System and method for dispensing product to a washing machine. A chemical dispensing system includes a system controller, machine interface, and pump controller that communicate through serial data buses. The system controller provides a user interface, retrieves washing machine status information from the machine interface, and issues product dispensing commands to the pump controller. The pump controller monitors pump status and dispenses product in response to commands from the system controller. The pump controller: (1) determines pump activation periods based on calibration data stored in a pump controller memory; (2) tracks pump usage and adjusts the activation period to compensate for pump wear as the pump ages; (3) disables the pump if conditions exists that preclude operating the pump; (4) monitors product levels, and (5) reports pump status to the system controller. Integral channels are included in the pump housing to provide stress relief to a squeeze tube.

The invention proposes a dishwasher comprising a working chamber (2), comprising at least one spray arm (5, 6) which is arranged in a rotatable manner in the working chamber (2), and comprising a metering apparatus (9) for supplying and metering a substance, such as detergent, rinse aid etc., into the working chamber (2), wherein the metering apparatus (2) is designed as an insert part (2) comprising a housing (20, 21) for insertion into a recess in an inner wall (7) of the working chamber (2), for example in the door (7) of the working chamber (2), and comprising a sensor unit (27, 28) for identifying a spray arm movement in the working chamber (2) of the dishwasher, which sensor unit is arranged at least partially in a housing (20, 21) of the metering apparatus (9), wherein the dishwasher has improved program control. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the sensor unit (27, 28) comprises at least one pressure sensor (27, 28) for detecting a water/liquid pressure.

An out-of-product alarm process includes initiating an out-of-product check by sending a signal to a controller from an optical sensor assembly connected to a fluid delivery medium for delivering a product to a fluid dispensing site, performing an out-of-product check, running an alarm cycle with the controller after receipt of an out-of-product signal, and executing a corrective action. Performing the out-of-product check includes directing light into the fluid delivery medium, generating a detector output based on detected light within the fluid delivery medium, determining an out-of-product state within the fluid delivery medium based on a comparison of the detector output to an out-of-product threshold, starting an out-of-product timer, when the out-of-product state is determined, and determining an out-of-product event when the out-of-product timer reaches a threshold out-of-product time period.

A washing agent dispenser for washing machines comprises a fixed dispenser part (200) and a removable dispenser part (100). The removable dispenser part (100) comprises a hollow body (101) defining a tank for a washing agent. The tank has, in a lower part thereof, an outlet (112), in a back wall of the hollow body (101), which is couplable in a separable way to an inlet (210) at the front of the fixed dispenser part (200). A retention valve (230.sub.1) is mounted on the hollow body (101), in a position corresponding to the outlet (112) of at the tank. The retention valve (230.sub.1) is configured to assume a respective open position following upon coupling between the outlet (112) and the inlet (210), and to assume a respective closed position following upon uncoupling between the outlet (112) and the inlet (210).

A washing agent dispenser for washing machines has a dispenser body (100) designed for mounting on a wall (5) delimiting a washing machine wash-chamber, the dispenser body (100) being designed to be exposed at least in part towards inside the washing machine wash-chamber (3). A tank (R1) capable of containing a substance in liquid or semi-solid form is defined in the dispenser body (100), and the dispenser (10) comprises a dispensing arrangement which is configured for dispensing first dosed amounts of the substance. The dispenser moreover comprises a sensor device configured to provide an electrical signal representative of at least one qualitative characteristic of the substance contained within the tank (R1).

A laundry treating appliance having a trating chamber and a bulk dispenser and a user interface configured to provide an indication to the user related to the bulk chemistry dispenser and a controller coupled with the user interface and the bulk treating chemistry dispenser and configured to execute an operating cycle including controlling the treating chemistry meter to dispense the predetermined amount of treating chemistry and determine a number of doses of treating chemistry available in the bulk treating chemistry dispenser and method of determining the number of doses and the types of a treating chemistry available in the bulk dispensing system, and providing an indication of the determination on a user interface.

A condition warning system for an apparatus such as a pot and pan washing machine, a control system and control methods for a pot and pan washing machine are provided. The condition warning system includes a control system that monitors operational, safety or compliance parameters of an apparatus, and a light that illuminates a location below (or above) an operator's direct line of sight, and which is outside of the operator's direct line of sight. The control system and control methods include a punitive wash action lockout, an extended wash cycle time, and a deep clean wash cycle.

A dispensing device for a dishwasher and a dishwasher are provided. The dispensing device for the dishwasher has a liquid storage container, a pump body and a driving assembly. The liquid storage container stores liquid detergent. The pump body is mounted on the liquid storage container and has a pump head. The driving assembly operates to drive the pump head to pump the detergent in the liquid storage container into a washing chamber of the dishwasher.

A portable handheld submersible ultrasonic cleaning device has a generally elongate body defining proximal and distal ends, a power supply and an ultrasonic transducer powered thereby, wherein the distal end exposes the ultrasonic transducer to agitate surrounding water when the base is submerged in the water use. A propeller device comprising a propeller may force the water across the ultrasonic transducer. When cleaning, the device may be held with the distal end thereof submerged for enhanced cleaning and removing surface contaminants such as dust, dirt, oil, pigments, bacteria and the like. The device may be stood upright upon the base on the floor of a container for hands-free application of ultrasound whilst cleaning.

A washing system for determining an operating state of a dishwasher comprises a dishwasher, in particular wherein the dishwasher comprises a dishwasher interface, a dispenser unit, in particular wherein the dispenser unit comprises a dispenser interface, wherein the dispenser unit is connected to the dishwasher for dosing a detergent to the dishwasher, a logic unit, in particular wherein the logic unit is connectable to the dishwasher interface and the dispenser interface, and a current sensor for measuring an electrical current consumed by the dishwasher, wherein the current sensor is connected to the logic unit. By replacing costly water meters by a current sensor, the cost efficiency of the washing system may be increased. In addition, the assembling and maintenance effort of the washing system may be reduced.