EP1808520B1 - Treatment agents dispensing device for use in a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The washing machine product dispenser drawer has multiple compartments 6.1,6.2,8) for different wash products in which the detergent cleaning product is delivered during the earlier stages and a bleach or rinse added at a later stage from a chamber (8) residing in another chamber (6.1). Water jets (7) dispense the first product from jets (7) followed at a later stage the additional product by a jet (16) through an opening (18) in the cover (17).

Description

The invention relates to a flushing device for liquid and / or pulverulent treatment agent for use in a washing machine, with at least one chamber for storing the treatment agent, wherein in the chamber for storing the liquid and / or powdery treatment agent, an additional, separate container for storing another, liquid treatment agent is arranged, which is insertable into the chamber to form a gap between the container wall and chamber wall, and arranged above the chamber nozzles through which water is passed to the treatment agent.

Such a flushing device is from the US 2005/229652 A1 known. The purging device disclosed herein has chambers for storing powdered processing agents. In order to flush liquid treatment agents, additional trough-shaped containers are provided, which can be used to form a gap to the chamber wall in the chamber. The liquid treatment agent remains in the container until it is flushed out of the chamber by means of the water introduced from the top via nozzles and then passed into the tub. For each chamber, a set of nozzles is provided in each case, which sprinkle the entire chamber with water, so that in the container used only an agent can be flushed, which is to be used in place of the powder.

From the US 2003/145633 A1 a flushing device is known which has chambers for storing pulverulent treatment agents. In order to flush liquid treatment agents, additional trough-shaped containers are provided, which are used in the chambers are rinsed out instead of the chamber.

Drawers for detergents are also known from the prior art, which are equipped with a flushing device. Via the flushing device, fresh water is flushed through the chambers of the drawer so that the powdered or liquid detergent stored therein is entrained and mixed with the washed-in water in order to supply it to the washing process. For example, from the DE 101 50 878 A1 or the DE 75 13 925 U1 a distribution box for a washing machine with different guide channels known, over which the different detergents can be removed. Another embodiment of a drawer for laundry detergents is known from EP 0 685 587 A1 known, in which a verable tank for storing a liquid bleaching agent is arranged in one of the chambers.

Next is from the prior art according to the DE 195 05 292 A1 a drawer for a detergent dispenser known, which also has a plurality of chambers, one of the chambers for the storage of the liquid detergent is determined and cooperates with a so-called siphon device with which the liquid detergent can be removed easily and safely. From the DE 34 04 247 A1 a detergent dispenser is known in which the partition wall between two adjacent chambers has an additional solid molded liquid detergent compartment.

The invention has for its object to provide a detergent dispensing device for use in a washing machine, which allows in a simple way, the loading and flushing of additional treatment agents.

According to the invention the object is achieved with the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims 2 to 10.

The advantage achievable with the invention is that at the same time at least two different treatment agents can be stored in a chamber for storing a first liquid or pulverulent treatment agent, for example detergent. For this purpose, an additional, separate container for storing a further liquid treatment agent, for example bleach, is used in the chamber for storing the detergent. For flushing the treatment agent nozzles are arranged above the chamber through which water is passed into the chamber or in the container to the respective treatment agent. For the flushing of the treatment agent from the chamber, a first subset of nozzles is provided, which are arranged in lateral sections above the chamber. For the flushing of the treatment agent from the separate container, a second subset of nozzles is provided, which are arranged in a central portion above the chamber or the container used. The introduction of the water via the first and second subset of nozzles is selectively controllable, so that the flushing of the respective treatment agent takes place in dependence on the step within a washing program or treatment program.

For reliable flushing, the container can be inserted into the chamber so that a gap between the chamber wall is formed in the chamber. The subset of nozzles for the flushing of the treatment agent from the chamber are directed into the gap. Through the lateral gap between the container and the walls of the chamber, the nozzles of the first subset flush the water to the side walls and thus laterally under the detergent.

This results in a clean rinse, which takes place without clumping of the detergent.

In an advantageous embodiment, the nozzles are arranged directed above the gap space inclined to the chamber wall. The nozzles thus spray the water on the chamber wall, so that it runs like a film on the chamber wall and thus causes in the lower region of the chamber, a rinsing of the treatment agent, for example, powdered detergent. The formation of the water film inhibits caking on the chamber wall, as water continues to run over the first subset of nozzles until the chamber is emptied. The first subset of nozzles is arranged in the flushing device such that they are aligned along the chamber wall.

For emptying the container, it is expedient that the second subset of nozzles is arranged substantially centrally above the container. The container as such in this case has a lid which includes an elongated opening through which water can also be injected via the flushing device for emptying. The second subset of nozzles is located above this opening to provide a reliable flushing of the water into the container.

In an advantageous development for the loading of the container in the front region of the container, a pivotally arranged flap is provided.

In an expedient embodiment, spacers for bridging the gap space are arranged on the outside of the container, wherein a space is kept free below the container, through which the treatment agent is flushed out of the chamber. This gives the container in the chamber a certain stable position, providing a substantially shadow-free rinse and a reliable flushing of the treating agent from the chamber.

In an advantageous development, the spacers are formed wing-like in cross-section of their shape. This shape influences the passing water in such a way that mud shadow on the spacers are avoided or at least reduced, whereby clumping and residual formation of powdered treatment agents on the chamber walls or container walls are avoided.

In a further embodiment, the container has a device for almost complete emptying. For this purpose, the bottom of the container has an inclined or curved shape, which terminates at the end with a siphon as the rear wall of the container. Thus, if the container is supplied with fresh water via the flushing device, then it is opposite the Saughebereinrichtung a level that allows the fluid to penetrate into the so-called drop tube for emptying, so that the container automatically emptied.

In an expedient embodiment, the container has on its outer wall means for fixing its position within the chamber. It is expedient to arrange a locking means on the rear wall, which engages in the intended position in an opening of the rear chamber wall, whereby the position of the container in the longitudinal direction in the chamber reliably taken and held.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Waschmaschine mit teilweise ausgezogener Schublade;

Figur 2:

eine Draufsicht auf eine Schublade;

Figur 3:

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Einspüleinrichtung;

Figur 4:

eine geschnittene Darstellung in Quererstreckung der Einspüleinrichtung, gemäß der Schnittlinie IV - IV in Figur 3;

Figur 5:

eine geschnittene Darstellung der Einspüleinrichtung in Längserstreckung, gemäß der Schnittlinie V - V in Figur 3;

Figur 6:

eine perspektivische Einzeldarstellung des Behältnisses mit aufgeklappter Frontklappe und

Figur 7:

eine weitere perspektivische Darstellung der Schublade mit eingesetztem Behält- nis ohne Oberteil.

An embodiment of the invention will become apparent from the following FIGS. 1 to 7 explained in more detail; show:

FIG. 1:

a perspective view of a washing machine with partially drawn drawer;

FIG. 2:

a plan view of a drawer;

FIG. 3:

a perspective view of the flushing device;

FIG. 4:

a cross-sectional view of the flushing device, according to the section line IV - IV in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5:

a sectional view of the Einspüleinrichtung in the longitudinal direction, according to the section line V - V in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6:

a perspective single representation of the container with unfolded front flap and

FIG. 7:

another perspective view of the drawer with inserted container without upper part.

The FIG. 1 shows in perspective view a section of a washing machine 1, wherein in the front of the washing machine 1, an extendable drawer 3a is arranged. The drawer 3a includes one or more chambers for storing treatment agents, wherein within the washing machine 1, a flushing device 2 is arranged for flushing the treatment agent from the chambers. The drawer 3a of the flushing device 2 is in the single view in the FIG. 2 shown in more detail. The FIG. 3 shows the Einspüleinrichtung 2 in perspective, above the drawer 3a a flat formed upper part 3 is arranged. For selective steering of the water supply within the upper part 3, a controllable water separator 4 is provided, which is preferably arranged on the rear, to the interior of the washing machine 1 side facing the upper part 3. The water diverter 4 directs the water, which is supplied via a line 5, into the individual channels 15, 15.1, 15.2, which run within the upper part 3 and have openings 7, 16 acting as nozzles above the individual chambers 6.1, 6.2 ( Fig. 4 ). About these nozzles 7, 16, then turn the individual existing in the drawer 3a chambers 6.1 and 6.2, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4 represent the flushing device 3, filled with water. The treatment agent filled in the respective chamber 6.1, 6.2 is flushed out of the chamber 6.1, 6.2 into the tub (not shown) of the washing machine 1 with the incoming water.

It goes without saying that the upper part 3 of the flushing device 2, as shown in the FIG. 3 is shown fixedly disposed in the washing machine housing, wherein the drawer 3a, as it is in the FIG. 2 represents, pull out of the front of the washing machine 1. The drawer 3a comprises two chambers 6.1 and 6.2, wherein the chamber 6.1 for storing treatment agent, and in particular of powdered detergent, is intended for a main wash. The treatment agent will, as in FIG. 4 sketched, rinsed out by means of the above the drawer 3a arranged upper part 3 by the addition of water for the washing process from the chamber 6.1 or 6.2. In this case, the upper part 3 comprises on its underside nozzles 7, which are aligned with the chambers 6.1 and 6.2. According to the invention it is now proposed that in one of the chambers 6.1, 6.2 and here in particular in the chamber 6.1, a separate container 8 for storing a liquid adding agent, such as bleach, is arranged, which forms a gap space 9 between container wall 10 and chamber wall 11 is inserted into the chamber 6.1, wherein the nozzles 7 of the upper part 3 are directed into the gap 9 for introducing the water into the detergent chamber 6.1.

In FIG. 4 It is further clarified that the water jets 12 caused by the nozzles 7 each run down along the chamber wall 11, so that a kind of liquid film can form on the chamber wall 11. The two water films running down on the side walls 11.1 and 11.2 cause a kind of under-flushing of the stored treatment agent in the lower chamber area 13 so that a clumping or caking of the treatment agent, for example detergent powder, in the chamber 6.1 can not take place. For this purpose, in particular the nozzles 7 are directed at an inclination to the chamber wall 11.1 and 11.2, wherein they are arranged in their position above the gap space 9 in the upper part 3.

Like from the FIG. 2 can be seen on the sketched as points nozzles 7, the nozzles 7 are arranged in the flushing device 3 along the lateral chamber wall 11.1, 11.2, and the end wall 11.3 so that they, as already mentioned, this liquid film also on the end wall 11.3 , It goes without saying, in view of the presentation of the FIG. 4 in that the water supply takes place through the upper channels 15, 15.1, 15.2 within the upper part 3, the selective introduction of the water into the upper channels 15, 15.1, 15.2 through the water diverter 4, as shown in FIG FIG. 3 is shown provided. to Emptying of the container used in the chamber 6.1 8 are provided centrally between the nozzles 7 for the detergent chamber 6.1 more nozzles 16. These nozzles 16 are arranged at an inclination in the upper part 3. For selective flushing of the water through these nozzles 16, a separate channel 15 is provided in the upper part 3, which is enabled or disabled depending on the step to be processed in the wash program through the water gate for the water inlet 5. The nozzles 7 for the flushing of the treatment agent from the chamber 6.1 are assigned to the channel 15.1. The nozzles 7.1 for the flushing of the treatment agent from the chamber 6.2 are assigned to the channel 15.2.

The FIG. 5 shows in the sectional view in particular the nozzles 16, which allow the addition of water to the container 8. In this case, the container 8 in the lid 17 an elongated opening 18 for the supply of water. In the rear region of the container 8, a latching means 24 is arranged as a means for fixing the container 8 within the chamber 6.1, which can be latched into a corresponding latching edge or opening in the rear wall of the chamber 6.1. A detailed representation of the container 8 is in the FIG. 6 shown.

This in Fig. 6 shown separately formed container 8 has in the front region for the supply of liquid treatment agent on a pivotally mounted flap 19 which, when the drawer 3a is pulled out, can be opened to fill in the liquid or viscous treatment agent, such as bleach. Like from the FIG. 6 but also from the FIG. 2 can be seen, 8 spacers 20 are formed on the outside of the container for bridging the gap 9. Thus, it is clear that the container 8 can be easily inserted into the conically shaped chamber 6.1, wherein when using the container 8 in the chamber 6.1 as a result of the spacer 20, the gap 9 results and thus the under-flushing of the space 13 below the container 8 guaranteed in any case.

In development, in particular the spacer 20, the spacers 20 are in cross section, such as in the FIG. 6 to recognize wing-like shape formed by their shape. It now goes without saying that now, for example, the water film forms on the chamber walls 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, it can come to any rinse shadows due to the spacer 20, because they form their flow orientation forth no spray shadow that a clumping or caking of Detergents would result.

In an expedient development, the bottom 21 of the container 8, as shown in particular from FIG. 5 can be seen, on average, a curved shape, wherein the ends of the curvature of a siphon 22 forms the rear wall of the container 8. The siphon 22 works in known manner, wherein the siphon 22 consists essentially of a drop tube 23 through which the liquid is removed in the container 8, the removal of the liquid from the container 8. In this case, the liquid then rises in the tube 23, if, for example, water is added through the nozzles 16 until the horizon of the drop tube 23 is reached at the upper end, so that then the emptying takes place due to the suction effect.

The invention also relates to the container 8, as it is in the FIGS. 6 and 7 which is intended for a flushing device 2 for use in a washing machine 1 for storing treatment agents, such as bleaching agents. The container 8 is in one of the chambers 6.1, 6.2 of a detergent drawer 3a, in particular in the chamber 6.1 for storing the detergent, as a separate container 8 for storing the separate treatment agent, such as bleach, forming a gap 9 for flushing the lower chamber space thirteenth be used between container wall 10 and chamber wall 11 in the chamber 6.1. The container 8 in this case has a lid 17, in which an elongated opening 18 is arranged for the water supply. In the front region of the container 8, a flap 19 is arranged for the loading of the bleach, which, when the drawer 2 is pulled out, is easy to open. In a further development, in particular of the container 8 for the introduction of the container 8 in the chamber 6.1, 8 spacers 20 are formed on the outside of the container for bridging the gap 9 for the scouring. In this case, the spacers 20 are formed wing-like in cross-section of their shape, which should in particular prevent that form rinse shadows, so that it can come to no clumping of the detergent in the lower chamber space 13. The container 8 as such is arcuately formed from its bottom 21 ago, wherein the container 8 is bounded by a siphon 22, which also forms the rear wall of the container 8.

Claims (10)

1. Dispensing device for liquid and/or powdered treatment agents for use in a washing machine, comprising at least one chamber (6.1) for stocking the treatment agent, an additional separate receptacle (8) for stocking a further liquid treatment agent being arranged in the chamber (6.1) for stocking the liquid and/or powdered treatment agent, which additional receptacle can be inserted into the chamber (6.1) so as to form a gap (9) between the receptacle wall (10) and the chamber wall (11), and comprising nozzles (7, 16) arranged above the chamber, through which nozzles water is conveyed onto the treatment agent,
   characterised in that
   the nozzles (7, 16) are divided into at least a first (7) and a second (16) subset, the first set of nozzles (17) being arranged in lateral portions above said chamber (6.1) and the second set of nozzles (16) being arranged in a central portion above said chamber (6.1) or the inserted receptacle (8), and in that water can be introduced via the first set of nozzles (7) and the second set of nozzles (16) in a selectively controllable manner, the first subset of nozzles (7) being directed into the gap (9) for dispensing the water into the chamber (6.1).
2. Dispensing device according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the nozzles (7) arranged above the gap (9) are directed at an inclination to the chamber wall (11).
3. Dispensing device according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the second subset of nozzles (16) is arranged above the receptacle (8) at least in portions for emptying said receptacle (8).
4. Dispensing device according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the receptacle (8) comprises a lid (17) having an elongate opening (18) for dispensing water, the elongate opening (18) being arranged below the second subset of nozzles (16).
5. Dispensing device according to claim 4,
   characterised in that
   a pivotally arranged flap (19) is provided in the front portion of the receptacle (8).
6. Dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   spacers (20) are integrally formed on the outside of the receptacle (8) for bridging the gap (9).
7. Dispensing device according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the spacers (20) are formed so as to have a wing-like shape in cross-section.
8. Dispensing device according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the receptacle (8) has a device (22) for emptying the receptacle (8) at least substantially completely.
9. Dispensing device according to claim 9,
   characterised in that
   the base (21) of the receptacle (8) has an inclined or curved shape in cross-section for emptying the receptacle (8) at least substantially completely, a siphon (22) forming the rear wall of the receptacle (8) at the rear end of the receptacle (8) in the region of the lowest point.
10. Dispensing device according to claim 1,
    characterised in that
    on one of its outer walls the receptacle has means (24) for fixing the position thereof inside the chamber (6.1).

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