Patent Publication Number: US-7895864-B2

Title: Laundry additive dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Automated washing machines (such as laundry washing machines) often include mechanisms for dispensing additives into a washing chamber (e.g., a drum of a laundry washing machine). Some dispensers contain receptacles for different additives, which can include detergents, whiteners, fabric softeners, scents, rinse aids, etc. Typically, a user fills a dispenser chamber with one or more additives. During a wash cycle, water is then automatically introduced into the dispenser chamber and mixes with the additive. The water/additive mixture then flows into a separate washing chamber. 
     One type of additive dispenser is described in commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0011089 (titled “Washing Aid Dispenser and Washing Machine Comprising Said Dispenser”). The dispenser described in said application includes an arrangement of siphon posts positioned within a dispenser compartment. Cap pieces extend over the tops of the siphon posts. When water is introduced into the dispenser cavity and rises above the height of one or more of the siphon posts, a mixture of water and an additive is drawn from the dispenser cavity through the siphon post(s) and flows into the wash drum. 
     The dispenser described in U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0011089 includes multiple siphon posts of different diameters and heights in order to provide increased suction for removal of denser additives. Under some conditions, however, that dispenser (as well as other siphoning dispensers) may fail to completely evacuate a water/additive mixture from a dispenser by the end of a wash cycle. For example, some highly viscous additives can interfere with a siphoning action and interrupt flow from a dispenser cavity. When additive mixture remains after a wash cycle, the user may find it necessary to remove the entire dispenser unit to dump out the remaining mixture. In some cases, the additive mixture remains in the dispenser until the water component evaporates, thereby leaving a hardened residue. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In at least some embodiments, an additive dispenser includes a fluid-retaining chamber used to hold and dispense an additive. A siphoning post extends upward from a lower surface of the fluid-retaining chamber and cooperates with a cap or other structure so as to form a siphon chamber. When water is added to the chamber and a liquid level rises above an inlet to the siphoning post, a siphoning effect draws fluid from the chamber. When the siphoning effect is interrupted, any unsiphoned fluid remaining in the chamber exits by permeation through one or more porous elements located in a base of the chamber. In some embodiments, the additive dispenser is part of a clothes washing machine, and is used to hold and dispense liquid additives (e.g., fabric softener, liquid bleach, etc.) into a drum or other wash chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a partially schematic front perspective view of a washing machine according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an additive dispenser from the washing machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a drawer from the dispenser of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a drawer from the dispenser of  FIG. 2 , and with a cover removed. 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of a drawer from the dispenser of  FIG. 2 , which end view is from the location shown in  FIG. 3  and rotated by 180°. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken from the location indicated in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken from the location indicated in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken from the location indicated in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the dispenser drawer shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is another enlarged view of the dispenser drawer shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of a dispenser drawer according to at least some additional embodiments. 
         FIGS. 12A through 12C  are top views of dispenser drawers according to additional embodiments. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of a dispenser drawer according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of a dispenser drawer according to an embodiment that includes an insert for dispensing of liquid detergent. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view taken from the location shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIGS. 16 and 17  are cross-sectional views similar to  FIG. 15 , but showing dispensing of a liquid detergent additive. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although various embodiments are described herein using a front-loading clothes washing (or laundry) machine as an example, the invention is not limited to front loading washers. In other embodiments, additive dispensers similar to those described herein are incorporated into top loading washing machines. The invention is not limited to laundry equipment. Additive dispensers similar to those described herein can also be used in automated dishwashing equipment, as well as in other devices. Indeed, dispensers such as those described herein can be used in devices that perform no washing function. 
       FIG. 1  is a partially schematic front perspective view of a clothes washing machine  1  according to at least some embodiments. The housing  2  of washing machine  1  is shown with uneven broken lines, and numerous details of washing machine  1  have been omitted so as not to obscure this description with unnecessary details. As seen in  FIG. 1 , washing machine  1  is of the front-loading type. Clothes or other items to be laundered are placed into a drum  3 . Drum  3  is then rotated during various portions of a wash cycle by a motor (not shown). In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , hot and cold water inputs are fed to a dispenser  5 . The outfall from dispenser  5  then flows into drum  3 . Within dispenser  5 , one or more electrically-controlled valves and/or flow channels are used to direct water into drum  3 . During some parts of the cycle, water bypasses various additive chambers within dispenser  5 , and the outfall from dispenser  5  is water alone. During other parts of a wash cycle, and as described in more detail below, water flows through one or more chambers within dispenser  5  and mixes with additives in those chambers. As a result of said mixing, the outfall from dispenser  5  is a combination of water and one or more of the additives. During (or at the conclusion of) each wash cycle, water is drained from drum  3  via a drain line (not shown). 
       FIG. 2  shows dispenser  5  in more detail. Dispenser  5  includes a drawer  10  and drawer compartment  12 . Drawer  10  is attached to a front panel  13  and includes a removable cover  15 . Drawer compartment  12  includes a bottom  17 , sides  18  and  19 , and a rear  20 . Side  19  is partially removed in  FIG. 2  so as to show additional internal details. Drawer  10  and cover  15  slide into a cavity  22  formed by sides  18  and  19 , bottom  17 , and rear  20 . With the exception of a drain region  23 , the inner surfaces of sides  18  and  19 , bottom  17  and rear  20  are fluid tight. When water is introduced into drawer  10  (as described below), water and/or additive flows from the rear of drawer  10 . Because bottom  17  slopes downward, water and/or additive from drawer  10  flows into drain region  23 . Drain region  23  is connected to an outfall tube  25  that carries water and/or additive to drum  3  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     As explained in more detail below, three separate chambers are formed in drawer  10 . One of those chambers can hold and dispense powdered detergent, and the other two chambers can hold and dispense liquid additives (e.g., fabric softener and bleach). Openings corresponding to each of the three chambers in drawer  10  are formed in cover  15 . Specifically, a first opening  27  is positioned over the chamber used to hold and dispense powdered detergent. Liquid detergent may also be dispensed through the use of an insertable cup and cover assembly, as will be described below in conjunction with  FIGS. 14-17 . A second opening  28  is positioned over the chamber used to hold and dispense fabric softener, and a third opening  29  is positioned over the chamber used to hold and dispense liquid bleach. 
     When drawer  10  and cover  15  are fully inserted into drawer compartment  12  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), a water flow control assembly  31  selectively introduces water into one or more of openings  27 ,  28  and  29 . Water flow control assembly  31  is also configurable (e.g., during a rinse cycle) to bypass drawer  10  by directing water between the left side of drawer  10  (i.e., the side not visible in  FIG. 2  and that is opposite to right side  32 ) and the inner surface of side  18  of drawer compartment  12 . In some embodiments, water flow control assembly  31  includes a water-conveying tray with groups of holes that are positioned over openings  27 ,  28  and  29  when drawer  10  and cover  15  are inserted into drawer compartment  12 , as well as a group of holes located over the region between the left side of drawer  10  and the inner surface of compartment side  18 . A plurality of channels are also formed in the water-conveying tray so as to direct water over an appropriate group (or groups) of holes for dispensing a selected additive during a particular wash cycle. Solenoid valves are coupled to the hot and cold water inputs, and are selectively operated (either individually or in various combinations) so as to direct water through the appropriate channel(s). Such water flow control assemblies are known in the art. One example of a tray-type water flow control assembly having a plurality of channels and hole groupings is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,012 (titled “Device for Housing Detergents and/or Other Washing Agents Which Can Be Used in a Washing Machine, Preferably in a Machine for Washing Laundry). In other embodiments, different water control mechanisms can be used. For example, a separate tubing output could be placed in each of the locations within drawer compartment  12  that corresponds to one of openings  27 ,  28  and  29  and to the drawer bypass location, with a separate solenoid valve placed in a fluid flow path between each tubing output and the hot and/or cold water inputs. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of drawer  10  with cover  15  attached.  FIG. 4  is a top view of drawer  10  with cover  15  removed. For simplicity, front panel  13  is omitted from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , as well as from subsequent drawings.  FIG. 5  is an end view of drawer  10  and cover  15  taken from the location shown in  FIG. 3 , and is rotated by 180° so as not to be upside down. As seen in  FIG. 5  and as explained below in connection with  FIGS. 6-9 , chamber  35  is open at the rear  36  of drawer  10 . A removable base  63  is attached (along snap-fit lines  61 ) to the underside of drawer  10  under chambers  38  and  39 . Such separately-formed and attached pieces may be necessary or desirable from a manufacturing standpoint (e.g., to facilitate removal of the pieces from the molds of an injection molding apparatus). As seen in  FIG. 5 , and as also seen in  FIG. 9 , base  63  does not extend all the way to rear  36  of drawer  10  in some embodiments. Base  62  of chamber  35  is formed as an integral part of drawer  10 , and does extend all the way to rear  36  (in some embodiments). 
     Opening  27  in cover  15  is located over chamber  35 . By introducing water into chamber  35  through opening  27 , powdered detergent in chamber  35  is carried into drawer compartment  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) and into drum  3  ( FIG. 1 ). Openings  28  and  29  in cover  15  are located over chambers  38  and  39 , respectively. As described below in connection with  FIG. 7 , chambers  38  and  39  are generally in the shape of tanks with open tops. Fluid cannot flow out of the sides of chambers  38  and  39 . Instead, and in a manner described below, fluid exits chamber  39  through siphon posts  41  and  42 . As is also described below, fluid exits chamber  38  through siphon posts  43 ,  44  and  45 , as well as through porous elements  49  and  50 . As previously indicated, drawer  10  is in some embodiments formed from injected-molded plastic. Broken lines in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are used to impart a sense of thickness to the walls of chambers  35 ,  38  and  39 , as well as to a front wall  51  of drawer  10 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of drawer  10  taken from the location indicated in  FIG. 3 . Chamber  35  is open at the rear  36  of drawer  10 . In operation, chamber  35  is used to hold and dispense powdered detergent. Specifically, powdered detergent is placed into chamber  35  through cover opening  27  when drawer  10  is pulled from drawer compartment  12 . After drawer  10  and cover  15  are replaced into drawer compartment  12  and a wash cycle begins, water is introduced into chamber  35  (also through opening  27 ) from water control assembly  31 . That water mixes with powdered detergent and carries the powdered detergent out of drawer  10  through the open rear  36 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of drawer  10  taken from the location indicated in  FIG. 4 . Chamber  38  forms a generally rectangular tank with a deeper recessed region  53  and a shallower region  54 , with regions  53  and  54  joined by a sloping region  55 . Siphon posts  43 ,  44  and  45  are located in recessed region  53 . Siphon post  44  is behind siphon post  43 ; siphon post  45  is omitted from  FIGS. 7-10  for clarity. As seen in  FIG. 7 , siphon post  43  includes a central bore  57  that extends from an inlet  58  at the top of siphon post  43  to an outlet  59  on the underside of chamber  38 . Porous element  49  is annularly shaped and located in recessed region  53  around the base of siphon post  43 . The purpose of porous element  49  (and of porous element  50 ) is discussed below. Siphon posts  44  and  45  ( FIG. 4 ) are similar to siphon post  43 . In the embodiment shown, a porous element  50  is also located around the base of siphon post  44 . The walls of chamber  38 , regions  54 ,  55  and  53  (except for porous elements  49  and  50 ), and the sides of siphon posts  43 ,  44  and  45  are non-porous. Chamber  39  is generally similar to chamber  38 , except that chamber  39  only includes two siphon posts  41  and  42 , and chamber  39  lacks porous elements. Base  63  of drawer  10  is removably attached to wall  40  of chamber  35 , to the forward end  51  of drawer  10 , and to side wall  32  (see  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 ). In this manner, a downwardly sloping cavity  64  is formed, and fluid exiting chambers  38  and  39  flows through cavity  64  and out of drawer  10  slightly ahead of rear  36  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken from the location shown in  FIG. 3 , and shows drawer  10  with cover  15  in place. A cap  66  is attached to the underside of cover  15  and is positioned over siphon post  43 . A cap  67  (also attached to the underside of cover  15 ) is positioned over siphon post  41 . Additional caps (not shown) are also attached to the underside of cover  15  and similarly positioned over siphon posts  42 ,  44  and  45 . Chambers  38  and  39  are used to hold and dispense liquid additives. In the embodiment shown, chamber  38  is used to hold and dispense relatively viscous fluid additives (e.g., fabric softener). Chamber  39  is used to hold and dispense less viscous additives (e.g., liquid bleach). In operation, a user pours liquid additives into chambers  38  and  39  through openings  28  and  29  when drawer  10  and attached cover  15  are pulled outwardly to extend from drawer compartment  12 . By way of example, broken lines  69  and  70  indicate the fill levels of fabric softener (chamber  38 ) and bleach (chamber  39 ) added by a user. Actual indicia indicating a desirable fill level may be provided, but are not required. Rather, the additive fill level(s) may be any marked or unmarked fill level below the top of the siphon post, so as to avoid commencement of siphoning action prior to the desired dispensing time. 
     After drawer  10  and attached cover  15  are pushed back into drawer compartment  12 , and during appropriate times in the wash cycle, water is introduced into chamber  38  (through opening  28 ) and into chamber  39  (through opening  29 ). By way of further example, broken line  71  indicates a level of water and fabric softener mixture after water is added to chamber  38 . Similarly, broken line  72  indicates a level of water and bleach mixture after water is added to chamber  39 . As water is added to chamber  38  and the liquid level rises above the top of siphon post  43  (and thus above the inlet  58  of bore  57 ), a siphoning effect occurs within a siphon chamber  75  formed between the inner wall of cap  66  and the outer wall of siphon post  43 . This siphon effect then draws liquid from chamber  38  and releases that liquid through outlet  59  of bore  57  into cavity  64 , with said liquid then flowing from drawer  10  into drawer compartment  12  along bottom  63 . In a similar manner, siphoning effects within siphon chambers (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) formed about siphon posts  44  and  45  draw liquid from chamber  38  and release liquid (through outlets of bores of siphon posts  44  and  45 ) into cavity  64 . Liquid is drawn from chamber  39  in a similar fashion through a siphon chamber  77  formed by cap  67  and siphon post  41 , as well as through a siphon chamber formed by a cap located over siphon post  42  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are enlarged views of drawer  10  and cover  15  from  FIG. 8 . Shown in uneven broken lines are the approximate locations (when drawer  10  and cover  15  are pushed back into drawer compartment  12 ) of the underside of water flow control assembly  31 , the inner surface of rear  20 , and the upper surface of bottom  17 . The solid-shaded regions in  FIGS. 9 and 10  represent a liquid (e.g., a water and fabric softener mixture). Because of the siphoning effect, liquid can be drawn from chamber  38  even after the liquid level in chamber  38  drops well below inlet  58  at the top of siphon post  43 . This is shown in  FIG. 9 , where liquid drawn from chamber  38  flows along bottom  63  and is discharged from drawer  10  into drawer compartment  12 . Once the level of liquid drops below the bottom edge of cap  66 , the siphon-effecting air seal is broken, thereby leaving some liquid in the bottom of chamber  38  ( FIG. 10 ). If the unsiphoned liquid is allowed to remain in chamber  38 , the user may undesirably encounter the residual liquid upon opening drawer  10  for the next wash. In addition, the water in that liquid may evaporate and leave behind an encrusted residue. Over time, such residue could accumulate and interfere with operation of chamber  38 . 
     So as to reduce and/or eliminate residual liquid and solidified residue formation and accumulation, porous elements  49  and  50  (seen in  FIG. 4 ) are included in recessed region  53  of chamber  38 . Elements  49  and  50  are formed from a material which allows a liquid to slowly permeate, thereby draining any liquid that remains in chamber  38  after a siphoning effect is interrupted. This is shown in  FIG. 10 , wherein liquid within chamber  38  is slowly seeping through porous element  49 . Because liquid does not quickly penetrate porous elements  49  and  50 , however, chamber  38  is able to substantially retain the additive for deferred delivery at the appropriate time during the wash process (i.e., when water is introduced to raise the liquid level above the tops of siphon posts  43 ,  44  and  45 , thereby permitting a siphoning effect to begin). 
     Porous elements  49  and  50  may be formed from any of a variety of materials, and may include a filter mesh and/or a permeable membrane. In some embodiments, for example, porous elements are created by gluing (with a cyanoacrylic adhesive) sections of woven mesh material over cutouts in the bottom of an additive chamber. In other embodiments, one or more porous inserts may be directly formed in the bottom of an additive chamber during an injection molding operation. Optimal pore size and overall area of a porous element will vary based on the types of additives a particular dispensing chamber is designed to hold. For many common laundry additives, a porous element having a pore size of approximately 50 microns and an overall area of approximately 9 mm by 3 mm will retain an undiluted additive (i.e., concentrated additive before water is added during a wash cycle) for several hours, but will allow an additive and water mixture to drain from the chamber in a shorter time period. For example, undiluted ALL® SMALL AND MIGHTY® 3×concentrated laundry detergent (produced by Unilever United States Inc. of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.) placed into a chamber having a 9 mm by 3 mm section of 193×193 precision woven nylon mesh (0.0020 inch diameter threads and 0.0031 inch openings, and available from McMaster-Carr Supply Company of Chicago, Ill. under part number 9318T22) in its bottom surface will drip out at a rate of approximately 1 drop every 15 seconds for the first 20 minutes and slowing to 1 drop every 40 seconds thereafter. Of course, other types of materials could be used (e.g., polyester, polypropylene, metal or metal alloys. 
     Selecting an appropriate porous element material and overall porous material area for a given additive (or group of additives) and for a given retention time (e.g., so as to prolong full discharge of the undiluted additive by an hour or more) is within the routine ability of persons skilled in the art once such persons are provided with the information contained in this written description. In some embodiments, porous elements can be chosen so as to retain undiluted and concentrated additive (having a higher viscosity) for a long period of time without significant leakage, but to permit a water-diluted additive (having a lower viscosity) to completely drain from the chamber during a wash cycle. In still other embodiments, one porous element within a dispenser chamber may have a different permeability than another porous element in the same dispenser chamber. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , porous elements are only included in chamber  38 . This configuration may be useful where, e.g., chamber  39  (which lacks porous inserts) is intended for dispensing of liquid bleach or other additives which are not highly viscous and/or which do not leave a significant residue upon evaporation. In some embodiments, however, porous elements can be included in both chambers. One example is shown in drawer  10   a  in  FIG. 11 . Drawer  10   a  is similar to drawer  10  of  FIGS. 1-10 , and similar components have reference numbers differentiated by an appended lower case “a” (e.g., siphon post  43  of  FIG. 4  corresponds to siphon post  43   a  of  FIG. 11 ). Unlike drawer  10  of  FIGS. 1-10 , however, drawer  10   a  in  FIG. 11  includes porous elements  81  and  82  in chamber  39   a . Moreover, porous elements  81  and  82  are formed from a material that is slightly less permeable than the material used for porous elements  49   a  and  50   a  in chamber  38   a , thereby facilitating deferred draining of less viscous water/additive mixtures that might remain unsiphoned. 
     Numerous other variations on the above concepts can be implemented in additional embodiments. For example, a porous element need not be in the shape of an annulus surrounding a siphon post. In some embodiments, porous elements can be round, square or of other shapes, and can be of various numbers and distribution. Some examples of such embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . In  FIG. 12A , a drawer  10   b  is similar to drawer  10  of  FIGS. 1-10 , except that square porous elements  84  are used instead of annular porous elements  49  and  50 . In  FIG. 12B , a drawer  10   c  is also similar to drawer  10  of  FIGS. 1-10 , except that a single round porous element  85  is used instead of annular porous elements  49  and  50 . In yet other embodiments, the entire recessed region of a dispenser chamber is formed from a porous element (as shown for drawer  10   d  in  FIG. 12C ). In yet other embodiments, the entire lower surface of a dispenser chamber (e.g., the surfaces of regions  53 ,  54  and  55  in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  7 ) are porous; the lower surface (or portions thereof) need not be flat. In still further embodiments, a dispenser implementing one or more of the above-described aspects may include a drawer having more than three chambers or less than three chambers. The number of siphoning elements may also vary. Indeed, the invention is not limited to implementation in a dispenser having a drawer/drawer compartment configuration. 
     In still further embodiments, a lower portion of one or more siphon posts and/or of one or more dispenser chamber walls may be porous. One example of such an embodiment is shown in  FIG. 13 , a cross-sectional view of a dispenser drawer  10   e  according to another embodiment. Drawer  10   e  is similar to drawer  10  of  FIGS. 1-10 , and similar components have reference numbers differentiated by an appended lower case “e” (e.g., siphon post  43  of  FIG. 4  corresponds to siphon post  43   e  of  FIG. 11 ). In the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , the lower portion of siphon post  43   e , a lower portion of a back rear wall  92 , region  53   e  and a portion of region  55   e  are formed from a porous material  87 . In other embodiments, only the lower portions of one or more siphon posts and/or of the chamber walls are porous. 
     As previously indicated, some embodiments include an insertable cup and cover assembly that can be used to dispense liquid detergents.  FIG. 14  is a top view of a dispenser drawer  10   f  according to one such embodiment. Drawer  10   f  is similar to drawer  10  of  FIGS. 1-10 , and similar components have reference numbers differentiated by an appended lower case “f.” As with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-10 , chamber  35   f  of drawer  10   f  can be used to dispense powdered detergent. However, cup/cover assembly  101  can alternatively be inserted and used to dispense liquid detergent.  FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of drawer  10   f  and of cup/cover assembly  101  from the location shown in  FIG. 14 . Assembly  101  includes a cup  111  and a cover  103 . Cover  103  is attached to cup  111  (e.g., by a snap fit), and cap/cover assembly  101  is removably attached (e.g., via another snap fit, via a lip formed around a portion of opening  27   f , etc.) to drawer cover  15   f  within opening  27   f . In other embodiments, cup/cover assembly  101  is attached to drawer  10   f  in another manner (e.g., by resting on a pedestal formed within chamber  35   f ). Similar to chamber  38  of FIGS.  4  and  7 - 10 , cup  111  forms an internal chamber  105  having a siphon post  108  located in a recessed region. A bore  110  extends from an inlet at the top of post  108  to an outlet  113  on the underside of cup  111 . A cap  107  is attached to an underside of cover  103  and creates a siphon chamber around the upper portion of siphon post  108 . 
     A porous insert  109  is located around the base of siphon post  108 . Although only a single siphon post, cap and porous insert are shown, cup/cover assembly  101  can include multiple posts, caps and porous inserts. 
     In operation, a user pours liquid detergent into chamber  105  through opening  102  in cover  103 . After pushing drawer  10   f  into a drawer compartment (similar to compartment  12  shown on  FIG. 2 ), and during an appropriate portion of the wash cycle, water is introduced into chamber through opening  102 . This raises the liquid level in chamber  105 , and ultimately causes siphoning through post  108  to begin. As shown in  FIG. 16 , this siphoning continues and draws liquid from chamber  105  into chamber  35   f , from where the liquid then flows into the wash drum in a manner similar to that described above. After most of the liquid has been drained through the siphoning action, remaining liquid seeps out through porous element  109  ( FIG. 17 ). 
     In still other embodiments, a fluid removal device other than a siphon post is used. In some such embodiments, a first fluid removal component (e.g., a tube coupled to a pump or other vacuum source) has an inlet within a fluid-retaining chamber. The inlet is in fluid communication with an outlet located external from the fluid-retaining chamber. A porous element has a portion located in the fluid-retaining chamber, and serves as a secondary fluid removal component. 
     Numerous characteristics, advantages and embodiments of the invention have been described in detail in the foregoing description with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the above description and drawings are illustrative only. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and all embodiments of the invention need not necessarily achieve all of the advantages or purposes, or possess all characteristics, identified herein. Various changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. The elements and uses of the above-described embodiments can be rearranged and combined in manners other than specifically described above, with any and all permutations within the scope of the invention. As used herein (including the claims), “in fluid communication” means that fluid can flow from one component to another; such flow may be by way of one or more intermediate (and not specifically mentioned) other components; and such may or may not be selectively interrupted (e.g., with a valve). As also used herein (including the claims), “coupled” includes two components that are attached (movably or fixedly) by one or more intermediate components.