Method for converting a household cleaning appliance with a non-bulk dispensing system to a household cleaning appliance with a bulk dispensing system

Abstract

A method for converting a non-bulk dispensing system into a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.

1 . A method of converting a household cleaning appliance having a single use dispensing system to a bulk dispensing system, wherein the single use dispensing system comprises a dispenser housing in a cabinet of the household cleaning appliance and is fluidly coupled to a treating chamber in the cabinet, and at least one dispensing cup fluidly coupled to the dispenser housing, the method comprising:
 inserting a bulk dispensing cartridge having a fluid outlet into the at least one dispensing cup; and   mounting a metering device with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in the cabinet such that the metering device fluid outlet is fluidly coupled to the housing and the metering device fluid inlet mates with the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet when the drawer is in a dispense position thereby establishing a bulk dispensing flow path from the bulk dispensing cartridge to the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising establishing a water supply to the dispenser housing. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the water supply to the dispenser housing bypasses the at least one dispensing cup. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the water is supplied to the dispenser housing such that it flows over a treating chemistry dispensed into the housing through the bulk dispensing flow path. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising forming an opening in the at least one dispensing cup through which the fluid outlet of the bulk dispensing cartridge will extend when the bulk dispensing cartridge is received within the at least one dispensing cup. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising providing a fluid coupler on one of the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet and the metering device fluid inlet. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting of the metering device further comprises mounting the metering device to the dispenser housing. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the metering device comprises a pump. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the metering device comprises a venturi. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the metering device comprises a pressurized cartridge. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the metering device comprises a gravity drain. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the metering device comprises a flowmeter. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the metering device comprises a pumping air into the cartridge. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising replacing the at least one dispensing cup with a new dispensing cup configured to receive a bulk dispensing cartridge and having at least one dispensing cup. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the new dispensing cup comprises a fluid conduit that fluidly couples to the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet to the metering device when the bulk dispensing cartridge is received in the at least one dispensing cup. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising removing material from the new dispensing cup at locations for receiving the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the removing material comprises removing a punch-out to form an opening in the dispensing cup for receiving the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising operably coupling the metering device to a controller. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the metering device is a pump having a motor and the motor is operably coupled to the controller such that the controller controls the actuation of the motor. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising replacing the dispenser housing with a new dispenser housing suitable for use with a bulk dispensing cartridge and fluidly coupled to a treating chamber in the cabinet. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the new dispenser housing comprises a fluid conduit that fluidly couples the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet to the metering device when the bulk dispensing cartridge is received in the at least one dispensing cup. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising removing material from the new dispenser housing at locations for receiving the metering device fluid outlet. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one dispensing cup is provided in a dispensing drawer that is slideably received within the dispenser housing for movement between a fill position, where the at least one dispensing cup is exterior of the cabinet and a dispense position, where the at least one dispensing cup is interior of the cabinet and fluidly coupled to the dispenser housing. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the water supply to the dispenser housing at least in part bypasses the dispenser drawer. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising forming an opening in the dispenser drawer through which the fluid outlet of the bulk dispensing cartridge will extend when the bulk dispensing cartridge is received within the at least one dispensing cup. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising replacing the dispenser drawer with a new dispenser drawer configured to receive a bulk dispensing cartridge and having at least one dispensing cup. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the new dispenser drawer comprises a fluid conduit that fluidly couples to the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet when the bulk dispensing cartridge is received in the at least one dispensing cup and to the metering device fluid inlet when the new dispenser drawer is in a dispensing position interior of the cabinet. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising removing punch-outs from the new dispenser drawer at locations for receiving the bulk dispensing cartridge fluid outlet. 
   
   
       29 . A household cleaning appliance, comprising:
 a treating chamber; and   a non-bulk dispensing system coupled with the treating chamber and having a portion of material configured to be removable wherein the non-bulk dispensing system is configured to receive a removable cartridge containing a treating chemistry when such material is removed.   
   
   
       30 . The household cleaning appliance according to  claim 29  wherein when the cartridge is received the household cleaning appliance comprises a bulk dispensing system configured to deliver a charge of treating chemistry from the cartridge to the treating chamber. 
   
   
       31 . The household cleaning appliance according to  claim 29  wherein the non-bulk dispensing system comprises a drawer having the portion of material configured to be removed and configured to receive the removable cartridge. 
   
   
       32 . The household cleaning appliance according to  claim 31  further comprising a metering device coupled to the drawer and operably coupled to the removable cartridge to dispense treating chemistry when the removable cartridge is received within the drawer. 
   
   
       33 . A non-bulk dispensing drawer having a portion of material configured to be removable and wherein the drawer is configured to receive a bulk dispensing cartridge and fluid outlet when such material is removed. 
   
   
       34 . The household cleaning appliance according to  claim 33  further comprising a metering device coupled to the drawer and operably coupled to the removable cartridge to dispense treating chemistry when the removable cartridge is received within the drawer. 
   
   
       35 . The household cleaning appliance according to  claim 34  wherein the drawer comprises at least one dispensing cup and the removable cartridge is received within one of the dispensing cup.