CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY WITH APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR USE

Abstract

A cartridge assembly for use in a dispenser assembly of a household appliance. The cartridge assembly including a first cartridge with a first treating chemistry reservoir. The first cartridge having one of a first engagement portion or a first receiving portion. A second cartridge having a second treating chemistry reservoir. The second cartridge having the other of the first engagement portion or the first receiving portion and wherein the first cartridge is coupled to the second cartridge when the first engagement portion is received within the first receiving portion.

Claims

1. A cartridge assembly for use in a dispenser assembly of a household appliance, the cartridge assembly comprising: a first cartridge with a first treating chemistry reservoir, the first cartridge having one of a first engagement portion or a first receiving portion; and a second cartridge having a second treating chemistry reservoir, the second cartridge having the other of the first engagement portion or the first receiving portion; wherein the first cartridge is coupled to the second cartridge when the first engagement portion is received within the first receiving portion.

2. The cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third cartridge with a third treating chemistry reservoir, the third cartridge having one of a second engagement portion or a second receiving portion.

3. The cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein the second cartridge includes the other of the second engagement portion or the second receiving portion and wherein the third cartridge is coupled to the second cartridge when the second engagement portion is received within the second receiving portion.

4. The cartridge assembly of claim 3, wherein the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the third cartridge couple in a puzzle-like manner.

5. The cartridge assembly of claim 3, further comprising a wrapper configured to span a periphery of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the third cartridge.

6. The cartridge assembly of claim 2, further comprising a vent and wherein the vent is located on an upper surface of at least of the second cartridge or the third cartridge.

7. The cartridge assembly of claim 6, wherein the vent fluidly couples at least one of the second cartridge and the third cartridge directly to ambient.

8. The cartridge assembly of claim 6, wherein the vent comprises a membrane.

9. The cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly further comprises lower corners of the cartridge assembly that oppose upper corners of the cartridge assembly and wherein the lower corners of the cartridge assembly have a rounded taper shape configured to engage with a set of guide members of the dispenser assembly.

10. The cartridge assembly of claim 1, the cartridge assembly further comprises lower corners of the cartridge assembly that oppose upper corners of the cartridge assembly and wherein the upper corners have a different shape from the lower corners, wherein the different shape prevents upside down insertion of the cartridge assembly.

11. The cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly includes a front face and a back face, a handle includes a groove located on the front face and back face of the cartridge assembly.

12. The cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein the handle is formed when the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the third cartridge are coupled.

13. The cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein that of the first treating chemistry reservoir contains a first treating chemistry and the second treating chemistry reservoir contains a second treating chemistry and the first treating chemistry and the second treating chemistry are different types of treating chemistry.

14. The cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein at least one fluid outlet port is fluidly coupled to each of the first treating chemistry reservoir and the second treating chemistry reservoir.

15. The cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises one or more receiving notches configured to receive one or more resilient members of the dispenser assembly.

16. The cartridge assembly of claim 15, wherein the one or more receiving notches are configured to engage the one or more resilient members in a snap-fit configuration.

17. A dispensing system for a household appliance having a treating chamber, the dispensing system comprising: the cartridge assembly of claim 1; and a dispenser assembly includes a cartridge receptacle having a set of guide members configured to align the cartridge assembly with the cartridge receptacle, the dispenser assembly configured to selectively fluidly couple dispense from at least one of the first treating chemistry reservoir and the second treating chemistry reservoir.

18. The dispensing system of claim 17, wherein the set of guide members comprises a first guide extending along a side of the cartridge receptacle and a second guide extending along a side of the cartridge receptacle, and wherein the second guide is opposite of the first guide.

19. The dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the first guide and the second guide are displaceable arms configured to displace upon insertion of the cartridge assembly into the dispenser assembly.

20. The cartridge assembly of claim 17, wherein the set of guide members are displaced by lower corners of the cartridge assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] In the drawings:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a right-side perspective view of an exemplary household appliance in the form of an automatic dishwasher having multiple systems for implementing an automatic cycle of operation.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the household appliance of FIG. 1 illustrating some exemplary plumbing and electrical connections between at least some of the multiple systems.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a controller of the household appliance of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a dispenser assembly in a portion of the household appliance of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein and illustrating schematic cartridge assembly exploded therefrom.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser assembly of FIG. 4, illustrating the dispenser assembly in an access position.

[0010] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another cartridge assembly that can be utilized in a dispenser assembly similar to FIG. 4.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a front view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Cartridge assemblies may be utilized in dispensing systems. One type of cartridge assembly is a bulk cartridge assembly, which may contain one or more treating chemistry reservoirs with enough treating chemistry (multiple charges or multiple doses) for multiple cycles. Cartridge assemblies with one or more cartridges are utilized to dispense one or more treating chemistries during a cycle of operation of a household appliance such as a dishwasher or a washing machine. However, cartridge assemblies featuring more than one cartridge can present challenges to the manufacturer and user. For example, shipping and handling multiple cartridges may result in missing components or bulky packaging to keep the multiple cartridges together. In some instances, it may be desirable for the multiple cartridges to be configured to couple to one another to prevent separation of each individual cartridge.

[0013] Features, advantages, and aspects of the present disclosure are set forth or apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, the following detailed description is exemplary and intended to provide explanation without limiting the scope of the disclosure as claimed.

[0014] As used herein, the terms first, second, third, fourth, or the like can be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. In addition, the singular forms a, an, and theinclude plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0015] Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations are combined, and interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other.

[0016] All directional references (e.g., radial, axial, proximal, distal, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, front, back, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, counterclockwise, upstream, downstream, forward, aft, etc.) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of aspects of the disclosure described herein. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, secured, fastened, connected, and joined) are to be construed broadly and can include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to one another. The exemplary drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order, and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto can vary.

[0017] Additionally, as used herein, a controller or controller module can include a component configured or adapted to provide instruction, control, operation, or any form of communication for operable components to effect the operation thereof. A controller module can include any known processor, microcontroller, or logic device, including, but not limited to: field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a proportional controller (P), a proportional integral controller (PI), a proportional derivative controller (PD), a proportional integral derivative controller (PID controller), a hardware-accelerated logic controller (e.g. for encoding, decoding, transcoding, etc.), or the like, or a combination thereof. Non-limiting examples of a controller module can be configured or adapted to run, operate, or otherwise execute program code to effect operational or functional outcomes, including carrying out various methods, functionality, processing tasks, calculations, comparisons, sensing or measuring of values, or the like, to enable or achieve the technical operations or operations described herein. The operation or functional outcomes can be based on one or more inputs, stored data values, sensed or measured values, true or false indications, or the like. While program code is described, non-limiting examples of operable or executable instruction sets can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, algorithms, etc., that have the technical effect of performing particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary household appliance 1 capable of implementing an automatic cycle of operation for treating articles. The household appliance 1 can include any suitable appliance such as a dishwasher, a steam treatment appliance, a clothes washer, a clothes dryer, a combination washer/dryer, or the like, in non-limiting examples.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the household appliance 1 is in the form of a dishwasher 10 for treating dishes. As used in this description, the term dish(es) or dish item(s) is intended to be generic to any item, single or plural, that can be treated in the dishwasher 10, including, without limitation, dishes, plates, pots, bowls, pans, glassware, or silverware. As illustrated, the dishwasher 10 is a built-in dishwasher implementation, which is designed for mounting under a countertop. However, this description is applicable to other dishwasher implementations such as a stand-alone, drawer-type, or a sink-type, for example.

[0020] The dishwasher 10 has a variety of systems, some of which are controllable, to implement the automatic cycle of operation. A chassis 11 is provided to support the variety of systems for implementing the automatic cycle of operation. The chassis 11 includes an interior surface 13 that at least partially defines a treating chamber 16. The treating chamber 16 includes an open face for receiving the dishes 18. As illustrated, for a built-in implementation, the chassis 11 includes a frame in the form of a base 12 and an open-faced tub 14 supported on the base 12. The open-faced tub 14 includes a tub surface 15 at least partially defining the treating chamber 16. The chassis 11 includes a closure in the form of a door assembly 20. The door assembly 20 is pivotally mounted to the base 12 for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open and close the open face of the treating chamber 16, such as for loading and unloading of dishes or other items. The door assembly 20 includes an inner door surface 21 at least partially defining the treating chamber 16. In this manner, the interior surface 13 can include at least one of the tub surface 15 or the inner door surface 21.

[0021] The chassis 11, as in the case of the built-in dishwasher implementation, can be formed by portions of the dishwasher 10, like the tub 14 and the door assembly 20, in addition to a dedicated frame structure, like the base 12, with them all collectively forming a unibody frame to which the variety of systems are supported. In other implementations, such as a drawer-type dishwasher, the chassis can be a tub that is slidable relative to a frame, with the closure being a part of the chassis or the countertop of the surrounding cabinetry. In a sink-type implementation, the sink forms the tub and the cover closing the open top of the sink forms the closure. Sink-type implementations are more commonly found in recreational vehicles.

[0022] The systems supported by the chassis 11, while essentially limitless, can include a dish holding system 30, a spray system 40, a recirculation system 50, a drain system 60, a water supply system 70, a drying system 80, a heating system 90, and a filter system 100. These systems are used to implement one or more treating cycles of operation for the dishes, for which there are many, and one of which includes a traditional automatic wash cycle.

[0023] A basic automatic wash cycle of operation has a wash phase, where a detergent/water mixture is recirculated and then drained, which is then followed by a rinse phase where water alone or with a rinse agent is recirculated and then drained. An optional drying phase can follow the rinse phase. The automatic wash cycle can have multiple wash phases and multiple rinse phases. The multiple wash phases can include a pre-wash phase where water, with or without detergent, is sprayed or recirculated on the dishes, and can include a dwell or soaking phase. There can be more than one pre-wash phase. A wash phase, where water with detergent is recirculated on the dishes, follows the pre-wash phase(s). There can be more than one wash phase; the number of which can be sensor controlled based on the amount of sensed soils in the wash liquid. One or more rinse phases can follow the wash phase(s), and, in some cases, come between wash phases. The number of wash phases can also be sensor controlled based on the amount of sensed soils in the rinse liquid. The wash phases and rinse phases can include the heating of the water, even to the point of one or more of the phases being hot enough for long enough to sanitize the dishes. A drying phase can follow the rinse phase(s). The drying phase can include a drip dry, heated dry, condensing dry, air dry, or any combination thereof.

[0024] A controller 22 can also be included in the dishwasher 10 and operably couples with and controls the various components of the dishwasher 10 to implement the cycle of operation. The controller 22 can be located within the door assembly 20 as illustrated, or it can alternatively be located somewhere within the chassis 11. The controller 22 can also be operably coupled with a control panel or user interface 24 for receiving user-selected inputs and communicating information to the user. The user interface 24 can include operational controls such as dials, lights, switches, and displays enabling a user to input commands, such as a cycle of operation, to the controller 22 and receive information.

[0025] The dish holding system 30 can include any suitable structure for holding dishes within the treating chamber 16. Exemplary dish holders are illustrated in the form of an upper dish rack 32 and a lower dish rack 34, referred to as racks, which are located within the treating chamber 16. The upper dish rack 32 and the lower dish rack 34 are typically mounted for slidable movement in and out of the treating chamber 16 through the open face for ease of loading and unloading. Drawer guides, which can include slides or rails 36, can be used to slidably mount the upper dish rack 32 to the tub 14. The lower dish rack 34 can have wheels or rollers 38 that roll along rails 39 formed in sidewalls of the tub 14 and onto the door assembly 20 when the door assembly 20 is in the opened position.

[0026] Dedicated dish holders can also be provided. One such dedicated dish holder is a third-level rack 33 located above the upper dish rack 32. Like the upper dish rack 32, the third-level rack is slidably mounted to the tub 14 with rails 36. The third-level rack 33 can be used to hold utensils, such as tableware, spoons, knives, spatulas, etc., in an on-the-side or flat orientation. However, the third-level rack 33 is not limited to holding utensils. If an item can fit in the third-level rack 33, it can be washed in the third-level rack 33. The third-level rack 33 generally has a much shorter height or lower profile than the upper and lower dish racks 32, 34. The height of the third-level rack 33 can be short enough that a typical glass cannot stand vertically in the third-level rack 33 within the treating chamber 16.

[0027] Another dedicated dish holder can be a silverware basket (not shown), which is typically carried by one of the upper or lower dish racks 32, 34 or mounted to the door assembly 20. Such a silverware basket can hold utensils and the like in an upright orientation as compared to the on-the-side or flat orientation of the third-level rack 33.

[0028] A dispenser assembly 48 is provided to dispense treating chemistry (e.g., detergent, anti-spotting agent, etc.) into the treating chamber 16. The dispenser assembly 48 can dispense one or more types of treating chemistries. The dispenser assembly 48 can be a single-use dispenser or a bulk dispenser, or a combination of both.

[0029] The dispenser assembly 48 is operably coupled to the interior surface 13 of the treating chamber 16. In the illustrated example, the dispenser assembly 48 is coupled to the inner door surface 21 though this need not be the case. The dispenser assembly 48 can also be coupled to the tub surface 15 in some implementations. It is also contemplated that multiple dispenser assemblies 48 can be provided, including on the inner door surface 21, the tub surface 15, or a combination thereof.

[0030] Turning to FIG. 2, the spray system 40 is provided for spraying liquid in the treating chamber 16 and can have a set of spray assemblies or sprayers 41-45, 130, some of which can be dedicated to a particular one of the dish holders, to a particular area of a dish holder, to a particular type of cleaning, or to a particular level of cleaning, etc. The set of sprayers 41-45, 130 can be fixed or movable, such as rotating, relative to the treating chamber 16 or dish holder. Six exemplary sprayers are illustrated in the set of sprayers 41-45, 130 and include an upper spray arm 41, a lower spray arm 42, a third level sprayer 43, a deep-clean sprayer 44, a spot sprayer 45, and a tube sprayer 130. The upper spray arm 41 and lower spray arm 42 are rotating spray arms, located below the upper dish rack 32 and lower dish rack 34, respectively, and rotate about a generally centrally located and vertical axis. The third level sprayer 43 is located above the third-level rack 33. The third level sprayer 43 is illustrated as being fixed, but could move, such as by rotating. In addition to the third level sprayer 43 or in place of the third level sprayer 43, the tube sprayer 130 can be located at least in part below a portion of the third-level rack 33. The tube sprayer 130 is illustrated as a fixed tube, carried by the third-level rack 33, but could be movable, such as by rotating about a longitudinal axis.

[0031] The deep-clean sprayer 44 is a manifold extending along a rear wall of the tub 14 and has multiple nozzles 46, with multiple apertures 47, generating an intensified and/or higher-pressure spray than the upper spray arm 41, the lower spray arm 42, or the third level sprayer 43. The nozzles 46 can be fixed or move, such as by rotating. The spray emitted by the deep-clean sprayer 44 defines a deep clean zone, which, as illustrated, would be disposed along a rear side of the lower dish rack 34. Thus, dishes for deep cleaning, such as dishes with baked-on food, can be located in the lower dish rack 34 to face the deep-clean sprayer 44. The deep-clean sprayer 44, while illustrated as only one unit on a rear wall of the tub 14 could comprises multiple units and/or extend along multiple portions, including different walls, of the tub 14, and can be provide above, below, or beside any of the dish holders where deep-cleaning is desired.

[0032] The spot sprayer 45, like the deep-clean sprayer, can emit an intensified and/or higher-pressure spray, especially to a discrete location within one of the dish holders. While the spot sprayer 45 is shown below the lower dish rack 34, it could be adjacent any part of any dish holder or along any wall of the tub 14 where special cleaning is desired. In the illustrated location below the lower dish rack 34, the spot sprayer 45 can be used independently of or in combination with the lower spray arm 42. The spot sprayer 45 can be fixed or can move, such as by rotating.

[0033] The upper spray arm 41, the lower spray arm 42, the third level sprayer 43, the deep-clean sprayer 44, the spot sprayer 45, and the tube sprayer 130 are illustrative examples of suitable sprayers and are not meant to be limiting as to the type of suitable sprayers in the set of sprayers 41-45, 130.

[0034] The recirculation system 50 recirculates the liquid sprayed into the treating chamber 16 by the sprayers of the spray system 40 back to the sprayers to form a recirculation loop or circuit by which liquid can be repeatedly and/or continuously sprayed onto dishes in the dish holders. The recirculation system 50 can include a sump 51 and a pump assembly 52. The sump 51 collects the liquid sprayed in the treating chamber 16 and can be formed by a sloped or recessed portion of a bottom wall of the tub 14. The pump assembly 52 can include one or more pumps such as a recirculation pump 53. The sump 51 can also be a separate module that is affixed to the bottom wall and include the pump assembly 52.

[0035] Multiple liquid supply conduits 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 fluidly couple the set of sprayers 41-45, 130 to the recirculation pump 53. A recirculation valve 59 can selectively fluidly couple each of the conduits 54-58 to the recirculation pump 53. While each sprayer 41-45, 130 is illustrated as having a corresponding dedicated supply conduit 54-58 one or more subsets, comprising multiple sprayers from the total group of sprayers 41-45, 130 can be supplied by the same conduit, negating the need for a dedicated conduit for each sprayer. For example, a single conduit can supply the upper spray arm 41 and the third level sprayer 43. Another example is that the sprayer 130 is supplied liquid by the conduit 56, which also supplies the third level sprayer 43.

[0036] The recirculation valve 59, while illustrated as a single valve, can be implemented with multiple valves. Additionally, one or more of the conduits 54-58 can be directly coupled to the recirculation pump 53, while one or more of the other conduits 54-58 can be selectively coupled to the recirculation pump 53 with one or more valves. There are essentially an unlimited number of plumbing schemes to connect the recirculation system 50 to the spray system 40. The illustrated plumbing is not limiting.

[0037] The drain system 60 drains liquid from the treating chamber 16. The drain system 60 includes a drain pump 62 fluidly coupling the treating chamber 16 to a drain line 64. As illustrated the drain pump 62 fluidly couples the sump 51 to the drain line 64.

[0038] While separate recirculation and drain pumps 53, 62 are illustrated, a single pump can be used to perform both the recirculating and the draining functions. Alternatively, the drain pump 62 can be used to recirculate liquid in combination with the recirculation pump 53. When both a recirculation pump 53 and drain pump 62 are used, the drain pump 62 can be more robust than the recirculation pump 53 as the drain pump 62 tends to have to remove solids and soils from the sump 51, unlike the recirculation pump 53, which may recirculate liquid which has solids and soils filtered away to some extent.

[0039] The water supply system 70 is provided for supplying fresh water to the dishwasher 10 from a household water supply via a household water valve 71. The water supply system 70 includes a water supply unit 72 having a water supply conduit 73 with a siphon break 74. While the water supply conduit 73 can be directly fluidly coupled to the tub 14 or any other portion of the dishwasher 10, the water supply conduit 73 is shown fluidly coupled to a supply tank 75, which can store the supplied water prior to use. The supply tank 75 is fluidly coupled to the sump 51 by a supply line 76, which can include a controllable valve 77 to control when water is released from the supply tank 75 to the sump 51.

[0040] The supply tank 75 can be conveniently sized to store a predetermined volume of water, such as a volume for a phase of the cycle of operation, which is commonly referred to as a charge of water. The storing of the water in the supply tank 75 prior to use is beneficial in that the water in the supply tank 75 can be treated in some manner, such as softening or heating prior to use.

[0041] A water softener 78 is provided with the water supply system 70 to soften the fresh water. The water softener 78 is shown fluidly coupling the water supply conduit 73 to the supply tank 75 so that the supplied water automatically passes through the water softener 78 on the way to the supply tank 75. However, the water softener 78 could directly supply the water to any other part of the dishwasher 10 than the supply tank 75, including directly supplying the tub 14. Alternatively, the water softener 78 can be fluidly coupled downstream of the supply tank 75, such as in-line with the supply line 76. Wherever the water softener 78 is fluidly coupled, it can be done so with controllable valves, such that the use of the water softener 78 is controllable and not mandatory.

[0042] The drying system 80 is provided to aid in the drying of the dishes during the drying phase. The drying system as illustrated includes a condensing assembly 81 having a condenser 82 formed of a serpentine conduit 83 with an inlet fluidly coupled to an upper portion of the tub 14 and an outlet fluidly coupled to a lower portion of the tub 14, whereby moisture laden air within the tub 14 is drawn from the upper portion of the tub 14, passed through the serpentine conduit 83, where liquid condenses out of the moisture laden air and is returned to the treating chamber 16 where it ultimately evaporates or is drained via the drain pump 62. The serpentine conduit 83 can be operated in an open loop configuration, where the air is exhausted to atmosphere, a closed loop configuration, where the air is returned to the treating chamber, or a combination of both by operating in one configuration and then the other configuration.

[0043] To enhance the rate of condensation, the temperature difference between the exterior of the serpentine conduit 83 and the moisture laden air can be increased by cooling the exterior of the serpentine conduit 83 or the surrounding air. To accomplish this, an optional cooling tank 84 is added to the condensing assembly 81, with the serpentine conduit 83 being located within the cooling tank 84. The cooling tank 84 is fluidly coupled to at least one of the spray system 40, the recirculation system 50, the drain system 60, or the water supply system 70 such that liquid can be supplied to the cooling tank 84. The liquid provided to the cooling tank 84 from any of the systems 40-70 can be selected by source and/or by phase of cycle of operation such that the liquid is at a lower temperature than the moisture laden air or even lower than the ambient air.

[0044] As illustrated, the liquid is supplied to the cooling tank 84 by the drain system 60. A valve 85 fluidly connects the drain line 64 to a supply conduit 86 fluidly coupled to the cooling tank 84. A return conduit 87 fluidly connects the cooling tank 84 back to the treating chamber 16 via a return valve 79. In this way, a fluid circuit is formed by the drain pump 62, the drain line 64, the valve 85, the supply conduit 86, the cooling tank 84, the return valve 79, and the return conduit 87 through which liquid can be supplied from the treating chamber 16 to the cooling tank 84, and back to the treating chamber 16. Alternatively, the supply conduit 86 could fluidly couple to the drain line 64 if re-use of the water is not desired.

[0045] To supply cold water from the household water supply via the household water valve 71 to the cooling tank 84, the water supply system 70 would first supply cold water to the treating chamber 16, then the drain system 60 would supply the cold water in the treating chamber 16 to the cooling tank 84. It should be noted that the supply tank 75 and cooling tank 84 could be configured such that one tank performs both functions.

[0046] The drying system 80 can use ambient air, instead of or in addition to cold water, to cool the exterior of the serpentine conduit 83. In such a configuration, a blower 88 is connected to the cooling tank 84 and can supply ambient air to the interior of the cooling tank 84. The cooling tank 84 can have a vented top 89 to permit the passing through of the ambient air to allow for a steady flow of ambient air blowing over the serpentine conduit 83.

[0047] The cooling air from the blower 88 can be used in lieu of the cold water or in combination with the cold water. The cooling air can be used when the cooling tank 84 is not filled with liquid. Advantageously, the use of cooling air or cooling water, or combination of both, can be selected according to the site-specific environmental conditions. If ambient air is cooler than the cold water temperature, then the ambient air can be used. If the cold water is cooler than the ambient air, then the cold water can be used. Energy efficiency and/or cost-effectiveness can also be taken into account when selecting one or both of cooling air or cooling water. The blower 88 can be used to dry the interior of the cooling tank 84 after the water has been drained. Suitable temperature sensors for the cold water and the ambient air can be provided and send their temperature signals to the controller 22, which can determine which of the two is colder at any time or phase of the cycle of operation.

[0048] The heating system 90 is provided for heating water used in the cycle of operation. The heating system 90 includes a heater 92, such as an immersion heater, located in the treating chamber 16 at a location where it will be immersed in the water supplied to the treating chamber 16. The heater 92 need not be an immersion heater. The heater 92 can also include an in-line heater located in any of the conduits. There can also be more than one heater 92, including both an immersion heater and an in-line heater.

[0049] The heating system 90 can also include a heating circuit 93, which includes a heat exchanger 94, illustrated as a serpentine conduit 95, located within the supply tank 75, with a supply conduit 96 supplying liquid from the treating chamber 16 to the serpentine conduit 95, and a return conduit 97 fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 16. The heating circuit 93 is fluidly coupled to the recirculation pump 53 either directly or via the recirculation valve 59 such that liquid that is heated as part of a cycle of operation can be recirculated through the heat exchanger 94 to transfer the heat to the charge of fresh water residing in the supply tank 75. As various wash phases use liquid that is heated by the heater 92, this heated liquid can then be recirculated through the heating circuit 93 to transfer the heat to the charge of water in the supply tank 75, which can be used in the next phase of the cycle of operation.

[0050] A filter system 100 is provided to filter un-dissolved solids from the liquid in the treating chamber 16. The filter system 100 includes a coarse filter 102 and a fine filter 104, which can be a removable basket 106 residing the sump 51, with the coarse filter 102 being a screen 108 circumscribing the removable basket 106. Additionally, the recirculation system 50 can include a rotating filter in addition to or in place of the either or both of the coarse filter 102 and fine filter 104. Other filter arrangements are contemplated, such as an ultrafiltration system.

[0051] As illustrated schematically in FIG. 3, the controller 22 can be coupled with the heater 92 for heating the wash liquid during a cycle of operation, the drain pump 62 for draining liquid from the treating chamber 16 (FIG. 2), and the recirculation pump 53 for recirculating the wash liquid during the cycle of operation. The controller 22 can be provided with a memory 110 and a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) 112. The memory 110 can be used for storing control software that can be executed by the CPU 112 in completing a cycle of operation using the dishwasher 10 and any additional software. For example, the memory 110 can store one or more pre-programmed automatic cycles of operation that can be selected by a user and executed by the dishwasher 10. The controller 22 can also receive input from one or more sensors 114. Non-limiting examples of sensors that can be communicably coupled with the controller 22 include, but are not limited to, an ambient air temperature sensor, a treating chamber temperature sensor, a water supply temperature sensor, a door open/close sensor, and a turbidity sensor. A turbidity sensor may determine the soil load associated with a selected grouping of dishes, such as the dishes associated with a particular area of the treating chamber 16. The controller 22 can also communicate with the recirculation valve 59, the household water valve 71, the controllable valve 77, the return valve 79, and/or the valve 85. Optionally, the controller 22 can include or communicate with a wireless communication device 116.

[0052] While the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 is described and illustrated with various features and components, other embodiments can include subsets of those features and components. For example, some embodiments may not include tanks 75, 84, a water softener 78, and/or a heat exchanger 94, among other features and components.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the door assembly 20 showing the dispenser assembly 48 in accordance with various aspects described herein. While the dispenser assembly 48 is shown located in the door assembly 20, it can be located relative to any surface forming part of the treating chamber 16 (FIG. 1). A cartridge receptacle 150, a cover 152, a linkage 154, a cartridge assembly 156, or a combination thereof can be included in the dispenser assembly 48. A suitable cartridge receptacle and cover may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/524,532, filed Nov. 30, 2023, entitled Dishwasher, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0054] The linkage 154 can couple the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 such that that cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 are movable relative to each other. The cartridge assembly 156 is shown exploded from the door assembly 20 for clarity.

[0055] A rear wall 158, a front wall 160 spaced from the rear wall 158, two side walls 162, and base wall 164 can be included in the cartridge receptacle 150. One or more of the rear wall 158, the front wall 160, the two side walls 162, or the base wall 164 can at least partially define a cartridge seat 166. The cartridge assembly 156 can be at least partially inserted into the cartridge seat 166 and be adjacent thereto. The front wall 160 of the cartridge receptacle 150 is shown as transparent in FIG. 4 for illustrative purposes.

[0056] The interior surface 13, such as the inner door surface 21, defines a dispenser recess 168. The dispenser recess 168 includes a rear wall 170 and a peripheral wall 172. The peripheral wall 172 extends from the rear wall 170 and defines an open face 174 opposite the rear wall 170. The dispenser recess 168 at least partially receives the cartridge receptacle 150, the cover 152, the cartridge assembly 156, or a combination thereof such as depending on the position of the dispenser assembly 48.

[0057] A dispenser outlet 176 and a fluid connection port 178 can be included in the dispenser assembly 48. In non-limiting examples, the dispenser assembly 48 can include a plurality of dispenser outlets 176, such as for a number of treating chemistries that can be dispensed from a cartridge assembly. The dispenser outlet 176 can be provided on the inner door surface 21, in a non-limiting example, but can be provided at other locations. The fluid connection port 178 can be disposed at the peripheral wall 172 of the dispenser recess 168, at least partially in the cartridge receptacle 150, at the cartridge seat 166 such as in the base wall 164, or any combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, one or more fluid connection ports 178 can be disposed on the inner door surface 21 spaced from the dispenser recess 168, or on a surface having no such recess.

[0058] The dispenser outlet 176 fluidly couples to the fluid connection port 178, such as by a fluid conduit, tubing, or the like. The fluid connection ports 178 are configured to couple with one or more fluid outlet ports 179 of the cartridge assembly 156. For instance, either or both of the fluid connection port 178 or the fluid outlet port 179 can include a piercing end, a cannula, a membrane, a press-fit connector, a valve, or the like. Further, the dispenser outlet 176 is configured to fluidly couple to the treating chamber (FIG. 1) to dispense treating chemistry thereto.

[0059] A pivot coupling 180 that pivotably couples the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 with the interior surface 13 can be included. In some configurations, the pivot coupling 180 is disposed at a front edge, including by way of non-limiting example a lower front edge of the dispenser recess 168, such as of the peripheral wall 172. The pivot coupling 180 can, for example, include a hinge. The pivot coupling 180 is coupled to the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 such that the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 are movable (e.g., pivotable) relative to each other. Both the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 can be moveable at least partially into and out of the dispenser recess 168. For example, the pivot coupling 180 can define at least one pivot axis about which the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 are relatively pivotable. The at least one pivot axis can include a first pivot axis 182 about which the cover 152 is pivotable and a second pivot axis 184 about which the cartridge receptacle 150 is pivotable, with the first and second pivot axes 182, 184 being different from each other. The linkage 154 of the dispenser assembly 48 can include one or more of a variety of configurations that movably couple the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152. In the non-limiting example shown, the cartridge receptacle 150 with the cover 152 are configured to pivot to an open position such that the cartridge receptacle 150 and the cover 152 face away from the dispenser recess 168 to receive the cartridge assembly 156. However, it is contemplated that the cartridge assembly 156 can be coupled to the dispenser assembly 48 in any suitable manner.

[0060] A set of guide members can be provided and configured to align or index the cartridge assembly 156 with the cartridge receptacle 150. The set of guide members can be provided along at least a portion of the cartridge receptacle 150, the cartridge assembly 156, or a combination thereof. In the non-limiting example shown, the set of guide members includes a first guide 186 extending along a side of the cartridge receptacle 150, and a second guide 188 extending along a side of the cartridge receptacle 150 opposite of the first guide 186. The first guide 186 and the second guide 188 can include a channel, a slot, a rail, a projecting arm, an interlocking member, a dovetail, or the like, or combinations thereof. It is also contemplated that the set of guide members can secure or fasten the cartridge assembly 156 within the cartridge receptacle 150. In the non-limiting example shown, the first guide 186 and the second guide 188 are displaceable arms configured to displace upon insertion of the cartridge assembly 156.

[0061] One or more resilient members can be provided and configured to secure or fasten the cartridge assembly 156 within the cartridge receptacle 150. A first set of resilient members 190 are disposed on the rear wall 158. Additionally or optionally, a second set of resilient members 192 are disposed on the front wall 160 opposite to the first set of resilient members 190. In the non-limiting example shown, the resilient members can include a living hinge. It will be understood that any suitable form of resilient member can be utilized. Such resilient members deform and generally regain their shape, they may also be thought of as being elastic or flexible.

[0062] A first cartridge 194, a second cartridge 196, and a third cartridge 198 are included in the cartridge assembly 156, which has been schematically shown in this figure for clarity. The cartridge assembly 156 can include at least one treating chemistry reservoir for containing any suitable amount of treating chemistry, including a single dose or charge, or multiple or bulk doses or charges. In the non-limiting example shown, the first cartridge 194 includes a first treating chemistry reservoir 200, the second cartridge 196 includes a second treating chemistry reservoir 202, and the third cartridge 198 includes a third treating chemistry reservoir 204. It is contemplated that each of the first treating chemistry reservoir 200, the second treating chemistry reservoir 202, and the third treating chemistry reservoir 204 include different types of treating chemistry, however, that need not be the case.

[0063] At least one fluid outlet port 179 is fluidly coupled to each of the first treating chemistry reservoir 200, the second treating chemistry reservoir 202, and the third treating chemistry reservoir 204. The fluid outlet port 179 can extend or project from the cartridge assembly 156 or can also be positioned along or within the cartridge assembly 156 in some implementations. In the non-limiting example shown, the cartridge assembly 156 includes a fluid outlet port 179 for each of the corresponding reservoirs; however, there could be a single outlet port for multiple reservoirs.

[0064] One or more receiving notches 206 can be disposed on the cartridge assembly 156. In the non-limiting example shown, one or more receiving notches 206 are disposed on a front face and back face (not shown) of the first cartridge 194 and the third cartridge 198. The receiving notches 206 are configured to receive the first set of resilient members 190 and the second set of resilient members 192. It is further contemplated that the receiving notches 206 are not limited to the front face and the back face of the first cartridge 194 and the third cartridge 198, the receiving notches 206 may be located on any suitable surface of the cartridge assembly 156.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser assembly 48 of FIG. 4, with the dispenser assembly 48 in an open position also known as access position. The dispenser assembly 48 can include a dispensing position also known as a closed position, an intermediate position, and the access position. The pivot coupling 180 facilitates movement (e.g., pivoting) of the dispenser assembly 48 between the dispensing, intermediate, and access positions, which can include facilitating movement of the cover 152. In addition, an exemplary cartridge assembly 156 is insertable into the cartridge receptacle 150 defined by the rear wall 158, the front wall 160 spaced from the rear wall 158, and base wall 164. One or more of the rear wall 158, the front wall 160, or the base wall 164 can at least partially define the cartridge seat 166. The cartridge assembly 156 inserted into cartridge receptacle 150 and seated in the cartridge seat 166 defines a seated position. In the non-limiting example shown, the cover 152 and the cartridge receptacle 150 are in the access position and the cartridge assembly 156 is in the seated position. That is, the cartridge seat 166 with the cartridge assembly 156 faces away from the dispenser recess 168. More specifically, away from the rear wall 170 of the dispenser recess 168. In other examples, the fluid connection port 178 can extend at least partially into the cartridge receptacle 150 with the dispenser assembly 48 in the access position. Additionally or alternatively, the fluid connection port 178 can move with the cartridge receptacle 150.

[0066] Further, a portion of the first set of resilient members 190 are shown engaged with the receiving notches 206. The first set of resilient members 190 and the second set of resilient members 192 are configured to engage with the receiving notches 206 in a snap-fit configuration to secure the cartridge assembly 156 in the seated position.

[0067] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge assembly 156 of FIG. 4. It will be understood that the cartridge in FIG. 4 was a schematic of the cartridge in FIG. 6. The first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 are separable and selectively couplable, meaning the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 can be separated into individual components, and further can be coupled together to form the cartridge assembly 156. In the non-limiting example shown, a first engagement portion 212 of the first cartridge 194 is configured to mate with a first receiving portion 214 of the second cartridge 196. In the illustrated example, the profiles of each respective cartridge form the first engagement portion 212 and the first receiving portion 214. Similarly, a second engagement portion 216 of the third cartridge 198 is illustrated as being configured to mate with a second receiving portion 218 of the second cartridge 196. That is, the cartridge assembly 156 is configured to prevent separation of the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 in X and Y directions. While the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 are shown to couple in a puzzle-like manner, it is contemplated that the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 can selectively couple in any suitable manner. Other methods of coupling are contemplated. By way of further non-limiting examples, the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 can couple together via snaps, latches, or magnets. Additionally, it is contemplated that the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198, can have one or more receiving portions or engagement portions.

[0068] A vent 208 is located on an upper surface 209 of the second cartridge 196. The vent 208 fluidly couples the second treating chemistry reservoir 202 (FIG. 4), directly or indirectly, to ambient for venting. A second vent 210 is located on an upper surface 211 of the third cartridge 198. The second vent 210 fluidly couples the third treating chemistry reservoir 204 (FIG. 4), directly or indirectly, to ambient. In the non-limiting example shown, the vent 208 and the second vent 210 can include a membrane. It is further contemplated that the cartridge assembly 156 can have any number of vents located on any of the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, or the third cartridge 198 including no vents.

[0069] FIG. 7 is a front view of the cartridge assembly 156 of FIG. 6 with the addition of a wrapper 220 shown in phantom for visual clarity. The wrapper 220 is configured to prevent separation of the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 in the Z direction (FIG. 6). In a non-limiting example, a recess 223 spans a periphery of the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 is configured to receive the wrapper 220. That is, the wrapper 220 is configured to span the periphery of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the third cartridge. A handle 222 is included on the cartridge assembly 156. The handle 222 is shown in the form of a groove located on the front face and back face of the cartridge assembly 156. The handle 222 is formed when the first cartridge 194, the second cartridge 196, and the third cartridge 198 are coupled although this need not be the case.

[0070] Lower corners 224 oppose upper corners 226 of the cartridge assembly 156. In the non-limiting example shown, the upper corners 226 have a different shape from the lower corners 224, although this need not be the case. The lower corners 224 have a rounded taper shape configured to engage with the set of guide members (FIG. 4).

[0071] Referring generally to FIGS. 1-7 during operation, a user can utilize the handle 222 to hold the cartridge assembly 156 and then insert the cartridge assembly 156 into the cartridge receptacle 150 when the cartridge receptacle 150 and subsequently the cover 152 are in the access position. Upon insertion, the set of guide members are displaced by the lower corners 224 of the cartridge assembly 156. The displacement of the set of guide members allows for further insertion of the cartridge assembly into the cartridge receptacle 150. The set of guide members acts as a feature to prevent the cartridge assembly 156 from being inserted in the wrong orientation. That is, the set of guide members will displace and allow insertion of the cartridge assembly 156 when in contact with the lower corners 224. However, the set of guide members will not displace if the cartridge assembly 156 is inserted upside down, or when the upper corners 226 come into contact with the set of guide members. When the cartridge assembly 156 is inserted with the lower corners 224 downward, the first set of resilient members 190 and the second set of resilient members 192 are displaced by the front face and the back face of the cartridge assembly 156. Once the cartridge assembly 156 is seated in cartridge seat 166, the first set of elastic members 190 and the second set of resilient members 192 engage with the receiving notches 206, securing the cartridge assembly 156 in the cartridge receptacle 150. From there, the cartridge receptacle 150 can be moved to a dispensing position, and the cover 152 can be moved to a retracted position, then dishwasher 10 can perform a cycle of operation.

[0072] Aspects of the disclosure provide for several benefits, including that each cartridge can be manufactured individually to optimize the manufacturing process. Simultaneously, the shipping and handling process can be improved due to the multiple cartridges being couplable to each other. This configuration prevents separation of the cartridges in the X and Y directions, and the addition of the wrapper prevents separation in the Z direction during shipping and handling.

[0073] Further non-limiting aspects are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0074] A cartridge assembly for use in a dispenser assembly of a household appliance, the cartridge assembly comprising: a first cartridge with a first treating chemistry reservoir, the first cartridge having one of a first engagement portion or a first receiving portion; a second cartridge having a second treating chemistry reservoir, the second cartridge having the other of the first engagement portion or the first receiving portion and wherein the first cartridge is coupled to the second cartridge when the first engagement portion is received within the first receiving portion.

[0075] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, further comprising a third cartridge with a third treating chemistry reservoir, the third cartridge having one of a second engagement portion or a second receiving portion.

[0076] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the second cartridge includes the other of the second engagement portion or the second receiving portion and wherein the third cartridge is coupled to the second cartridge when the second engagement portion is received within the second receiving portion.

[0077] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the third cartridge couple in a puzzle-like manner.

[0078] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, further comprising a wrapper configured to span a periphery of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the third cartridge.

[0079] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, further comprising a vent and wherein the vent is located on at an upper surface of at least of the second cartridge or the third cartridge.

[0080] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the vent fluidly couples at least one of the second cartridge and the third cartridge directly to ambient.

[0081] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the vent comprises a membrane.

[0082] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the cartridge assembly further comprises lower corners of the cartridge assembly that oppose upper corners of the cartridge assembly and wherein the upper corners have a different shape from the lower corners.

[0083] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the lower corners of the cartridge assembly have a rounded taper shape configured to engage with a set of guide members of the dispenser assembly.

[0084] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the cartridge assembly includes front face and a back face, a handle includes a groove located on the front face and back face of the cartridge assembly.

[0085] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the handle is formed when the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the third cartridge are coupled.

[0086] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein that of the first treating chemistry reservoir contains a first treating chemistry and the second treating chemistry reservoir contains a second treating chemistry and the first treating chemistry and the second treating chemistry are different types of treating chemistry.

[0087] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein at least one fluid outlet port is fluidly coupled to each of the first treating chemistry reservoir and the second treating chemistry reservoir.

[0088] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the cartridge further comprises one or more receiving notches configured to receive one or more resilient members of the dispenser assembly.

[0089] The cartridge assembly of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more receiving notches are configured to engage the one or more resilient members in a snap-fit configuration.

[0090] A dispensing system for a household appliance having a treating chamber, the dispensing system comprising: the cartridge assembly of any preceding clause; and a dispenser assembly includes a cartridge receptacle having a set of guide members configured to align the cartridge assembly with the cartridge receptacle, the dispenser assembly configured to selectively fluidly couple dispense from at least one of the first treating chemistry reservoir and the second treating chemistry reservoir.

[0091] The dispensing system of any preceding clause, wherein the set of guide members comprises a first guide extending along a side of the cartridge receptacle and a second guide extending along a side of the cartridge receptacle, and wherein the second guide is opposite of the first guide.

[0092] The dispensing system of any preceding clause, wherein the first guide and the second guide are displaceable arms configured to displace upon insertion of the cartridge assembly into the dispenser assembly.

[0093] The dispensing system of any preceding clause, wherein the set of guide members are displaced by lower corners of the cartridge assembly.