Dispenser assembly including an open channel line purge

Abstract

A method of operating a dispenser assembly of an appliance includes receiving a signal to dispense a predetermined volume of a fluid from at least one fluid storage vessel via a fluid diverter; selecting a first fluid inlet channel in response to receiving the signal, the first fluid inlet channel being fluidly connected with the at least one fluid storage vessel; initiating a pump to pump the predetermined volume of the fluid from the at least one fluid storage vessel after selecting the first fluid inlet channel; and selecting a second fluid inlet channel of the plurality of fluid inlet channels after pumping the predetermined volume of the fluid, the second fluid inlet channel being an open-air inlet channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser assembly for an appliance, the dispenser assembly comprising:
 a fluid diverter comprising a plurality of fluid inlet channels, a fluid outlet channel, and a diverter input shaft;   a pump fluidly coupled to the fluid diverter for selectively urging a flow of fluid from the fluid diverter into the appliance;   at least one fluid storage vessel configured to store a fluid, the at least one fluid storage vessel fluidly connected with the fluid diverter via a first fluid inlet channel of the plurality of fluid inlet channels; and   a controller operably connected with the fluid diverter and the pump, the controller being configured to perform an operation, the operation comprising:
 receiving a signal to dispense a predetermined volume of the fluid from the at least one fluid storage vessel via the fluid diverter; 
 selecting the first fluid inlet channel in response to receiving the signal; 
 initiating the pump to pump the predetermined volume of the fluid from the at least one fluid storage vessel after selecting the first fluid inlet channel; and 
 selecting a second fluid inlet channel of the plurality of fluid inlet channels after pumping the predetermined volume of the fluid, wherein the second fluid inlet channel is an open-air inlet channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid diverter further comprises:
 a housing, wherein each of the plurality of fluid inlet channels and the fluid outlet channel is formed through the housing;   a rotatable disk positioned within the housing, the rotatable disk comprising an aperture for being selectively aligned with one of the plurality of fluid inlet channels to provide a flow path between one of the plurality of fluid inlet channels and the fluid outlet channel; and   an actuator mechanically coupled to the rotatable disk for driving rotation of the rotatable disk about an axis to align the aperture of the rotatable disk with one of the plurality of fluid inlet channels.   
     
     
         3 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 2 , wherein selecting the first fluid inlet channel comprises:
 rotating, via the actuator, the rotatable disk to a first position at which the aperture is aligned with the first fluid inlet channel.   
     
     
         4 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 3 , wherein selecting the second fluid inlet channel comprises:
 rotating, via the actuator, the rotatable disk to a second position at which the aperture is aligned with the open-air inlet channel.   
     
     
         5 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump line fluidly coupled between the fluid outlet channel and the pump.   
     
     
         6 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 initiating the pump to purge the fluid from the pump line after selecting the second fluid inlet channel.   
     
     
         7 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the pump to pump the predetermined volume of fluid from the at least one fluid storage vessel comprises:
 activating the pump according to a predetermined pattern.   
     
     
         8 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined pattern is based on the predetermined volume of the fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a dishwasher appliance comprising a tub and a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the dispenser assembly is provided within the door. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a dispenser assembly of an appliance, the dispenser assembly comprising a fluid diverter comprising a plurality of fluid inlet channels and a fluid outlet channel, a pump fluidly coupled to the fluid diverter, and at least one fluid storage vessel, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal to dispense a predetermined volume of a fluid from the at least one fluid storage vessel via the fluid diverter;   selecting a first fluid inlet channel in response to receiving the signal, the first fluid inlet channel being fluidly connected with the at least one fluid storage vessel;   initiating the pump to pump the predetermined volume of the fluid from the at least one fluid storage vessel after selecting the first fluid inlet channel; and   selecting a second fluid inlet channel of the plurality of fluid inlet channels after pumping the predetermined volume of the fluid, wherein the second fluid inlet channel is an open-air inlet channel.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid diverter further comprises:
 a housing, wherein each of the plurality of fluid inlet channels and the fluid outlet channel is formed through the housing;   a rotatable disk positioned within the housing, the rotatable disk comprising an aperture for being selectively aligned with one of the plurality of fluid inlet channels to provide a flow path between one of the plurality of fluid inlet channels and the fluid outlet channel; and   an actuator mechanically coupled to the rotatable disk for driving rotation of the rotatable disk about an axis to align the aperture of the rotatable disk with one of the plurality of fluid inlet channels.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting the first fluid inlet channel comprises:
 rotating, via the actuator, the rotatable disk to a first position at which the aperture is aligned with the first fluid inlet channel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selecting the second fluid inlet channel comprises:
 rotating, via the actuator, the rotatable disk to a second position at which the aperture is aligned with the open-air inlet channel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pump line fluidly coupled between the fluid outlet channel and the pump.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 initiating the pump to purge the fluid from the pump line after selecting the second fluid inlet channel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein initiating the pump to pump the predetermined volume of fluid from the at least one fluid storage vessel comprises:
 activating the pump according to a predetermined pattern.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined pattern is based on the predetermined volume of the fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the appliance is a dishwasher appliance comprising a tub and a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the dispenser assembly is provided within the door.