US3010304A - Washing machine with dispensing unit - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 H. w. ALTORFER 3,010,304

WASHING MACHINE WITH DISPENSING UNIT Filed Sept. 26, 1958 2 shee ts-Sheet 1 Nov. 28, 1961 H. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE WITH DISPENSING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 ,4 2 1 4, 4 I I J 00 m United States Patent 3,010,304 WASHING MACHINE WITH DISPENSING UNIT Henry W. Altorfer, Peoria, 111., assignor to American Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland f 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Sen-No. 763,666

1 13 Claims. (Cl. 68-23) 7 This invention relates to a new and improved automatically operated washing machine and, more particularly, to,such an apparatus including means for dispensing a conditioning agent during a selected portion of the operating cycle thereof.

In automatically, operated washing machines that are successively operable through wash, spin, and rinse cycles of'operation, it, is often desirable to add a conditioning agent, such as. a water softening material, to the water which is supplied to a'clothes containing t'ubzfollowing the completion of the spin operation and incident to the beginning of the first rinse operation. These conditioning agents can be manually added to the tub at the proper time in the operating cycle, but this obviates one of the advantages of an automatically operated washing machine; Further, it has been proposed to provide units operated by the centrifugal forces developed during the spin cycle of operation of the washing machine for adding the conditioning agent. However, these proposed devices are 'not capable of use with both liquid and powdered forms of conditioning agents and often do not completely discharge the. conditioning agent. The incomplete discharge of the agent, not only clogs the dispensing unit, but also requires the use of a greater amount of the agent.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved washing machine including means for automatically dispensing a conditioning agent.

Another object is to provide new and improved means for dispensing a conditioning agent into a washing apparatus.' i

Another object is to .provide a washing machine including a rotating element'on which a conditioning agent dispensing unit including new and improved centrifugally operated latching means is mounted.

Another object is toprovide a washing apparatus ineluding means for dispensing a conditioning agent and means for forcing a flow of liquid throughthe dispensing means to clean the dispensing means and to insure that all of theconditioning agent is fully discharged into the washing machine during its operation.

A further object-of the present invention is the provi sion of' a new and-improved material dispensing device including a detachable apertured cap at its upper end, which cap can be detachad to facilitate insertion of material into the-device and the aperture of which provides an exit of limited area for washing liquid, whereby better cleansing of the interior of the device is insured during flow of liquidthrough the device and whereby undesired Wetting of the material-is minimized prior to such flow of the liquid.

A still further 'objectis to provide a washing machine including a movable dasher assemblycarrying centrifugally' controlled dispensing means and pump means for forcing a fluid through the dispensing means.

In accordance with these and many other objects, a embodiment of the present invention comprises an automatically controlled washing machine including a stationary tub in which is mounted a clothes receiving tub adapted to berotated at high speed. A dasher assembly is mounted for orbital movement within the rotatable tub and includes a pump means that is operated during orbital movement 'of the dasher assembly to discharge a fluid through an'upwardly extending passageway. A dispensing' unit for receiving a conditioning agent in liquid or 3,010,304 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 powdered form is mounted on the upper end of the dasher assembly with a centrally located lower opening in the dispensing 'unit positioned in alignment with the discharge port of the pump passageway. The dispensing unit is provided with a resiliently biased valve or closure element; that is manually displaced to and latched in a position closingthe lower opening.

The unit includes also a detachable apertured capwhich is detachedrtofacilitate insertion of conditioning agent in liquid or powdered form. Thereafter the cap is again attached in place, where it may be held either, frictionally or wpositively. The aperture in the cap is of limited area so that undesired wetting of. the agent does not occur, during washing and so that the liquid flowing through the unit at a later stage of operation is caused thoroughly to contact the contents of the unit and to cleanse it. 1. ;When a cycle of operation of'the washing. machine is initiated, the dasher assembly is moved orbitally relative to the rotatable tub which is held in a fixed position during this operation. At the completion of the wash cycle,

the dasher assembly'and the rotatable. tub are moved .athigh speed during which a. centrifugally controlled latch in the dispensing unit releases the valve or closure element so that the lower opening of the dispensing unit is opened. The conditioning agent is not discharged. following the opening of the closure element and during the high speed rotation because centrifugal force displaces the agent butwardly away from the centrally disposed lower opening. However, during the deceleration of the rotatable tub and thedasher assembly at 'the completion of thespin cycle, a liquid conditioning agent flows out through the lower opening into the rotatable tub. This conditioning agent preferably comprises a water softener that is used to prevent the formation of scum on the clothes during the following rinse cycle; a r L g If the conditioning agent is in a powdered form, this agent tends to become caked by'the absorption of moisture (although the apertured cap minimizes this, as'noted above) and thus does not fall out ofthe lower opening in the dispensing unit during the deceleration of the rotating. tub at the completion of the spin cycle. However, when; the'rinse'c'ycle is started so that the dasher assembly is moved orbitally and water is supplied to' the tub,-the pump operates to force the rinse water upwardly through the passageway and into the dispensingunit through the lower opening. This water dissolves the powdered conditioning agent, and the water bearing the dissolved conditioning agent is displaced outwardly through an upper openingin the dispensingunit so-as to be discharged into'the rotatable tub. Because of the forced supply of water into the dispensing unit at the completion of the spin cycle and at 3 the beginning of the rinse cycle, all of the conditioning agent, whether in liquid or powdered form, is forced outof the dispensing unit. This not {only cleans the dispensing unit but also insures that allof the conditioning agent is made available for use during the cycle of. operation of the washing machine." Accordingly, the present inven-' tion provides new and improved means for automatically dispensing a conditioning agent, in either powdered or liquid'form, into a washing machine ata selected point in the operating cycle thereof. I I Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an automatically controlled-washing machine embodying the FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2. again assuming that the entire construction is illustrated therein;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG; 2 illustrating the dis ensing unit in a closed condition; 1

.FIG; 5' is a fragmentary vertical sectional View along the lines of FIG. 2 illustratinga modified form of detacha able apertured cap and mounting for the manually depres sible valve or closure element; and V 1 7 FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view along the line of FIG. 5.- Y I Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings;-therein is shown a washing machine, indicated generallyas 10, which embodies the present invention. The washing machine 10 includes an outer stationary recepta cle or tub 12' within which is disposed a rotatable clothesreceiving tub 1-4. A dasher or washing assembly 16 is mounte'dfwithin the rotatable tub vl t for orbital move ment relative thereto. Inorder to provide'means for dispensinga conditioning agent into the tub 14' at a s'elected position in the washing cycleof the machine 10;

a dispensing unit 18 is detachablyrnounted on the upper end of the dashr assembly 16. The dispensing unit 18 a water softener which is useful in preventingthe formation of scuin during the rinse cycle. v

When the'machine 10 is placedin operation after sup-. plying clothes washing fluid and a suitable" amount of detergent to the rotatable tub 14; the dasher assembly. 16 is placed in orbital movement within the tub 14' which rniains in a stationary position. The operation .ofthe dasher assembly results in operation of fluid p'umpassnibly 24 which efiects flow of washing fln'id onto filter element 22'. At the completion of the wash cycle; the tub. 14 and the dashef assembly 16 are rotated a't high' speed to release a centrifugal latch assembly 19 (FIG. 2) in cluded in the dispensing unit 18'. The release of the latch assembly 19 permits a closure elementin the unit- 18 to open a lower opening in this unit.- Thus, when the tub 14 and the dasher assembly 16 are decelerated at the completion of the spin cycle and if the conditioning agent is in liquid form, this liquid agent, w hich is held in coritactwith the outer walls of the dispensing unit 18l'during the spin cycle by centrifugal force; is discharged into the rotatablejub 14 through the screen or filter element 22 which is detachably mounted on the upper end of the dasher assembly 16. g J

If the conditioning agent is in a powdered form, the agent; tends to become caked b'y the absorption of moisture during the spin cycle and is also held in contact with the outer walls of the dispensing uriit 18 to prevent its 4 r i the clogging of the unit 18 and the use of unnecessarily large amounts of the conditioning agent.

Referring now more specifically to the washing machine 10, this machine preferably is of the type shown and described in detail in Patents Nbsz 2,709,908, Altorfer In,

et aL; arid 2,715,330; Altorfer, Jr.- A set i at; th the tub 14 is held iii a stationary po ition and fli asserting 16 is Ifiova is an orbital pain eating the wash 7 cycle. For centrifugal drying during the spin 555mm, the tub 14 and the da'sher 16 arerotat'ed at highspeed. During the following rinse cycle or cycles, the tub 14 is again held in a stationary position and the dash'e'r assemmy 16 is moved in an orbital path within the tub 14.

The dasher or washing assembly 16 together with the pump means 24 includedtherein-and the filter orstrainer assembly 22 mounted thereon preferably are of thetype shown and described in detail in the copending application of Henry Altorfer,- Serial No. 602,812, filed Ali'- apertures through which fluid or water from the tub through aplur'ality of openings 38;

14 passes into a chamber 32' formed by the housing 28; The fluid in the'chamber 32 is drawn into a variable volume pump chamber 34 defined in part by a resilient diaphragm 36, which for-ms a: partof the pump 24;

To provide means for shifting the diaphragm 36 and operating the pump 24 during orbital movementof the dasher assembly 16, a crank. arm 40 is provided which is eccentrica-lly secured to a rotatingdrive shaft -42; A first cam 44,which is secured v to the crank armgo; en'- gages a second cant member 46; which isrotatable relative to the crank arm 40; A cup element 48 securedt0' an annular depending portion.36zi.of the fleiiible diaphragm 36' is biased downwardly by a compression spring 50 interposed between a portion of the assembly "16 and discharge duringthe spin cycle; At the completion of the spin cycle and at the initiation of the rinse cycle; water is supplied to the3tub14 and the dasher assembly 16' is moved orbitally relative to the tub 14 which now; retained in a stationary position. During operation of the dasher as sembly 16,- the pump assembly 2 4 is placed in operation-to force the rinse water upwardly through a pas sageway 26 to be discharged; at the upper end of the dash er assembly 1 6. The fluid discharged frofri' the upper eiid of urep ssagewa enters the dispensing unit 18 through the lower opening therein to dissolve; tapewdered conditioning agent contained therein. The fluidior water containing the dissolved conditioning agent is dischargedthr ough an upper opening in the dispensing unit and passesthrough the filter assembly 22 into the tub 14.- The water provided by the operation of the pump and insures the complete discharge of the agent to avoid the cup 48 t force the second cam member 46 intoengagement with the first cam rrierrib'e'r44. Accordingly; when the drive shaft 42 is rota-ted'to turn the crank arm 40 and the cam 44 connected thereto; the "cam member 46 is reciprocated relative to the axis of thefcrank 40 to similarly reciprocate the flexible diaphragmi 36.

thereby changing the volume of thecharnber 34. When the volume of the chamber 34 jS'jlHCl'CitSd. by moving the diaphragm 36 downwardly (FIG. 1), an upper flap portion 36b rnoves out of engagement with the. innerends of tthe passageways 38 so that the fluid within ;the chamber 32 is drawn intothcchamber 34.. Conversely; when the fler'rible diaphragm 36 is movcdupwardly to reduce the volurneyofthe chamber 34,- .the .flap' 36b closes the openings 38 and. the entrapped fluidisforcedoutwardly through thc passageway 26 and a tapered nozzle 54 that is mounted onthc upper end of ,thefl housing 28; .This discharged fluid is either deflected by the dispensingunit 18 to impinge on. the strainer 'assernbly; 22; which is mounted on a resilient gasket 56 carried on the upper end of the housing 28; :orpasscs through the dispensing unit 18 so that the conditioningiagent therein is;di scharged into the tub 14. r Reterringfinow more specifically tdthe dispensing unit 18,; thisunit comprisesa hollow container or housing defined by a circular side wall 58 which is secur ed at its lower end to a base plate60 andjat its upper endto 5; top plate 62. The lowe r' plategfiti is provided with' a centrally disposed and; outwardly extending bossled or tubular portiori 64 terminating; in aninwardly-directed flange 64 a whi ch forms 'a valve seat and defines a lower opening 65. Ihe upper plate 62 is 'proyided-witha centrally disposed and inwardly extending bossed-or tubu lar portion 62a providing an enlarged upper opcning 66 for introducing a liquid or powdered conditipning agent into a chamber or cayity 68 defined py jthe top and bottom plates 6 0 ar1d62 and the side wall flhe operiing 66 is partially closed by a detachable cap 70 h5ving an annular recess 72 in which is disposed a resilient O-ring 74, which serves as a seal frictionally to hold the cap in place when liquid is forced upwardly through the unit. The cap 70 is provided with a centrally disposed and outwardly flared relatively small or restricted opening 76 for discharging the fluid injected into the cavity 68 by the pumping means 24.

Toprovide means for closing the lower opening 65, a resilient valve or closure element 78 is provided which is secured to one end of a shaft 80. The shaft 80 is slidably mounted within an opening 82 formed in a centrally disposed hub 84 which comprises a part of a spider arrangement formed integral with the side wall 58 of th dispensing unit 18. The spider arrangement, in addition to the centrally disposed hub 84, includes a pair of radially extending arms 86 (FIG. 3) having depending portions 88 which are secured to the lower plate 60. To provide means for manually shifting the valve element 78 to a closed position in which it engages the tapered portion 64a, the upper end of the shaft 80 is provided with a knob 90 which serves further to restrict the effective size of opening 76, thereby to insure effective circulation of liquid within the unit. A compression spring 92 interposed between the upper surface of the hub 84 and a recess 94 formed in the knob 90 normally biases the valve element 78 to the open position illustrated in FIG. 2. Because of the tapered nozzle 54 and the greater diameter of the closure element 78, the conditioning agent in the unit 18 cannot be discharged into the passageway 26. Further, since the opening 65 is closed by the element 78 during the wash cycle, the convex lower surface of the element 78 serves to uniformly distribute or deflect the water discharged from the nozzle 54 into the filter means 22 during the wash cycle.

The centrifugally controlled latch assembly 19 is effective to hold the valve element 78 in a position closing the lower opening 65 until the spin cycle of the Washing machine is reached. At this time, the latch assembly 19 is operated by centrifugal force to release the valve element 78 so that the conditioning agent contained in the dispensing unit 18 can be discharged to the tub 14. The latching or control assembly 19 includes a flat latch element 98 which is slidably mounted within a hollow radially extending arm 100 of the spider arrangement. The inner end of the latching element 98 is slidably mounted in an opening 102 which extends into the opening 82, and an intermediate portion of the latching element 98 is slidably mounted within an opening 104 in an element 106. The element 106 is secured within an opening in the hollow arm 100 by a set screw 108 (FIGS. 2 and 4). A resilient sealing Washer 110 and a stop plate 111 (FIG. 3) are, interposed between the element 106 and a shouldered portion of the opening in the hollow arm 100. The inner end of the latching element 98 is biased inwardly toward the opening 82 by a compression spring 112 which is interposed between a pair of lugs 98:: formed on the latching element 98 and the stop plate 111. Thus, when the knob, 90 is manually depressed to move the valve element 78'into seating engagement with the flange 64a so as to close the lower opening 65, the inner end of the latching element 98 is biased into engagement with the shaft 80 and moves into engagement with a notched portion 114 thereon. This secures the valve or closure element 78in a position closing the opening 65 as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

To provide. means for releasing the shaft 80 and the valve or closure element 78 during the spin cycle of the washing machine 10, a weight 116 is secured to the outer end of the latch element 98 by a set screw 118. Thus, when the tub .14 and thedasher assembly 16 are rotated athigh speed during the spin cycle, the centrifugal force developed by rotating the weight 116 overcomes the resilient force of the compression spring 112. This causes the latch elementf9 8 to move to the left (FIG.

To provide means for detachably mounting the dispensing unit 18 on the upper end of the housing 28, a cap element 120 is mounted on the upper end of the housing 28 and is provided with a plurality of upstanding posts 122. An annular ring 124, which is secured to the posts 122 by a plurality of machine screws 126, includes a plurality of inclined slots having enlarged end portions. The lower plate is provided with a plurality of depending and generally hook shaped lugs 128 which are inserted in the enlarged portions of the slots formed in the ring 124, and the dispensing unit 18 is then rotated so that the lugs 128 move into interlocking engagement with the ring 124. Thus, the dispensing unit 18 can be detached from the dasher assembly 16 and removed from the washing machine 10 through the opening normally closed by the cover 20.

Referring now more specifically to the operation of the washing machine 10, the cover 20 is opened and clothes and a suitable amount of detergent are disposed within the rotatable tu-b 14. The cover 70 is then removed from the dispensing unit '18, and the knob 90 is manually depressed so that the resilient valve or closure element 78 moves into seating engagement with the flange 64a to close the lower opening 65, although it should be noted the knob 90 can be depressed prior to removal of the cover. In this position, the notched portion 114 on the shaft 80 is aligned with the latching element 98 so that the compression spring 112 moves the latching element 98 into the notched portion 114 to hold the valve or closure element 78 in engagement with the flanged portion 64a. A suitable amount of a conditioning agent, in either liquid or powdered form, is introduced into the cavity '68 of the dispensing um t 18, and the cover 70 is replaced.

When the automatic cycling control for the washing machine '10 is started to place this machine in operation, the interior of the tub 14 is filled with water and the dasher assembly 16 is driven in an orbital path relative to the rotatable tub 14 which is now held in a stationary position. During the Washing operation, the pump assembly 24 is operated to discharge water through the passageway 26 and the nozzle 54. This water impinges on the convex lower surface of the valve element 78 and is deflected outwardly into the strainer or filter assembly 22 to remove any lint or other particles from the fluid. The cap 70 with its restricted opening 76 minimizes possi-' ble undesirable wetting of powder in the dispensing unit. However, the orbital movement of the dasher assembly 16 does not produce suflicient centrifugal force to release the latch assembly 19. i

At the completion of the washing operation, the spin cycle is started during which the washing water or fluid is discharged from the rotatable tub 14 and the rotatable tub 14 and the dasher assembly 16 are rotated at relatively high speeds. This high speed rotation of the tub 14 and the dasher assembly 16 actuates the-centri-fe.

ugally controlled latch assembly 19 to release the closure. or valve for the lower opening 65 in the dispensing unit 18. More specifically, when the speed of rotation becomes great enough, the outwardly directed centrifugal force due to the mass of the weight 116 exceeds the, force provided by the compression spring 112 so that the latch element 98 moves outwardly until thestop 98b engages the plate 111. In sorn ovin-g the end of, the latch element 98 moves out of the notch 1'14 so .that the/compression spring 92 displaces theshaft' and resilient valve element 78 upwardly to the position shown 'iiigagent therein. -r

in FIG. 2 of the drawings; However, this openingof the main valve element 78, which occurs during the high speed rotation of the tub 14 during the spin cycle, does not result in the immediate discharge of a substantial portion of the conditioning agent contained withinv the chamber 61' V If the conditioning agent is a liquid, the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the dasher assembly 16 and the dispensing unit 18 forces the liquid conditioning agent outwardly against the side wall 58 of the unit 18. Thus, only a small portion of liquid conditioningagent can be discharged through the lower opening 65 during the high speed rotation. If a powdered conditioning agent is supplied to the cavity 68, this powder, which is hydroscopic in nature, may absorb enough moisture from the atmosphere within the washer -to become slightly caked, although this is minimized Instead. of relying on frictional holding oi'cap 70, the latter may be positively but det-achably held in place. A construction of this character is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to-which reference will'now, be had and in which parts corresponding to the previously described construction are indicated by the reference characters. The main difference is that the cap is held in place by bayonet type holding means comprising a first element 140 with angularly spaced resilient locking projections or tongues 142 engageable with the undersides of inwardly extending projections 144 at the bottom of bossed or tubular portion 62a. One of the projections 144 may have a stop 145 by the cap construction. The powder, some or all of which may be in caked form, is also forced outwardly against the side wall 58 by centrifugal force and is not dis charged around the edges of the 'valve element 78 and through the opening 65.

However, when the tub 14 and thedasher assembly 16 are decelerated at the conclusionof the spincycle, the centrifugal force tending to hold a liquid conditioning agent against the wall 58 becomes less and drops of the conditioning liquid begin to flow down through the bossed portion 64 around the flange 64a and outwardly through the opening '65. Due to the continuing rotation of the unit 18 during deceleration, the liquid conditioning agent discharged through the opening 65 is uniformly distributed around the filter 22 and thus dropsinto the tube 14in a uniformly distributed manner. At the conclusion of the spinning operation and whenthe tub 14 arid the dasher 16assembly again become stationary, all of the liquid conditioning agent has been discharged from the chamber 68 except for droplets which' are retained in the various interstices within this chamber.

At the conclusion of'the spin cycle, the first rinse 1 V cycle'is initiated during'which water is again supplied to the interi'or ofthe tub 1-4 and the dashe'rassembly 16 moves in. an orbital path relative to the stationary tub -14. 'As described above, this causes the operation of the dependent therefrom and engageable by a tongue 142 to limit rotary movement of the cap. The projections 144 are separated by slots 146 whereby the tongues can be inserted below the bosses after which, upon rotation of the cap, the tongues 142 resiliently but positively hold the cap in place. Element 140 may be suitably secured to the underside 'of cap 70- as-by screws 148 passing through the hub portion 150' of the element.

Sealing against the escape of fiuidaround the outer periphery of cap 70 is provided by' a sealing ring 152 mounted in a channel 154 at the under side of the outer region of the cap and bearing against wall 62.

In order to minimize possible sticking of the valve element 78 as by corrosion or adhesion caused by the conand its supporting means.

.pump means 24 so that a continuous stream of water is pumped outwardly from the chamber 34 through the passageway 26 and the nozzle '54. This stream of fluid orwater'impinges 011* the open valve element 78 'and j The operation of the modified arrangementis substantiallythe same as that of the first and description thereof will not be repeated here. Although the'presentl invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be understood that those skilled in the art may make many other modifications and embodiments thereof which will-fall within the spiritand scope of the principles of this invention. iWhat is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the vUnited States is; T

' 1. A dispensing unitfori awashing apparatus including a rotating element comprising 'a' housing mounted on said element; said housing providing a cavity for receivinga' conditioning agent, said housing also; including passes intothe chamber 68' of thedispensing unit 181 In thegevent that a liquid conditioning agent has been,

used, the stream of fluid serves to fi-ush the remaining. globules 01- drops of the liquid conditioning agent from r the chamber- 68, and the water together with the condi' tioning agent flows outwardly through the o'pening'76f in the cover 70 to be discharged throughthe filte'riZZ V 1, 7 into the interiorj of the ti1bi14; 'In'the eventthatlthe jfJ-valve element 78 has not movedito afully open position, 7 the forceof the str'eamof vater discharged by the nozzle L 541serves to further elevatethis valve elemen't and thus .more' fully. opens the lower opening In the event that a powdered conditioning agent isused; the stream of water entering the chamber 68- through the" lower opening :65 dissolves the powdered conditioning agent, and the water together with the dissolved cQ'ndi ;tioning agent flows upwardly and outwardlythrough the flared but'res'trictedopenin'g- 7 6 in thecap 'tolbe dis- ",.;charged to the 'filter or strainer assembly 22 Thus, the 'water'withthe dissolved conditioning agent is distributed throughout the interior arms rotatable'tub 14 as in .the Liinstance where a liquid conditioning agent is used; a The, supply ofwater or fluid/co and restricted exit from 7 theichamberflsofthe dispensing unitJ' SgcausestIie com 7 plete 'lremova lfoffth e conditioning iagent and cleans the i dispensingunit '18,,so that the;operation,thereot is not adversely afiected by lanf accumulation' of the'con i both a lower opening disposed adjacent said element and an axially al igned ubper opcning' spaced from said element, said; r p d lower pen s n in ammunicationwithsaid cavity; closure means carried on said housing and axially movabletoward and; away from said lowfer opening'to open andclose said lower opening; 'means'connected tofsaid closure-means for biasingisaid closure means'toward va position in which said. lower sp n g i p ;fa 'da cen r 'g y operated latch meansto detachably secure said closure meansin a posi-c tion closingsaid lower opening; .7 3 2. Thedispensing unit set forth'in claim} in which said latch means includes a latch element movable generally transverse to'the fdirection of 'inovernent of said closure means, and means for biasingsaid latch element toward saidclosure means. a i i i A s n ppara u c ng a moving wash assembly having anupwardly directed passageway, coma pr Pu p m a s d vh gi s l id throu said passageway, a container for recfeivinga conditioning agent mounted .on] said' assembly "and including opening aligned with said passageway,;said container being mount-- ed for rotation by said washing assembly, closuremeans discharged from said containen 4; The washing-apparatus'set claim s 'in which 7 said closure means includes a closure element movable toward and away from said passageway in alignment therewith to prevent said conditioning agent from entering said passageway.

5. A washing apparatus comprising a dasher assembly including an outlet passageway, pump means for discharging a fluid through said passageway, a container of greater cross sectional area than said passageway for receiving a conditioning agent and having an opening, means mounting said container on said assembly with said opening in alignment with said passageway, and closure means normally closing said Opening and operable to open said opening so that fluid discharged from said passageway enters said container.

6. The washing apparatus set forth in claim in which said container includes an aperture spaced from said opening for discharging said conditioning agent and the fluid admitted through said opening.

7. A washing apparatus successively operable through wash, spin and rinse cycles and including a washing assembly rotated at high speeds during said spin cycle; comprising a container mounted on the Washing assembly and adapted to receive a conditioning agent, said container having an opening; a closure element normally closing said opening; means responsive to centrifugal forces developed by rotation of said washing assembly during said spin cycle for displacing said closure element to open said opening; and pump means operated during said rinse cycle for discharging fluid through said opening into said container.

8. A washing apparatus operable through wash, spin and rinse cycles comprising a tub; a dasher assembly disposed within and movable relative to said tub, said dasher assembly including a passageway; a container mounted on said dasher assembly and adapted to receive a conditioning agent, said container having an opening positioned adjacent said passageway; a closure element normally closing said opening; means for rotating said tub and dasher assembly during said spin cycle; means responsive to rotation of said dasher assembly during said spin cycle for displacing said closure element to open said opening; and pump means connected to said passageway and operated during said rinse cycle for forcing fluid through said passageway and said opening into said container.

9. In a washing machine successively operable through wash, spin and rinse cycles, a washing assembly including means defining a passageway, a container for receiving a conditioning agent and including an opening disposed adjacent said passageway, an element normally closing said opening and extending generally transverse to said passageway, filter means mounted adjacent said contm'ner, pump means operable during said wash cycle to discharge a fluid through said passageway so that said fluid impinges on said element and is deflected transversely into said filter means, means operable during said spin cycle for displacing said element to open said opening, and means for operatingsaid pump means during said rinse cycle so that fluid discharged from said passageway enters said container through said opening.

10. A dispensing unit for a washing apparatus including a rotatable housing, said housing providing a cavity for receiving a conditioning agent, said housing also providing both a lower opening and an axially aligned and relatively large upper opening spaced from the lower opening, said upper and lower openings being in communication with said cavity, centrifugally operable clo- 10 sure means for the lower opening carried on said housing and axially movable toward and away from said lower opening to open and close it, and a detachable cap for the upper opening having an exit providing a restricted outlet for liquid from the cavity.

11. A dispensing unit for a washing apparatus including a rotatable housing, said housing providing a cavity for receiving a conditioning agent, said housing also providing both a lower opening and an axially aligned and relatively large upper opening spaced from the lower opening, said upper and lower openings being in communication with said cavity, centrifugally operable closure means for the lower opening carried on said housing and axially movable toward and away from said lower opening to open and close it, a detachable cap for the upper opening having an exit providing a restricted outlet for liquid from the cavity, and said cap having frictional means detachably holding it on the housing.

12. A dispensing unit for a washing apparatus including a rotatable housing, said housing providing a cavity for receiving a conditioning agent, said housing also providing both a lower opening and an axially aligned and relatively large upper opening spaced from the lower opening, said upper and lower openings being in communication with said cavity, centrifugally operable closure means for the lower opening carried on said housing and axially movable toward and away from said lower opening to open and close it, a cap for the upper opening having an exit providing a restricted outlet for liquid from the cavity, and said cap and housing having cooperating bayonet type holding means detachably securing the cap to the housing.

13. A dispensing unit for a washing apparatus including a rotatable housing, said housing providing a cavity for receiving a conditioning agent, said housing also providing both a lower opening and an axially aligned and relatively large upper opening spaced from the lower opening, said upper and lower Openings being in communication with said cavity, centrifugally operable closure means for the lower opening and axially movable toward and away from said lower opening to open and close it, said housing having a plurality of angularly spaced apart supporting means and said closure means including a shaft slidably mounted by said supporting means, and a detachable cap for the upper opening having an exit providing -a restricted outlet for liquid from the cavity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 769,818 Cunneen Sept. 13, 1904 1,154,631 Hirschberger Sept. 28, 1915 1,826,030 Snyder Oct. 6, 1931 2,254,003 De Marco Aug. 26, 1941 2,498,894 McCormick Feb. 28, 1950 2,522,242 Wagner Sept. 12, 1950 2,792,701 Bochan May 21, 1957 2,835,122 Conlee May 20, 1958 2,868,006 Tingley Jan. 13, 1959 2,949,025 Tingley Aug. '16, 1960 2,953,006 Brucken Sept. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 649,451 Great Britain Jan. 24, 1951

Images