EP4509648A2 - Metering device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dosing device for the dosed introduction of a pourable cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a housing (27) and a storage container (9) which is exchangeably received in the housing (27), which serves to accommodate cleaning agent (39) and has a base body (10) providing a volume space (18), wherein a lighting device (34) for introducing light (32, 36) into the volume space (18) provided by the base body (10), wherein the base body (10) has a light inlet opening (30) which interacts with the lighting device (34).

Description

The invention relates to a dosing device for the dosed introduction of a cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a housing and a storage container which is exchangeably received in the housing and which serves to accommodate cleaning agent and has a base body providing a volume space.

A dosing device of the generic type is known from EP 3 305 159 B1 known.

Cleaning devices, in particular dishwashers or other water-conducting household appliances, such as washing machines, dryers or the like, typically have a rinsing container that provides a treatment area, also called a rinsing chamber. This treatment chamber is accessible to the user via a loading opening that can be closed fluid-tight using a pivoting rinsing chamber door. When used as intended, the rinsing container serves to hold items to be cleaned, which in the case of a dishwasher can be, for example, dishes, cutlery and/or the like.

To achieve an optimized cleaning result, process chemicals are used that are added to the rinsing chamber during a cleaning process, typically as an addition to the rinsing liquid used. Such process chemicals are, for example, cleaning agents that are added to the rinsing chamber of the cleaning device in a program-controlled manner at a specific point in time during the program run.

The generic dosing device according to the EP 3 305 159 B1 has a storage container for storing, ie storing, pourable cleaning agent. When used as intended, the storage container is interchangeably accommodated in a housing of the dosing device and has a base body that provides a volume space. This volume space is divided into a storage chamber on the one hand and a compartment separated from it on the other hand, whereby the compartment provides a dosing element, which in turn has a dosing chamber providing a dosing space.

A generic dosing device has proven itself in everyday practical use. However, there is still a desire to improve it, particularly with a view to making it even easier for users to handle.

It is therefore the object of the invention to propose a dosing device of the generic type which structurally enables a simplification of operation for the user.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a dosing device of the generic type, which is characterized by a lighting device for introducing light into the volume space provided by the base body, wherein the base body has a light inlet opening that interacts with the lighting device.

The lighting device provided according to the invention makes it possible to illuminate the storage container held by the dosing device housing when used as intended. This allows for simplified handling by the user.

During a proper loading process, the appliance door of a cleaning appliance, such as a dishwasher, is typically in the open position. Even if the washing area is illuminated, the inside of the appliance door can be dark, particularly when the room light is turned off, which makes it difficult for the user to check the detergent level in the dosing device, for example. The design according to the invention provides a remedy here, as it enables the storage container to be illuminated or illuminated. This can allow the user, for example, to immediately see and read the detergent level in the storage container.

Alternatively or additionally, the lighting device according to the invention can, for example, allow the user to visually display operating states of the cleaning device, in particular the dishwasher. For example, the fill level of the storage container can be displayed directly. The lighting device can For example, allow a user to see the fill level thanks to the illumination provided by the lighting device; in addition, a direct fill level indication can also be provided, for example, by the lighting device emitting light in pulsed and/or colored form. For example, a completely full storage container can be illuminated continuously and a completely empty storage container can be illuminated in a rapidly flashing manner. Alternatively, color changes can also be provided, for example from white to orange to red, which also visualizes the fill level of the storage container.

Furthermore, any errors that may occur in the dosing device itself can be visualized, for example by rapidly flashing red. It is also conceivable that the dosing device needs to be serviced or cleaned based on flashing and/or a color change.

The lighting device provided according to the invention therefore essentially provides two advantages. Firstly, the dosing device, in particular the storage container, can be illuminated, which is particularly advantageous in darkened room conditions because it enables a user to inspect the dosing device, for example for the purpose of checking the fill level. Secondly, the lighting device can provide a direct status display both with regard to the dosing device itself and with regard to the storage container or other components of the cleaning device, for example by changing colors and/or pulsating light frequencies.

According to a further aspect of the invention, it is provided that the base body of the storage container has a light entry opening that interacts with the lighting device. This light entry opening serves to ensure that, when used as intended, light emitted by the lighting device can reach the interior of the storage container, i.e. into the volume space provided by the base body. This embodiment according to the invention is particularly advantageous because it does not require a base body that is made of a translucent material. Rather, the inventive design of a light entry opening allows the base body to be made of a non-translucent material, in particular plastic material. This opens up the possibility of making the base body of the storage container from a recycled plastic material, i.e. a post-consumer recyclate. Such recyclates typically consist of a non-translucent material, but have the advantage of being able to be put into the recycling cycle in the interests of improved sustainability, while at the same time minimizing costs. The use of such a material within the scope of the invention is achieved by providing a light entry opening that interacts with the lighting device.

The design according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that light can be introduced into the storage container when used as intended, for which purpose the base body of the storage container has at least one light entry opening. This allows illumination of the volume space provided by the storage container or the base body, while at the same time allowing the base body to be made from a non-transparent or non-translucent, recycled plastic material.

The invention also proposes a storage container which serves to accommodate cleaning agents and has a base body providing a volume space. This storage container is designed to be exchangeably received in the housing of a dosing device as described above. The storage container has a light inlet opening which interacts with the lighting device of the dosing device so that light can be introduced into the volume space provided by the base body.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the volume space provided by the base body of the storage container is divided into a storage chamber and a compartment separated therefrom by a partition wall, wherein the compartment provides the light entry opening.

According to this alternative embodiment of the invention, the volume space provided by the base body of the storage container is divided into two sections, namely a first section serving as a storage chamber on the one hand and a second section serving as a compartment on the other. The storage chamber and the compartment are separated from one another by a partition wall.

The pantry serves the actual accommodation, i.e. stocking of in particular pourable cleaning agent, such as powdered or granular cleaning agent. The compartment serves to accommodate a dosing element which, when used as intended, is used for a metered discharge of cleaning agent from the storage chamber into the treatment chamber of the cleaning device. The light inlet opening provided according to the invention is provided by the compartment of the storage container according to this embodiment. When used as intended, light is therefore introduced into the compartment of the storage container through the light inlet opening.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided in this context that the light inlet opening is designed to be unsealed. This is possible because the cleaning agent is not stored in the compartment, but in the storage chamber. There is therefore no risk that cleaning agent stored in the storage container can escape in an undesirable manner through the light inlet opening. This makes it possible for a storage container that is essentially unchanged in its construction to also be used within the scope of the inventive design, as is known from the generic EP 3 305 970 B1 is known.

For the purpose of a metered discharge of pourable, in particular powdery or granular, cleaning agent, according to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the compartment has a metering element, which according to a further feature of the invention is made of a translucent plastic material. This ensures that light introduced through the light entry opening provided by the compartment is not shielded by the metering element. In this way, illumination of the compartment, the metering element and/or a cover closing the top of the compartment can be achieved. According to this embodiment, the metering element is therefore made of a translucent material, whereas the base body of the storage container can be made of an opaque material because the light emitted by the lighting device can enter the compartment through the light entry opening formed in the area of the compartment.

According to an alternative embodiment, the volume space provides a storage chamber, wherein the storage chamber has the light entry opening. In the intended use, light is thus introduced into the pantry and not in a compartment adjacent to the pantry.

According to a further feature, it is provided in this context that the light entry opening is closed by means of a translucent closure part. This ensures that cleaning agent stored in the storage chamber cannot inadvertently escape through the light entry opening.

The translucent closure element is preferably a film. This is preferably embedded in the plastic material during the manufacture of the base body, for example by injection molding, and this during the manufacturing process itself, so that no additional manufacturing or processing step is required to seal the light entry opening in a cleaning agent-tight manner using the film.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the storage container has a dome arranged within the volume space, which provides the light entry opening.

In this context, it is preferred that the dome has the light entry opening in an upper area in the vertical direction. This allows light to be introduced into the storage chamber in an area above a cleaning agent fill level. This allows the user to have a clear view of the cleaning agent still stored in the storage container. In addition, this can be used to backlight the cover that closes the top of the storage container.

According to a first embodiment, the dome provided by the storage container is arranged centrally within the base body. When used as intended, the storage container with its dome is placed on an axis extension that forms a rotation axis and can rotate around it. This dome, which is provided by the storage container anyway, has the light entry opening in its upper area. Several light entry openings can also be provided, in which case an equidistant alignment in the circumferential direction of the dome is preferably provided.

According to an alternative embodiment, the dome is formed off-center of the base body. In this case, more than one dome can be used. is provided, for example two or three domes. Light can be introduced into the storage container via each of these domes. For this purpose, each dome has at least one light entry opening. This design has the advantage that certain areas of the storage container and/or a cover closing the top of the storage container can be specifically illuminated. Coordinated color effects and/or pulse effects are also possible.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the base body is designed as a bowl that is open on one side, the open side being closed by means of a film, the film being able to be backlit by means of the lighting device, in particular even when the storage container is filled or partially filled with cleaning agent. According to this embodiment, the cover that closes the top of the storage container is designed as a film. This is preferably at least partially transparent so that a user can look through it into the volume provided by the storage container or the base body. The lighting device provided according to the invention makes it possible to backlight the film, in particular when the storage container is filled with cleaning agent, which leads to special visual effects. In particular, it is possible to generate visual instructions and/or information for a user by means of appropriate coloring. According to a preferred embodiment, the dosing device according to the invention is intended to be arranged in the appliance door of the cleaning device, in particular the dishwasher, which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis. When the appliance door is pivoted into the open position, light can be introduced by means of the lighting device via the light entry opening into the volume space provided by the base body, in particular into the area of the storage container above the cleaning agent fill level that is free when the appliance door is open between the detergent supply and the film that closes off at the top, and in particular also free when the storage container is full or partially full. This provides the backlighting of the film.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the lighting device has an LED that interacts with the light entry opening. Preferably, one LED is provided for each light entry opening, so that the light emitted by this LED can be introduced through the light entry opening directly into the volume space provided by the storage container. Additional optical Elements such as lenses can be provided that allow light to be redirected, scattered and/or influenced in other ways. In particular, targeted illumination of the volume provided by the storage container and/or backlighting of the cover that closes the top of the storage container can be achieved.

LEDs are not the only suitable light source. The advantage of LEDs is their low power consumption and small size, which means they only require a small installation space.

The light source, in particular the LED, is preferably provided by a circuit board. This is preferably formed on the housing side. For example, it can be provided that the housing accommodating the storage container provides a housing base that has a groove on the outside into which the circuit board is inserted. This achieves space-saving accommodation, while at the same time ensuring that the light sources provided by the circuit board are directly assigned to the respective light entry openings in a precisely positioned manner.

The invention is characterized overall by the fact that light is introduced into the storage container via areas that have specially provided light entry openings. These light entry openings or windows are structurally provided by the base body of the storage container in such a way that either no cleaning agent can escape from them in an uncontrolled manner or, alternatively, the light entry openings are covered by a translucent film. This film can, for example, be automatically fed into the plastic injection mold and back-injected like a frame, whereby parts of the base body remain transparent. Furthermore, the base body can be made of a non-transparent, preferably recycled plastic material.

According to a first variant, light is introduced into the dosing area of the storage container provided by the compartment via a circuit board equipped with two LEDs. The compartment accommodates a dosing element that is made of translucent material and serves as an additional guide conductor or light distributor. Alternatively or in addition to this, light is introduced into the area of the storage chamber of the storage container, for which purpose light inlet openings that are sealed against cleaning agents are provided. These are preferably closed by a dome of the storage container, which allows light to be introduced into an area above a detergent fill level.

The invention also proposes a program-controlled cleaning device, in particular a dishwasher, which is equipped with a dosing device according to one of the aforementioned embodiments. The cleaning device can have a control device which is connected to the dosing device, in particular to the lighting device, for control purposes. The control device can be set up in particular to send control signals to the dosing device, in particular to the lighting device, so that the lighting device can be switched on or off. In particular, the lighting device can be switched on or off or light up at different frequencies and/or colors, controlled by the control device, depending on the operating state of the cleaning device and/or the fill level of the dosing device's storage container.

Fig. 1

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät;

Fig. 2

in schematisch perspektivischer Ansicht von unten einen Vorratsbehälter;

Fig. 3

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung einen Vorratsbehälter;

Fig. 4

in schematischer Perspektivdarstellung den Vorratsbehälter nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

in einer schematischen rückwärtigen Ansicht ein den Vorratsbehälter im bestimmungsgemäßen Verwendungsfall aufnehmendes Gehäuse;

Fig. 6

in schematischer Schnittdarstellung einen Vorratsbehälter mit einem sich in Verschlussstellung befindlichen Dosierelement;

Fig. 7

in geschnittener Seitenansicht ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät;

Fig. 8

in schematischer Draufsicht von oben ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät;

Fig. 9

in schematischer Schnittdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät mit

einem

sich in Offenstellung befindlichen Dosierelement;

Fig. 10

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung einen Vorratsbehälter mit einer teilhinterleuchteten Abdeckung;

Fig. 11

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 12

in schematischer Schnittdarstellung das Dosiergerät nach Fig. 11;

Fig. 13

in schematischer Perspektivdarstellung einen Vorratsbehälter mit teilhinterleuchteter Abdeckung;

Fig. 14

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung einen Vorratsbehälter gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 15

in teilgeschnittener Seitenansicht ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät gemäß der weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 16

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung das Dosiergerät nach Fig. 15 und

Fig. 17

in rückwärtiger Ansicht das Dosiergerät nach Fig. 16.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description based on the figures.

Fig. 1

in a schematic perspective exploded view of a dosing device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

in schematic perspective view from below a storage container;

Fig. 3

in schematic perspective exploded view a storage container;

Fig. 4

in schematic perspective view the storage container after Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

in a schematic rear view, a housing accommodating the storage container in the intended use;

Fig. 6

in schematic sectional view a storage container with a dosing element in the closed position;

Fig. 7

in sectional side view a dosing device according to the invention;

Fig. 8

in schematic plan view from above a dosing device according to the invention;

Fig. 9

in schematic sectional view a dosing device according to the invention with

one

dosing element in the open position;

Fig. 10

in schematic perspective view a storage container with a partially backlit cover;

Fig. 11

in schematic perspective exploded view a dosing device according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 12

in schematic sectional view of the dosing device according to Fig. 11 ;

Fig. 13

in schematic perspective view a storage container with partially backlit cover;

Fig. 14

in schematic perspective view a storage container according to another embodiment;

Fig. 15

in partially sectioned side view a dosing device according to the invention according to the further embodiment;

Fig. 16

in schematic perspective exploded view the dosing device according to Fig. 15 and

Fig. 17

in rear view the dosing device after Fig. 16 .

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic perspective exploded view the inside 2 of a washing compartment door 1 of a cleaning appliance not shown in more detail below, such as a dishwasher.

The washing compartment door 1 accommodates a dosing device 3 of the type according to the invention. This has a housing 27 which has a housing base body and a closing flap 4 arranged pivotably thereon.

The housing 27 serves to rotatably accommodate a support unit 6. The housing base body provides an axle extension 8 for rotatably receiving the support unit 6.

The support unit 6 in turn provides a bearing sleeve 12 which is designed to correspond to the axle extension 8. In the final assembled state, the support unit 6 is attached with its bearing sleeve 12 to the axle extension 8. In the intended operating case, a twisting movement of the support unit 6 takes place about an axis of rotation defined by the axle extension 8.

The support unit 6 serves to replaceably accommodate a storage container 9. This storage container 9, also called a cartridge, has a base body 10 which is closed on the top by means of a sealing film serving as a cover.

When used as intended, the storage container 9 is received by the support unit 6 and the support unit 6 together with the storage container 9 is received by the housing 27, whereby the closure flap 4 is removed from its Fig. 1 shown open position into a closed position in which the housing 27 is closed fluid-tight.

The Figures 1 to 10 relate to a first embodiment. As can be seen from a summary of these figures, the dosing device 3 has a drive device 7 (cf. Fig. 5 ). This provides a motor-gear arrangement (not shown in detail). By means of this, the support unit 6 can be rotated by motor, specifically around the axis of rotation defined by the axle extension 8. When used as intended, a storage container 9 held by the support unit 6 rotates together with the support unit 6.

The storage container 9 serves to accommodate cleaning agent in an amount that is sufficient for several washing programs. A portioned amount of cleaning agent is taken from the storage container for each washing program.

The storage container 9 can be inserted into the carrying unit 6 in an exchangeable manner by the user. The carrying unit 6 holds the storage container 9 in a rotationally fixed manner, so that when the carrying unit 6 is rotated by a motor, the Storage container 9 with twisted.

As a summary of the Figures 2 to 4 The storage container 9 has a base body 10. This base body 10 is equipped with a dome 11 which, when the storage container 9 is inserted into the support unit 6, receives the bearing sleeve provided by the support unit 6, which ensures a precise positional alignment of the storage container 9 relative to the support unit 6.

The base body 10 further provides a peripheral edge 24 which carries the sealing film 26 for the top closure of the storage container 9. Preferably, the film 26 is welded onto the edge 24 at the edge.

The base body 10 of the storage container 9 provides a volume space 18 which is divided into a storage chamber 13 on the one hand and a compartment 25 separated from it by a partition wall 15 on the other. The storage chamber 13 serves to actually store the cleaning agent. The compartment 25 serves to accommodate a dosing element 22, which in turn provides a dosing chamber 14, which dosing chamber 14 serves to dispense cleaning agent in portions during normal operation.

In terms of flow technology, the dosing chamber 14 is connected to a dosing channel 17 which, in the embodiment shown, is provided by the storage container 9 (cf. Fig. 2 ), which opens into a dosing opening 23. Cleaning agent dispensed from the storage chamber 13 can be dispensed in the direction of a treatment chamber of the cleaning device, in particular the dishwasher, through the dosing channel 17 via the dosing opening 13.

As can be seen particularly from a summary of the Figures 6, 7 and 9 The dosing element 22 received in the compartment 25 and providing the dosing chamber 14 can assume two positions in relation to the base body 10 of the storage container. In this case, the dosing element 22 can be moved in the vertical direction.

Fig. 6 shows the dosing element 22 in its non-dosing position. Fig. 9 shows a dosing element 22 which has been moved upwards in the vertical direction and which is in its dosing position in this position.

For the purpose of transferring cleaning agent from the storage chamber 13 into the dosing chamber 14, the base body 10 has an outlet opening 19 (cf. Fig. 3 ). This is surrounded by funnel-shaped ribs for the purpose of improved cleaning agent transfer into the dosing chamber 14.

In the embodiment shown, the dosing element 22 is equipped with an inlet opening 20 corresponding to the outlet opening 19. The inlet opening 20 overlaps with the outlet opening 19 when the dosing element 22 is in its dosing position.

For the automatic transfer of the dosing element from the non-use position to the dosing position when the storage container 9 is inserted into the support unit 6 as intended, actuating means 21 provided on the support unit side are used (cf. Fign. 7 and 9 ). These adjusting means 21 are designed as mandrels in the embodiment shown, as is also Fig. 1 These adjusting means 21 engage, when used as intended, in openings 28 formed on the bottom of the base body 10 of the storage container 9, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 2 can be recognized.

The sectional view according to Fig. 7 shows the dosing device with the storage container 9 not yet inserted. In this position, the dosing element 22 provided by the storage container 9 is still in a non-dosing position, as in Fig. 6 shown. As soon as the storage container 9 is inserted vertically downwards into the support unit 6 of the dosing device 3 as intended, the adjusting means 21 of the dosing device 3 designed as mandrels reach through the openings 28 on the storage container side, whereby they come into contact with the dosing element 22. If the storage container 9 is now moved further downwards in the vertical direction and inserted into the support unit 6 as intended, the dosing element 22 accommodated by the compartment 25 is driven upwards in the vertical direction, ie moved, so that the dosing element 22 is brought into its dosing position when the storage container 9 is properly inserted into the dosing device 3, as is most clearly shown Fig. 9 can be recognized.

A dosing device 3 of the type described above is known from the generic EP 3 305 970 B1 known.

The dosing device according to the invention has a lighting device 34. This serves to introduce light in accordance with the arrows 32 into the volume space 18 provided by the base body 10 of the storage container 9 (cf. Fig. 9 ) and/or a backlighting of the film 26 closing the base body 10 on the upper side in a partial section 33 (cf. Fig. 10 ) to effect.

For this purpose, the lighting device 34 has an LED circuit board 29, which is inserted into a correspondingly designed groove on the back of the bottom of the housing 27 (cf. Fig. 5 ). This LED circuit board 29 provides two LEDs 31 in the embodiment shown, as is particularly Fig. 9 can be recognized.

According to the invention, a light inlet opening 30 is provided on the base body side for introducing light into the storage container 10, which light inlet opening cooperates with the lighting device 34.

According to the Figures 1 to 10 In the embodiment shown, the openings 28 provided anyway on the compartment side of the base body 10 serve as light entry openings 30. In the intended operating case, light emitted by the LEDs 31 can pass through these openings 28 serving as light entry openings 30 into the compartment 25 provided by the base body 10 in accordance with the arrows 32. The dosing element 22 itself is made of a transparent, i.e. translucent material, so that the dosing element 22 itself serves as a light distribution means. In addition, due to the transparent design of the dosing element 22, the light introduced into the compartment 25 can also serve for backlighting the film 26 closing the base body 10, namely in the section 33 which is in overlap with the compartment 25, as shown schematically in Fig. 10 is shown.

In order to allow the light 32 to pass through the adjusting means 21 interacting with the openings 28 when used as intended, the adjusting means 21 have an opening 38 on the upper side, i.e. in their end section associated with the respective opening 28.

As can be seen in particular from the presentation Fig. 9 When used as intended, light 32 emitted by an LED 31 is converted into a hollow actuator 21 is guided to its opening 38, whereby it is also guided through the opening 28 serving as the light entry opening 30, because the actuator 21 extends through this opening when the storage container 9 is inserted into the dosing device 3 as intended. As a result, the light emitted by an LED is guided through the light entry opening 30 into the storage container 9.

The above-described embodiment provides the advantage that the base body 10 of the storage container 9 can be made of a non-translucent material, for example of a recycled plastic material. Another advantage of this embodiment is that no cleaning agent-tight closure of a light entry opening 30 is required, since this is formed in the area of the compartment 25. The actual cleaning agent storage takes place by means of the storage chamber 13, so that due to the light entry openings 30 formed in the area of the compartment 25, there is no risk of unwanted cleaning agent being discharged through the light entry openings 30.

A second embodiment is shown in the Figures 11 to 13 According to this embodiment, light entry openings 30 are formed in the area of the storage chamber 13. In the intended use, this leads to an illumination of the storage container 9 in accordance with the arrows 36 (cf. Fig. 12 ) and/or to a backlighting of the film 26 closing the base body 10 in section 33, as shown schematically in Fig. 13 shown.

For light to enter the storage container 9, the dome 11 provided by the storage container 9 has a plurality of light entry openings 30 in a vertically upper section, as is particularly the case with Figures 11 and 12 The bearing sleeve 12 of the support unit 6, which interacts with the dome 11 in the intended use, has a translucent cap 35 on the dome side that serves as an optical element. In the intended lighting case, as in Fig. 12 As shown, light emitted by the lighting device 34 passes either directly or by means of a light guide through the axial extension 8 to the cap 35 serving as an optical element. Here, the light is deflected by 90° so that the light can pass into the storage container 9 through the light entry openings 30 provided by the dome 11 of the storage container 9 in accordance with the arrows 36. For a cleaning agent-tight closure, the Light entry openings 30 are designed to be closed, preferably by means of a translucent film embedded in the plastic material of the base body 10.

A particular advantage of this design is that a large-area backlighting of the film 26 closing the base body 10 can take place.

Another example is shown in the Figures 14 to 16 According to this embodiment, light domes 37 are used that are designed separately from the dome 11. In the embodiment shown, two such light domes 37 are provided. These each provide a light entry opening 30 in a section that is at the top in the vertical direction, preferably on the front side, so that no special optical elements are required for light deflection. The light domes 37 each work together with an LED that is provided by a correspondingly arranged LED circuit board 29, as is particularly the case Fig. 16 can be seen. In the embodiment shown, light is introduced into the storage container 9 through both light domes 37.

reference sign

1

dishwasher door

2

inside

3

dosing device

4

closure flap

5

dosing outlet

6

carrying unit

7

drive device

8

axial process

9

storage container

10

base body

11

cathedral

12

bearing sleeve

13

pantry

14

dosing chamber

15

partition

16

dosing chamber

17

dosing channel

18

volume space

19

outlet opening

20

inlet opening

21

setting agent

22

dosing element

23

dosing opening

24

peripheral area

25

compartment

26

film

27

Housing

28

opening

29

LED circuit board

30

light entry opening

31

LED

32

arrow (light)

33

slide section

34

lighting device

35

cap

36

arrow (light)

37

dome of light

38

opening

39

cleaning products

Claims (11)

Dosing device for the dosed introduction of a cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a housing (27) and a storage container (9) which is exchangeably received in the housing (27), which serves to accommodate cleaning agent (39) and has a base body (10) providing a volume space (18), characterized by a lighting device (34) for introducing light (32, 36) into the volume space (18) provided by the base body (10), wherein the base body (10) has a light inlet opening (30) which interacts with the lighting device (34). Dosing device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the volume space (18) is divided into a storage chamber (13) and a compartment (25) separated therefrom by a partition wall (15), wherein the compartment (25) provides the light entry opening (30). Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the light entry opening (30) is designed to be unlocked. Dosing device according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the compartment (25) accommodates a dosing element (22) made of a translucent plastic material. Dosing device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the volume space (18) provides a storage chamber (13) having the light entry opening (30). Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims 1, 2, 4 or 5,
characterized in that
the light entry opening (30) by means of a translucent closure element is designed to be closed. Dosing device according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the closure element is a film. Dosing device according to one of claims 5 to 7,
characterized in that
the storage container (9) has a dome (11) arranged within the volume space (18) which provides the light entry opening (30). Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the base body (10) of the storage container (9) is designed as a shell that is open on one side, the open side being closed by means of a film (26) that can be backlit by means of the lighting device (34). Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the lighting device (34) has an LED (29, 31) cooperating with the light inlet opening (30). Storage container (9) which serves to accommodate cleaning agent (39) and has a base body (10) providing a volume space (18), and which is designed to be exchangeably received by the housing (27) of a dosing device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container (9) has a light inlet opening (30) which cooperates with the lighting device (34) of the dosing device (3) so that light (32, 36) can be introduced into the volume space (18) provided by the base body (10).

Images