US3062030A - Materials dispenser and combination thereof with washing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6, 1962 R. c. GROVES MATERIALS DISPENSER AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH WASHING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1958 ROBERT 39323 7% m4- ATTHRNEVS Nov. 6, 1962 R. c. GROVES 3,062,030

MATERIALS DISPENSER AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH WASHING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25. 195sv WW a 7 m I .4 v

A TTORNE'IS Nov. 6, 1962 R. c. GROVES 3,062,030

MATERIALS DISPENSER AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH WASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ROBERT C. GROVES BY m/m ATTORNEYS Nov. 6, 1962 R. c. GROVES 3,062,030

- MATERIALS DISPENSER AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH WASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 4 lzz cwc/r "0T s ns/ma AGITATE SPIN cwvmr/o/vm mmn Moran M 174 144 144 w Me /4o 1 ENT OR. ROBERT e /mks BYWKW A TTORNEYS Nov. 6, 1962 R c. GROVES 3,062,030

MATERIALS DI'SPENSER AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH WASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT C. GROVES United States Patent Ofilice 3,062,030 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,062,030 MATERIALS DISPENSER AND COMBHQATION THEREOF WITH WASHING APPARATUS Robert C. Groves, 335 Aberdeen Ave., Dayton, Ohio Filed Sept. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 762,849 12 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing materials and is particularly concerned with the automatic dispensing of washing materials in automatic washers.

The most popular type of clothes washer for domestic use at the present time is what is known as an automatic washer which is so arranged that the washer, once loaded, Will go through an automatic cycle which includes agitation of the clothes in a hot soapy bath and the subsequent rinsing and spin drying of the clothes. Such washers, however, are notably lacking in having a true automatic cycle in that there is no dispensing into the water during the cycle of the various materials that are employed during the washing and rinsing operations. For example, the washing is accomplished by having soap or detergent in the water to release the soil in the clothes and there also may be added at this time a water softener so that more efilcient use will be made of the soap and to avoid precipitation of the carbonates and the like from hard water in the form of sediment or scum. Further, in the rinse cycle it is often desirable to again add water softener or other type of water conditioners and this may further beaccompanied by the addition of a blueing agent if so desired. Because of the lack of devices for automatically supplying the materials referred to above what is known as an automatic washer is at best only semi-automatic as these various materials must be added manually and in the case of the addition of materials to the water at the beginning of the rinse or during the rinse cycle, the operator of the machine must be on hand at the proper time or else the material cannot be added.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for accomplishing the automatic dispensing of materials into the automatic washer so that an entire automatic washing cycle can be carried out without any attention from the machine operator.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a simple apparatus that can be readily incorporated in the usual type automatic washer for accomplishing the automatic dispensing into the clothes tub of the machine during the washing and rinsing cycles, the materials required for the eflicient accomplishment of the various steps during the cycle.

A particular object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for automatically dispensing materials into the tub of an automatic washer which is repetitive in operation over a number of successive complete washing cycles.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an automatic washer which requires only the introduction of the materials to be washed into the tub and the initiation of the cycle for completing an entire automatic washing and rinsing cycle to be carried out.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an arrangement for the dispensing of exact accurate quantities of material for washing and rinsing purposes into a clothes tub during continued operation of the machine.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a novel package for washing materials such as soap, detergent, softener, blueing and the like.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a package containing a precisely measured amount of materials to be utilized during the washing cycle and which package itself is soluble in the water to which it is delivered.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical automatic washer showing the positioning therein of a materials dispenser of preferred construction according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the washer of FIGURE 1 with the top removed showing more clearly the location of the dispenser in its relation to the clothes tub;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view indicated by line 3-3 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view indicated by line 44 on FIGURE 2 showing the structure of the dispensing mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a view indicated by line 55 on FIGURE 4 showing the drive motors for driving the strips of material dispensed;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the preferred dispenser, partly broken away, showing how the several strips to be dispensed are led through the dispensing apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view indicated by line 77 on FIGURE 4 showing a cut off knife for severing the strips being dispensed;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view indicated by line 8-8 on FIGURE 7 showing the cut off knife in closed position and a seal associated therewith that seals the opening through which the strips are dispensed;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view indicated by line 9-9 on FIGURE 7 showing the springs and spring rods that urge the cutting blade downwardly;

FIGURE 10 is a plan sectional view indicated by line Iii-11) on FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view showing more in detail the drive sprocket for one of the strips to be dispensed;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing a typical strip adapted for being dispensed in the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic representation of a typical electric control circuit by means of which the washer can be controlled and the operaton of the dispensing apparatus integrated with the washer operation;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a modification showing another form which the dispensing apparatus according to this invention can take;

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view indicated by the cutting plane 1515-15 on FIGURE 14 showing the manner in which the material is discharged from a hopper into compartments pertaining to the modified conveyor strip of FIG. 14;

FIGURE 16 is a view indicated by the cutting plane 16-1616 on FIGURE 14 showing how the material is released from the conveyor strip of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 17 is a view showing one of the individual compartments of the conveyor strip of FIGURE 14 as it appears between the hopper and discharge with the compartment sealed;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary view showing another modification in which a conveyor strip made partly soluble can be utilized for delivering materials to the washing tub;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken along another modified conveyor strip showing how the interior of the tape can be divided into a multiplicity of compartments by a corrugated divider strip;

FIGURE 20 is a sectional view indicated by line 20-20 0 on FIGURE 19;

3 rality of films are employed to impart sufficient strength to the tape for feeding purposes;

FIGURE 22 is a sectional view indicated by line 22-22 on FIGURE 21 showing how a plurality of films are joined together to form a substantial thickness at the edge of the tape for engagement by the feeding sprocket;

FIGURE 23 is a perspective view showing another modified conveyor strip in which the body of the strip is insoluble and the material carried thereby is disposed in pockets in the carrier strip and retained therein by a carrier film which is soluble;

FIGURE 24 is a perspective view showing still another modified conveyor strip in the form of a single thickness to which the material to be dispensed is adhered on both sides thereof;

FIGURE 25 is a perspective view showing a conveyor strip similar to the modification of FIGURES 19 and 20 except having the space between the outer films divided by a honeycomb like element;

FIGURE 26 is a view showing how a conveyor strip according to FIGURE 23 could be fed through a compartment in which there is a water jet that dissolves the soluble film thereby releasing the materials carried by the strip; and

FIGURE 27 is a fragmentary view showing a modification consisting of a cut off and sealing arrangement for a conveyor strip in which the films of the strip can be sealed by the application of heat and pressure.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the washer illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 comprises an outer cabinet having a lid 12 giving access to washing tub 14.

According to the present invention there is located in cabinet 10 adjacent the tub 14 but with sufiicient clearance therefrom to permit the tub to gyrate during the spin cycle, a dispensing mechanism 16 according to the present invention.

This mechanism is shown more in detail in FIGURES 4 through 11 wherein it will be seen that the mechanism comprises a box-like frame part 18 closed by a lid 20 hinged at 22. There projects from one side of frame part 18 a neck portion 24 forming a delivery chute through which the strips being dispensed pass. Neck 24 terminates in a discharge portion 26 that extends over the edge of tub 14 so as to discharge material automatically into the tub.

The material to be dispensed is disposed in frame 18 in the form of a plurality of strips 28 which, as will be seen in FIGURE 6, comprises drive apertures 30 along at least one edge thereof with there being pockets 32 of the material to be dispensed distributed along the strip in fixed relation to the arrangement of the drive apertures.

Pertaining to each strip to be dispensed, there is at least one drive sprocket 34. As illustrated there are a pair of drive sprockets for each of the strips being dispensed, one engaging the apertures at each edge of the strip. Each pair of discharge sprockets 34 are mounted on a shaft 36 and each shaft carries a chain sprocket 38 engaged by drive chain 40 that passes about a drive sprocket 42 driven by a motor 44.

By energization of the motors 44 selectively, the several strips can be individually driven along neck 24 toward discharge portion 26. At the upper end of the discharge portion 26 there is a cutter blade or cut off knife generally indicated at 45 and which is shown more in detail in FIGURES 7 through 10. The cut ofi knife 45 comprises a cutting blade 46 pressed by springs 48 downwardly into cutting relation with the edge 50 in the bottom side of the neck portion 24 at the upper end of discharge portion 26. Push rods 52 connected with the blade extend downwardly and are adapted for actuation by cams 54 upon energization of solenoid 56. Energization of this solenoid will cause the cams to raise the blade whereupon strips can be fed through beneath the knife blade and upon de-energization of the solenoid springs 48 will move the blade downwardly and sever the strip or strips.

To protect the mechanism from moisture, there is preferably a resilient block 57 of rubber or rubber-like material attached to the back of blade 46 which is pressed downwardly together with the blade thereby to form a seal at the end of neck 24 so that steam and water vapors from the wash tub do not get into the dispensing apparatus.

As will be seen in FIGURE 12, each strip 28 may comprise a pair of thin films 58 sealed together along their edges to form a thickened portion in which the drive apertures 30 are located and with there being pockets containing the material 54 which is to be dispensed. This material may be soap, detergent, a softener, a water conditioning agent, blueing, bleach, or any combination of ingredients that it may be desired to add to the wash or rinse water. The films 58 are water soluble in the preferred form which the present invention takes and the material of the film further may be a substance having a beneficial effect on the work operation being carried out. For example, the material of the film could be a suspension agent such as polyvinyl alcohol.

The manner in which the dispensing apparatus of the present invention could be incorporated in a typical automatic cycle is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 13.

In this figure, it will be seen that the clothes tub 14 has leading thereto a water fill pipe 60 to which is connected cold water line 62 and hot water line 64 and associated with the connected pipes is a control mechanism 66 of a known type having electrical portions 68 and 70 energizable for causing delivery of water at different temperatures to the clothes tub.

The clothes tub 14 is adapted for being driven by motor 72 and when the clutch 74 is energized by energization of a solenoid 76, the washer is driven in agitation and when the clutch 78 is made effective by energiza tion of a solenoid 80 the tub will spin.

The motors 44 of the dispensing apparatus are arranged for having energizing circuits thereto closed by energization of a relay R1. This relay is connected in parallel with the solenoid 56 pertaining to the knife mechanism 45 and a solenoid 82 energizable for closing a normally open clutch mechanism 84 which is operable when closed for drivingly interconnecting the shaft 86 with a shaft 88 on which are mounted cams 90, 92 and 94.

Shaft 86, as will be seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 is carried by the dispensing apparatus and mounted on the shaft are three sprockets 93 each connected with the shaft through an over-running clutch 95. Each sprocket 93 is connected by a chain 96 with a sprocket of the same size on one of the shafts 36. Whenever any of shafts 36 is actuated, the pertaining sprocket 93 will be driven the same amount and through the over-running clutch pertaining thereto will drive shaft 86. This will rotate the shaft 88 and the earns 90, 92 and 94 thereon which are adapted for becoming effective in l/3, 2/3 and 3/3 revolutions respectively for opening their pertaining switches 98, 160 and 102. By this arrangement the shaft 36 that is being driven can be caused to rotate 1/3, 2/3 or a complete revolution before one of the switches 98, 100 and 102 are actuated and opened. The one of the switches which will be effective is determined by the setting of an adjustable switch 104 which is preset at the initiation of a washing cycle. It will be apparent that upon opening of the effective one of switches 98, 100 and 102, relay R1 and solenoids 56 and 82 will be de-energized thus bringing about cutting off of the fed strips, de-energization of the energized one of the actuating motors 44, and resetting of shaft 88 to its starting position by spring 106.

The entire operation of the washer is under the control of a timing mechanism that includes a motor 108 that drives a shaft 110 on which are mounted a plurality of control cams. These cams are adapted for becoming effective at various intervals during the cycle to control the supply of water to the clothes tub, the agitation of the clothes in the tub, the spinning of the tub, and the dispensing of materials to the tub. For the sake of convenience and to avoid confusion the draining of the waste water has not been illustrated.

In carrying out a wash operation knob 112 is availed of for turning shaft 110 to a position where cam 114 will close its switch 116 which establishes a circuit from power line L1 through motor 108 to power line L2 which will energize the motor whereupon it will continue to run until cam 114 permits switch 116 to open.

At about this time a cam 118 closes a switch 120 that makes effective electrical means 70 to supply hot water to clothes tub 14. When the tub fills to a predetermined level the supply of water stops either through the timing out of the cam 118 or on account of float controlled means, not shown, but conventional in this art.

Either after or during, and preferably during, the filling cycle a cam 122 closes a switch 124 that completes a circuit from power line L1 to one side of the blade or relay R1 that controls motor 44 pertaining to the strip to be dispensed that carries the water softener. While switch 124 is held closed by cam 122 a lobe on cam 126 closes a switch 128 that establishes a circuit from power line L1 to one side of relay R1, solenoid 56 and solenoid 82, the circuit to power line L2 therefrom being completed through switch 104, the one of limit switches 98, 100' and 102, depending on the setting of switch 104. Switch 128 will bring about energization of the relays and a strip feeding operation will then proceed until the effective one of switches 98, 100 and 102 is opened whereupon relay R1 and solenoids 56 and 86 will be de-energized in the manner previously described.

The closing of switch 128 is momentary so that the relay and solenoids will remain de-energized upon opening of the switches 98, 100 or 102 and to permit momentary closing of switch 128 to be effective relay R1 has a holding blade 130.

After the dispensing cycle above described and which, as mentioned, preferably takes place during the filling cycle, a second dispensing cycle is initiated to supply soap or detergent to the water. This may occur before the filling is completed, but preferably occurs after the tub is filled with water and has had a chance to react with the softening agent. The soap or detergent dispensing operation is accomplished by closing of a switch 132 by cam 134 which establishes an energizing circuit to a second one of the motors 44. Similarly, as with the softener dispensing operation, there is a lobe 136 on cam 126 that becomes momentarily effective during the time switch 132 is closed which energizes relay R1 and solenoids 56 and 82.

After a dispensing operation of the soap or detergent is completed, a washing cycle is initiated by closing a switch 138 by a cam 140 which completes a circuit through motor 72. At this time a switch 142 is closed by its cam 144 thereby energizing solenoid 76 and making agitating clutch 74 effective so that agitation of the water and clothes in the tub occurs for a washing cycle.

According to conventional practices, after a predetermined period of agitation, cam 144 will permit switch 142 to open and a cam 146 will close its switch 148 thereby energizing solenoid 80 and making spin clutch 70 effective for a spin cycle.

After a spinning operation during which time the soapy water is spun from the clothes and tub, the cam 146 will permit switch 148 to open and the tub may come to a halt and the cam 150 will close switch 152 to energize electrical means 68 and cause a supply of rinse water to be delivered to the tub. During the supply of rinse water or immediately thereafter, a cam 154 closes its switch 156 thus establishing an energizing circuit to the third one of the motors 44 and which pertains to a strip carrying a water conditioner that it is desired to supply to the rinse 6 water. A third lobe 158 on cam 126 becomes momentarily effective while switch 156 is closed and this causes still another dispensing operation to be carried out in the same manner as described previously.

Following the dispensing operation, cam 144 again closes switch 142 and the clothes are agitated in the rinse water and thereafter cam 144 permits switch 142 to open while cam 146 closes switch 148 and a new spin cycle is initiated. At the end of the spin cycle, cam permits switch 138 to open thereby de-energizing motor 72 and, finally, cam 1.14 permits switch 116 to open thus halting the timer and the cycle is completed.

It will be understood that the cycle described above is greatly simplified over what could be established and is merely exemplary of the manner in which the arrangement of the present invention could be incorporated in an automatic washer. Such refinements as multiple rinses and the like could readily be incorporated in the washing cycle.

Further, other dispensing operations, such as the dispensing of a bleach during one of the primary operations and the dispensing of blueing into a later rinse operation could readily be incorporated in the cycle. Further, there could readily be provided means for causing different amounts of material to be dispensed from different compartments if so desired This could be accomplished by automatically adjusting the switch 104 during the cycle or by providing individual controls for the various strip dispensing motors so that each motor could have its travel preset before initiating the washing cycle.

The conveying of the material during the dispensing operation according to this invention can be accomplished by strips of different character from the one already described and can also be conveyed by permanent conveyor strips, an example of which is illustrated in FIG- URES 14 through 17 together with the apparatus for moving the strip. In these figures there is a flexible plastic belt running over a set of spaced support pulleys or sprockets 200 and 202, one set of which is adapted for being driven by the motor 204. The plastic belt or strip comprises an inner portion 206 formed with pockets 208 and an outer strip 210 enclosing the pockets and included along the center thereof is interlocking continuous closure 212. Such closures are known per se and form no part of the present invention. Such closures as are known are adapted for being opened and closed by sliders movable along the closure. i This closure is availed of for automatically filling and emptying the compartments 208 during movement of the belt. In FIGURE 14 there is a dispensing hopper 214 adapted for receiving granulated material that is to be dispensed such as ordinary granulated detergent or soap. This hopper has a discharge spout at 216 through which the granular material will pass downwardly. Attached to spout 216 are sliders 218 and 220 engaging the closure 212 so that the slider 218 opens the closure and slider 220 closes the closure. As the flexible belt moves under spout 216 the material will flow from hopper 214 by gravity into compartments 208 and fill them.

A similar arrangement of opening and closing sliders is provided on the underneath reach of the belt and in this manner the material is discharged into a discharge chute 222 whence the material passes to the clothes tub.

It will be apparent that the described arrangement could be modified to have merely an opening slider on the leading side of the discharge chute 222' and a closing slider on the trailing side of the chute 216 and the same operative cycle would obtain. An advantage of the modification just described is that it permits the use of conventional materials that can be purchased in usual boxed form and does not require any special packaging in order to practice the method of the present invention.

Still another way in which the materials could be delivered to the clothes tub is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 18 wherein a carrier strip 224 is at least par.

tially soluble, for example, one side thereof and this strip is led through chamber 226 to which water is supplied for the clothes tub by pipe 228 and whence the water passes by pipe 230 to the clothes tub 232. The FIGURE 18 arrangement permits the use of an insoluble member for the carrier strip and provides means for preventing the insoluble portion of the strip from getting into the clothes tub.

Some of the various arrangements that can be made of the strips are illustrated in FIGURES 19 through 25.

In FIGURE 19 the strip is made up of the outer films 234 between which in zig-zag or wave fashion there is arranged another film 236 dividing the carrier strip into a plurality of individual compartments 238. The films 2'34 and 236 are preferably soluble and can be discharged downwardly into the tub with the material carried by the strip. The FIGURE 19 arrangement provides a ready means whereby exact correlation between the compartments along the strip and the drive apertures can be eliminated and also provides a strip arrangement that in many cases could be driven frictionally rather than by apertures along the edge.

FIGURES 21 and 22 show an arrangement permitting the use of extremely thin fragile soluble films 240 and whereby a plurality of the films are provided with the material to be carried by the strip being disposed at 242 between the individual thin films 240. Since there are a plurality of the films 240 that can be brought together at the edges 244 of the strip and provided with apertures 246 and sufiicient strength will be had for driving the carrier strip during the dispensing operation.

The FIGURES 21 and 22 modification as well as the one of FIGURES l9 and 20 have the added advantage of permitting a plurality of different materials to be carried by the carrier strip if so desired and the material will be kept isolated from each other until the films are dissolved.

In FIGURE 23 the carrier strip comprises a relatively thick arrangement 248 on one side formed with recesses 250 for receiving the material to be dispensed with a thin soluble film 252 being adhered to the member 248 -to close the compartments.

A carrier according to FIGURE 23 could be dispensed in an apparatus such as is shown in FIGURE 26 wherein there is a water jet 254 that jets against the side of the carrier strip that is soluble thus dissolving the soluble strip and permitting the material to be released therefrom whence it passes down a chute 256 to the clothes tub. This arrangement would also permit the film 252 merely to be fragile and in which case the jet 254 would rupture the film and flush and the material to be dispensed from the recesses in which it was located.

FIGURE 24 shows a soluble carrier strip 258 to which the material to be dispensed is bonded to both sides thereof by an adhesive. This arrangement would also permit the strip to consist substantially entirely of the material to be dispensed with a suitable compatible binder provided for binding the particles of the material together whereupon the strip could be formed and dispensed in the described manner.

FIGURE 25 shows a strip similar to that of FIGURES l9 and 21 in that the outer films 260 of the strip are soluble with the inside of the strip being divided by the core member 262, also soluble which is like a honeycomb so that the strip can be cut off at any place along its length with the next of the strip being sealed and with there being only a merger loss of material therefrom.

FIGURE 27 shows a simple arrangement whereby a strip consisting of softenable and heat scalable outer film could be dispensed with the end of the strip being sealed automatically at the time of cut off. The carrier strip in FIGURE 27 at 264 passes over an anvil 266 that is adapted for being cut off by a knife 268 so that a portion of the strip as at 270 will slide down chute 272 to the clothes tub. Carried with knife 268 is a pressure or sealing member 274 which may have a heating element energized by wires 276 so that at the time of cut off a short period of energization of the heater will bring about sealing of the cut off and end of the carrier strip so that moisture will not enter the strip and cause deterioration of the strip or its contents.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that the present invention provides for a novel apparatus for carrying out a washing cycle that includes the automatic dispensing into the clothes tub at any time or at any preselected predetermined times during the cycle, of materials adjunct to the washing and rinsing operations to be carried out and that there is further provided especially packaged materials for being so supplied, and a device for handling and conveying and cutting of the strips and also for conveying the materials to the clothes tub from a station where the material is retained in bulk form.

The apparatus can be used with substantially any conventional automatic washers and can readily be incorporated therein especially readily as new manufacture.

The packaging of the materials to be dispensed in a water soluble film made up of a soil suspension agent such as polyvinyl alcohol has the advantage that the soil suspension agent can be utilized during the washing and rinsing actions to improve the efficiency of the operation of the machine. It will be understood that since film such as the cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol is quite thin, normally being on the order from .0015 to .002 inch thick, several film thicknesses could be employed if necessary to provide for the amount of soil suspension agent desired with each supply of material to the clothes tub.

It will also be evident that in most cases the water in the tub into which the materials are delivered will be warm but it is possible at times that this will be cold water and for that reason it is preferred that the material be supplied to the washing tub while the agitating op eration is in progress. This will bring about quick dissolving of the soluble film and rapid distribution of the material of the film and the washing material carried thereby throughout the clothes tub.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to diiierent usages and conditions; and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination; a washing machine having a clothes tub with an opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub, conveyor means pertaining to the dispenser for conveying materials therefrom into the opening in the tub, drive means energizable for actuating the conveyor means, a control system operable to control the washing machine through washing and rinsing operations for a complete cycle, means included in the control system for energizing said drive means at predetermined times during the cycle of the washing machine to cause dispensing of materials into said tub, and adjustable means for controlling the duration of the period of energization of said drive means thereby to regulate the quantity of material delivered to the tub, said conveyor means comprising a flexible strip having the material to be dispensed carried in uniformly distributed relation thereon, said drive means having postive driving engagement with said strip whereby the control of the duration of the period of energization of the said drive means effects positive movement of a predetermined length of said strip and, therefore, the dispensing of a predetermined quantity of said material carried by the strip.

2. In combination; a washing machine having a clothes tub with an opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub, conveyor means extending from the dispenser to the opening in the tub for conveying materials from the dispenser to the tub, drive means energizable for actuating the conveyor means, a control system operable to control the washing machine through washing and rinsing operations for a complete cycle, means included in the control system for energizing said drive means at predetermined times during the cycle of the washing machine to cause dispensing of materials into said tub, and adjustable means for controlling the duration of the energization of said driving means thereby to regulate the quantity of material delivered to the tub, said conveyor means comprising a water soluble strip having the material to be dispensed carried thereby in uniformly distributed relation therealong, and cut off means associated with the conveyor operable in time relation with said drive means to cut oif the strip adjacent the opening in the tub whereby the cut oil portion is supplied to the tub.

3. In combination; a washing machine having a clothes tub with an opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub adapted for containing supplies of at least two materials utilized during a complete operative cycle of the washing machine, conveyor means extending from the dispenser to the opening in the tub for conveying the materials from the dispenser to the tub, said conveyor means comprising flexible strip means having said materials distributed therealong uniformly, drive means having positive drive engagement with said strip means operable for driving the said strip means from the dispenser toward the opening in the tub, a control system controlling the operation of the washing machine and including means for energizing said drive means at predetermined times during the cycle of operation of the washing machine to cause said strip means to convey materials from the dispenser to the opening in said tub, and means adjustable for controlling the duration of the energization of said driving means thereby to control the length of the strip means moved during each period of energization of said drive means to control the quantities of the materials which are conveyed from the dispenser to the opening in the tub.

4. In combination; a washing machine having a clothes tub with an opening therein, a control system operable to control the washing machine through washing and rinsing operations, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub, said dispenser comprising means for receiving an elongated strip carrying the material to be dispensed in uniformly distributed relation therealong, a chute leading from the dispenser into the opening in the tub, drive means extending into the chute engageable with a strip therein adapted for being driven for advancing the strip in the chute from the dispenser toward the tub, and means under the control of said control system for energizing the said drive means at a predetermined period and for a predetermined length of time during the cycle of the washing machine, said drive means comprising means for positive driving engagement with said strip for the positive advancing of the strip thereby.

5. In combination; a washing machine having a clothes tub with an opening therein, a control system to control the operation of the machine through a complete cycle, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub including means for receiving an elongated strip carrying material to be dispensed into the tub, a chute leading from the dispenser to a position where a strip issuing from the chute will pass into the opening in the tub, drive means extending into the chute engageable with a strip therein to advance the strip along the chute toward the tub when energized, means controlled by the control system for energizing the drive means at a predetermined time during the cycles of Washing and rinsing, and cut oil means associated With the chute movable to intersect the chute and cut oil a strip therein operable upon the completion of a cycle of energization of the drive means for moving transversely of the chute cutting ofi a strip in the chute.

6. In combination; a washing machine having a clothes tub with an opening therein, a control system to control the operation of the machine through a complete cycle, a

materials dispenser adjacent the tub including means for receiving an elongated strip carrying material to be dispensed into the tub, a chute leading from the dispenser to a position where a strip discharged from the chute will pass through said opening into the tub, drive means extending into the chute engageable with a strip in the chute to advance the strip along the chute toward the tub when energized, means controlled by the control system for energizing the drive means at a predetermined time during the cycles of Washing and rinsing, and cut oif means movably mounted adjacent the chute reciprocable for cutting of strip in the chute, and actuating means for the cut-01f means operable upon the completion of a cycle of energization of the drive means for reciprocating said cut-oil means for cutting off the strip, said cut off means sealing the chute during the intervals that the drive means is de-energized.

7. In combination; a washing machine having a tub with on opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub and including a discharge chute extending to said opening so materials discharged from the chute will pass into the tub, said dispenser being adapted for receiving an elongated strip carrying the material to be dispensed, a drive member extending into the chute engageable with the strip and energizable to advance the strip along the chute toward the tub, means for energizing the drive member for a predetermined length of time, a cut off blade adjacent the tub end of the chute and normally positioned in and closing the chute, and means connected with the cut-off blade operable for retracting the cut off blade from the chute when the drive member is energized and for returning the cut ofi blade into the chute when the drive member is de-energized whereby the fed strip is cut oif and is delivered into the Washing tub.

8. In combination; a washing machine having a tub with an opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub and including a discharge chute extending to the opening in the tub so materials discharged from the chute will pass into the tub, said dispenser being adapted for receiving an elongated strip carrying the material to be dispensed, a drive member extending into the chute engageable with the strip and energizable to advance the strip along the chute toward the tub, means for energizing the drive member for a predetermined length of time, a cut off blade adjacent the discharge end of the chute and normally positioned in and closing the chute, and means connected with the cut-ofi blade operable for retracting the cut off blade from the chute when the drive member is energized and for returning the cut of? blade into the chute when the drive member is de-energized whereby the fed strip is cut off and is delivered into the washing tub, said drive member comprising a pin Wheel adapted for engaging perforations in the strip to be fed.

9. In combination; a washing machine having a tub with an opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent the tub and including a discharge chute extending to the said opening so materials discharged from the chute will be delivered into the tub, said dispenser being adapted for receiving an elongated strip carrying the material to be dispensed, a drive member extending into the chute engageable with the strip and energizable to advance the strip along the chute, means for energizing the drive member for a predetermined length of time, a cut oif blade adjacent the tub end of the chute and normally positioned in and closing the chute, and means connected with the cut-off blade operable for retracting the cut off blade when the drive member is energized and for returning the cut oil blade into the chute when the drive member is deenergized whereby the fed strip is cut off and is delivered into the washing tub, said strip comprising a carrier film of water soluble material, and there being means associated with said film for retaining the material to be dispensed in a predetermined distributed relation therealong, and said cut-ofr' blade including means sealiugly engaging the said chute to exclude moisture therefrom.

10. In a materials dispenser; a housing having means for receiving a plurality of strips to be dispensed, a discharge chute leading from the housing through which the strips are fed when being dispensed, a drive member extending into the chute for each strip, means for individually actuating said drive members to advance their respective strips along the said chute, control means for individually controlling the actuation of said drive members to determine the amount of the respective strips dispensed thereby, cut-oflf blade means carried by the chute reciprocable thereacross for cutting off strips therein, and actuating means for said cut-off blade means interconnected with said drive means operable for retracting the cut-01f blade means from the chute when the drive means is engaged and for returning the cut-off blade means into the chute when the drive means is de-energized.

11. In combination; a washing apparatus having a compartment in which articles are placed for the washing thereof, and said compartment having opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent said compartment, conveyor means pertaining to the dispenser extending therefrom to said opening for conveying washing materials from the dispenser to the said opening in said compartment, drive means energizable for actuating said conveyor means, a control system operable for controlling the washing apparatus through a complete cycle of operations thereof including at least a washing operation, means included in the control system for energizing said drive means for at least one predetermined period during the cycle of the washing apparatus to thereby cause movement of washing materials from said dispenser to the washing compartment, said conveyor means comprising a flexible strip of water soluble material having the washing materials to be dispensed carried thereon in uniformly distributed relation therealong, said drive means having positive drive engagement with said strip, and means for cutting ofl. the dispensed strip.

12. In combination; a washing apparatus having a compartment in which materials are placed for the washing thereof, and said compartment having opening therein, a materials dispenser adjacent said compartment, conveyor means pertaining to the dispenser extending therefrom to said opening for conveying materials from the dispenser to the said opening in said compartment, drive means energizable for actuating said conveyor means, a control system operable for controlling the washing apparatus through a complete cycle of operations thereof including at least a washing operation, means included in the control system for energizing said drive means for at least one predetermined period during the cycle of the washing apparatus to thereby cause movement of materials from said dispenser to the washing compartment, means for adjusting the duration of said period of energization of said driving means thereby to regulate the quantity of material delivered to the said opening in the compartment, said conveyor means comprising a flexible strip having the material to be dispensed carried thereon in uniformly distributed relation therealong, said drive means having positive driving engagement with said strip, and said adjustable means being operable for controlling the length of the said flexible strip that is moved by the said drive means during the said period of energization thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,344,982 Dyer Mar. 28, 1944 2,489,278 Fink Nov. 29, 1949 2,554,827 Helsel May 29, 1951 2,612,034 Constantine Sept. 30, 1952 2,641,304 Biddinger et a1. June 9, 1953 2,647,384 Erlanger Aug. 4, 1953 2,821,848 Becker Feb. 4, 1958 2,835,122 Conlee May 20, 1958

Images