycle of operation. The wash tub14has an open face that is closed by the door13.

The door13and wash tub14may comprise large planar elements. For example, the door13may have a front panel13A and rear panel13B, which define a space therebetween. The wash tub14may be a stamped metal tub or an injection molded plastic tub, with top wall14A, bottom wall14B, rear wall14C and opposing side walls14D. The walls all define large planar elements. If there are decorative panels attached to the chassis or frame, they also would form large planar elements.

A treating chemistry dispenser21may be located in the door13. It will be understood that depending on the type of dishwasher and the type of treating chemistry used, the treating chemistry dispenser21may be incorporated into one dispensing mechanism. The treating chemistry dispenser21may be of a single use dispenser type or a bulk dispenser type. In the case of bulk dispensing, the treating chemistry such as detergent and/or rinse aid can be selectively dispensed into the treating chamber16in a regulated quantity and at a predetermined time or multiple times during a cycle of operation. The controlled amount of treating chemistry may be also configured to dispense at a predetermined temperature during a cycle of operation.

One or more utensil racks, such as a lower utensil rack18and an upper utensil rack20may be provided in the treating chamber16. The racks18,20may hold utensils (not shown) that may be treated in the treating chamber16. The racks18,20may be slid in and out of the treating chamber16through the opening closed by the door13. It may be noted that a treating packet260with treating chemistry may be coupled to one of the racks18,20in the treating chamber16.

A spray system may be provided for supplying liquid to the treating chamber16as part of a cycle of operation for washing any utensils within the racks18,20. The spray system may include one or more liquid sprayers, which are illustrated in the form of spray arm assemblies22,24,26, that are provided within the treating chamber16and are oriented relative to the racks18,20such that liquid sprayed from the spray arm assemblies22,24,26may be directed into one or more of the racks18,20.

It should be noted that the stacked arrangement of the utensil racks18,20and the spray arm assemblies22,24,26is not limiting to the invention. It merely serves to illustrate the invention. For example, the invention may be implemented in a stacked arrangement having a silverware basket, the lower and upper utensil rack, and with upper, middle, and lower level spray arm assemblies having spray heads for the silverware basket alternatively arranged in between the lower and upper utensil rack.

A recirculation system comprises a pump assembly32and recirculates sprayed liquid in the treating chamber16to the spray system. A sump30may be provided to collect, by gravity, the sprayed liquid. The sump30may be illustrated as being formed with or affixed to a lower portion of the wash tub14to collect liquid that may be supplied into or circulated in the wash tub14during, before, or after a cycle of operation. However, the sump30may be remote from the wash tub14and fluidly coupled by suitable fluid conduits.

The pump assembly32may be fluidly coupled to the sump30, and as illustrated, may include a recirculation pump34and a drain pump36. The recirculation pump34fluidly couples the sump30to the spray arm assemblies22,24,26through a spray arm supply conduit38to recirculate liquid that collects in the sump30to the spray arm assemblies22,24,26for spraying on the racks18,20. The drain pump36fluidly couples the sump30to a drain conduit40for draining liquid collected in the sump30to a household drain, such as a sewer line, or the like.

While the pump assembly32may include the recirculation pump34and the drain pump36, in an alternative embodiment, the pump assembly32may include a single pump, which may be operated to supply liquid to either the drain conduit40or the spray arm support conduit38, such as by rotating in opposite directions or by valves. Each of the recirculation pump34and drain pump36may be operably coupled to a separate motor (not shown) while one motor may be shared by a single pump assembly32.

A liquid supply, which is illustrated as a water conduit42, may be configured to couple to a household water supply line, and a valve44, such as a solenoid valve, which couples the water conduit to the treating chamber16. The ON/OFF actuation of the valve controls the supply of water into the treating chamber.

A heating system, which is illustrated as comprising an immersible, resistive heating element46, is provided for heating liquid in the treating chamber16. A temperature sensor47such as a thermistor may also be positioned in the sump30to provide an output signal that is indicative of any liquid temperature or air temperature in the sump30. Other sensors (not shown) such as a pH sensor or a turbidity sensor may be positioned in the sump30to provide an output signal that is indicative of the liquid in the sump30.

The dishwasher10further comprises a controller48for implementing one or more cycles of operation. The dishwasher10may be preprogrammed with a number of different cleaning cycles from which a user may select one cycle of operation to treat a load of utensils. Examples of cycle of operations include normal, light/china, heavy/pots and pans, and rinse only. The controller48may be operably coupled to various components of the dishwasher10to implementing a cycle of operation in the treating chamber16. For example, the controller48is operably coupled to the dispenser21, pumps34,36, valve44, heating element46, temperature sensor47and other sensors to control their operation to implement a cycle of operation. The controller48may be a microprocessor controller having one or more cycles of operation stored in memory and selectable by the user via a user interface49. The cycles of operation may comprise a plurality of instructions that are executable by the microprocessor.

In typical use, treating chemistry is supplied by a user of the dishwasher10into the dispenser21and the controller48effects the dispensing of the treating chemistry from the dispenser21at the appropriate time during the cycle of operation. Alternatively, the treating chemistry may be placed directly in the treating chamber16by the consumer. In either case, the treating chemistry is generally distributed to the treating chamber16, where it will be mixed with and diluted by the supplied water to form a treating liquid that is then recirculated onto the utensils. Neither approach provides for the localized application of the treating chemistry within the treating chamber16.

The invention addresses this shortcoming by providing the treating chemistry in a treating packet that provides for the direct application of at least a portion of the treating chemistry onto one or more of the utensils, such as at the location of heavy or baked-on soil, or locating of the treating chemistry at a predetermined location in the treating chamber, such as where heavy or baked-on soils are expected, for subsequent delivery during the cycle of operation, such as the dissolving of the packet at the desired point in the treating cycle of operation.

A first embodiment of such a treating packet60is illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2B, which are front and side schematic views of the dishwasher treating packet, respectively. The dishwasher treating packet60may include a body62defining a reservoir64to hold a treating chemistry66. The body62may have at least a portion which comprises a material that may be dissolved into the treating liquid during the expected environmental conditions of the cycle of operation. For example, the material may be dissolvable above a predetermined temperature and/or by a chemical encountered during the cycle of operation. The body62may be also compressible such that the treating chemistry66in the reservoir64may be aided in dispensing from the interior of the reservoir64to the exterior of the reservoir64. As illustrated, the body62may be in the form of a rectangular shaped container while other geometrical shapes are also possible.

It is contemplated that one or more reservoirs64may be provided with the body62. For example, the body62may include first and second reservoirs for separately storing the first and second treating chemistries in the first and second reservoirs, respectively, with the first and second reservoirs fluidly separated from each other to prevent from intermixing of the first and second treating chemistries.

A manual dispenser68may be formed on the body62to fluidly couple to the treating chemistry66stored in the reservoir64. The manual dispenser68may selectively operate to dispense at least a portion of the treating chemistry66from the interior of the reservoir64to the surface of heavy soiled utensils outside the reservoir64. As illustrated, the manual dispenser68may include a cut-out72, which may be formed in one portion of the packet60. While a U-shaped cut-out72is illustrated as an embodiment, it may be understood that the cut-out may have other geometric shapes. A perforation73may be formed in the body62, next to the U-shaped cut-out72.

An applicator74may be formed in the form of a spreading element in the treating packet60. For example, one end portion76of the treating packet60may be used as the spreading element. The spreading element74may have a thickened cross-sectional area78compared to other portions of the body62.

When the user tears away or breaks off the perforation73, an opening may be formed along the perforation73. Then the treating chemistry66in the reservoir64may be exposed to the ambient atmosphere. By applying compressive force to the reservoir64, for example, by squeezing the reservoir64, the treating chemistry66may be dispensed from the interior of the reservoir64via the opening to the heavily soiled utensils. In case the high viscosity treating chemistry is applied to the utensils, the user may use the spreading element74to further uniformly spread out the treating chemistry66dispensed on the utensil surface.

The dishwasher treating packet60with a remaining treating chemistry may then be placed within the treating chamber16of the dishwasher10before the user starts a cycle of operation. For example, the dishwasher treating packet60may be tossed over into the treating chamber16. Alternatively, the treating packet60may be placed in the treating chemistry dispenser21. After that, the door13of the dishwasher10may be closed to start a washing cycle.

A cycle of operation may be configured to include a pre-treatment step during which the treating chemistry66directly applied to the heavily soiled utensil may be provided a predetermined period of time to react with and loosen the heavy soil. The pre-treatment step may be performed in the presence or absence of liquid. The pre-treatment step may be performed at a predetermined temperature range. After the completion of the pre-determined step, a main wash step may begin to treat the soils from the utensils. The main wash step may be performed in the presence of liquid in the treating chamber16. When the temperature within the treating chamber16satisfies a predetermined temperature, a portion of the body62of the treating packet60may be dissolved into the liquid to form an exit for the treating chemistry66in the reservoir64. For example, the exit may be in the form of a small opening, while most of the body62may be configured to dissolve away for a quick chemistry release. When the exit is formed, the treating chemistry in the reservoir64may be released through the exit by gravity to the interior of the treating chamber16to treat the utensils according to a cycle of operation.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bare front and side schematic views of a dishwasher treating packet160for a dishwasher10according to a second embodiment of the invention, respectively. Similar to the treating packet described inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the dishwasher treating packet160includes a body162, at least a portion of which may be dissolvable into the treating liquid.

A manual dispenser168may be extended from the body162and may be fluidly coupled to the reservoir164having a treating chemistry66. The manual dispenser168may be either detachably or integrally coupled to the reservoir. As illustrated, the manual dispenser168may be in the form of a tube or a pipe having a predetermined opening size. The manual dispenser168may also include a spray head169in the tube168, where the spray head169and the tube168may be fluidly coupled to the treating chemistry66in the reservoir164.

A removable closure element170may be coupled to the tube168. For example, the removable closure element170may be in the form of a tear-away portion that may be coupled to the one end of the tube168. The tear-away portion170may be configured to seal the opening of the tube168before the tear-away portion is removed. The tear-away portion170may be in the form of a tab or a flap with any geometry.

The tear-away portion170may be twisted off or torn off to expose the spray head169in the tube168to the ambient atmosphere. Then, the body162may be squeezed to transfer a portion of the treating chemistry66in the reservoir164via the opening of tube168to the exterior of the dishwasher treating packet160. The amount of the treating chemistry66dispensed may be dependent upon at least one of the squeezing pressure, squeezing time, configuration of spray head, and the opening diameter of the tube168. Medium or low viscosity treating chemistry may be dispensed (or sprayed) through the spray head169in the tube168to the heavily soiled utensil while the treating chemistry having high viscosity may be also dispensed through the tube168.

The first embodiment discloses a single reservoir. In some applications, it may be desirable to use multiple reservoirs. For example, it may be desirous to dispense multiple treating chemistries or the same treating chemistry at different times. For example, two different treating chemistries such as detergent and rinse aid may be provided to complete a cycle of operation. In another example, two treating chemistries having different concentrations may be configured to sequentially provide to the utensils. That is, highly concentrated treating chemistry may be provided first to remove heavy soils, followed by low concentration treating chemistry for treating non-heavy soils.

As illustrated, for selectively supplying a plurality of treating chemistries according to a cycle of operation, the treating packet160with multiple reservoirs may be provided. For example, the treating packet160may be provided with a first reservoir164for storing a first treating chemistry166and a second reservoir165for storing a second treating chemistry167. It may be understood that the first treating chemistry166and the second treating chemistry167may differ by at least one of chemical composition or concentration.

In one embodiment, the treating packet160may be configured to have only a first reservoir164fluidly coupled to the manual dispenser168. Further, a portion of the second reservoir165only may be configured to dissolve into the liquid above a predetermined temperature while the first reservoir164is not physically or chemically affected by the temperature to form an exit.

Prior to a cycle of operation, the first treating chemistry166in the first reservoir164may be manually dispensed by the user to the utensil while the second treating chemistry167in the second reservoir165is fluidly separated from the first reservoir164. After dispensing the first treating chemistry166to the utensil, the entire treating packet160may be placed in the treating chamber16to start a cycle of operation. When the cycle of operation begins, only the first treating chemistry166may react with the soil on the utensils during a pre-treatment step for a predetermined time period. When the pre-treatment step is done, a main wash step may follow with the supply of liquid into the treating chamber16, during which only the second treating chemistry167may be selectively supplied to the utensils to treat the utensils when a portion of the second reservoir165dissolves into the liquid at a predetermined temperature.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bare front and side schematic view of a dishwasher treating packet260for a dishwasher according to a third embodiment of invention, respectively. Similar to the first and second embodiments, the dishwasher treating packet260may include a body262defining a reservoir264, a portion of which may be dissolvable into the liquid above a predetermined temperature.

A hook268may be operably coupled to a portion of the body262to hang the body262from a structure within the treating chamber16. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the dishwasher treating packet260may be hanging from the upper utensil rack20or any other stationary structure such as the spray arm supply conduit38. The dishwasher treating packet260may be also hanging from any movable structure, such as the spray arm assemblies22,24,26within the treating chamber16.

When the dishwasher treating packet260is exposed to a predetermined temperature during a washing phase, a portion of the reservoir264may be dissolved into the liquid to dispense the treating chemistry66in the treating chamber. It is noted the hook268may be used in conjunction with the manual dispenser68,168and/or multiple reservoirs164,165to selectively supply one or more treating chemistries in the treating chamber16.

The hook268of the third embodiment may be incorporated into either of the other two embodiments. Similarly, the manual dispensers68,168of the first two embodiments may be incorporated with the third embodiment. In this sense, any features of any embodiment may be incorporated with any of the other embodiments.