Dishwashing appliance additive dispensing system

Abstract

A dishwashing appliance includes a tub. The tub defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The dishwashing appliance also includes a door movably mounted to the tub. The door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The door permits access to the wash chamber in the open position and the door sealingly encloses the wash chamber in the closed position. The dishwashing appliance also includes a dispensing assembly configured to receive a removable cartridge containing an additive. The dispensing assembly is in fluid communication with the tub whereby the additive from the removable cartridge is provided to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly during an operation of the dishwashing appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwashing appliance, comprising:
 a tub defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a door movably mounted to the tub, the door movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the door permits access to the wash chamber in the open position and wherein the door sealingly encloses the wash chamber in the closed position; and   a dispensing assembly configured to receive a removable cartridge containing an additive, the dispensing assembly in fluid communication with the tub whereby the additive from the removable cartridge is provided to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly during an operation of the dishwashing appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of inlets in the dispensing assembly, each inlet of the plurality of inlets configured to couple to a corresponding outlet of the removable cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of inlets are arranged asymmetrically within the dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 2 , wherein each inlet of the plurality of inlets is configured to receive a distinct additive. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of inlets are positioned at a bottom of the dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a diverter assembly coupled to the dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator in the dispensing assembly, the actuator configured to open a check valve in the removable cartridge when the removable cartridge is received in the dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the removable cartridge comprises at least one compartment, the additive contained within the at least one compartment, and wherein the at least one compartment is selectively enclosed by a lid, the lid movable to an open position whereby the cartridge is refillable. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the removable cartridge comprises at least one compartment, the additive contained within the at least one compartment, and wherein the at least one compartment is not refillable. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing assembly is positioned within the door. 
     
     
         11 . A method of dispensing an additive in a dishwashing appliance, the dishwashing appliance comprising a tub defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing and a door movably mounted to the tub, the door movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the door permits access to the wash chamber in the open position and wherein the door sealingly encloses the wash chamber in the closed position, the method comprising:
 receiving a removable cartridge in a dispensing assembly of the dishwashing appliance, the removable cartridge containing an additive, the dispensing assembly in fluid communication with the tub;   initiating an operation of the dishwashing appliance; and   dispensing the additive from the removable cartridge to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly during the operation of the dishwashing appliance.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the removable cartridge in the dispensing assembly comprises coupling each outlet of a plurality of outlets in the removable cartridge with a corresponding inlet of a plurality of inlets in the dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the operation of the dishwashing appliance is a first operation and the additive is a first additive, further comprising initiating a second operation of the dishwashing appliance and dispensing a second additive from the removable cartridge to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly during the second operation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the operation of the dishwashing appliance is a first operation, the removable cartridge is a first removable cartridge, and the additive is a first additive, further comprising receiving a second removable cartridge in the dispensing assembly of the dishwashing appliance after the first operation, initiating a second operation of the dishwashing appliance, and dispensing a second additive from the second removable cartridge to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly during the second operation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the operation of the dishwashing appliance is a first operation, further comprising removing the removable cartridge from the dispensing assembly of the dishwashing appliance, refilling the removable cartridge, replacing the removable cartridge in the dishwashing appliance, initiating a second operation of the dishwashing appliance, and dispensing the additive from the removable cartridge to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly during the second operation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dispensing assembly further comprises a diverter assembly, wherein the removable cartridge comprises a first compartment containing the additive and a second compartment containing a distinct additive, wherein the method further comprises selecting an outlet of the removable cartridge with the diverter, the outlet in fluid communication with the first compartment, whereby the additive is dispensed from the removable cartridge to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly and the diverter assembly during the operation of the dishwashing appliance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising selecting a second outlet of the removable cartridge with the diverter, the second outlet in fluid communication with the second compartment, and dispensing the distinct additive from the second compartment of the removable cartridge to the wash chamber via the dispensing assembly and the diverter assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the removable cartridge in the dispensing assembly of the dishwashing appliance comprises opening a check valve of the removable cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the removable cartridge is not refillable, wherein the operation of the dishwashing appliance is optimized for the additive.