Patent Publication Number: US-2021180236-A1

Title: Laundry treating appliance detergent dispenser

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/700,647, filed Dec. 2, 2019, now allowed, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/443,372, filed Feb. 27, 2017, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,519,589, on Dec. 31, 2019, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Laundry treating appliances, such as washing machines, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, can have a configuration based on a rotating container that at least partially defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. The laundry treating appliance can have a controller that implements a number of user-selectable, pre-programmed cycles of operation. Hot water, cold water, or a mixture thereof along with various treating chemistries, or detergents, can be supplied to the treating chamber in accordance with the cycle of operation. 
     In vertical axis washing machines a detergent dispenser can be in the form of a drawer fluidly coupled to the treating chamber to receive a volume of detergent to treat the laundry items according to the cycle of operation. The drawer usually includes containers for treating chemistries such as detergent or fabric softener and can supply the treating chemistries to the treating chamber via a conduit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance comprising a cabinet that defines an interior and has an access opening to the interior. A treating chamber is located within the interior and is accessible through the access opening. A pre-treatment faucet has an actuator accessible by a user and an outlet fluidly coupled to the treating chamber. The pre-treatment faucet is configured for pre-treating a laundry item prior to the laundry treating appliance beginning an automatic cycle of operation. A treating chemistry dispenser has at least one container with a flood wall positioned in the container. The at least one container directs a pre-treatment water flow from a water supply to the flood wall such that water is directed to flow up and over the flood wall and out the outlet of the pre-treatment faucet in response to user actuation of the actuator. 
     In another aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance comprising a cabinet that defines an interior and has a shroud defining an access opening to the interior. A basket is located within the interior. The basket has an open top and rotatable about a vertical axis. A faucet has an outlet located within the shroud. A treating chemistry dispenser drawer carries the faucet. The treating chemistry dispenser drawer has containers slidable relative to the shroud between a first position, where at least one of the containers underlies the shroud, and a second position, where the at least one of the containers extends at least partially beyond the shroud and overlies the basket. At least one of the containers comprising a flood wall positioned in the container. A pre-treatment water supply comprises a water line fluidly coupled to at least the container comprising the flood wall, and an actuator accessible by a user. Wherein actuation of the actuator controls an opening/closing of the valve to control a supply of water to the container comprising the flood wall such that water is directed to flow up and over the flood wall and out the outlet of the faucet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance in the form of a washing machine according to various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic representation of a controller for controlling the operation of one or more components of the laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of an opening in the laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 1  having a dispenser with a drawer in a first position according to various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 3  with the drawer in a second position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top, schematic view of the drawer of  FIG. 4  according to various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective view of a laundry treating appliance having an alternative dispenser according to various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic view of the dispenser of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative top view of a dispenser drawer having a flood wall according to various aspects described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to running a cycle of operation for treating laundry items a user may desire to pre-treat laundry items to more effectively treat the laundry items. Pre-treating is typically performed in an external utility sink or space in a user&#39;s laundry room. However not all laundry rooms are equipped with an external utility sink or space. Integration of a water supply in accordance with the present disclosure enables a user to pre-treat laundry items without the use of an external sink or space. In one aspect, such pre-treatment is achieved by providing a faucet within a dispenser drawer. In another aspect, this is achieved by providing a faucet having an outlet fluidly coupled to a treating chamber. The faucet, or outlet thereof, can be provided on mechanical structures associated with the treating chamber or an access opening to the treating chamber, such as a shroud surrounding the access opening. However, the faucet or outlet can be provided on any mechanical structure accessible by a user and adjacent the treating chamber. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of a laundry treating appliance shown in the form of a washing machine  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. While the laundry treating appliance is illustrated as a vertical axis, top-fill washing machine, the embodiments of the invention can have applicability in other fabric treating appliances, non-limiting examples of which include a horizontal axis washing machine, a combination washing machine and dryer, a refreshing/revitalizing machine, an extractor, or a non-aqueous washing apparatus. 
     Washing machines are typically categorized as either a vertical axis washing machine or a horizontal axis washing machine. As used herein, the “vertical axis” washing machine refers to a washing machine having a rotatable drum, perforate or imperforate, that holds fabric items in a treating chamber and a clothes mover, such as an agitator, impeller, nutator, and the like within the drum. The clothes mover moves within the drum to impart mechanical energy directly to the clothes or indirectly through wash liquid in the drum. The clothes mover may typically be moved in a reciprocating rotational movement. In some vertical axis washing machines, the drum, including the treating chamber, rotates about a vertical axis generally perpendicular to a surface that supports the washing machine. However, the rotational axis need not be vertical. The drum may rotate about an axis inclined relative to the vertical axis. As used herein, the “horizontal axis” washing machine refers to a washing machine having a rotatable drum, perforated or imperforate, that holds fabric items and washes the fabric items by the fabric items rubbing against one another as the drum rotates. In some horizontal axis washing machines, the drum rotates about a horizontal axis generally parallel to a surface that supports the washing machine. However, the rotational axis need not be horizontal. The drum may rotate about an axis inclined relative to the horizontal axis. In horizontal axis washing machines, the clothes are lifted by the rotating drum and then fall in response to gravity to form a tumbling action. Mechanical energy is imparted to the clothes by the tumbling action formed by the repeated lifting and dropping of the clothes. Vertical axis and horizontal axis machines are best differentiated by the manner in which they impart mechanical energy to the fabric articles. The illustrated exemplary washing machine of  FIG. 1  is a vertical axis washing machine. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the washing machine  10  can include a structural support system comprising a cabinet  14  that defines a housing, within which a laundry holding system resides. An access opening  15  can be provided in the cabinet  14  to access the laundry holding system. The cabinet  14  can be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame, to which decorative panels may or may not be mounted, defining an interior that receives components typically found in a conventional washing machine, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the invention. 
     The fabric holding system of the illustrated exemplary washing machine  10  can include a rotatable basket  30  having an open top  13  that can be disposed within the interior of the cabinet  14  and may define a treating chamber  32  for receiving laundry items for treatment. The open top can be aligned with the access opening  15 . A tub  34  can also be positioned within the cabinet  14  and can define an interior  24  within which the basket  30  can be positioned. The tub  34  can have a generally cylindrical side or tub peripheral wall  12  closed at its bottom end by a base  16  that can at least partially define a sump  60 . 
     The basket  30  can have a generally peripheral side wall  18 , which is illustrated as a cylindrical side wall, closed at the basket end by a basket base  20  to at least partially define the treating chamber  32 . The basket  30  can be rotatably mounted within the tub  34  for rotation about a vertical basket axis of rotation and can include a plurality of perforations, such that liquid may flow between the tub  34  and the rotatable basket  30  through the perforations. While the illustrated washing machine  10  includes both the tub  34  and the basket  30 , with the basket  30  defining the treating chamber  32 , it is within the scope of the invention for the laundry treating appliance to include only one receptacle, with the receptacle defining the laundry treatment chamber for receiving the load to be treated. 
     A shroud  29  is provided at the top of the cabinet  14  and can define the access opening  15 . The shroud  29  can curve downwards toward the treating chamber  32  to direct laundry items into the basket  30 . The shroud  29  can overlie a portion of the basket  30  such that the laundry items do not fall between the basket  30  and the tub  34 . A selectively openable lid  28  can provide access into the laundry treating chamber  32  through the access opening  15  of the basket  30 . 
     A laundry mover  38  may be rotatably mounted within the basket  30  to impart mechanical agitation to a load of laundry placed in the basket  30 . The laundry mover  38  can be oscillated or rotated about its vertical axis of rotation during a cycle of operation in order to produce load motion effective to wash the load contained within the treating chamber  32 . Other exemplary types of laundry movers include, but are not limited to, an agitator, a wobble plate, and a hybrid impeller/agitator. 
     The basket  30  and the laundry mover  38  may be driven by a drive system  40  that includes a motor  41 , which can include a gear case, operably coupled with the basket  30  and laundry mover  38 . The motor  41  can rotate the basket  30  at various speeds in either rotational direction about the vertical axis of rotation, including at a spin speed wherein a centrifugal force at the inner surface of the basket side wall  18  is 1g or greater. Spin speeds are commonly known for use in extracting liquid from the laundry items in the basket  30 , such as after a wash or rinse step in a treating cycle of operation. A loss motion device or clutch (not shown) can be included in the drive system  40  and can selectively operably couple the motor  41  with either the basket  30  and/or the laundry mover  38 . 
     A suspension system  22  can dynamically hold the tub  34  within the cabinet  14 . The suspension system  22  can dissipate a determined degree of vibratory energy generated by the rotation of the basket  30  and/or the laundry mover  38  during a treating cycle of operation. Together, the tub  34 , the basket  30 , and any contents of the basket  30 , such as liquid and laundry items, define a suspended mass for the suspension system  22 . 
     A liquid supply system can be provided to liquid, such as water or a combination of water and one or more wash aids, such as detergent, into the treating chamber  32 . The liquid supply system can include a water supply  44  configured to supply hot or cold water. The water supply  44  can include a hot water inlet  45  and a cold water inlet  46 . A valve assembly can include a hot water valve  48 , a cold water valve  50 , and a diverter valve  55 , and various conduits  52 ,  56 ,  58  for selectively distributing the water supply  44  from the hot water and cold water inlets  45 ,  46 . The valves  48 ,  50  are selectively openable to provide water, such as from a household water supply (not shown) to the conduit  52 . The valves  48 ,  50  can be opened individually or together to provide a mix of hot and cold water at a selected temperature. While the valves  48 ,  50  and conduit  52  are illustrated exteriorly of the cabinet  14 , it may be understood that these components can be internal to the cabinet  14 . 
     A dispensing system  53  can be provided for dispensing treating chemistry to the basket  30 , either directly or mixed with water from the water supply  44 . The dispensing system  53  can include a dispenser  54 , which can be a single use dispenser, a bulk dispenser, or a combination of a single use and bulk dispenser in non-limiting examples. As illustrated, the dispenser  54  can be fluidly coupled with the conduit  52  through a diverter valve  55  and a first water conduit  56 . The dispensing system  53  can include means for supplying or mixing detergent to or with water from the first water conduit  56 . Alternatively, water from the first water conduit  56  can also be supplied to the tub  34  through the detergent dispenser  54  without the addition of a detergent. A second water conduit, illustrated as the water inlet  58 , can also be fluidly coupled with the conduit  52  through the diverter valve  55  such that water can be supplied directly to the treating chamber through the open top of the basket  30 . 
     Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that can be dispensed by the dispensing system during a cycle of operation include one or more of the following: water, detergents, surfactants, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellants, water repellants, energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinations thereof. The treating chemistries can be in the form of a liquid, powder, or any other suitable phase or state of matter. 
     Additionally, the liquid supply system and dispensing system  53  can differ from the configuration shown, such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, wash aid dispensers, heaters, sensors, such as water level sensors and temperature sensors, and the like, to control the flow of treating liquid through the washing machine  10  and for the introduction of more than one type of detergent/wash aid. 
     A liquid recirculation system can be provided for recirculating liquid from the tub  34  into the treating chamber  32 . More specifically, the sump  60  can be located in the bottom of the tub  34  and the liquid recirculation system can be configured to recirculate treating liquid from the sump  60  onto the top of a laundry load located in the treating chamber  32 . A pump  62  can be housed below the tub  34  and can have an inlet fluidly coupled with the sump  60  and an outlet configured to fluidly couple to either or both a household drain  64  or a recirculation conduit  66 . In this configuration, the pump  62  can be used to drain or recirculate wash water in the sump  60 . As illustrated, the recirculation conduit  66  can be fluidly coupled with the treating chamber  32  such that it supplies liquid into the open top of the basket  30 . The liquid recirculation system can include other types of recirculation systems. 
     It is noted that the illustrated drive system, suspension system, liquid supply system, recirculation and drain system are shown for exemplary purposes only and are not limited to the systems shown in the drawings and described above. For example, the liquid supply, recirculation and pump systems can differ from the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, sensors (such as liquid level sensors and temperature sensors), and the like, to control the flow of liquid through the washing machine  10  and for the introduction of more than one type of treating chemistry. For example, the liquid supply system can be configured to supply liquid into the interior of the tub  34  not occupied by the basket  30  such that liquid can be supplied directly to the tub  34  without having to travel through the basket  30 . In another example, the liquid supply system can include a single valve for controlling the flow of water from the household water source. In another example, the recirculation and pump system can include two separate pumps for recirculation and draining, instead of the single pump as previously described. 
     The washing machine  10  can also be provided with a heating system (not shown) to heat liquid provided to the treating chamber  32 . In one example, the heating system can include a heating element provided in the sump to heat liquid that collects in the sump  60 . Alternatively, the heating system can be in the form of an in-line heater that heats the liquid as it flows through the liquid supply, dispensing and/or recirculation systems. 
     The washing machine  10  can further include a controller  70  coupled with various working components of the washing machine  10  to control the operation of the working components and to implement one or more treating cycles of operation. A user interface  26  can be operably coupled with the controller  70 . The user interface  26  can include one or more knobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output. The user can enter different types of information including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options. 
     The controller  70  can include the machine controller and any additional controllers provided for controlling any of the components of the washing machine  10 . For example, the controller  70  can include the machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types of controllers can be used for the controller  70 . It is contemplated that the controller is a microprocessor-based controller that implements control software and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from each of the various working components to implement the control software. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID), can be used to control the various components of the washing machine  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the controller  70  can be provided with a memory  72  and a central processing unit (CPU)  74 . The memory  72  can be used for storing the control software that can be executed by the CPU  74  in completing a cycle of operation using the washing machine  10  and any additional software. Examples, without limitation, of treating cycles of operation include: wash, heavy-duty wash, delicate wash, quick wash, pre-wash, refresh, rinse only, and timed wash, which can be selected at the user interface  26 . The memory  72  can also be used to store information, such as a database or table, and to store data received from the one or more components of the washing machine  10  that can be communicably coupled with the controller  70 . The database or table can be used to store the various operating parameters for the one or more cycles of operation, including factory default values for the operating parameters and any adjustments to them by the control system or by user input. 
     The controller  70  can be operably coupled with one or more components of the washing machine  10  for communicating with and/or controlling the operation of the components to complete a cycle of operation. For example, the controller  70  can be coupled with the hot water valve  48 , the cold water valve  50 , the diverter valve  55 , and the dispenser  54  for controlling the temperature and flow rate of treating liquid into the treating chamber  32 ; the pump  62  for controlling the amount of treating liquid in the treating chamber  32  or sump  60 ; drive system  40  at the motor  41  for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of the basket  30  and/or the clothes mover  38 ; and the user interface  26  for receiving user selected inputs and communicating information to the user. The controller  70  can also receive input from a temperature sensor  76 , such as a thermistor, which can detect the temperature of the treating liquid in the treating chamber  32  and/or the temperature of the treating liquid being supplied to the treating chamber  32 . The controller  70  can also receive input from various additional sensors  78 , which are known in the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examples of additional sensors  78  that can be communicably coupled with the controller  70  include a weight sensor and a motor torque sensor. 
     Looking now at the dispensing system  53  in greater detail, reference is made to  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a top view of a washing machine  10  showing the dispensing system  53  having a pre-treatment faucet  84 . For ease of viewing, the door  28  is shown in the opened position to illustrate the relative positions of the dispenser  54 , shroud  29  and access opening  15 . More specifically, the dispenser  54  can be provided in (and may partially form) the shroud  29  toward the rear of the access opening  15 , though any other suitable position of the dispenser  54  is contemplated. The dispenser  54  can include a drawer  80  movable or slidable between a closed, first position ( FIG. 3 ) and an opened, second position ( FIG. 4 ) relative to the shroud  29 . The drawer  80  of the dispenser  54  can further include a front panel  68 , which forms a portion of the shroud  29  in the closed, first position. 
     The faucet  84  can be provided on the drawer  80 . The faucet  84  can underlie the shroud  29  when the drawer  80  is in the closed, first position. The faucet  84  has an outlet  86  provided in the front panel  68  of the dispenser  54 . The outlet  86  can be formed as an aperture  94  in the drawer  80  or the shroud  29 . A pre-treatment water flow, or supply of water  100 , can be provided from the faucet  84  at the outlet  86 , and dispensed to the treating chamber  32  through the access opening  15 . In particular, the supply of water  100  can be provided from the dispenser  54  at the faucet  84 . When the drawer  80  is in the first position the supply of water  100  can be directed in a stream flowing out of the outlet  86  in the faucet  84  and toward the treating chamber  32  in a downward direction. 
     An actuator  90  can operably couple to the dispenser  54  to control the supply of water  100  from the faucet  84 . A user can operate the actuator  90  to utilize the faucet  84  for pre-treatment of laundry items. In this illustrative example, the actuator  90  is in the form of a switch  92 . However, the actuator  90  can be any suitable actuable element, such as a switch, button, dial, or knob. The actuator  90  can be provided on the shroud  29  or the dispenser  54 , such that the actuator  90  is accessible through the access opening  15  while the door  28  is in the opened position. While the actuator  90  is shown as being located on the shroud  29 , the actuator  90  can be located on any other suitable location accessible by a user, such as on the cabinet  14 , drawer  80 , or user interface  26 . The actuator  90  can be a mechanical actuator wherein the supply of water  100  is controlled by way of a mechanical operation, or the actuator  90  can be an electrical actuator wherein the supply of water  100  is controlled by way of an electric signal or current. Alternatively, it is contemplated that any suitable operable control mechanism be used to control the supply of water  100 . 
     When the lid  28  is open, the faucet  84  is accessible and enables a user utilize the faucet  84  to dispense water onto fabric items for pre-treatment. After the lid  28  is closed and the washing machine  10  begins an automatic cycle of operation, the faucet  84  should not further dispense water. Instead, the treating chemistry containers  81 ,  83 ,  85  can dispense treating chemistry for use during the automatic cycle of operation. 
     In use, the faucet  84  can be used to treat a laundry item prior to the washing machine  10  running an automatic cycle of operation. In a first example, a laundry item can be placed underneath the faucet  84  in the trajectory of the supply of water  100  flowing out of the outlet  86 . The user can actuate the actuator  90  to start the supply of water  100  from the faucet  84 . The laundry item can be at least partially saturated with the supply of water  100 . The wet laundry treating item can be treated by the user, such as rubbing or brushing a stain on the wet laundry item. In another example, before or after the laundry item is wetted using the faucet  84 , a treating chemistry such as a stain-remover can be applied to the laundry item. The user can then treat the laundry item with the stain-remover having been wet by the water supplied from the faucet  84 . To treat the laundry item a user may wish to scrub the wet portion of the laundry item, such as by rubbing the laundry item with a user&#39;s hands or by using a brush, sponge, or other suitable treatment utensil. In yet another example, the user could simply put the laundry item under the faucet to become at least partially saturated with the supply of water prior to running a cycle of operation, or adding treating chemistry and water to a particular laundry item or portion thereof to provide increased treatment beyond the cycle of operation alone. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the washing machine  10  with the drawer  80  of the dispenser  54  slid out of the shroud  29  in the opened, second positon. While the drawer  80  is in the second position, the faucet  84  can extend at least partially beyond the shroud  29  and overlie the basket  30  into the access opening  15  such that the outlet  86  extends beyond the shroud  29 . 
     A set of one or more containers, shown here as a first container  81 , a second container  83 , and a third container  85 , can be carried by the drawer  80 . The containers  81 ,  83 , and  85  can hold differing types of liquids or powders, such as water or treating chemistry including detergent, fabric softener, or stain repellent. It is also contemplated that at least two of the containers  81 ,  83 , and  85  are different in volume. Furthermore, the particular containers  81 ,  83 , and  85  can be tailored to particular treating chemistries, and can include indicia or labelling to identify the particular intended treating chemistries. 
     At least one of the containers  81 ,  83 , and  85  can be adapted to facilitate water flow for the faucet  84 . In this example, the second container  83  at least partially defines the faucet  84  and can include the outlet  86 . As such, the drawer  80  including the second container  83  can at least partially form the faucet  84  as described herein. The second container  83  includes a bottom  87  and sides  89  such that a volume of water or treating chemistry is constrained within the second container  83 . The outlet  86  can be provided in the bottom  87  or the sides  89  of the second container  83 , providing egress for water or treating chemistry within the second container  83 . This enables the pre-treatment water faucet functionality to be provided within the structure of the dispenser drawer  80 , resulting in a simple, low-complexity, and low-cost implementation. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a top view of the dispenser drawer  80  is shown schematically coupled to the water supply  44 . The outlet  86  can be provided in the bottom  87  or sides  89  of the second container  83 . The outlet  86  can further include a nozzle to facilitate the flow of water from the outlet  86 . A water line  98  can fluidly couple the water supply  44  to the dispenser  54 . The water line  98  can be coupled at the second container  83 , and can be movable to accommodate slidable movement of the drawer  80 . While the water line  98  is shown to only couple the second container  83 , the water line  98  can fluidly couple any of the containers  81 ,  83 , and  85 . A valve  102  can be provided at a junction between the water supply  44  and the water line  98  for selectively supplying water to the water line  98 . The valve  102  can be any suitable valve, such as a diverter valve. The valve  102  can be operably coupled to the actuator  90  to selectively open and close the water line  98  to selectively provide water to the faucet  84 . 
     The valve  102  can be supplied with both the hot water supply  45  and the cold water supply  46  and can control the temperature based upon instruction from the actuator  90 . The actuator  90  can allow a user to choose the temperature of water supplied to the second container  83  by operating valves associated with the hot water supply  45  or the cold water supply  46  from the valve  102 . Alternatively, water temperature can be controlled at the user interface. 
     Upon actuation of the actuator  90 , the valve  102  can provide the supply of water  44  to the water line  98  through the valve  102 . The supply of water  44  is passed to the second container  83  and can then exit the faucet  84  at the outlet  86 . Thus, the supply of water can be used to saturate a laundry item with the supply of water  100 , while still containing spill-over water within the treating chamber  32 . 
     The faucet  84  can dispense water alone, or water mixed with treating chemistry. For example, the supply of water provided by the faucet  84  can include a stain treating chemistry to pre-treat laundry items prior to washing. A user can fill the second container  83  with a pre-treating chemistry or other treating chemistry prior to actuation of the actuator  90 . At actuation of the actuator  90  the supply of water passes through the second container  83  to mix with the treating chemistry to form a mixed supply. The mixed supply exists the outlet  86  and is supplied from the faucet  84  to the treating chamber for pre-treatment of laundry. Alternately, if the user does not fill the second container  83  with a treating chemistry and the supply of water does not mix with treating chemistry. 
     In use, the user can open the drawer  80  and fill the second container  83  with a volume of treating chemistry, such as a stain-treatment. The user can close drawer  80  with the treating chemistry retained in the second container  83 . The user can then actuate the actuator  90  to provide the supply of water  100  to the second container  83  to mix with the treating chemistry. The mixture of water and treating chemistry is dispensed from the faucet  84  where a user can use the mixture of water and treating chemistry to at least partially saturate a laundry item. The user can then treat the laundry item, such as by rubbing the laundry item with the user&#39;s hands or by using a brush, sponge, or other suitable treatment utensil. Alternatively, the user could simply wet the laundry item with the mixture of water and chemistry prior to running a cycle of operation, without treating the laundry item, to provide for increased treatment to desired laundry items or portions of laundry items. 
     The dispenser  54  obviates the need for an external sink or space for pre-washing or pre-treating laundry. Having the faucet  84  integrated into the dispenser  54  can enable a user to pre-treat laundry items prior to running a cycle of operation, while containing any liquid or treating chemistry within the treating chamber of the washing machine. The dispenser  54  also minimizes or eliminates additional space otherwise required to route the supply of water  100  as the supply of water  100  can already be supplied to the dispenser  54  for providing treating chemistry to the treating chamber. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative dispenser  154  provided within a laundry treating appliance  110 . The laundry treating appliance  110  of  FIG. 6  can be substantially similar to the laundry treating appliance  10  of  FIGS. 1-5 . Therefore, like parts will be identified with like numerals increased by a value of one hundred, with discussion being limited to differences between the two. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a faucet  184  is spaced from a drawer  180  of the dispenser  154 . Alternatively, it is contemplated that faucet  184  can be adjacent the drawer  180 . The drawer  180  is slidable between a first position and a second position, similar to the drawer  80  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and is shown here in the closed, first position. An outlet  186  for the faucet  184  is fluidly coupled to a treating chamber  132  and can be located on or within the shroud  129  or other mechanical structures associated with the treating chamber  132  or access opening  115 . The outlet  186  can be in the form of an aperture  194  provided in the shroud  129 . An actuator  190  can be provided on the shroud  129  and can be adjacent the aperture  194 , spaced from the dispenser  154 . However it is contemplated that the actuator  190  can be adjacent to or positioned on the drawer  180 , adjacent to the aperture  194 , at any suitable position around the shroud  129 , or on the user interface  26  in non-limiting examples. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the dispenser  154  can have a set of containers  182 . The containers  182  can be organized as three separate containers as a first container  182   a , a second container  182   b , and a third  182   c . The containers  182  can be adapted to hold differing types of treating chemistry such as a detergent, a fabric softener, or a stain repellent. 
     A first conduit  156 , a second conduit  157 , and a third conduit  158  can fluidly couple the water supply  144  to the first container  182   a , the second container  182   b , and the third container  182   c , respectively, while any flow combination is contemplated. A diverter valve  155  can join the water supply line  144  to the conduits  156 ,  157 ,  158 . The diverter valve  155  can selectively divert hot or cold water supplies  145 ,  146  to the first, second, or third conduits  156 ,  157 ,  158 , to selectively provide hot, cold, or mixed water to the first, second, or third containers  182   a ,  182   b ,  182   c . Such provision can be determinative of a cycle of operation or user selection at the user interface  26 . Furthermore, the diverter valve  155  can be operably coupled to the actuator  190 , such that actuation of the actuator  190  can be used to select a desired temperature. 
     A water supply line  198  can extend between the containers  182  and the faucet  184  and can fluidly couple the dispenser  154  to the faucet  184 . A valve  202  can be provided along the water supply line  198  to selectively open and close the water supply line  198 , in order to selectively fluidly couple the dispenser  154  to the faucet  184 . While illustrated as fluidly coupling all three containers  182  to the faucet  184 , it is contemplated that the water supply line  198  can fluidly connect only one container  182  to the faucet  184 . 
     In operation, water is supplied to the dispenser  154  from the water supply  144  through the first, second, and third conduits  156 ,  157 ,  158  by the first valve  155 . The first valve  155  can be used to control the flow of water as well as the water temperature. From the dispenser  154 , the water can be selectively provided to the faucet  184  through the water supply line  198 . The valve  202  can control the flow of water through the water supply line  198 . At actuation of the actuator  190 , the first valve  155 , the second valve  202 , or both can opened to provide water from the faucet  184 . 
     The supply of water  200  to the faucet  184  can originate from the container  182  either supplied with or not supplied with treating chemistry. A user can load the treating chemistry containers  182  with a desired treating chemistry when the dispenser  154  is in the open position. Then, a user can push the dispenser  154  to the closed position and start the supply of water  200  from the faucet  184 . The supply of water  200  passes through the container  182  filled with treating chemistry to form a mixed supply of water and treating chemistry. The mixed supply will be dispensed from the faucet  184  for use in pretreating laundry. 
     If a user fills the container  182  with a pre-treating chemistry or other treating chemistry, actuation of the actuator  190  opens the diverter valve  155  and water is supplied to the container  182  from at least one of the conduits  156 ,  157 ,  158 . The hot and cold supplies  145 ,  146  can supply water to the dispenser at various temperatures. As some treating chemistries perform optimally at different water temperatures it can be advantageous to fill a container  182  that receives a cold, hot, or mixed water with a suitable treating chemistry to mix with the supply of water  200 . For example, a stain repellant may perform optimally at cold water temperatures. Therefore a user can fill the container  182  with the stain repellant and control the actuator  190  to supply the container  182  filled with the stain repellent with a supply of water at an optimal, colder temperature. 
     The dispenser  154  enables a user to pre-treat laundry items prior to running a cycle of operation without the use of an external sink or space. The water or mix of water and treating chemistry will be contained within the treating chamber  132 . Thus, the dispenser  154  obviates the need for an external sink or space for pre-treatment of laundry prior to a typical cycle of operation, as any pre-treatment can be done at the washing machine  110  itself. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative dispenser  254  provided within a laundry treating appliance  10 . The dispenser  254  of  FIG. 8  can be substantially similar to the dispenser  54  of  FIGS. 1-5 . Therefore, like parts will be identified with like numerals increased by a value of two hundred, with discussion being limited to differences between the two. 
     A top view of the dispenser drawer  280  having at least one container  283  is shown schematically coupled to the water supply  244 . A flood wall  291  can block a portion of the flow path defined within the container  283 . The flood wall  291 , can be a walled structure coupled to the second container  83  such that water can be directed to flow up and over the flood wall  291  and out of the outlet  86 . Stated in another way, the flood wall  291  acts as a spillway and a lower portion of the flood wall  291  adjacent the bottom  287  of the container  283  will direct the flow of water upwards and over the flood wall  291  towards the outlet  286 . It should be appreciated that the outlet  286  and the faucet  284  can be provided in a variety of forms, such that a flow path is integrated into the dispenser and provided from the faucet  284  to the treating chamber. 
     In a traditional vertical axis laundry treating appliance a user cannot use a water supply from the laundry treating appliance prior to running a cycle of operation to pre-treat laundry items. Integration of a water supply in accordance with the present disclosure enables a user to pre-treat laundry items prior to running a cycle of operation without the use of an external sink or space. For example, a user can start the supply of water from the faucet to saturate a laundry item with water and the water will be contained within the treating chamber. Aspects of the present disclosure also provide for a mix of water and treating chemistry, at various temperatures, to flow from the faucet to saturate a laundry item for pre-treatment. 
     To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments can be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments can be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described. All combinations or permutations of features described herein are covered by this disclosure. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.