Metering device integrated in door of water-carrying household appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering device for a water-carrying household appliance, in particular for a washing machine or a laundry dryer, in particular for metering a solid fabric care agent, having a housing with a receiving chamber, the receiving chamber having a receiving groove and being able to be filled with a fabric care agent, wherein the housing has at least one first opening for introducing water into the receiving chamber and at least one second opening for discharging a liquid, in particular in the form of an at least partially dissolved fabric care agent, from the housing, and wherein the receiving chamber can be connected in a flow-conducting manner to the second opening, wherein the housing is provided for arrangement on or in a door of a household appliance. The invention also relates to a metering assembly, a household appliance and a method for operating a household appliance with a metering device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a metering device for a water-carrying household appliance, in particular for a washing machine or a washer-dryer, in particular for metering a solid fabric care agent. The invention also relates to a metering device, a household appliance and a method for operating a household appliance having a metering device. Background Art

[0002] In water-carrying household appliances such as washing machines and washer-dryers, the flushing tank has multiple functions and is a key component in the washing process. Its main function is to temporarily store the detergent manually added by the user so that it can be flushed into the drum or the laundry tub at a specified time. In addition, temporary dissolution of the detergent can also be carried out in the flushing tank.

[0003] The flush tank is usually designed with three chambers and includes a pre-wash chamber, a softener chamber and a main wash chamber. Most washing machines on the market have such a flush tank. However, the problem with existing flush tanks is that they require a lot of space in the upper area of ​​the household appliance. This limits the design freedom of the panel area and the control area of ​​the household appliance, and also limits the space available for other components of the household appliance.

[0004] Furthermore, household appliances with automatic metering devices have been disclosed, which can completely replace the conventional flushing tank and automatically meter the detergent. The user only needs to fill the storage container with detergent and softener. When purchasing a household appliance, the user usually has to decide whether to meter the detergent manually or automatically with the aid of a metering device. It is usually not possible to choose between manual or automatic metering of detergent in a household appliance, because space for the flushing tank is also required for an automatic metering system. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a metering device for manually metering detergent, which enables more efficient use of space in a household appliance. The object is achieved by a metering device having the features of the preferred technical solution, a metering assembly having the features of the preferred technical solution, a household appliance having the features of the preferred technical solution, and a method having the features of the preferred technical solution.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a metering device for a water-carrying household appliance is provided. The household appliance may be designed, for example, as a so-called front-loading washing machine or a washer-dryer.

[0007] The metering device is designed for metering solid and / or liquid fabric care agents. The fabric care agents can be solid or powdered detergents, liquid detergents, softeners, dyes, household appliance cleaners, descaling agents, etc.

[0008] The metering device according to the invention has a housing with a receiving chamber, which can be filled with at least one fabric care agent. A receiving groove is arranged in the receiving chamber. In addition, the housing has at least one first opening for introducing water into the receiving chamber and a channel for draining liquid, in particular in the form of at least partially dissolved fabric care agent, from the housing.

[0009] The receiving chamber can be connected to the second opening in a flow-conducting manner. The housing of the metering device is designed to be arranged on or in the door of the household appliance. This measure makes it possible to move the metering device with the function of a manual flushing slot into the door or door glass while retaining the same function. As a result, more structural space is available in the upper area of ​​the household appliance, because the conventional flushing slot (Einspülschale) of the three-chamber design is no longer required. In addition, the freedom of design and layout of the front panel of the household appliance is increased and the area for arranging control elements is also increased.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, a metering assembly for a water-carrying household appliance is provided. The metering assembly has a door of the household appliance, in particular a front loading door for loading fabric products into a laundry tub from the side.

[0011] The door of the household appliance preferably has an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall and the outer wall are held together, for example, by a frame surrounding the edge and can be mechanically connected to the household appliance by a hinge. The inner wall is arranged to press against a door cup or a door seal of the household appliance in order to close the opening for filling the laundry tub in a fluid-tight manner. The inner wall thus protrudes into the household appliance at least in a region in the direction of the laundry tub.

[0012] On the contrary, described outer wall can be flush with the side surface or panel of household appliance substantially.Thus, between inner wall and outer wall of door, form unused volume, this volume can be transparently constituted.

[0013] Furthermore, the metering assembly according to the invention has a metering device, wherein the housing of the metering device projects or protrudes through a recess in the door inner wall into the volume formed between the door inner wall and the door outer wall and is connected to the door inner wall in a fluid-tight manner.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, a household appliance is provided. The household appliance can be designed in the form of a washing machine or a washer-dryer. The household appliance has a metering device according to the invention and a door for opening access to a laundry tub. The metering device is mounted in or on the door and protrudes at least partially into a volume of the door, which volume is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the door. The first opening of the metering device is connected to the outlet of the door cup flushing system of the household appliance in a flow-conducting manner.

[0015] Installing the metering device in the door makes it possible to remove the spray or flushing nozzle above the flushing slot, thus reducing biofilm formation and optimizing hygiene. Direct water inlet through the door cup or cup flushing system can further reduce product complexity and have a positive impact on the manufacturing cost and durability of the household appliance.

[0016] Furthermore, the reduction from a three-chamber design with a flushing chute to a one-chamber design with a manual dosing device simplifies the operation of the household appliance. Although the fabric care agent can be dosed manually, an automatic dosing device can also be installed in the household appliance. This is made possible by eliminating the conventional flushing chute. The user can thus choose between automatic and manual dosing of the fabric care agent as required.

[0017] The metering device can be particularly advantageously suitable for solid and / or powdered fabric care agents if the receiving chamber has a gauze insert which is arranged below the filling opening or first opening and above the receiving groove of the receiving chamber.

[0018] The mesh insert allows the fabric care agent to be easily separated into liquid and powder detergent and has the advantage that the fabric care agent can be pre-dissolved before being flushed into the laundry tub.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the gauze insert is designed as a holding device for a powdered and / or solid fabric care agent.

[0020] The gauze insert is designed at least in regions as a grid or sieve and has openings or meshes of a certain size through which the gauze insert can pass liquid and powdered fabric care agents in dissolved form. For example, the gauze insert can have openings with an average diameter of 800-2000 μm (micrometers). The gauze can be made of metal and / or plastic (e.g. polymer).

[0021] The hygiene of the metering device is significantly improved if the gauze insert can be removed, in particular pulled out, from the receiving chamber and the housing.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the mesh insert is embodied as an insert or drawer.

[0023] The gauze insert that can be taken out from the metering device makes it possible to simply clean this gauze insert technically. Here, this gauze insert can be cleaned particularly easily under running water or in a dishwasher.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the metering assembly, the housing of the metering device has a peripheral edge section and is bonded to the inner wall of the door at the peripheral edge section. This measure makes it technically simple to install the metering device in the door of the household appliance, in particular in the door glass.

[0025] In an alternative or additional embodiment, a seal is arranged between the surrounding edge section and the inner wall. In this case, the housing is mechanically connected to the door while the seal is formed by the seal. This arrangement of the metering device makes it possible to dismantle or replace the metering device later.

[0026] According to another embodiment, an opening is provided in the outer wall of the door, which opening is connected to the filling opening of the metering device. As a result, the fabric care agent can be filled into the receiving chamber after the door of the household appliance is closed. Depending on the design, the gauze insert or the insulating layer can also be removed or pulled out of the metering device through the opening in the door.

[0027] If the receiving groove of the receiving chamber has a closure device on the bottom side, which is provided for connecting the receiving chamber directly to the second opening, the fabric care agent dissolved by the water introduced into the receiving chamber can be introduced particularly easily into the laundry tub and / or the lye container of the household appliance.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment, the receiving groove of the receiving chamber has a closure on the bottom side, which is indirectly connected to the second opening via a flushing ramp or a flushing labyrinth. This measure can optimize the drainage characteristics of the lye and improve the hygiene conditions by preventing the formation of residues. In this way, detergent residues in the metering device can also be minimized.

[0029] Using a flushing ramp or flushing labyrinth allows the lye to swirl, thereby improving the pre-dissolution of the fabric care agent on its way into the laundry tub.

[0030] Advantageously, the bottom-side closing device is located at the lowest point in the receiving groove, which has a bottom-side slope in the direction of the closing device.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the closure device is designed as a closure plug with a filter gauze. Here, the filter gauze connects the receiving groove to the second opening in a flow-conducting manner. The closure plug with a filter gauze at the bottom of the receiving groove or the holding device for the fabric care agent ensures rapid drainage of residual water and is easy to remove and clean.

[0032] If the closure device can be moved into an open position or a closed position under electronic control and is electrically or mechanically connected to the control device, the discharge of the lye or pre-dissolved fabric care agent from the receiving chamber can be controlled particularly precisely and flexibly. This measure makes it possible to introduce the liquid fabric care agent into the receiving chamber very conveniently even when the door is open, if the closure device is moved into the closed position.

[0033] According to another embodiment, the closure device is moved into the closed position under spring load and can be moved into the open position by the action of weight, in particular the weight of the at least partially dissolved form of the fabric care agent in the receiving tank. As a result, the closure device can be pressed against the receiving tank by the spring against the weight and a liquid-tight connection is achieved. As the liquid level in the receiving tank rises, the pressure or weight force pressing against the closure device against the spring force also increases. After a predetermined force is exceeded, which is related to the amount of liquid in the receiving chamber that is conducive to dissolution, the closure device automatically opens and the liquid can leave the metering device from the receiving chamber through the second opening.

[0034] Depending on the design, the closure device can be designed to be bistable, so that after opening the closure device, the closure device remains fully open at least temporarily by the effect of the weight of the liquid in the receiving chamber. The closure device can be closed again, for example, by another force effect, for example during a spin-drying process or after the door is opened.

[0035] In another embodiment, the metering device is arranged to be fastened to a glass insert of a door of a household appliance and to protrude into a cavity or volume of the door. By this measure, with only minor technical modifications to the door of the household appliance, the metering device can be introduced into a previously unused volume of the door and can be used instead of a flushing slot in the upper region of the household appliance.

[0036] According to another embodiment, the receiving chamber can be filled with the fabric care agent via a filling opening of the housing and / or at least one first opening, wherein the filling opening of the receiving chamber is accessible from the outside of the household appliance through an opening in the door to introduce the fabric care agent. Thus, the receiving chamber can be accessed via the at least one first opening to the interior of the household appliance, in particular the receiving chamber of the laundry tub, for filling with the fabric care agent.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the fabric care agent can also be introduced into the receiving chamber via a separate filling opening. Here, the filling opening can be accessed from the outside or the inside of the door or the housing. Here, when the door is closed, the inside faces the receiving chamber of the washing tub, while when the door is closed, the outside faces outwards or away from the household appliance.

[0038] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating a domestic appliance having a metering device according to the invention is provided.

[0039] In one step, the door of the household appliance having the metering device is closed in order to produce a sealing effect of the door cup of the household appliance.

[0040] Depending on the design of the metering device, the fabric care agent can enter the receiving chamber before or after the door is closed. In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric care agent is positioned through an opening in the door outer wall and a filling opening in the receiving chamber. This step can be performed after the door is closed or before the door is closed. The filling opening is preferably closed by a filling valve or a filling closure device of the metering device.

[0041] In embodiments of the metering device without a filling opening, the fabric care agent can be placed or filled into the receiving chamber through the first opening of the metering device before the door is closed.

[0042] In a further step, the operating program of the household appliance is started. During the operation of the household appliance, water is fed into the receiving chamber through at least one first opening of the metering device by intermittently operating the door leather cup flushing device and at least partially dissolves the fabric care agent. This measure makes it possible to pre-dissolve the clothing care agent by slightly modifying the water inlet program of the household appliance. The water flow of the door leather cup flushing system is preferably intermittent to optimize the dissolution of the fabric care agent. Especially for powdered fabric care agents, too much water can cause the fabric care agent placed on the gauze insert to be squeezed or moved without dissolving. For example, about 0.5 to 1.5 liters of water can be intermittently injected into the receiving chamber to achieve optimal pre-dissolution of the fabric care agent.

[0043] Furthermore, a solution or liquid consisting of water and at least one fabric care agent is collected in the collecting tank and introduced directly and / or indirectly from the collecting tank and through the second opening into the laundry tub of the household appliance. The liquid can also be introduced into the bottom shell or the lye container of the household appliance and used there to treat the fabrics in the laundry tub.

[0044] The advantages and features described above in relation to the apparatus also apply to the method, and vice versa. The individual features or aspects of the invention can be combined with each other and have the advantages explained in this context. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The present invention will be described in detail below through advantageous embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0046] Figure 1 A sectional side view of a household appliance with a metering device according to one embodiment is shown.

[0047] Figure 2 A detail of the metering device is shown with the gauze insert pulled out.

[0048] Figure 3 A detail view of the metering device with an inserted gauze insert is shown.

[0049] In the drawings, the same or corresponding elements are marked with the same reference numerals. Factors such as values, shapes, components, component positions, and the connection between components are only illustrative and not restrictive. For the sake of clarity and to improve recognizability, different scales are sometimes used in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 1 A sectional side view of a household appliance 100 is shown with a metering device 10 according to one embodiment. The household appliance 100 can be designed in the form of a so-called front-loading washing machine or washer-dryer.

[0051] In addition to the metering device 10, the household appliance 100 also has a door 110. The metering device 10 is integrated in the door 110 or connected to the door 110. The door 110 is used to open the passage to the laundry tub 120. The fabric 200 to be treated by the household appliance 100 is placed in the laundry tub 120 by way of example.

[0052] The door 110 of the household appliance 100 has an inner wall 111 and an outer wall 112. The inner wall 111 and the outer wall 112 are fixed together, for example, by a frame 113 surrounding the edges and can be mechanically connected to the base body of the household appliance 100 by hinges (not shown).

[0053] The inner wall 111 is provided for pressing against a door cup 114 or a door seal of the household appliance 100 in order to close in a fluid-tight manner the opening for filling the laundry tub 120. The inner wall 111 thus protrudes at least regionally into the household appliance 100 in the direction of the laundry tub 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the door 110 is in the closed state.

[0054] On the contrary, the outer wall 112 is substantially flush with the side surface or panel 130 of the household appliance 100. Thus, an unused volume V is formed between the inner wall 111 and the outer wall 112 of the door 110, which volume can be designed to be transparent.

[0055] The metering device 10 according to the invention is arranged in or on the door 110 and projects at least in regions into a hitherto unused volume V of the door 110 which is formed between the inner wall 111 and the outer wall 112 .

[0056] Refer to the following Figure 2 and Figure 3 The metering device 10 will be described. Figure 2 Show Figure 1 Detail of the metering device 10 with the gauze insert pulled out. Figure 3 A detailed view of the metering device 10 with an inserted gauze insert is shown.

[0057] The metering device 10 is designed for metering solid and / or liquid fabric care agents. For example, the fabric care agent can be a solid or powdered detergent, a liquid detergent, a softener, a dye, a household appliance cleaner, a descaling agent, etc.

[0058] The metering device 10 according to the invention has a housing 11 with a receiving chamber 12 which can be filled with at least one fabric care agent. A receiving groove 13 is arranged in the receiving chamber 12 .

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving chamber 12 can be filled with a fabric care agent via a filling opening 23 of the housing 11 or via the at least one first opening 21. Here, the filling opening 23 of the receiving chamber 12 projects through an opening 116 in the door 110 and is accessible from the outside of the household appliance 100 for inserting the fabric care agent.

[0060] Furthermore, the housing 11 has at least one first opening 21 for introducing water into the receiving chamber 12 and at least one second opening 22 for draining liquid, in particular at least partially dissolved fabric care agent, from the housing 11 .

[0061] At least one first opening 21 of the metering device 10 is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the outlet of a cup rinsing device 140 of the household appliance 100. In particular, water flowing out of the cup rinsing device 140 can be discharged along the inner wall 111 of the door 110, thereby reaching the first opening 21 and entering the receiving chamber 12.

[0062] The receiving chamber 12 can be connected to the second opening 22 in a flow-conducting manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving groove 13 of the receiving chamber 12 is equipped with a closure device 30 on the bottom side, which is indirectly connected to the second opening 22 via a flushing ramp 31. The flushing ramp 31 is arranged below the receiving chamber 12 and communicates with the second opening 22 on the bottom side. The first opening 21 and the second opening 22 are exemplarily provided with a grid to prevent interaction with the fabric 200. The first opening 21 is introduced into a valve, which can be removed in order to place the fabric care agent in the receiving chamber 12.

[0063] The bottom side closing device 30 is located at the lowest position in the receiving groove 13. In addition, a bottom side slope is formed in the direction of the closing device 30 to facilitate the outflow of liquid.

[0064] Figure 1 The arrows in show the water flowing through the metering device 10. Advantageously, the lye or liquid is discharged through the second opening 22 in the form of dissolved fabric care agent.

[0065] The closure device 30 is designed as a closure plug with a filter gauze 32. Here, the filter gauze couples the receiving groove 13 to the second opening 22 in a flow-conducting manner. This measure is particularly advantageous for powdered fabric care agents, because powdered fabric care agents can only flow out of the receiving chamber 12 through the filter gauze 32 after dissolution.

[0066] Furthermore, a screen insert 33 is provided, which is located below the filling opening 23 in the receiving chamber 12. Here, the screen insert 33 divides the receiving chamber above the receiving slot 13 and is designed in the form of a pull-out drawer in the illustrated embodiment.

[0067] The gauze insert 33 serves as a storage surface for the powdered fabric care agent and can be removed from the housing 11 of the metering device 10 through the opening 116 in the door 110. The gauze insert 33 can be removed from the metering device 10 essentially for cleaning purposes.

[0068] Furthermore, the housing 11 of the metering device 10 also has a peripheral edge section 14, which is bonded, for example, to the inner wall 111 of the door 110. The inner wall 111 and the outer wall 112 are designed as door panes of the door 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 11 forms the outer contour of the inner wall 111 after bonding to the inner wall 111 and completes the outer contour in such a way that the door cup 114 rests regionally on the inner wall 111 and regionally on the housing 11 and achieves a continuous sealing effect.

[0069] The housing 11 of the metering device 10 is thus fastened to the door pane of the household appliance 100 and projects into the unused volume V of the door 110. Here, the metering device fulfills the function of a manual flushing chute. As a result, more structural space is available in the upper region of the household appliance 100, since a conventional flushing chute in a three-chamber design is no longer required.

[0070] List of reference numerals:

[0071] 100 Household appliances

[0072] 110 doors

[0073] 111 Inner wall

[0074] 112 outer wall

[0075] 113 Framework

[0076] 114 Door Cup

[0077] 116 Opening in the Door

[0078] 120 Clothes Bucket

[0079] 130 Panel

[0080] 140 Cup flushing device

[0081] 200 Fabric

[0082] 10 Measuring device

[0083] 11 Shell

[0084] 12 Receiving Room

[0085] 13 Receiving slot

[0086] 14 Surrounding edge segments

[0087] 21 First Opening

[0088] 22 Second Opening

[0089] 23 Filling opening

[0090] 30 Closure device

[0091] 31 Off the Slope

[0092] 32 Filter mesh

[0093] 33 mesh plug-in

[0094] Unused volume / cavity of the V-door.

Claims

1. A metering device (10) for a water-carrying household appliance (100), in particular for a washing machine or a washer-dryer, in particular for metering a solid fabric care agent, the metering device comprising a housing (11) with a receiving chamber (12), wherein the receiving chamber (12) has a receiving groove (13) and can be filled with the fabric care agent, wherein the housing (11) has at least one first opening (21) for introducing water into the receiving chamber (12) and at least one second opening (22) for removing liquid, in particular in the form of at least partially dissolved fabric care agent, from the housing (11), wherein the receiving chamber (12) can be connected to the second opening (22) in a flow-conducting manner, characterized in that The housing (11) is configured to be arranged on or in a door (110) of a household appliance (100).

2. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein: The receiving chamber (12) has a gauze insert (33), wherein the gauze insert (33) is arranged below the filling opening (23) or the first opening (21) and above the receiving slot (13) of the receiving chamber (12).

3. The metering device according to claim 2, wherein: The gauze insert (33) is designed as a holding device for powdered and / or solid fabric care agents.

4. A metering device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The screen insert (33) is designed to be removable, in particular pullable, from the receiving chamber (12) and the housing (11), wherein the screen insert (33) is formed in the form of an insert or drawer.

5. The metering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The receiving groove (13) of the receiving chamber (12) has a closure device (30) on the bottom side, which is provided for connecting the receiving chamber (12) directly or indirectly via an ejection ramp (31) or an ejection labyrinth to the second opening (22).

6. The metering device according to claim 5, wherein: The closure device (30) is implemented as a closure plug with a filter gauze (32) and couples the receiving groove (13) to the second opening (22) in a flow-conducting manner via the filter gauze (32).

7. The metering device according to claim 5, wherein: The closure device (30) can be moved to an open or closed position under electronic control and is connected to a control unit.

8. The metering device according to claim 5, wherein: The closure device (30) is moved into a closed position under spring load and can be moved into an open position by the action of weight force, in particular in the form of at least partially dissolved fabric care agent in the receiving groove (13).

9. The metering device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The metering device (10) is provided for being fastened to a glass insert, in particular an inner wall (111), of a door (110) of a domestic appliance (100) and for projecting into a cavity (V) of the door (110).

10. The metering device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The receiving chamber (12) can be filled with a fabric care agent via a filling opening (23) of the housing (11) and / or via the at least one first opening (21), wherein the filling opening (23) of the receiving chamber (12) is accessible from the outside of the household appliance (100) through an opening (116) in the door (110) for introducing the fabric care agent.

11. A metering assembly for a water-carrying household appliance (100), comprising a door (110), in particular a front-loading door, of the household appliance (100) and a metering device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (11) of the metering device (10) projects through a recess in the inner wall (111) of the door (110) into a volume (V) of the door (110) formed between the inner wall (111) and the outer wall (112) and is connected to the inner wall (111) of the door (110) in a fluid-tight manner.

12. The metering assembly according to claim 11, wherein: The housing (11) has a circumferential edge section (14) and is bonded to the inner wall (111) of the door (110) at the circumferential edge section (14), and / or A seal is arranged between the circumferential edge section (14) and the inner wall (111), and the housing (11) is mechanically connected to the door (110) by means of the seal to form a sealing effect.

13. The metering assembly according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: An opening (116) is provided in the outer wall (111) of the door (110), which opening is connected to the filling opening (23) of the metering device (10).

14. A household appliance (100), in particular a household appliance in the form of a washing machine or a washer-dryer, having a metering device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10 and having a door (110) for opening a passage to a laundry tub (120), wherein the metering device (10) is arranged in or on the door (110) and at least partially extends into a volume (V) of the door (110), the volume being formed between an inner wall (111) and an outer wall (112) of the door (110), wherein a first opening (21) of the metering device (10) is connected in a flow-conducting manner to an outlet of a leather bowl rinsing device (140) of the household appliance (100).

15. A method for operating a domestic appliance (100) having a metering device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: - placing a fabric care agent in the receiving chamber (12) of the metering device (10) and closing the door (110) of the household appliance (100) having the metering device (10) to produce a sealing effect of the door cup (114) of the household appliance (100), - starting an operating program of the household appliance (100), wherein water is introduced into the receiving chamber (12) through the first opening (21) of the metering device (10) by intermittently actuating the cup flushing device (140) of the door cup (114), and the fabric care agent is at least partially dissolved in the introduced water, A solution consisting of water and at least one fabric care agent is collected in a receiving tank (13) and introduced directly and / or indirectly from the receiving tank (13) through a second opening (22) into a laundry tub (120) of the household appliance (100).

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