System for laundry detergent delivery

Abstract

An appliance includes a compartment defined within a cabinet. A cartridge is selectively received within the compartment. The cartridge includes a self-actuating pump for dispensing a consumable from an interior of the cartridge. A fluid dispenser is upstream of the self-actuating pump and dispenses a base fluid that carries the dispensed portion to a processing chamber contained within the cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An appliance comprising:
 a compartment defined within a cabinet and having a machine connector;   a cartridge selectively received within the compartment and having a cartridge connector that is in communication with the machine connector, wherein the cartridge includes a self-actuating pump for dispensing a dispensed portion of a consumable from an interior of the cartridge; and   a fluid dispenser that dispenses a base fluid that carries the dispensed portion to a processing chamber contained within the cabinet, wherein the self-actuating pump includes an electrically-powered actuator and a pump mechanism that is operated by the electrically-powered actuator, and wherein the electrically-powered actuator and the pump mechanism are disposed within a reservoir of the cartridge.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes cartridge circuitry that is in communication with the self-actuating pump and the cartridge connector, wherein the cartridge circuitry delivers status information to the machine connector via a cartridge interface between the cartridge and the compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the status information includes maintenance information relating to at least one of detergent quality, detergent clogs, and pump failure. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensed portion of the consumable is dispensed from the cartridge in dosed amounts over a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said appliance is a laundry appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the base fluid is water. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the self-actuating pump is a microfluidic pump that receives an actuating electrical current from the cartridge interface between the cartridge connector and the machine connector. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the cartridge interface between the cartridge and the compartment is a wireless interface, wherein data and the actuating electrical current are provided via the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless interface provides for delivery of electrical power and data communication between a controller of the compartment and the cartridge connector of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing assembly for an appliance, the dispensing assembly comprising:
 a cartridge having a cartridge connector and selectively received within a compartment having a machine connector;   a self-actuating pump contained within the cartridge, wherein the self-actuating pump operates to dispense a dispensed portion of a consumable from an interior of the cartridge, the self-actuating pump having an electrically-powered actuator and a pump mechanism that is operated by the electrically-powered actuator, and wherein the electrically-powered actuator and the pump mechanism are disposed within the cartridge; and   a cartridge interface defined between the cartridge connector and the machine connector, wherein the cartridge interface delivers an actuating electrical current to the self-actuating pump.   
     
     
         11 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge includes cartridge circuitry that is in communication with the self-actuating pump and the cartridge connector, wherein the cartridge circuitry delivers status information to the machine connector via the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a fluid dispenser that dispenses a base fluid, wherein the fluid dispenser is upstream of the self-actuating pump, and wherein the base fluid is configured to carry the dispensed portion of the consumable to a processing chamber that is downstream of the self-actuating pump.   
     
     
         13 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said appliance is a laundry appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the dispensed portion of the consumable is dispensed from the cartridge in dosed amounts over a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the status information includes information related to replacement of the cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base fluid is water. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cartridge interface between the cartridge and the compartment is a wireless interface, wherein the actuating electrical current and a data connection for delivering the status information are provided via the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the status information includes maintenance information relating to at least one of detergent quality, detergent clogs, and pump failure. 
     
     
         19 . A dispensing assembly for an appliance, the dispensing assembly comprising:
 a cartridge that is selectively received within a compartment having a machine connector, wherein the cartridge includes a self-actuating pump having an electrically-powered actuator and a pump mechanism contained within an interior thereof, cartridge circuitry, and a cartridge connector in communication with the electrically-powered actuator of the self-actuating pump and the cartridge circuitry; and   a cartridge interface defined between the cartridge connector and the machine connector, wherein the cartridge interface delivers an actuating electrical current to the self-actuating pump and provides for data communications between the cartridge connector and the machine connector.   
     
     
         20 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cartridge interface between the cartridge and the compartment is a wireless interface, wherein the actuating electrical current and a data connection are provided via the cartridge interface.