Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes washer, either vertical or horizontal axis, can have a bulk dispenser capable of dispensing multiple doses of treating chemistry from a reservoir of treating chemistry. A housing fluidly couples a supply of water and the treating chemistry for supplying both to a treating chamber within the laundry treating appliance.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes washer, either vertical or horizontal axis, can have a bulk dispenser capable of dispensing multiple doses of treating chemistry from a reservoir of treating chemistry. A housing fluidly couples a supply of water and the treating chemistry for supplying both to a treating chamber within the laundry treating appliance.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes washer, either vertical or horizontal axis, can have a bulk dispenser capable of dispensing multiple doses of treating chemistry from a reservoir of treating chemistry. A housing fluidly couples a supply of water and the treating chemistry for supplying both to a treating chamber within the laundry treating appliance.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a main body, a gate and an actuator. The main body defines a fluid chamber, with an inlet fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber, and an outlet also fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber. The gate has a first portion and a second portion connected to one another and both are subjected to a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber. The first portion is configured to close the outlet when the fluid chamber is pressurized due to a closing fluid force acting on the first portion. The second portion provides a counter-acting fluid force to the closing fluid force when the fluid chamber is pressurized. The actuator is coupled to the first portion or the second portion and is configured to provide a net opening force on the gate to open the outlet.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes washer, either vertical or horizontal axis, can have a bulk dispenser capable of dispensing multiple doses of treating chemistry from a reservoir of treating chemistry. A housing fluidly couples a supply of water and the treating chemistry for supplying both to a treating chamber within the laundry treating appliance.

Abstract: A breakaway conveyor discharge member received between first and second conveying surfaces is provided. The conveyor discharge member is received by a bracket mounted on a frame connected between the first and second conveying surfaces. The conveyor discharge member includes a generally planar surface between the first and second conveying surfaces. The conveyor discharge member can withstand a vertical load substantially greater than a particular longitudinal load on the planar surface. Under normal operating conditions, the conveyor discharge member conveys the object from the first conveyor surface onto the intake conveying surface. Under jam conditions, when the substantially longitudinal load is great enough, the conveyor discharge member dislodges from the brackets to protect the first and second conveying surfaces by eliminating the jam point.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating articles includes providing a bed having at least one conveying surface. The conveying surface is adapted to move articles in a direction of conveyance from an upstream end to a downstream end of the bed. At least one sensor is provided to determine the position of any articles on the bed. Selected articles are moved in the direction of conveyance at a speed that is generally higher than articles traveling on the bed that have yet to be manipulated and the articles are selectively rotated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting or pre-sorting objects contains a system of conveyors and crossover diverters incorporating the topology of an omega network. The sorter interconnects a series of perfect shuffle networks, interleaved with banks of crossover switches. Collision avoidance is implemented by controlling flow on accumulator conveyors entering the crossover switches. Extra banks of crossover switches may be added to provide redundancy and load-balancing capabilities to the system.

Abstract: A method for handling trays for use with an article sorter includes providing a conveying surface along a plurality of sorter units and conveying empty trays along the conveying surface. The empty trays that are being conveyed along the conveying surface are stopped with a tray stopping device that is positioned at least partially below the conveying surface and operable to project a portion of the tray stopping device above the conveying surface to engage and stop an empty tray. The stopped empty trays are moved from the conveying surface to the tray support areas in a direction generally transverse to the conveying surface. The empty trays are at least partially filled at the tray support areas, and the partially filled trays are moved from the tray support area onto the conveying surface.