Patents by Inventor Robert J. Rolek
Robert J. Rolek 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).
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Patent number: 9534831Abstract: A liquid dispenser utilizes a collapsible container that contains a supply of liquid. The collapsible container is received within a chamber that has a stationary wall. A moveable member is adjustable into contact with the collapsible container within the chamber. An indicator displays an estimated amount of liquid remaining in the collapsible container based on a position of the moveable member. The moveable member may squeeze the collapsible container against the stationary wall to thereby increase pressure within the liquid in the collapsible container to urge an outlet valve towards an open position in order to resolve any clogs in the valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nihat Cur, Steven J. Kuehl, Robert J. Rolek
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Publication number: 20160353964Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an automatic dishwasher having at least one cycle of operation and a sensor that indicates a degree of turbidity of liquid in the dishwasher includes repeatedly determining a correction value for the sensor related to the scaling of the sensor and executing a de-scaling cycle of operation based thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BRENT A. DEWEERD, BROOKE L. LAU, ROBERT J. PINKOWSKI, ROBERT J. ROLEK
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Patent number: 9420937Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an automatic dishwasher having at least one cycle of operation and a sensor that indicates a degree of turbidity of liquid in the dishwasher includes repeatedly determining a correction value for the sensor related to the scaling of the sensor and executing a de-scaling cycle of operation based thereon.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Brent A. Deweerd, Brooke L. Lau, Robert J. Pinkowski, Robert J. Rolek
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Patent number: 9271626Abstract: A method for treating a consumer article wherein a treating chemistry is activated or deactivated by the introduction of steam.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael T. Dalton, Karl D. McAllister, Robert J. Rolek, Sathish Andrea Sundaram
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Patent number: 9010580Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerating compartment within the refrigerator cabinet. A beverage dispensing system is operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet, the beverage dispensing system configured to dispense a stream of a beverage. The beverage dispensing system includes a light source and a light sensor positioned on opposite sides of the stream of the beverage. The beverage dispensing system is configured for detecting if dispensement of the beverage is occurring and characterizing the volume or amount of the beverage being dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Robert J. Rolek
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Patent number: 8808463Abstract: A method of preconditioning soils on wares in a dishwasher between successive wash cycles of the dishwasher includes retaining a fluid containing a rinse aid from an initial wash cycle of a dishwasher and applying at least a portion of the fluid containing the rinse aid to soils on wares in the dishwasher before the start of a subsequent wash cycle of the dishwasher. Application of at least a portion of the fluid containing the rinse aid to soils on wares in the dishwasher may be in response to the occurrence of an event. Dishwashers which retain a fluid containing a rinse aid from an initial wash cycle and apply at least a portion of the fluid containing the rinse aid to soils on wares before the start of a subsequent wash cycle are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert J. Rolek, Cristian A. Soto
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Patent number: 8529705Abstract: A dishwashing machine includes a dispenser configured to receive a dishwashing tablet having a cleaning agent and a sensor operable to identify the dishwashing tablet in the dispenser. An electronic controller selects a dishwasher cycle based on the identity of the dishwashing tablet.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Robert J. Rolek
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Publication number: 20120104020Abstract: A liquid dispenser utilizes a collapsible container that contains a supply of liquid. The collapsible container is received within a chamber that has a stationary wall. A moveable member is adjustable into contact with the collapsible container within the chamber. An indicator displays an estimated amount of liquid remaining in the collapsible container based on a position of the moveable member. The moveable member may squeeze the collapsible container against the stationary wall to thereby increase pressure within the liquid in the collapsible container to urge an outlet valve towards an open position in order to resolve any clogs in the valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: NIHAT CUR, STEVEN J. KUEHL, ROBERT J. ROLEK
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Publication number: 20120103071Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerating compartment within the refrigerator cabinet. A beverage dispensing system is operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet, the beverage dispensing system configured to dispense a stream of a beverage. The beverage dispensing system includes a light source and a light sensor positioned on opposite sides of the stream of the beverage. The beverage dispensing system is configured for detecting if dispensement of the beverage is occurring and characterizing the volume or amount of the beverage being dispensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: ROBERT J. ROLEK
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Publication number: 20110146716Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a sensor that indicates a degree of turbidity of liquid in the dishwasher is dynamically controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BRENT A. DEWEERD, BROOKE L. LAU, ROBERT J. PINKOWSKI, ROBERT J. ROLEK
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Publication number: 20110146715Abstract: A dishwashing machine includes a dispenser configured to receive a dishwashing tablet having a cleaning agent and a sensor operable to identify the dishwashing tablet in the dispenser. An electronic controller selects a dishwasher cycle based on the identity of the dishwashing tablet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: ROBERT J. ROLEK
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Publication number: 20100300487Abstract: A method of preconditioning soils on wares in a dishwasher between successive wash cycles of the dishwasher includes retaining a fluid containing a rinse aid from an initial wash cycle of a dishwasher and applying at least a portion of the fluid containing the rinse aid to soils on wares in the dishwasher before the start of a subsequent wash cycle of the dishwasher. Application of at least a portion of the fluid containing the rinse aid to soils on wares in the dishwasher may be in response to the occurrence of an event. Dishwashers which retain a fluid containing a rinse aid from an initial wash cycle and apply at least a portion of the fluid containing the rinse aid to soils on wares before the start of a subsequent wash cycle are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Robert J. Rolek, Cristian A. Soto
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Publication number: 20100139699Abstract: A method for treating a consumer article wherein a treating chemistry is activated or deactivated by the introduction of steam.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: MICHAEL T. DALTON, KARL D. MCALLISTER, ROBERT J. ROLEK, SATHISH ANDREA SUNDARAM
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Patent number: 7625470Abstract: A chemical generator device is arranged in association with an appliance having a cleaning zone where objects are cleaned. The chemical generator device includes an inlet to allow the introduction of at least one chemical composition, an operative area where a desired chemical composition is generated by utilizing the at least one chemical composition, an outlet communicating with the cleaning zone of the appliance, and a dispensing apparatus arranged to dispense the generated chemical composition to the cleaning zone from the operative area through the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2004Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Tremitchell L. Wright, Dennis Kehl, Robert J. Rolek, Joel A. Luckman