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A detergent pack for use in conjunction with a washing machine and which comprises two or more detergent or auxiliary products, storage means comprising separate but associated portions of the two or more products, and means for delivering quantities of the two or more products into the same or diff

A detergent pack for use in conjunction with a washing machine and which comprises two or more detergent or auxiliary products, storage means comprising separate but associated portions of the two or more products, and means for delivering quantities of the two or more products into the same or different cycles of a washing machine, said means for delivering comprising means for dispensing quantities of the two or more products, and means for controlling the relative dispensing rate of the two or more products from the storage means.

대표청구항 ▼

A detergent pack for use in conjunction with a washing machine and which comprises two or more detergent or auxiliary products, storage means comprising separate but associated portions of the two or more products, and means for delivering quantities of the two or more products into the same or diff

A detergent pack for use in conjunction with a washing machine and which comprises two or more detergent or auxiliary products, storage means comprising separate but associated portions of the two or more products, and means for delivering quantities of the two or more products into the same or different cycles of a washing machine, said means for delivering comprising means for dispensing quantities of the two or more products, and means for controlling the relative dispensing rate of the two or more products from the storage means. d of said first conveyor is operably aligned with said free end of said third conveyor when said third conveyor is in said raised position, and wherein said articulating mechanism is coupled to said first conveyor and to said third conveyor to place said first conveyor in said lowered position and said third conveyor in said raised position when said articulating mechanism is in said first position and to place said first conveyor in said raised position and said third conveyor in said lowered position when said articulating mechanism is in said second position. 6. The vertical conveyor of claim 5 wherein said feed conveyor is below said discharge conveyor, wherein said exit end of said feed conveyor is operably aligned with said fourth conveyor, and wherein said discharge conveyor is operably aligned with said second end of said first conveyor. 7. The vertical conveyor of claim 5 wherein said articulating mechanism is coupled to said first and third conveyors to synchronously move said first conveyor to said lowered position and said third conveyor to said raised position when said articulating mechanism moves from said second position to said first position. 8. The vertical conveyor of claim 7 further including a sensor coupled to said third conveyor to determine the presence of an article on said third conveyor and a programmable controller communicating with said sensor, said articulating mechanism, and said reversible drive of said third conveyor to selectively move articles between said third conveyor and said first and second conveyors. 9. A vertical conveyor comprising: a first conveyor having a free end and a coupled end and being pivotable about said coupled end to move said free end between a raised position and a lowered position; a second conveyor being vertically aligned with and below said first conveyor, said second conveyor having a first end and a second end; a third conveyor having a free end and a coupled end and being pivotable about said coupled end to move said free end between a raised position and a lowered position; a fourth conveyor being vertically aligned with and above said third conveyor, said fourth conveyor having a first end and a second end; articulating means operatively coupled to said first and third conveyors for moving said first conveyor and said third conveyor between said raised and lowered positions; a feed conveyor having an exit end and a discharge conveyor having an entrance end, said discharge conveyor being vertically separated from said feed conveyor; and wherein said free end of said first conveyor is operably aligned with said first end of said fourth conveyor when said first conveyor is in said raised position, wherein said free end of said first conveyor is operably aligned with said free end of said third conveyor when said first conveyor is in said lowered position and said third conveyor is in said raised position, and wherein said free end of said third conveyor is operably aligned with said first end of said second conveyor when said third conveyor is in said lowered position. 10. The vertical conveyor of claim 9 wherein said feed conveyor is above said discharge conveyor, wherein said exit end of said feed conveyor is operably aligned with said second end of said fourth conveyor, and wherein the discharge conveyor is operably aligned with said second end of said second conveyor. 11. The vertical conveyor of claim 9 wherein said first conveyor includes a reversible drive operable in a first direction to move an article toward said coupled end and in a second direction to move an article toward said free end and wherein said third conveyor includes a reversible drive operable in a first direction to move an article toward said coupled end and in a second direction to move an article toward said free end. 12. The vertical conveyor of claim 9 wherein said articulating means includes an articulating mechanism movable between a first position and a second positio n and wherein said articulating mechanism is coupled to said first conveyor and said third conveyor to place said first conveyor in said lowered position and said third conveyor in said raised position when said articulating mechanism is in said first position and to place said first conveyor in said raised position and said third conveyor in said lowered position when said articulating mechanism is in said second position. 13. The vertical conveyor of claim 12 wherein said articulating mechanism is coupled to said first and third conveyors to simultaneously move said first conveyor to said lowered position and said third conveyor to said raised position as said articulating mechanism moves from said second position to said first position. 14. A vertical conveyor comprising: a plurality of first conveyors vertically aligned in a first column, each of said first conveyors having a free end, a coupled end, and a reversible drive operable in a first direction to move an article toward said coupled end and in a second direction to move an article toward said free end, at least one of said first conveyors being pivotable about said coupled end to permit movement of said free end between a raised position and a lowered position; a plurality of second conveyors vertically aligned in a second column, each of said second conveyors having a free end and a coupled end, and a reversible drive operable in a first direction to move an article toward said coupled end and in a second direction to move an article toward said free end, at least one of said second conveyors being pivotable about said coupled end to permit movement of said free end between a raised position and a lowered position; and a plurality of sorting conveyors each operatively aligned with one of the first or second conveyors and a controller communicating with the first conveyors, the second conveyors, and the sorting conveyors to feed articles to or discharge articles from the sorting conveyors. 15. The vertical conveyor of claim 14 wherein the at least one of said first conveyors is in said lowered position when the at least one of said second conveyors is in said raised position. 16. The vertical conveyor of claim 14 wherein the at least one of said first conveyors is in said raised position when the at least one of said second conveyors is in said lowered position. 17. The vertical conveyor of claim 14 further including an articulating mechanism movable between a first position and a second position, said articulating mechanism being coupled to the at least one of the first conveyors and at least one of the second conveyors to synchronously move the at least one of the first conveyors to the raised position and the at least one of the second conveyors to the lowered position as said articulating mechanism moves from said first position to said second position. 18. A method of moving an article from a feed conveyor, through a vertical conveyor, and to a discharge conveyor vertically spaced from the feed conveyor, the vertical conveyor includes first, second, third, and fourth conveyors, said third conveyor being vertically below said first conveyor, said second conveyor being vertically aligned with said first conveyor and below said third conveyor, said fourth conveyor being vertically aligned with said third conveyor and below said second conveyor, each of said second and third conveyors having a free end and a coupled end, said method comprising: conveying an article from the feed conveyor to one of the first and fourth conveyors; conveying the article from said one of the first and fourth conveyors to one of the second and third conveyors; pivoting said one of the second and third conveyors into alignment with the other of said second and third conveyors; conveying the article from said one of the second and third conveyors to the other of said one of the second and third conveyors; conveying the article from the other of said second and third conveyo