Patents by Inventor Robert M. Digman

Robert M. Digman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220022721
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method utilize an image-based position sensor that is positioned to sense the rotational position of a discretely directable tubular spray element driven by a tubular spray element drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Patent number: 11219350
    Abstract: A retracting rack for an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The rack may be positionable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A spring may drive the rack towards the stowed position. A locking mechanism may be used to secure the rack in one or more positions. A release mechanism and/or a reset mechanism may be used to control the retracting cycle of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Publication number: 20210401257
    Abstract: A dishwasher may utilize a multi-level dishwasher rack that in some instances may be reconfigurable into different configurations to optimize the rack for different types and/or combinations of utensils. A movable divider may be used in some instances to selectively expose a deep portion of a rack, and a drawer may be used in some instances to provide access utensils stored underneath a divider. A movable portion of a bottom of a rack may also be used in some instances to provide different support surfaces in the rack at different elevations. A tubular spray element or another rotatable spray tube may also be positioned relative to a multi-level dishwasher rack in some instances to facilitate concentrated washing of different facing surfaces of different utensils stored in the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Mark W. Wilson, Garen Gibbs
  • Patent number: 11202550
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method utilize a thermal imaging system in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Russell Dietrich, Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Publication number: 20210386269
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a detergent cartridge. The detergent cartridge may include a detergent strip having a plurality of detergents. One or more ejection mechanisms may be used to expel the detergent from the detergent strip through an outlet of the detergent cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer, Russell Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11191416
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method utilize an image-based position sensor that is positioned to sense the rotational position of a discretely directable tubular spray element driven by a tubular spray element drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Patent number: 11194305
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring dish ware position and modifying the wash and dry cycle of a dishwasher by capturing and analyzing image data utilizing a plurality of cloud-connected cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Qiang Liu
  • Patent number: 11147430
    Abstract: A dishwasher utilizes multiple rack-mounted corner sprayers disposed in corners defined between a side wall and front and rear walls of a dishwasher rack to direct fluid inwardly from the corners to wash utensils supported by the rack. The corner sprayers are in fluid communication with one another by a fluid channel that extends along the side wall of the rack, and an inlet port coupled to the first corner sprayer conveys fluid to each of the corner sprayers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Patent number: 11147431
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser may dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a blister pack with a plurality of detergents. One or more rotating members may be used to expel the detergent from the blister pack through one or more outlets. The one or more rotating members may include one or more actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer, Russell Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20210267430
    Abstract: A method and dishwasher utilize one or more tubular spray elements that are both rotatable about longitudinal axes thereof and discretely directable by one or more tubular spray element drives between a plurality of rotational positions about the longitudinal axes thereof. Thus, through the provision of discretely directable tubular spray elements, fluid such as wash fluid and/or pressurized air may be focused in a wash tub, in many cases providing more efficient resource usage in the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Patent number: 11103120
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a detergent cartridge. The detergent cartridge may include a detergent strip having a plurality of detergents. One or more ejection mechanisms may be used to expel the detergent from the detergent strip through an outlet of the detergent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer, Russell Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11071440
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method for operating the same utilize a rack-mounted rotatable conduit with a return mechanism that positions the rotatable conduit to a predetermined rotational position when the conduit is disconnected from a docking arrangement on a wall of a wash tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Publication number: 20210219809
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method for operating the same utilize a diverter valve to control via rotation the flow of fluid such as wash fluid or pressurized air to a rotatable conduit supported in the rack of a dishwasher. A valve member may be disposed at a predetermined rotational position about an axis of rotation of the conduit such that a fluid inlet on a rotatable valve body may be rotated to the predetermined rotational position to restrict fluid flow to the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Patent number: 11058279
    Abstract: A method and dishwasher utilize one or more tubular spray elements that are both rotatable about longitudinal axes thereof and discretely directable by one or more tubular spray element drives between a plurality of rotational positions about the longitudinal axes thereof. Thus, through the provision of discretely directable tubular spray elements, fluid such as wash fluid and/or pressurized air may be focused in a wash tub, in many cases providing more efficient resource usage in the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Patent number: 11058281
    Abstract: A dishwasher utilizes one or more sensors capable of detecting when a rack is at an operative position at which the rack is positioned within the wash tub during washing and/or an extended position at which at least a portion of the rack is extended beyond the wash tub for loading or unloading of utensils, thereby allowing image captures by a camera to be timed relative to the movement of the rack into, between and/or away from the operative and/or extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 11045066
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method for operating the same utilize a rack-mounted rotatable conduit incorporating a keyed connector disposed at an end thereof and configured to mate with a rotatable docking port disposed on a wall of a wash tub at a predetermined angular relationship when the rack is in the washing position such that rotation of the rotatable docking port causes rotation of the rotatable conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman
  • Publication number: 20210145241
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method utilize a thermal imaging system in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Russell Dietrich, Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Patent number: 11000176
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method for operating the same utilize a diverter valve to control via rotation the flow of fluid such as wash fluid or pressurized air to a rotatable conduit supported in the rack of a dishwasher. A valve member may be disposed at a predetermined rotational position about an axis of rotation of the conduit such that a fluid inlet on a rotatable valve body may be rotated to the predetermined rotational position to restrict fluid flow to the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Publication number: 20210093149
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method utilize an image-based position sensor that is positioned to sense the rotational position of a discretely directable tubular spray element driven by a tubular spray element drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Publication number: 20210093154
    Abstract: Image-based object sensing is utilized in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman, Bassam Fawaz, Russell Dietrich