Container comprising connector with diaphragm

By forming the diaphragm with the main parts of the connector and using the same material, the high cost and resource waste problems of the existing distribution system in the production and recycling of connectors is solved, and more efficient resource utilization and simplified manufacturing process is achieved.

CN120112205APending Publication Date: 2025-06-06HENKEL KGAA
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202380075535.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-10-27
Filing Date
2023-09-29
Publication Date
2025-06-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing distribution systems have high costs and waste of resources when producing and recycling connectors, especially during the installation and recycling of diaphragms.

Method used

By forming the diaphragm with the main body parts of the connector and making it with the same material, the production of integrated injection molded connectors is realized, reducing the complexity of subsequent diaphragm installation and recycling.

Benefits of technology

Reduces the cost of producing and recycling connectors, improves resource utilization efficiency, and simplifies manufacturing processes.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a container (40) for a dispensing system (1) which can be positioned in the interior of a dishwasher and which comprises a dispensing device (10) by means of which at least one preparation can be dispensed into the interior. The container (40) has at least one chamber (41, 42, 43) for receiving the preparation and a connection piece (44) paired with said chamber (41, 42, 43), said connection piece being connected to the chamber (41, 42, 43) and connectable to a connection receptacle (23) of the dispensing device (10) in order to produce a connection between the chamber (41, 42, 43) and the dispensing device (10). The connecting piece (44) has a diaphragm (55) which is closed in a state as produced and is designed to be opened when the connecting piece (44) is connected to the connecting receptacle (23). According to the invention, the connecting piece (44) has a main body part (49) onto which the diaphragm (55) is integrally formed, the main body part (49) and the diaphragm (55) being made of the same material.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a container for a dispensing system which can be positioned in the interior of a dishwasher and comprises a dispensing device by means of which at least one preparation can be dispensed into the interior. Background Art

[0002] EP2296520B1 discloses such a dispensing system with a container and a dispensing device. The housing of the container forms a plurality of chambers, each of which stores a preparation. Each chamber is paired with a connector, with which the container can be connected to the dispensing device to form a liquid-tight connection. For this purpose, the dispensing device has a plurality of connection receptacles. The connector of the chamber can be connected to one of these connection receptacles. The dispensing device and the container connected thereto are then placed in the interior, and a washing cycle can be started. The dispensing device exchanges signals with the dishwasher so that the preparation in the chamber is distributed in a targeted manner at different times and in different amounts depending on various parameters during the washing cycle.

[0003] The dispensing device and the container are detachably connected to each other so that the container can be replaced when it is emptied after multiple flushing cycles. EP2296520B1 relates to a plug-in connection between a connector and a connection receptacle, wherein the connector must be pressed into the connection receptacle with a certain pressure to establish the plug-in connection. In particular, a membrane of the connector must be pierced, which protects the preparation in the chamber from environmental influences when the connector is new. The membrane is enclosed in the main body of the connector and is made of a soft material that is different from the material of the main body. When the connector is connected to the connection receptacle, the membrane is pierced by a mandrel or a hollow needle of the connection receptacle, wherein due to the soft material, the force required to pierce the membrane is not large.

[0004] To produce the connector, a prefabricated membrane can be inserted into the main part of the connector. The subsequent installation of the membrane is very costly. The membrane can also be injection-molded onto the main part in a multi-component injection molding process, but this requires complex multi-component injection molding machines. Recycling the connector can also be problematic if the material of the main part and the material of the membrane have to be separated from each other during recycling. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a container for a dispensing system which can be placed in a dishwasher, which container can be produced in a cost-effective and resource-saving manner and which can be easily replaced.

[0006] The object of the invention is achieved by the combination of features according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention can be found in the claims dependent on claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, the membrane is arranged to be integrally formed on the main part of the connector, wherein the main part and the membrane are made of the same material. This allows the connector to be manufactured as an integral injection-molded part made of plastic, wherein no subsequent insertion of the membrane or subsequent injection molding of the membrane is required. By using only one material, the connector or the entire container can be recycled with less effort.

[0008] It must be ensured that no excessive force is required to pierce or tear the diaphragm when connecting the connector to the connection receptacle. Therefore, the diaphragm can be very thin, for example (thickness) between 0.01 and 0.5 mm, or preferably between 0.04 and 0.2 mm. In an exemplary embodiment, the wall thickness of the diaphragm is 0.08 to 0.12 mm. This low wall thickness of the diaphragm can be achieved by subjecting the diaphragm to a force from a stamping tool after injection molding (which compresses the wall thickness to the desired size). Another method for producing a diaphragm with such a low wall thickness is to provide a gate very close to the diaphragm in the injection mold.

[0009] The membrane may be made of a polyolefin, preferably polypropylene. In order to ensure that the membrane will tear reliably when the connector is connected to the connector receptacle without having to apply too much force, the plastics from which the membrane and the body are made may be provided with fillers. The brittleness of the plastic may be adjusted by selecting the filler and its content. Talc, silicon dioxide, glass powder or glass beads, glass fibers, barium sulfate and kaolin may be used as fillers. A preferred filler is calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 In an exemplary embodiment in which a polyolefin and preferably polypropylene (PP) is used as the plastic, the filler content is 1 to 10%, preferably 4 to 8%. The plastic used for the body part and the membrane must also not be too brittle so as not to break under impact (which would happen, for example, if the container were accidentally dropped). The filler can also be a combination of different substances, such as a combination of calcium carbonate and talc.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the particle size of the filler is selected so that the particle diameter of the filler is not larger than the wall thickness of the membrane. For non-circular particles, the particle diameter should correspond to the maximum extension or diameter of the particle. Preferably, the particle diameter is less than half the membrane wall thickness.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the body component comprises a weld-in component with an inflow channel, wherein the weld-in component is sealingly attached to the chamber wall of the chamber, and the inflow channel is connected to the chamber. The body component may comprise a plug-in component with an outflow channel, wherein the plug-in component can be inserted into the connection receptacle. Insertion is preferably achieved by linear motion. The plug-in component can be pulled out of the connection receptacle by an opposite linear motion.

[0012] The membrane can be arranged between the inflow channel and the outflow channel and can separate the inflow channel and the outflow channel from each other when the container is new. If the membrane is punctured or torn, there is a connection or communication between the inflow channel and the outflow channel so that the preparation can be transferred from the chamber to the connection receptacle of the dispensing device. Before the membrane is punctured or torn, that is, before the connector is connected to the connection receptacle, the membrane ensures that the chamber is airtight and liquid-tight. This means that the preparation in the chamber is protected from environmental influences and can be stored in the container for a longer period of time. Only when the container is connected to the dispensing device does the membrane lose its sealing effect.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the body part comprises an air chamber having an air chamber wall for ventilating the chamber, wherein a protrusion is formed on the air chamber wall. The protrusion has a support portion for an abutment portion of the connection receptacle. The support portion is spaced apart from the air chamber wall so that a force acting on the support portion of the protrusion when connecting the connector and the connection receptacle generates a bending moment. The bending moment causes the protrusion to rotate, tearing an opening into the air chamber wall. The tearing or breaking in the air chamber wall is mainly due to tensile stresses in the air chamber wall caused by the bending moment or the rotation of the protrusion. The ventilation function of the connector is activated by opening the air chamber wall.

[0014] The air chamber can be connected to an air channel extending through the weld-in component. Preferably, the air channel is connected to an air pipe or an air hose. The end of the air pipe facing away from the air channel ends in a region of the chamber away from the connector. When the dispensing system is in use, the away region can constitute an upper region of the chamber. When dispensing the preparation, air can flow into the upper part of the chamber. The air required for ventilation flows through the opening in the wall of the air chamber, through the air channel connected to the air chamber and into the air chamber through the air pipe. Therefore, negative pressure in the chamber (negative pressure makes dispensing difficult) can be avoided.

[0015] In a container not yet connected to a dispensing device, the preparation in the chamber is completely separated from the environment due to the still intact membrane and the undamaged air chamber wall. Dispensing with ventilation function is only possible via the air chamber and the tearing membrane when the connector and the connecting receptacle are connected to each other.

[0016] A finger ring may be attached to the body part, which finger ring may be moved from an initial position to an active position, wherein in the active position the finger ring is designed to be engaged from behind by a person's finger in order to introduce a pulling force into the body part, by which the connector may be separated from the connector receptacle.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the finger ring can be rotated about the pivot axis starting from an initial position into an active position.Preferably, a hinge in the form or type of a film hinge is provided between the finger ring and the body part, the hinge being integrally formed on the finger ring and the body part.

[0018] The finger ring can be attached to the main body part by two webs, wherein the two webs can define a pivot axis around which the finger can be pivoted from the initial position to the active position. The pivot angle between the initial position and the active position can be 80 to 100°, preferably about 90°.

[0019] Preferably, the finger ring forms with the body part and the two webs a tab with a closed peripheral area. The closed peripheral area is stable and can absorb high tensile forces.

[0020] A pressure plate for receiving a person's finger can be formed on the main body part, and the pressure of the pressure plate can act to connect the connector to the connector receptacle. In the initial position, the finger ring can surround the pressure plate and be located substantially in the same plane as the pressure plate. When the finger ring is used in the active position to pull the cover part out of the connector receptacle in order to release the connection between the connector and the connector receptacle, the pressure plate is used to press the plug-in part of the main body part into the connector receptacle. In this exemplary embodiment, the force required to establish the connection between the connector and the connector receptacle can therefore also be directed directly to the connector.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure plate is arranged coaxially with the diaphragm. This means that the pressure required to penetrate the diaphragm can be applied directly above the diaphragm without any lateral offset. The diaphragm can be located in a plane extending parallel to the plane of the pressure plate.

[0022] The pressure plate may be slightly curved inwards (concave). The inward curvature prevents the finger from slipping when pressure is applied. In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the pressure plate is 10 to 20 mm. In exemplary embodiments where the finger ring surrounds the pressure plate, the effective contact surface for the finger is increased, since part of the pressure can now also be applied to the finger ring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 A distribution system is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 shows a schematic cross section of a distribution system;

[0026] Figure 3 A container according to the invention for use in a dispensing system is schematically shown;

[0027] Figure 4 Various views showing a connection piece for a container according to the invention ( Figure 4 A to 4B);

[0028] Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 Further view of the connector ( Figure 5 A to 5D);

[0029] Figure 6 Shows Figure 4 and Figure 5 Two cross-sectional views of the connector ( Figure 6 A and 6B); and

[0030] Figure 7 In another sectional view, the connecting piece with parts of the dispensing device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Figure 1 A dispensing system 1 is shown comprising a dispensing device 10 and a container. The container is accommodated in a flat housing 11 of the dispensing device 10 and is Figure 1 Can't see in. Figure 2 and Figure 3 A dispensing system 1 with a dispensing device 10 and a container referenced 40 is shown schematically.

[0032] The dispensing system 1 can be placed inside a dishwasher and is designed to dispense one or more agents located in a container 40 during a wash cycle. The dispensing system 1 can exchange signals, data, control commands, etc. with the dishwasher so that the agents can be dispensed precisely in terms of time and quantity.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the housing 11 of the dispensing device 10 has a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13. The substantially rectangular front wall 12 and the also substantially rectangular rear wall 13 extend from a base 14 to an upper housing edge 15. Near the upper housing edge 15, a film hinge 16 is provided between the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, so that the housing 11 can be opened and a container compartment 17 (see Figure 2 ) is opened. The container compartment 17 is used to accommodate a container 40. When the housing 11 is in the open state, the container 40 can be removed from the container compartment 17 in order to replace it with another container. The container 40 can be designed to hold an amount of one or more agents sufficient for multiple flushing cycles (e.g., for 20 to 30 flushing cycles). After having been emptied, the container 40 can be replaced by a filled container.

[0034] Figure 1 It is further shown that a first recess 18 and a second recess 19 are provided on the rear wall 13. In the following, only the first recess 18 will be discussed in more detail. Since the second recess 19 is identical to the first recess 18 in terms of its design, the statements about the first recess 18 also apply to the second recess 19 mutatis mutandis in detail.

[0035] The first recess 18 starts at the base 14 and extends toward the upper shell edge 15. The recess 18 is designed as an elongated, channel-shaped or groove-shaped recess, wherein the length of the recess in the longitudinal direction (direction from the base 14 to the upper shell edge 15) is significantly greater than the width of the recess transverse to the longitudinal direction. The first recess 19 has a recess bottom 20, the distance of which from the area where the rear wall 13 is located defines the depth of the first recess 18. The depth decreases from the lower open end 21 located at the base 14 to the upper closed end 22. Therefore, the depth at the lower end 21 is greater than the depth in the area of ​​the upper end 22. Starting from the lower end 21, the recess bottom 20 initially extends along a straight line (i.e., the depth is initially constant there), and then transitions into a curved portion as the depth decreases.

[0036] Each of the two recesses 18, 19 is used to accommodate a holding rod of a dish rack of a dishwasher drawer, which is generally vertically upward or slightly inclined to the vertical direction and can be pulled out from the inside to load and remove dishes. The dish rack usually has two parallel rows of holding rods, which have a certain distance (rod spacing) within a row. The distance between the two recesses 18, 19 corresponds to the distance between the two rows, so that the dispensing device 10 with the container 40 located in the housing 11 can be placed in the dish compartment of the dish rack like a dish. The dispensing device 10 is supported on the supporting rods forming the dish compartment like a dish. Due to the special shape of the recessed bottom 20, whose depth decreases towards the upper end 22, on the one hand, the dispensing device 10 can be placed in a dish rack with a small rod spacing and a holding rod of medium length. On the other hand, the dispensing device 10 can also be placed in a dish rack with a large rod spacing and a large holding rod length. In the latter case, the dispensing device is supported by the upper end of the holding rod in the upper region of the recess 18, i.e. the region of the recess with a small depth. Therefore, even with a larger rod spacing, the dispensing device 10 will stand upright in the tray and will not tilt too far to block adjacent tray compartments.

[0037] The height (distance between base 14 and upper edge 15) and width of front wall 12 and rear wall 13 correspond to the diameter of a larger dinner plate. Housing 11 may have a height of, for example, 200 to 280 mm. The width of housing 11 may be 200 to 280 mm. The aspect ratio may be 0.8 to 1.2.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the thickness of the housing 11 is greatest in the region of the base 14 and then decreases slightly towards the upper edge 15. The maximum thickness of the housing (preferably in the region of the base 14) may be between 20 and 28 mm. Figure 2 In the schematic diagram of FIG. 1 , the housing 11 is shown in a simplified form with a constant thickness.

[0039] Although Figure 1 The dispensing system 1 is shown standing on its base 14, but Figure 2 The dispensing system 2 is shown in a lying position with the rear wall 13 facing downwards. In this lying position, the housing 11 can be opened by pivoting the front wall 12 about the pivot axis of the film hinge 16 (in Figure 2 , the pivot axis extends perpendicular to the drawing plane). When the front wall 12 is open, the container 40 can be removed from the container compartment 17. How this removal of the container 40 is achieved and how a new container can be reconnected to the dispensing device will be explained in more detail below.

[0040] Figure 3 Shown is a container 40 (which is only schematically shown) with multiple chambers. In the exemplary embodiment shown, there are three chambers 41, 42, 43. Each chamber is used to hold a preparation, for example, it can be an alkaline cleaning preparation, an enzyme cleaning preparation, a rinse aid or a perfume. Each chamber is paired with a connector 44, which is structurally indistinguishable from other connectors 44. Here, the size of chambers 41, 42, 43 is roughly the same, but they may also have significant differences in volume and shape. For example, one of the chambers for such a preparation can be designed to be twice as large, and this preparation is distributed with twice the amount in a washing cycle compared to other preparations, so that if the container needs to be replaced, all chambers are emptied as completely as possible or at least only leave a very small residual amount.

[0041] Chamber 41,42,43 is limited by two shell halves or chamber walls 45,46. Each shell half 45,46 forms three shells or trays, which together with the relative shell form the chamber. In order to manufacture the shell halves 45,46, a (folded) plastic film can be used, which is stretched or blown into a corresponding thermoforming mold. The shell halves 45,46 are welded together at the circumferential edge 47 and at the intermediate web 48 between each chamber 41,42,42. In a portion 47a of the edge 47, a connector 44 is arranged between the two shell halves 45,46. The connector is inserted between the shell halves 45,46 before the welding portion 47a and is then welded to the shell halves 45 and 46 in a liquid-tight manner. The sealing / welding of the portion 47a with the connector 44 is conveniently performed only after the chambers 41,42,43 are filled with the corresponding formulations. However, during filling, the shell halves 45, 46 have been welded together at the edge 47 (except for the portion 47a) and the middle web 48. Thermoforming allows thin walls. The amount of material required is very low. The shell halves 45, 46 can be made of polypropylene (PP), for example.

[0042] The dispensing device 10 has a connection receptacle 23 for each connection element 44 (see Figure 2, which shows one of the connection receptacles). When the container 40 is inserted into the housing 11 of the dispensing device 10, the connector 44 and the connection receptacle 23 form a liquid-tight connection so that the preparation can pass from the chamber into the dispensing chamber of the dispensing device 10 that is paired with the corresponding chamber. Figure 2 The dispensing chamber and dispensing valve are not shown. Figure 2 Only the dispensing compartment 24 is shown, which accommodates the dispensing chambers and the dispensing valves and is integrated in the rear wall 13. The dispensing compartment 24 has a dispensing opening 25 for each chamber / dispensing valve, through which the preparation from the respective chamber passes into the interior of the dishwasher via the connection 44 / connection receptacle 23. It should be noted that in the inserted position of the dispensing system 1, the base 14 points downwards, so that when the dispensing valve is opened, the preparation in the chambers 41, 42, 43 can flow out of the respective dispensing opening 25 due to gravity.

[0043] Figures 4 to 7 Different views of an individual connection element 44 are shown. Figure 4 Two perspective views are shown ( Figure 4 A and 4C and side view of the chamber ( Figure 4 B) and side view (4D). Figure 5 A shows the connection 44 from below, Figure 5 C shows the plan view from above. Figure 5 B shows the front view. Figure 5 D shows another side view. Figure 6 A is a horizontal longitudinal section through the connecting member 44 . Figure 6 B shows a vertical longitudinal section of the connecting member 44, and Figure 7 A cross section perpendicular to the two parts 6A, 6B is shown. Figure 7 An overview of the dispensing device is also shown.

[0044] The connector 44 comprises a main body part 49 having a weld-in part 50 and a plug-in part 51. The weld-in part 50 forms an inflow channel 52 through which the agent passes from the chamber into the connector 44. The plug-in part 51 forms an outflow channel 53 through which the agent flows from the connector 44 into the connection receptacle 23 (see Figure 6 and Figure 7 ). A connecting channel 54 is provided between the inflow channel and the outflow channel, and the connecting channel 54 connects the inflow channel 52 and the outflow channel 53. In the new state of the connecting piece 44, the inflow channel 52 and the outflow channel 53 or the connecting channel 54 are separated from each other by the diaphragm 55. In other words, when the container 40 is new, the agent from the chambers 41, 42, 43 cannot reach the outflow channel 53. Therefore, the diaphragm 55 protects the agent in the chamber from the environment and prevents it from leaking out.

[0045] The longitudinal axis 56 of the inflow channel 52 is at right angles to the longitudinal axis 57 of the outflow channel 51. The connecting channel 54 is substantially aligned with the inflow channel 52. The connecting channel 54 is defined toward the top by a rounded, slightly inwardly curved pressure plate 58. The pressure plate 58 is used to accommodate a person's fingers in order to establish a pressure or compression force to press the connector 44 with the plug-in component 51 into the connecting receptacle 23 of the dispensing device 10. The center axis of the pressure plate 58 coincides with the longitudinal axis / center axis 57 of the plug-in component 51, or has only a very small offset relative to the longitudinal axis / center axis 57 of the plug-in component 51. The resultant force of the finger forces applied to the pressure plate 58 acts vertically directly above the plug-in component 51. At Figure 4 In D, 6B, and 7, the resultant force is designated as F D A plurality of smaller openings may be provided in the pressure plate 58 to save material and simplify injection molding of the connector 44 .

[0046] The finger ring 59 is attached to the body member 49. The finger ring 59 is attached to the body member 49 by two spaced apart webs 60 (see, for example, FIG. Figure 5 C and 6A). The finger ring 59 has a closed circumference due to the webs 60 which each start at the circumferential end of the finger ring 59. The finger ring 59 extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range of approximately 270°. When viewed in the circumferential direction, a fixing web 61 is also provided between the finger ring 59 and the pressure plate 58, in the middle between the two end webs 60, in order to hold the finger ring 59 in the position shown.

[0047] The position shown is the so-called initial position of the finger ring 59. In this initial position, the finger ring 59 is located in the same plane as the pressure plate 58 and constitutes a certain radial extension of the pressure plate 58. From this initial position, the finger ring 59 can be pivoted into the active position. For this purpose, a handle tab 62 is provided in the immediate vicinity of the fixing web 61, by means of which the finger ring 59 can be lifted relative to the pressure plate 58, but in this case the fixing web 61 must be broken. Further lifting of the handle tab 62 causes the finger ring 59 to pivot about the pivot axis 63 (see FIG. 6 ). Figure 5 C and 6A). The pivot axis 63 is defined by the position of the web 61, which deforms during the pivot movement and forms a kind of film hinge. Compared with the fixed web 61, the web 60 is designed to be significantly stronger and is able to absorb the tensile forces transmitted through the finger ring 59 and into the body part 49.

[0048] exist Figure 5 In FIG. 4 , the active position of the finger loop 59 is indicated by the dashed line 59′. In this position, a person's finger can be hooked into the finger loop 59 or 59′. As a result, a relatively large pulling force can be applied to the main part 44, in particular to the plug-in part 51. The resultant force of the hooked finger is Figure 5In D, it is represented as Fz. Figure 4 The combination of D and 5B shows that the resultant force FD for establishing the connection between the connector 44 and the connection receptacle 23 and the force FZ for breaking the connection are opposite. The connection can be established and broken by a linear movement perpendicular to the front wall 12 or the rear wall 13.

[0049] With the finger ring 59 in the active position, the connector 44 can thus be pulled out of the connector 23. Thus, the container 40 can be in the position when it is inserted into the housing 11 (see FIG. Figure 2 ) is separated from the dispensing device 10. The required forces do not have to be introduced into the container 40 via the relatively unstable housing halves 45, 46.

[0050] To remove the container 40, the three connectors 44 can first be slightly lifted one by one from the corresponding connector receptacles by means of the finger rings, so that they are seated on the connector receptacles practically without resistance and without any insertion force. The container 40 can then be removed from the housing 11 by means of one or both finger rings.

[0051] The welded-in component 50 not only forms an inflow channel 52 for the agent, but also forms an air channel 64 leading to a closed air chamber 65 in the main body component 44. The air chamber 65 is arranged next to the connecting channel 54 (see Figure 6 A and Figure 7 ).like Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 4A , an air hose 66 can be inserted into the open end of the air passage 64. The length of the air hose 66 is sized so that the free end of the air hose (i.e., the end not inserted into the air passage 64) is located at the end of the chamber opposite to the connector 44. Figure 3 In the embodiment, only for chamber 42, the air hose 66 is indicated by a dashed line. In the inserted position of the dispensing system 1, i.e. when the base 14 of the dispensing device 10 is facing downwards, the open end of the air hose 66 ends in the upper region of the chamber 42. The connecting pieces 44 of the other two chambers 41, 43 are also equipped with such air hoses, but Figure 3 Not shown in .

[0052] The closed air chamber 65 is surrounded by an air chamber wall 67. An outward projection 68 is formed on the air chamber wall 67. At the root of the projection 68, the air chamber wall 67 includes a predetermined breaking point 69 with a reduced wall thickness and a thin hinge point or connection point 70. When the plug-in component 51 is inserted into the connection receptacle 23, the diaphragm 55 is first pierced by the hollow spindle 26 of the connection receptacle 23 (see FIG. Figure 7 When the plug-in component 51 is further pressed into the connection receptacle 23 , the abutment portion 27 of the connection receptacle comes into contact with the support portion 71 of the protrusion 68 . The support portion 71 is provided at the free end of the protrusion 68 .

[0053] The support portion 71 is at a distance 72 from the predetermined breaking point 69 and the connection point 70. Due to the force acting on the projection 68 by the fixed abutment 27 and due to the distance 72, a bending moment acts on the root of the projection 68, which leads to tensile stresses in the region of the predetermined breaking point 69. If the tensile stress becomes too great, the air chamber wall 67 tears in the region of the predetermined breaking point 69. In this way, the projection 68 Figure 7 The projection 68 is rotated upwards in the counterclockwise direction about the thin connection point 70 in the illustration of FIG. 4 without completely separating the projection 68 from the body part 44. Due to the tearing or breaking at the predetermined breaking point 69, an air exchange can now take place between the environment and the air chamber 65 and thus between the environment and the chamber. The ventilation of the relevant chamber is activated.

[0054] The connection piece 44 and the connection outlet 23 are designed such that when the male part 51 is inserted into the connection receptacle 23 , the membrane 55 is pierced before the ventilation of the chamber is activated, ie before the air chamber wall 67 tears. Figure 7 The hollow spindle 26 and the abutment portion 27 of the connection seat 23 and their relative heights are only schematically shown. Figure 7 , the piercing of the membrane 55 is about to begin, and there is still a gap between the abutment 27 and the supporting portion 71 of the protrusion 68. Only when the connecting member 44 is further pressed into the connecting receptacle 23, the protrusion 68 will abut against the abutment 27.

[0055] Reference Symbols List

[0056] 1 Distribution system

[0057] 10 Distribution device

[0058] 11 Housing

[0059] 12 Front Wall

[0060] 13. Back wall

[0061] 14 Base

[0062] 15 Upper shell edge

[0063] 16 Membrane hinge

[0064] 17 Container compartment

[0065] 18 First recess

[0066] 19 Second recess

[0067] 20 Concave bottom

[0068] 21 Lower end

[0069] 22 Top

[0070] 23 Connection socket

[0071] 24 Assignment of cabins

[0072] 25 Distribution opening

[0073] 26 Hollow shaft

[0074] 27 Butt

[0075] 40 Containers

[0076] Room 41

[0077] Room 42

[0078] Room 43

[0079] 44 Connectors

[0080] 45 Shell half / chamber wall

[0081] 46 Shell half / chamber wall

[0082] 47 edge (part 47a)

[0083] 48 Middle web

[0084] 49 Main components

[0085] 50 Weld-in components

[0086] 51 Plug-in components

[0087] 52 Inflow channel

[0088] 53 Outflow channel

[0089] 54 Connection Channels

[0090] 55 Diaphragm

[0091] 56 Longitudinal axis

[0092] 57 Longitudinal axis

[0093] 58 Platen

[0094] 59 finger ring (59' finger ring in active position)

[0095] 60 belly plate

[0096] 61 Fixed belly plate

[0097] 62 Handle tab

[0098] 63 Pivot axis

[0099] 64 Air channels

[0100] 65 Air Chamber

[0101] 66 Air hose / air tube

[0102] 67 Air chamber wall

[0103] 68 Protrusion

[0104] 69 Predetermined Breaking Point

[0105] 70 connection points / hinge points

[0106] 71 Support

[0107] 72 Distance

Claims

1. A container (40) for a dispensing system (1) which can be positioned in the interior of a dishwasher and comprises a dispensing device (10) by means of which at least one preparation can be dispensed into the interior, wherein the container (40) has at least one chamber (41, 42, 43) for receiving the preparation and a connecting piece (44) which mates with the chamber (41, 42, 43), the connecting piece (44) being connected to the chamber (41, 42, 43) and being connectable to a connecting receptacle (23) of the dispensing device (10) in order to produce a connection between the chamber (41, 42, 43) and the dispensing device (10), and in, The connecting piece (44) has a diaphragm (55), which is closed in the as-manufactured state and is designed to be opened when the connecting piece (44) is connected to the connecting receptacle (23), characterized in that the connecting piece (44) has a main body part (49), and the diaphragm (55) is integrally formed on the main body part, wherein the main body part (49) and the diaphragm (55) are made of the same material.

2. The container (40) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The wall thickness of the membrane (55) is 0.01 to 0.5 mm, preferably 0.04 to 0.2 mm, and very preferably 0.08 to 0.12 mm.

3. The container (40) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The membrane (55) is made of polyolefin filled with fillers.

4. The container (40) according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The membrane (55) is made of a polyolefin which is filled with calcium carbonate in a weight proportion of 0.1 to 20, preferably 2 to 8%.

5. The container (40) according to claim 3 or 4, It is characterized in that The particle diameter of the filler is smaller than the wall thickness of the diaphragm (55).

6. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that The body part (49) comprises a weld-in part (50) having an inflow channel (52), wherein the weld-in part (50) is sealingly attached to a chamber wall (45, 46) of the chamber (41, 42, 43), and the inflow channel (50) is connected to the chamber (41, 42, 43).

7. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, It is characterized in that The main body part (49) comprises a plug-in part (51) having an outflow channel (53), wherein the plug-in part (51) can be inserted into the connecting receptacle (23).

8. The container (40) according to claim 6 and claim 7, It is characterized in that The membrane (55) is arranged between the inflow channel (52) and the outflow channel (53).

9. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, It is characterized in that The main body part (49) comprises an air chamber (65) having an air chamber wall (67) for ventilating the chambers (41, 42, 43), wherein a protrusion (68) is formed on the air chamber wall (67), the protrusion (68) having a support portion (71) separated from the air chamber wall (67) for an abutment portion (27) of the connecting receptacle (23), so that when the connecting member (44) and the connecting receptacle (23) are connected, the force acting on the support portion (71) of the protrusion (68) generates a bending moment, by means of which the protrusion () is rotated and an opening is torn into the air chamber wall (67).

10. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, It is characterized in that A finger ring (59) is attached to the main body part (49), the finger ring being movable from an initial position into an active position, wherein in the active position the finger ring is designed to be engaged from behind by a human finger in order to introduce a pulling force into the main body part (49), by means of which the connecting piece (44) can be separated from the connecting receptacle (23).

11. The container (40) according to claim 10, It is characterized in that The finger ring (59) is attached to the body part (49) by means of two webs (60), wherein the two webs (60) define a pivot axis about which the finger ring (59) can be pivoted from the initial position into the active position.

12. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, It is characterized in that A pressure plate (58) for receiving a human finger is formed on the main body part (49), and the connecting member (44) can be connected to the connecting seat (23) by the pressure of the pressure plate.

13. The container (40) according to claim 12 in combination with one of claims 10 or 11, It is characterized in that The finger ring (59) surrounds the pressure plate (58) in an initial position and is located substantially in the same plane as the pressure plate (58).

14. The container (40) according to claim 12 or 13, It is characterized in that The pressure plate (58) is coaxially arranged with the diaphragm (55).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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