Methods and apparatuses for dispensing fluids

Abstract

A liquid dispensing system for an appliance may generally comprise a housing comprising a compartment for receiving a cartridge comprising a unit dose, a door slidably connected to the housing movable between an open position, a first actuated position, a second actuated position, and a closed position, a first cutting member connected to the compartment for rupturing a first portion of the cartridge when the door is in the first actuated position, a second cutting member connected to the compartment for rupturing a second portion of the cartridge when the door is in the second actuated position, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the compartment configured to establish a gravity flow from the compartment to the reservoir. Methods of making and using the liquid dispensing system are also described.

1 . A passive liquid dispensing system for an appliance, the liquid dispensing system comprising:
 a housing comprising a compartment for receiving a cartridge comprising a unit dose;   a door slidably connected to the housing movable between an open position, a first actuated position, a second actuated position, and a closed position;   a first cutting member connected to the compartment for rupturing a first portion of the cartridge when the door is in the first actuated position;   a second cutting member connected to the compartment for rupturing a second portion of the cartridge when the door is in the second actuated position; and   a reservoir in fluid communication with the compartment configured to establish a gravity flow from the compartment to the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compartment comprises a track configured to slidably receive the cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a blocking plate configured to be engaged with the cartridge to slidably move the blocking plate between a first position and a second position, wherein the blocking plate is intermediate the cartridge and the first cutting member when the blocking plate is in the first position, and the blocking plate is configured to allow access to the cartridge by the first cutting member when the blocking plate is in the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  comprising a compartment latch connected to the compartment configured to be engaged with the cartridge to retain the cartridge in the compartment when the blocking plate is in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  comprising a release member connected to the compartment latch for disengaging the compartment latch to unlock the cartridge from the compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a positioning arm connected to the door to align the cartridge with the first cutting member and the second cutting member when the door is in at least one of the first actuated position and the second actuated position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  comprising:
 a cutting member arm having a first end connected to the door and a second end connected to the first cutting member; and 
 at least one lever connected to the compartment configured to be engaged with a guide rail to move the guide rail between a first position when the cartridge is not in the compartment and a second position when the cartridge is in the compartment; 
 wherein the guide rail is configured to engage the cutting member arm to slidably move the cutting member arm between a first position when the guide rail is in the first position and a second position when the guide rail is in the second position; 
 wherein the first cutting member is offset from the compartment when the cutting member arm is in the first position and the first cutting member is aligned with the compartment when the cutting member arm is in the second position. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a venting member arm comprising a first end configured to engage with the door when the door is in the second actuated position and a second end connected to the second cutting member. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second cutting member is configured to rupture the second portion of the cartridge after the first cutting member ruptures the first portion of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a locking system comprising:
 a float positioned in the reservoir movable between a first position when the reservoir lacks fluid and a second position when fluid is in the reservoir; 
 a float latch connected to the compartment configured to be engaged with the cartridge to retain the cartridge in the compartment when float is in the second position. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the float latch is configured to retain the cartridge in the compartment for a duration of an operating cycle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  comprising a blocking plate configured to be engaged with the cartridge to slidably move the blocking plate between a first position and a second position, wherein the float latch is configured to retain the float in the first position when the blocking plate is in the first position, and the float latch is configured to allow the float to move to the second position when the blocking plate is in the second position 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a vented system characterized by dispensing about 99%, by volume, of the unit dose. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is a rigid cartridge comprising:
 at least one engagement surface configured to engage the compartment; and   a rupture surface configured to engage with the first cutting member and the second cutting member.   
     
     
         15 . A liquid dispensing system for an appliance, the liquid dispensing system comprising:
 a housing comprising a compartment for receiving a cartridge comprising a unit dose;   a door connected to the compartment movable between an open position and a closed position;   at least one compression member adjacent the compartment configured to engage the cartridge;   an arm configured to be engaged with the cartridge to move the arm between a first position and a second position;   an engagement member configured to engage the arm when the arm is in the second position and the door is in the closed position;   a cutting member connected to the arm to rupture a portion of the cartridge when the engagement member is engaged with the arm; and   a reservoir in fluid communication with the compartment configured to establish a gravity flow from the compartment to the reservoir.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the compartment comprises a track configured to slidably receive the cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the compartment is intermediate a first compression member configured to engage the cartridge when the cartridge is in the compartment and a second compression member configured to engage the cartridge when the door is in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  comprising a locking system, the locking system comprising:
 a pivoting reservoir movable between a first position when the reservoir lacks liquid and a second position when liquid is in the reservoir; 
 a pin connected to the compartment; and 
 a latch connected to the reservoir configured to engage the pin when the reservoir is in the second position to retain the compartment in the housing. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the latch is configured to retain the cartridge in the compartment for a duration of an operating cycle. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge is a flexible cartridge comprising:
 at least one engagement surface configured to engage the compartment; and   a rupture surface configured to engage with the cutting member.