EP1206594A1

EP1206594A1 - Device for the take up and dosed release of at least one active compound mixture in a washing machine, a dryer or a dish washer.

Info

Publication number: EP1206594A1
Application number: EP00954534A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Timothy Rodd; Graham Fuller; Peter T. M. Nott; Richard Harbutt
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser NV
Current assignee: Reckitt Benckiser NV
Priority date: 1999-07-23
Filing date: 2000-07-19
Publication date: 2002-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-19
Also published as: AU766173B2; EP1206594B1; ATE313656T1; PL353740A1; DE19934593A1; AU6695700A; PL202218B1; US6581800B2; ES2251400T3; ZA200201344B; JP2003505168A; WO2001007703A1; US20020108969A1; CA2380152A1; CA2380152C; DE19934593C2

Abstract

An apparatus for holding and dispensing metered doses of at least one active composition in a washing machine, a dryer or a dishwasher has at least two separate compartments for respectively receiving and dispensing an active composition and an opening mechanism for the compartments, which is operated by means which are activated by conditions prevailing in the inside of the machine. These conditions prevail solely in the course of a washing, drying or dishwashing cycle. The position of the opening mechanism and/or the compartment(s) after emptying of at least one compartment is changed relative to each other, such that the opening mechanism can then open at least one other compartment, when another activation occurs.

Description

Device for taking up and dispensing at least one active composition into a washing machine, a tumble dryer or a dishwasher

The invention relates to a device for receiving and dispensing at least one active composition into a washing machine, a tumble dryer or a dishwasher.

US 4,379,515 discloses a detergent dosing device comprising a rigid container and a compressible reservoir connected to this rigid container via a tube and containing the quantity of detergent measured for a washing cycle. Under the action of centrifugal forces that occur during the rotation of the laundry drum, the reservoir - especially if it lies between the laundry and the wall of the laundry drum - is compressed so that its contents are emptied into the rigid container, in which the detergent then is detached from the wash liquor. A disadvantage of this metering device can be seen in the fact that the reservoir can only be used for one wash cycle at a time and must be replaced for each new wash cycle.

EP 0 215 366 describes a detergent container with a fuse, in which the fuse melts at a certain working temperature and the detergent is then released. In particular, the closure of the container is not reusable, and multiple dosing by means of this system is also not possible.

EP 0 328 769 shows a metering reservoir which can be introduced loosely into a washing machine with a closure which can be opened during the washing cycle and which has a handling extension. Due to the pressure of the laundry exerted during the wash cycle, the handling extension is pressed into the metering reservoir in such a way that the detergent can flow out. Multiple doses are not possible and the dosing reservoir must be refilled before each wash cycle.

DE 39 02 356 discloses a metering memory which can be used for only one washing cycle and which is based on a temperature-dependent release of a laundry treatment liquid. Due to an overpressure in the metering saliva that arises with increasing temperature a slide valve moves into its open position and allows the laundry treatment liquid to escape into the washing machine.

No. 5,033,643 describes a dosing memory which likewise only allows the dispensing of one dosing unit for a washing cycle. Forces caused by wet laundry act on the trigger mechanism of the dosing reservoir.

DE 39 34 123 and DE 39 22 342 describe detergent receptacles that are firmly attached to the laundry drum. This attachment is effected by means of pins or locking hooks. A multiple dosing is not provided with these receptacles, so that they have to be removed from the washing machine and refilled after each washing cycle.

US 5,176,297 describes a metering device for a GespMrrspühriaschine, which is mounted inside the machine and includes a supply and a discharge chamber. Multiple dosing is possible, but the dosing is laboriously controlled by the dishwasher.

DE 195 40 608 discloses a device for adding block-shaped detergents for dishwashers, which enables multiple doses, the individual doses being controlled via a command from the dishwasher, i.e. a work program of the dishwasher selected by the user regulates the time of the dosage release.

AU-A-78393/91 discloses a dosing container for a detergent which is dispensed through an opening which is opened by the build-up of internal pressure in the container. This internal pressure is generated either by the machine's work program or by direct operation by the user.

Summarizing the prior art, metering devices are known which mainly allow single, occasionally also multiple metering. In the case of a single dosage, the release of the detergent is generally based on a delayed release, which is caused, for example, by an increase in temperature, an increase in pressure or

Centrifugal forces can be triggered.

The devices which permit multiple dosing have in common that the release is triggered mechanically (valve, piston, slide, etc.) either by a command from the machine's work program or by direct operation by the user.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for receiving and metered delivery of at least one active composition in a washing machine, a tumble dryer or a dishwasher, which enables multiple dosing (either in one or more washing, drying or dishwashing cycles) and independently of is triggered by the commands of a machine work program or by user intervention.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by at least two separate chambers for each receiving a dosage of at least one active composition and an opening device for the chambers, which is actuated by means which are activated by conditions inside the machine, which are exclusively during a wash -, Dry or dishwashing cycle are present, the position of the opening device and / or the chamber (s) after emptying at least one chamber being changed relative to one another in such a way that when reactivated, at least one further chamber is opened by the opening device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a first bellows; a second bellows; a connecting line with a one-way valve that connects the two bellows together; a hydraulic fluid, the delivery of which is expanded from the first bellows to the second bellows, the opening device being connected to the second bellows in such a way that it is raised by the expansion of the second bellows, the opening device being designed such that When the chamber (s) is lifted, it is opened so that the contents of the chamber are essentially completely machine can be delivered; as well as means that the gradual emergence of the hydraulic

Allow fluids from the second bellows, and a reset device connected to the opening device, which enables the opening device to be reset when the hydraulic fluid gradually emerges from the second bellows, the opening device being guided into such a position that when activated again, the one or more Chamber (s) can be opened in the same way.

It is provided according to the invention that the delivery of the hydraulic fluid from the first bellows to the second bellows is effected directly or indirectly by the rotation of the device with the washing machine or tumble dryer drum.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, by rotating the device with the washing machine or tumble dryer drum, a pivotally attached weight compresses the first bellows in such a way that the hydraulic fluid is delivered to the second bellows.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention it is provided that the hydraulic fluid is discharged from the first bellows to the second bellows in that laundry or dry goods compress the first bellows directly or indirectly.

A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the opening device is raised directly or indirectly by means which at least partially undergo a change in shape when the temperature rises, so that at least one chamber is opened to such an extent that the chamber contents are essentially completely dispensed into the machine The cooling means at least partially undergo an essentially opposite change in shape and the opening device is guided into such a position that, when reactivated, the chamber (s) can be opened in the same way.

An alternative to this embodiment of the invention is characterized by a rigid chamber with a material therein that expands when the temperature rises and contracts when cooled, in particular a wax. It is preferably provided that the opening device is raised via a flexible diaphragm which reacts to the expansion of the material.

A further alternative of the embodiment of this invention which reacts to the action of temperature is characterized by a bimetal unit which bends when the temperature rises and resets when it cools down.

The opening device is particularly preferably guided into its new position by means of a keyway and a lug interacting therewith.

The opening device preferably comprises at least one blade or a mandrel.

A device that is firmly but releasably fastened inside the machine is particularly useful.

The device preferably comprises a cartridge with four to fifteen, particularly preferably with ten chambers, the chambers in the cartridge preferably being arranged in a circle.

In the following an embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It shows:

1 shows a vertical cross section of an embodiment of the device according to the invention in a non-metering state;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the device according to FIG. 1 in a metering state; 3 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

4 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention;

5 shows a partial view in vertical cross section of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention;

6 shows a vertical cross section of a still further embodiment of the device according to the invention in a non-metering state;

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of the device according to FIG. 6 in a dosing state; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the mechanism of the rotating blade for opening the individual chambers.

1 and 2, a device according to the invention consists of a base plate 1, which is fixed (but detachable) by means of a holder 2 (e.g. locking hooks or spreader pins) in the machine, e.g. is attached to the inner wall 3 of a laundry drum, and a cartridge 4 which, by way of example, provides ten chambers 5 for receiving at least one active composition. The base plate 1 additionally comprises a pivotally mounted trigger device 6 and a rotating opening system 7 for opening the individual chambers. In the cartridge 4, the chambers 5 are arranged in a circle (FIG. 3).

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is provided that the laundry or drying goods, in particular by the rotation of the washing machine or tumble dryer drum, exerts pressure on the triggering device 6. As a result, an underlying first bellows 8 is compressed and the hydraulic fluid 9 (preferably water), which is located in the bellows, is discharged through a connecting line 10 to a second bellows 11. The hydraulic fluid 9 flows through a one-way valve 12, which prevents the fluid from flowing out of the second bellows 11. By squeezing the

Bellows 8, the second bellows 11 is gradually expanded.

In an alternative embodiment (Fig. 4) by the rotation of the washing machine or. Tumble drum a pivotally suspended weight 18 pressed against the first bellows 8 and thereby causes in the same way that the hydraulic fluid 9, which is located in the bellows, is discharged to the second bellows 11.

The expanding second bellows 11 lifts an opening device 7 with a blade or mandrel 13 which then damages a chamber 5 with a single dose of the active composition so that it tears open and releases its contents into the machine. It is important that the shell material of the chamber is suitable for opening by the blade or the mandrel 13. This cover material (e.g. thin plastic film) should therefore be easily damaged or punctured.

The opening device 7 can of course also be designed in such a way that it has more than one blade or mandrel 13 in order to damage and thus open one chamber either at several points or at the same time several chambers. In the latter case, the simultaneous dosing of different active compositions which are contained in different chambers would be possible, for example in order to separate incompatible components from one another.

After the chamber has been emptied, the hydraulic fluid 9 can slowly flow out of the second bellows 11 through a small hole 14, the opening device being lowered by a return spring 15 and also via a keyway 16 and cooperating lugs 17 (zigzag mechanism) ( Fig. 8) is placed in a position in order to be able to open one or more further chamber (s) 5 when reactivated later. When all the chambers 5 of the cartridge 4 have been used up, it can easily be exchanged for a new one.

In one embodiment of the invention, the resetting of the opening mechanism can be adjusted by appropriate dimensioning of the hole 14 or resetting force of the spring 15 so that this resetting only after the washing, drying or Dishwashing cycle takes place, ie only one chamber is opened during a cycle. In this embodiment, the chambers will usually contain the same active composition, each in a dosage sufficient and adequate for one cycle.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that successive chambers 5 of the cartridge 4 are filled with different compositions which are opened one after the other during a cycle. For example, a first chamber could be filled with a detergent for the main wash cycle of a washing machine and the following chamber with a fabric softener for the rinse cycle.

The dimensioning of the hole 14 and the restoring force of the spring 15 would then have to be designed such that the opening device is reset after completion of the main wash cycle in order to enable a renewed activation during the rinse cycle. It can also be considered to effect multiple activations during one phase of the washing, drying or dishwashing cycle, if care is taken to ensure that the hydraulic fluid can flow out of the bellows 11 relatively quickly in order to quickly reactivate the opening device guarantee.

If the cartridge 4 contains several chambers with different compositions, which are to be released in a single washing, drying or dishwashing cycle, these chambers do not necessarily have to be of the same size. The chambers can be designed, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. The mechanism for guiding the opening device 7, such as, for example, the above-mentioned zigzag mechanism, can also be designed such that the opening device 7 is also guided into the correct position for opening the next chamber even in another configuration of the chambers 5. If a cartridge contains chambers with different compositions which are intended to be released in one cycle, care should be taken (for example by means of an indentation or the like) that the cartridge 4 is always fixed in the correct position on the base plate 1 in order to ensure correct to ensure the chronological sequence of metering. In a further embodiment of the invention (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7), the device is activated as a function of temperature. For this purpose, a rigid chamber 20 with a material 21 located therein, which expands when the temperature rises, such as a wax, for example, is arranged below the opening device 7. When the washing or rinsing water or the inside of the dryer heats up to the desired working temperature, the wax 21 expands and pushes the opening device 7 upwards, for example, directly or indirectly via a flexible diaphragm 22. Just as in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 is made possible in that the opening device 7, for example by means of a blade or mandrel 13, opens at least one of the chambers 5. When the wax 21 cools down, the opening device 7 lowers accordingly and is set to the next position, for example by means of a zigzag mechanism as described above. To simplify this mechanism is shown in the schematic drawings of Figs. 6 and 7 not shown. The temperature-dependent system described is particularly suitable for use in a tumble dryer if a delayed dispensing of the chamber contents is desired, or in a dishwasher where there is no rotating drum.

In an alternative embodiment (which is not shown in the drawing), a temperature-dependent activation of the device can also take place by providing a bimetal unit which bends when the temperature rises and thus directly or indirectly lifts the opening device in the same way as the wax 21 described above. When cooling, the bimetal unit would also reset, so that the opening device can be guided into its new position.

In dishwashers, there is usually a two-fold increase in temperature during a dishwashing cycle, namely once during the cleaning cycle and a second time during the washing cycle. The temperature-dependent embodiments of the device according to the invention would therefore be activated twice, ie release a corresponding substance into the dishwasher twice. This could be rinse aid in both cases. However, it would also be conceivable to alternately provide one chamber with a dishwashing agent additive and one with rinse aid, so that the dishwashing agent additive would be dispensed in the cleaning cycle and the rinse aid in the rinse cycle. Of course, other embodiments are also conceivable within the scope of the main claim, which defines the essential elements of the invention. For example, it can be thought that the opening device does not destroy the casing material by means of a blade or a dome, but instead only presses against a perforation that tears open under this pressure. In this case, a more resistant material could also be used for the shell material of the chamber.

Also the zigzag mechanism described (Fig. 8), in which a nose is guided in a correspondingly designed keyway by lifting and lowering the opening device so that it comes into such a position that the individual chambers of the device are opened one after the other is merely exemplary and it is not a problem for the person skilled in the art to provide other means which serve the same purpose.

Alternatively, the invention also provides that it is not the opening mechanism itself (for example via the zigzag mechanism described in detail) that is moved, but the chambers 5, for example by rotating the cartridge 4 in order to open another chamber through the in this case to allow fixed opening device 7. Of course, a movement of both the opening device 7 and the chambers 5 is also conceivable in order to move the opening device 7 and the next chamber 5 to be opened into the correct relative position to one another.

The active composition (s) contained in the chambers can be of diverse nature. When used in a washing machine, detergents, water softeners, fabric softeners, etc., individually or in combination, could be contained in the chambers. In the case of tumble dryers, the use of agents for impregnation and / or post-treatment of fabrics could be considered. Dishwasher detergent additives and rinse aid would be particularly suitable for use in dishwashers.

Of course, the active compositions contained in the chambers are not limited to liquids. The chambers can also contain a pasty, granular or powdery material or a composition in tablet form. Through the Damage to the shell material of the chambers can then (at least when used in a washing machine or dishwasher) washing or rinsing solution penetrate into the chamber and dissolve the composition located there or rinse it out of the chamber. Compared to the use of liquids, this may have the further advantage that a delayed release of the content is achieved.

Advantageously, means should be provided to inactivate the device without having to remove it from the machine, so that the consumer can decide whether to operate the machine with the device according to the invention in the activated state or in the non-active state. Any type of locking mechanism can be used for this, which prevents the opening device 7 from being raised, preferably by locking the triggering device 6 or the cartridge 4.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential both individually and in any combination for realizing the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims

Expectations

1. Device for receiving and dispensing at least one active composition into a washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, characterized by at least two separate chambers (5) for receiving in each case a dosage of at least one active composition; and an opening device (7) for the chambers (5) which is actuated by means (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) which are activated by conditions inside the machine which are exclusively during a washing, drying or Dishwashing cycle are present, the position of the opening device (7) and / or the chamber (s) (5) being changed relative to each other after emptying at least one chamber (5) such that when reactivated, the opening of at least one further chamber (5 ) is made possible by the opening device (7).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a first bellows (8); a second bellows (11); a connecting line (10) with a one-way valve (12) which connects the two bellows (8, 11) to one another; a hydraulic fluid (9), the delivery of which from the first bellows (8) to the second bellows (11) expands the latter, the opening device (7) being connected to the second bellows (11) in such a way that it is expanded by the second bellows (11) is raised, the opening device (7) being designed in such a way that the chamber (s) (5) is (are) opened so far that the chamber contents can be essentially completely dispensed into the machine; and means (14) which enable the hydraulic fluid (9) to gradually emerge from the second bellows (11), and a reset device (15) connected to the opening device (7) which enables the opening device (7) to be reset when the device gradually exits of the hydraulic fluid (9) from the second bellows (11), the opening device (7) being guided into such a position that, when reactivated, the chamber (s) (5) can be opened in the same way ( can).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the delivery of the hydraulic fluid (9) from the first bellows (8) to the second bellows (11) directly or indirectly is caused by the rotation of the device with the washing machine or tumble dryer drum.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that by the rotation of the device with the washing machine or dryer drum a pivotally attached weight (18) compresses the first bellows (8) so that the hydraulic fluid (9) to the second bellows (11) is delivered.

5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the hydraulic fluid (9) from the first bellows (8) to the second bellows (11) is released in that laundry or dry goods compresses the first bellows (8) directly or indirectly.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening device (7) by means (20, 21, 22), which at least partially undergo a change in shape when the temperature rises, is raised directly or indirectly to such an extent that at least one chamber (5) is opened to such an extent that the chamber contents can be dispensed essentially completely into the machine, the means (20, 21, 22) at least partially undergoing an essentially opposite change in shape when cooled and the opening device (7) being guided into such a position, that when reactivated, the chamber (s) (5) can be opened in the same way.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized by a rigid chamber (20) with a material (21) therein, which expands when the temperature rises and contracts when cooled.

8. The device according spoke 7, characterized in that the material (21) comprises a wax.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the opening device (7) is raised via a flexible diaphragm (22) which reacts to the expansion of the material (21).

10. The device according to claim 6, characterized by a bimetal unit which bends when the temperature rises and resets when it cools down.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening device (7) via a keyway (16) and a cooperating nose (17) is guided into its new position.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening device (7) comprises at least one blade or a dome (13).

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is fixedly but releasably fastened inside the machine.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cartridge (4) with four to fifteen chambers (5).

15. The device according spoke 14, characterized in that it comprises a cartridge (4) with ten chambers (5).

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the chambers (5) in the cartridge (4) are arranged in a circle.