An automated method and apparatus for cleaning articles by direct application of concentrated product to a soiled surface of the article is disclosed. The article type is identified and a product dispensing sequence is activated to control the type of product dispensed onto the articles based on the article type and/or soil type on the article. Product, duration, and other parameters are tailored according to the article type and/or soil type during each sequence of the wash cycle. Product, wash and rinse liquids are applied at specific locations and from specific directions from within the cleaning apparatus based upon the article type and/or soil type on the article.

A dish washing machine including a cabinet having a frame defining a periphery of the dish washing machine, with the cabinet having a top, a front, a rear and a pair of sides. A dish washing area is located within the cabinet and includes a nozzle for spraying a liquid onto dishes in the dish washing area. The front of the cabinet has a door for allowing access into the dish washing area. A top wash basin is on the top of the cabinet, with the top wash basin including a spout for water and a sink for accepting liquid therein. The cabinet also can include a rinse detergent tank and a wash detergent tank, wherein a rinse detergent can be added to the rinse detergent tank and a wash detergent can be added to the wash detergent tank while the wash washing machine is activated.

A dishwasher utilizes one or more sensors capable of detecting when a rack is at an operative position at which the rack is positioned within the wash tub during washing and/or an extended position at which at least a portion of the rack is extended beyond the wash tub for loading or unloading of utensils, thereby allowing image captures by a camera to be timed relative to the movement of the rack into, between and/or away from the operative and/or extended positions.

Among other things, a method is disclosed which includes the following: acquiring at least one set of acceleration data indicative of a progression of measured acceleration values; determining status data indicative of a process step within a cleaning program performed by a dishwasher; outputting or causing the output of the determined status data. Further revealed is a device for executing and/or controlling this method, a system with one or more devices for executing and/or controlling this method and a computer program for executing and/or controlling this method by employing a processor.

A method for setting a time of a release of a cleaning agent during a cleaning cycle in a household appliance includes obtaining an evolution over time of a local parameter inside the appliance, the local parameter comprising an acceleration induced by the cycle or a temperature inside the appliance; obtaining reference patterns of evolutions of the local parameter during a cycle comprising different cleaning steps including a step adapted for releasing the cleaning agent at a predetermined adapted time; comparing the evolution of the local parameter to the reference patterns and identifying a cleaning step within the cycle when a similarity between a reference pattern and the evolution is above a predetermined threshold, and setting the release of the agent at the predetermined adapted time within the identified cleaning step when the identified step corresponds to a step adapted for releasing the agent.

A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a detergent cartridge. The detergent cartridge may include a detergent strip having a plurality of detergents. One or more ejection mechanisms may be used to expel the detergent from the detergent strip through an outlet of the detergent cartridge.

A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a detergent cartridge. The detergent cartridge may include a detergent strip having a plurality of detergents. One or more ejection mechanisms may be used to expel the detergent from the detergent strip through an outlet of the detergent cartridge. One or more tablet ejection sensors may be used.

A dishwasher utilizes one or more sensors capable of detecting when a rack is at an operative position at which the rack is positioned within the wash tub during washing and/or an extended position at which at least a portion of the rack is extended beyond the wash tub for loading or unloading of utensils, thereby allowing image captures by a camera to be timed relative to the movement of the rack into, between and/or away from the operative and/or extended positions.

A fluid-driven chemical product dispensing system dispenses fluid chemical product concentrates. The dispensing system includes a fluid drive unit powered by flow of a fluid, such as a diluent, and a pump which delivers the fluid chemical product concentrate from a supply to a destination. Upon exit from the fluid drive unit, the diluent is also delivered to the destination, where it mixes with the dispensed fluid chemical product concentrate to form a use solution. The dilution ratio of the volume of fluid chemical product concentrate dispensed per unit time versus the volume of diluent exiting the drive unit per unit time is constant over a defined range of diluent flow rates.

A vessel contains a quantity of liquid and has a duct connected to an outlet of the vessel. A dispensing device can be actuated in order to cause the quantity of liquid to flow out of the vessel through the duct. A color sensor is also included, which faces towards a monitoring region situated in one of the vessel, the duct and the dispensing device. The color sensor is configured for providing a color signal indicative of the color of the quantity of liquid arriving at the monitoring region. A control device is configured for receiving the color signal from the color sensor and for actuating the dispensing device as a function of the color signal. A method is for dispensing the quantity of liquid from the vessel.