US 11,717,133 B2
Dishwasher with rotary blister pack dispenser
Joel Boyer, Louisville, KY (US); and Bassam Fawaz, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD., Guangdong (CN)
Filed by Midea Group Co., Ltd., Foshan (CN)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/38,032.
Prior Publication US 2022/0095885 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. A47L 15/44 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 15/4472 (2013.01) [A47L 15/4463 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dishwasher comprising:
a wash tub; and
a detergent dispenser positioned in said wash tub to dispense detergent into said wash tub, said detergent dispenser including
a driving mechanism with a rotating shaft defining a rotational axis;
an elongated member having a first end coupled to said rotating shaft and a second end projecting radially outward therefrom;
a track plate having a first side, a second side, and a curved track thereon disposed about said rotational axis, said curved track for receiving said second end of said elongated member;
a backing plate having a first side and a second side, said backing plate having one or more outlets on said second side therethrough in fluid communication with said wash tub;
a blister pack for coupling between said second side of said track plate and said first side of said backing plate, said blister pack having a plurality of detergents arranged in a configuration complementary to said curved track;
wherein said driving mechanism rotates said elongated member on said first side of said track plate with respect to said track plate and said blister pack together along a plurality of rotational positions following said curved track, and one or more of said plurality of rotational positions orientates said second end of said elongated member proximate said plurality of detergents to dispense detergent into said wash tub through said one or more outlets of said backing plate;
wherein said elongated member further comprises one or more dispensing devices proximate said second end, wherein said one or more dispensing devices are rotated to said plurality of rotational positions to dispense detergent into said wash tub;
wherein said elongated member further comprises one or more actuators configured to adjust a position of said one or more dispensing devices among said plurality of rotational positions to dispense detergent into said wash tub;
wherein said curved track is a plurality of non-overlapping concentric rings with a plurality of rotating radiuses about said rotational axis;
wherein said curved track further comprises one or more linear radial offsets among said plurality of non-overlapping concentric rings;
wherein said one or more actuators automatically adjust a length of at least a portion of said elongated member in a direction perpendicular to said rotational axis to match said plurality of rotating radiuses.