Bulk additive dispenser and wash assembly

Abstract

A bulk additive dispenser and clothes washing assembly are generally provided herein. The bulk additive dispenser may include one or more features that can be mounted or placed away from a washing machine appliance. A storage tank may be positioned outside of a washing machine appliance and define a bulk cavity for receiving a wash additive. The electronic pump may be attached to the storage tank in fluid communication with the bulk cavity to direct wash additive therefrom. The dispenser controller may be attached to the storage tank in operable communication with the electronic pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bulk additive dispenser for selectively connecting to a washing machine appliance, the bulk additive dispenser comprising:
 a storage tank positioned apart from the washing machine appliance, the storage tank defining a bulk cavity for receiving an wash additive;   an electronic pump in fluid communication with the bulk cavity to direct wash additive therefrom;   a valve positioned downstream of the electronic pump to direct wash additive therefrom; and   a dispenser controller in operable communication with the electronic pump, the dispenser controller being in selective operable communication with the washing machine appliance to activate the electronic pump.   
     
     
         2 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the bulk cavity is a first bulk cavity, and wherein the storage tank further defines a second bulk cavity in fluid isolation from the first bulk cavity for receiving another wash additive. 
     
     
         3 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid level sensor in communication with the bulk cavity to detect a volume of fluid therein. 
     
     
         4 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to receive a detection signal from the fluid level sensor, and wherein the dispenser is further configured to transmit a volume signal based on the detection signal from the fluid level sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising a secondary device in wireless communication with the dispenser controller to receive a volume signal corresponding to the volume of fluid within the bulk cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to receive a detection signal from the fluid level sensor, and wherein the dispenser is further configured to transmit an automatic additive sale request signal based on the detection signal from the fluid level sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to automatically direct additive from the bulk cavity through the electronic pump based on a cycle selected at the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication between the bulk cavity and a tub portion of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The bulk additive dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to selectively update an appliance controller in response to a coupling thereto. 
     
     
         10 . A clothes washing assembly comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket mounted within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of a load of items for washing;   a water inlet line extending through the cabinet in fluid communication with the tub;   a motor rotatably mounted to the basket within the cabinet;   a storage tank positioned apart from the cabinet, the storage tank defining a bulk cavity for receiving an wash additive outside of the cabinet;   an electronic pump attached to the storage tank in fluid communication between the bulk cavity and the water inlet line;   a fluid conduit positioned in fluid communication between the electronic pump and the water inlet line outside of the cabinet to direct wash additive from the electronic pump to the water inlet line; and   a dispenser controller attached to the storage tank in operable communication with the electronic pump, the dispenser controller being in selective operable communication with the washing machine appliance to activate the electronic pump.   
     
     
         11 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprises an appliance controller attached to the cabinet and electronically connected to the motor, and wherein the appliance controller is in selective operable communication with the electronic pump. 
     
     
         12 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a connection collar positioned along the water inlet line to receive multiple parallel fluid conduits upstream from the chamber of the basket. 
     
     
         13 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the bulk cavity is a first bulk cavity, and wherein the storage tank further defines a second bulk cavity in fluid isolation from the first bulk cavity for receiving another wash additive. 
     
     
         14 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a fluid level sensor in communication with the bulk cavity to detect a volume of fluid therein. 
     
     
         15 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to receive a detection signal from the fluid level sensor, and wherein the dispenser is further configured to transmit a volume signal based on the detection signal from the fluid level sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a secondary device in wireless communication with the dispenser controller to receive a volume signal corresponding to the volume of fluid within the bulk cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to receive a detection signal from the fluid level sensor, and wherein the dispenser is further configured to transmit an automatic additive sale request signal based on the detection signal from the fluid level sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to automatically direct additive from the bulk cavity through the electronic pump based on a cycle selected at the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a check valve positioned downstream of the electronic pump along the fluid conduit to direct wash additive from the electronic pump. 
     
     
         20 . The clothes washing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the dispenser controller is configured to selectively update the appliance controller in response to a coupling thereto.