Patent ID: 8359888

Claim:
A dispensing system for powdered treating agent for use in a washing machine, the dispensing system comprising: at least one supply container for the treating agent, the at least one supply container having an agitator with a first vertical rotatable shaft and blades configured to be rotated by the first vertical rotatable shaft, the agitator being drivable by an electric drive; a delivery device configured to deliver the treating agent to the washing machine through a connecting hose; and a dosing device for dispensing the treating agent from the at least one supply container to the delivery device, the dosing device including a cylindrical chamber and a compartmented wheel disposed therein, the compartmented wheel having a plurality of compartments separated by spokes, the compartmented wheel being disposed below a bottom of the supply container and being coupled to a second vertical rotatable shaft that is spaced from the first vertical rotatable shaft, the cylindrical chamber having an inlet opening disposed in the bottom of the at least one supply container and configured to fill the compartments therethrough and an underside of the cylindrical chamber having an outlet opening to the delivery device, the inlet opening and outlet opening having a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of a compartment of the plurality of compartments, the inlet opening being disposed near the first vertical rotatable shaft and the outlet opening being disposed remote from the first vertical rotatable shaft, wherein the compartmented wheel is coupled to the first vertical rotatable shaft of the agitator, the first vertical rotatable shaft including at least one dog movable through the cylindrical chamber so as to contact the spokes of the compartmented wheel and rotate the compartmented wheel through a partial revolution.