how does rinse agent get from reservoir to dishes?

From a US Patent Application...

The rinse agent compartment consists of a reservoir with a filler cap. The consumer removes the filler cap to add rinse agent. Since only a very small amount of rinse agent is used to wash each load of dishes, rinse agent is only added periodically. During a specific wash cycle, rinse agent is emitted from the reservoir through a port that leads to the exterior surface of the dispensing assembly.

It is known to open and close the port via a spring-loaded plunger valve. The normal state of the valve is closed. Opening the valve allows rinse agent to flow through the port and into the dishwasher. The valve can be operated by the same solenoid or wax motor that operates the detergent compartment door, or by a different wax motoror solenoid.

Peccavi
January 2010