Container comprising connector with ring

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (40) for a metering system (1) which can be placed inside a dishwasher. The container (40) has at least one chamber (41, 42, 43) for receiving the preparation and a connecting piece (44) which is paired with the chamber (41, 42, 43) and which is connected to the chamber (41, 42, 43) and can be connected to a connection receiving area (23) of a metering device (10) of the metering system (1) in order to produce a fluid-tight connection between the chamber (41, 42, 43) and the metering device (10). The invention is characterized in that the connecting piece (44) has a main body part (49) and a ring (59) which is fixed to the main body part (49) and which can be moved from a starting position to an active position in which the ring (59) is designed such that a person's finger can engage behind the ring in order to introduce a force into the main body part (49), the force allows the connection piece (44) to be separated from the connection receiving area (23).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for a metering system, which metering system can be arranged inside a dishwasher and is used for dispensing a preparation, such as a cleaning preparation, into the interior. Background Art

[0002] Patent publication document EP2296520B1 discloses such a metering system comprising a container and a metering device. The housing of the container forms a plurality of chambers, each chamber storing a preparation. Each chamber is paired with a connecting piece, by means of which the container can be connected to the metering device to form a liquid-tight connection. The metering device includes a plurality of connection receiving areas for this purpose. The connecting piece of the chamber can be connected to one of these connection seats. The dispensing device and the associated container are then placed inside and the washing cycle can be started. The dispensing device exchanges signals with the dishwasher so that the preparation in the chamber is dispensed in a targeted manner at different times and in different amounts during the washing cycle depending on various parameters.

[0003] The dispensing device and the container are detachably connected to each other so that the container can be replaced when it becomes empty after its multiple rinsing cycles. For replacement, the individual connections between the connecting piece and the connection receiving area of the empty container must first be separated. Thereafter, the individual connections must be re-established for the new or refilled container. Patent publication document EP2296520B1 relates to a plug-in connection between the connecting piece and the connection receiving area, wherein the connecting piece must be pressed into the connection receiving area with a certain pressure to establish the plug-in connection, and in order to release the plug-in connection, the connecting piece must be pulled out of the connection receiving area with a certain pulling force. The force required for this is introduced into the connecting piece via the container housing. Therefore, the housing of the container must be stable in order to be able to transmit the necessary force.

[0004] The required stability of the container housing requires the use of specific materials. Especially if the container is designed as a disposable container and cannot be refilled after emptying and must be disposed of, then the container should be cheap to manufacture and as ecologically sustainable as possible. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object on which the present invention is based is to provide a container for a dispensing system, which dispensing system can be placed in a dishwasher, and which container can be produced in a cost-effective and resource-saving manner and the replacement of which can be carried out easily.

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

[0007] According to the present invention, the connecting member includes a body part and a finger ring, the finger ring being fixed to the body part and movable from an initial position to an active position, wherein in the active position, the finger ring is designed such that a person's finger can engage from behind it so as to introduce a force into the body part, the force allowing the connecting member to be separated from the connection receiving area. This makes it possible to directly introduce the force required to release the connection between the connecting member and the connection receiving area into the connecting member or its body part. There is no need to introduce the required separating force via the container housing. Therefore, lower requirements regarding its stability and stiffness must be met for the structure, design and selected manufacturing method of the housing container. Thus, the container can be manufactured using less material, which reduces costs and is environmentally friendly. Now, there is also a greater degree of freedom when choosing a suitable material for the container housing.

[0008] In the active position, the finger can engage behind the finger ring. Therefore, the finger ring must be easily accessible in the active position, which requires a specific amount of space, since ideally the finger ring projects freely into this space. However, good accessibility for finger gripping is only necessary in the active position, not in the initial position. Therefore, the initial position can be chosen such that the finger ring only requires little space or only slightly increases the space required by the body part. This means that the metering system consisting of the metering device and the container can be designed to be compact, such that it occupies very little space inside the dishwasher, which space is actually for the dishes to be washed. The smaller space required by the finger ring in the initial position thus ultimately means more space in the dishwasher for the dishes. However, when the finger ring is in the active position, the space required by the finger ring is not important. The active position is only adopted when replacing the container. To replace the container, the metering system is removed from inside the dishwasher.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the finger ring can be rotated from the initial position about a pivot axis to the active position. Preferably, a hinge in the form or type of a membrane hinge is provided between the finger ring and the body part, the hinge being integrally formed on the finger ring and the body part.

[0010] Preferably, the finger ring is connected to the body part by two connecting webs. When moving from the initial position to the active position, the connecting webs deform, but they are designed such that they can safely transfer the force of the hooked finger acting on the finger ring to the body part. The connecting webs can be regarded as part of the membrane hinge, wherein the spatial arrangement of the connecting webs relative to each other determines the pivot axis of the membrane hinge. The pivot angle between the initial position and the active position can be 80 to 100°, preferably 90°.

[0011] Preferably, the finger ring together with the body part and the two webs forms a lug having a closed peripheral area. The closed peripheral area is stable and can absorb high tensile forces.

[0012] The finger ring can be circular. It can extend over an angular range of 180° to 270° in the circumferential direction. In embodiments including two connecting webs, the finger ring can be arcuate, with connecting webs provided at each of its ends. The finger ring can also be oval or polygonal.

[0013] The finger ring can have a handle lug for moving the finger ring out of its initial position. A fixing web is provided in the vicinity of the handle lug and holds the finger ring in its initial position on the body part. Thus, in order to move the finger ring out of its initial position, the fixing web must first be disconnected. Therefore, the fixing web is preferably very thin or fragile and can be broken with very little force. The connecting web, on the other hand, can be designed to be stronger than the fixing web, since the force required to separate the connection between the connecting part and the connection receiving area is transmitted from the finger ring via the connecting web to the body part.

[0014] In one embodiment, the body part includes a welded-in part having an inflow channel, wherein the welded-in part is sealingly fixed to the chamber wall and the inflow channel is connected to the chamber. The body part can include a plug-in part having an outflow channel, wherein the plug-in part can be inserted into the connection receiving area. The insertion preferably takes place by a linear movement. By a linear movement in the opposite direction, the plug-in part can be pulled back out of the connection receiving area, wherein the required pulling force is introduced into the body part via the finger ring. The longitudinal axis of the inflow channel and the longitudinal axis of the outflow channel can form an angle of 80° to 100°. Preferably, the two channels extend perpendicular to each other.

[0015] 0016 In the new state, the inflow channel and the outflow channel can be separated from each other by a closed diaphragm. The diaphragm can be designed such that it is pierced when the connecting part is connected to the connection receiving area. If the diaphragm is pierced or torn, there will be a connection between the inflow channel and the outflow channel, enabling the preparation to pass from the chamber to the connection socket of the dispensing device. The diaphragm can also ensure that the chamber is sealed airtight and liquidtight in the new state. This means that the preparation in the chamber is isolated from the environment and can be stored in the container for a longer time. Only when the container is connected to the dispensing device does the diaphragm lose its sealing effect.

[0016] The diaphragm can be integrally formed on the body part. The body part including the diaphragm is preferably manufactured by injection molding plastic, wherein it must be ensured that the diaphragm does not require excessive force to be pierced / torn when connecting the connecting part and the connection receiving area. Therefore, the diaphragm can be very thin, for example between 0.01 and 0.5 mm or between 0.04 and 0.2 mm, preferably between 0.08 and 0.12 mm. This small wall thickness of the diaphragm is achieved by subjecting the diaphragm to the force of a stamping tool after injection molding (which can reduce the wall thickness of the diaphragm to the required size).

[0017] To also ensure that the diaphragm tears when the connecting piece is inserted into the connection receiving area, the plastics used for manufacturing the diaphragm and the body part can be provided with fillers, preferably inert plastics. By selecting the filler and its content, the brittleness of the plastic can be adjusted. A preferred filler is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). In an embodiment where a polyolefin and preferably polypropylene (PP) are used as the plastic, the filler content is from 1% to 10%, preferably from 4% to 8%. The plastics for the body part and the diaphragm also do not have to be too brittle so that they do not break when subjected to impact loads (such as occurring in the drop test of the container).

[0018] The particle size of the filler is preferably selected such that the particle diameter is not greater than the wall thickness of the diaphragm. If the particles are not round, the particle diameter will be the maximum diameter or the maximum extent in one direction.

[0019] In the initial position, the finger ring can surround the pressure plate and is substantially in the same plane as the pressure plate. When in the active position, the finger ring is used to be able to pull the plug-in part out of the connection receiving area to release the connection between the connecting piece and the connection receiving area; the pressure plate is used to press the plug-in part of the body part into the connection receiving area. In this exemplary embodiment, the force required to establish the connection between the connecting piece and the connection receptacle can thus also be directly guided to the connecting piece. There is no need to transmit the force via the container housing. Therefore, the container can have a simple and lightweight design.

[0020] The pressure plate can be slightly bent inward (concave) and can serve as a support for the finger, and the force of the finger can be used to connect the connecting piece to the connection receiving area. The inward bending can prevent the finger from slipping when pressure is applied. In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the pressure plate is from 10 to 20 millimeters. In an embodiment including a finger ring surrounding the pressure plate, since some pressure can now also be applied to the finger ring, the effective contact surface for the finger is increased.

[0021] The diaphragm can be located in a plane extending parallel to the plane of the pressure plate. If the connection receiving area has a sharp needle or a sharp corner (the sharp needle or the sharp corner pierces the diaphragm when the plug-in part is inserted into the connection receiving area), then the pressure on the pressure plate will act precisely perpendicular to the diaphragm.

[0022] The pressure plate can be coaxially arranged with the diaphragm. This means that the pressure required to pierce the diaphragm can be directly applied above the diaphragm without any lateral offset.

[0023] The main body component may include an air chamber having an air chamber wall for ventilating the chamber, wherein a protrusion is formed on the air chamber wall. The protrusion may have a support portion for connecting to an abutment portion of the receiving area. The support portion is spaced apart from the air chamber wall such that a force acting on the support portion of the protrusion when connecting the connecting member and the connection receptacle generates a bending moment. The bending moment causes the lever to rotate, thereby tearing the opening in the air chamber wall. The tear or rupture in the air chamber wall is mainly due to the tensile stress in the air chamber wall caused by the bending moment or the rotation of the protrusion. The ventilation function of the connecting member is activated by opening the air chamber wall.

[0024] Preferably, the air chamber of the connecting member is connected to an air tube or an air hose. One end of the air tube facing away from the air chamber terminates in a region of the chamber remote from the connecting member. When the metering system is in the use position, the remote region constitutes the upper region of the chamber. When dispensing the formulation, air can flow into the upper part of the chamber.

[0025] In a container not yet connected to the dispensing device, the formulation in each chamber is completely isolated from the environment due to the still intact diaphragm and the undamaged air chamber wall. Only when the connecting member and the connection receiving area are interconnected is metering with a ventilation function feasible via the air chamber and the torn diaphragm.

[0026] The connection receiving area has an abutment portion for interacting with the protrusion. When the plug-in component is inserted into the connection receiving area, the protrusion is pressed against the abutment portion. The protrusion bends, which results in a tear or a perforation in the air chamber wall. Description of the Drawings

[0027] The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Among them:

[0028] Figure 1 is a metering system according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the metering system;

[0030] Figure 3 schematically shows a container for a metering system according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 shows various views of the connecting member of the container according to the present invention ( Figure 4 A to 4B);

[0032] Figure 5 shows Figure 4 more views of the connecting member of ( Figure 5 A to 5D);

[0033] Figure 6 showsFigure 4 and Figure 5 two cross-sectional views of the connecting member in ( Figure 6 A and Figure 6 B); and

[0034] Figure 7 The connecting member with the metering device part is shown in the form of another cross-sectional view. Detailed implementation mode

[0035] Figure 1 A metering system 1 including a metering device 10 and a container is shown. The container is accommodated within the flat housing 11 of the metering device 10 and is Figure 1 invisible therein. Figure 2 and Figure 3 Schematically shows the metering system 1, which has a metering device 10 and a container represented by 40.

[0036] The metering system 1 can be placed inside a dishwasher and is designed to dispense one or more preparations during a rinsing cycle, and the preparations are located in the container 40. The metering system 1 can exchange signals, data, control commands, etc. with the dishwasher so that the preparations can be dispensed precisely in terms of time and quantity.

[0037] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the housing 11 of the metering device 10 has a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13. The front wall 12 (whose basic shape is rectangular) and the rear wall 13 (whose basic shape is also rectangular) extend from the bottom 14 to the upper housing edge 15. Near the upper housing edge 15, a membrane hinge 16 is provided between the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, so that the housing 11 can be folded open, and the container compartment 17 of the metering device 10 (see Figure 2 ) is opened. The container compartment 17 is used to receive the container 40. In the folded-open state of the housing 11, the container 40 can be taken out from the container compartment 17 so that it can be replaced with another container. The container 40 can be designed to receive an amount of preparation sufficient for multiple washing cycles (for example, 20 to 30 washing cycles). After being emptied, the container 40 can be replaced with a loaded container.

[0038] It can also be seen from Figure 1 that a first recess 18 and a second recess 19 are provided on the rear wall 13. Only the first recess 18 will be discussed in more detail below. Since the second recess 19 is the same as the first recess 18 in terms of its design, the description of the first recess 18 also applies to the second recess 19.

[0039] The first recess 18 starts at the bottom 14 and extends in the direction of the upper housing edge 15. The recess 18 is designed as an elongated, channel-shaped or groove-shaped recess, where the length of the recess along the longitudinal direction (from the bottom 14 to the upper housing 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, and the distance of the recess bottom 20 from the plane 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. Thus, the depth at the lower end 21 is greater than the depth in the region of the upper end 22. Starting from the lower end 21, the recess bottom 20 is initially straight (i.e., the depth is initially constant there), and then changes to a curved portion with a decreasing depth.

[0040] Each of the two recesses 18, 19 is for accommodating the support rods of the dish rack of the dish drawer. The support rods stand substantially vertically or are slightly inclined relative to the vertical direction, and the dish drawer can be pulled out internally to load and unload dishes. The dish rack usually has two rows of parallel support rods, with a certain distance (rod spacing) maintained between the support rods in one row. The distance between the two recesses 18, 19 corresponds to the distance between the two rows, such that the metering 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 metering device 10 is supported on the support rods forming the dish compartment like a dish. Due to the special shape of the recess bottom 20 (the depth decreases towards the upper end 22), on the one hand, the metering device 10 can be placed in a dish rack with a smaller rod spacing and support rods of medium length. On the other hand, the metering device 10 can also be placed in a dish rack with a larger rod spacing and length of the support rods. In the latter case, the metering device is supported by the upper ends of the support rods in the upper region of the recess 18 (i.e., where the depth of the recess is smaller here). Thus, even for a larger rod spacing, the metering device 10 can stand vertically in the dish rack and will not block the adjacent compartments due to excessive inclination.

[0041] The height (the distance between the bottom 14 and the upper edge 15) and width of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 correspond to the diameter of a larger dinner plate. For example, the height of the housing 11 can be 200 to 280 millimeters. The width of the housing 11 can be 200 to 280 millimeters. The aspect ratio can be 0.8 to 1.2.

[0042] Also as Figure 1 shown, the thickness of the housing 11 is the largest in the region of the bottom 14 and then slightly decreases in the direction of the upper edge 15. The maximum thickness of the housing (preferably in the region of the bottom 14) can be between 20 and 28 millimeters. Figure 2 The schematic diagram of shows the housing 11 with a constant thickness in a simplified form.

[0043] Although Figure 1shows metering system 1 standing on bottom 14, while Figure 2 shows metering system 2 in a lying position with its 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 the representation of Figure 2 , the pivot axis extends perpendicular to the drawing plane). When the front wall 12 is folded open, the container 40 can be removed from the container compartment 17. How to remove the container 40 and how to reconnect a new container to the metering device will be explained in more detail below.

[0044] As can be clearly seen from Figure 3 , the container 40, which is only shown schematically, has a plurality of chambers. In the exemplary embodiment shown, there are three chambers 41, 42, 43. Each chamber is for receiving a preparation, which can be, for example, an alkaline cleaning preparation, an enzyme cleaning preparation, a rinse aid or a fragrance. Each chamber is equipped with a connecting piece 44, the structure of which is not different from the structure of the other connecting pieces 44. The chambers 41, 42, 43 are approximately the same size, but their volumes and shapes can also vary greatly from each other. For example, one of the chambers for such a preparation can be designed to be twice as large (the preparation being dispensed in twice the amount during one washing cycle compared to the other preparations), so that when the container needs to be replaced, all chambers are emptied as completely as possible or at least only a very small residue remains.

[0045] The chambers 41, 42, 43 are bounded by two housing halves or chamber walls 45, 46. Each housing half 45, 46 forms three outer shells or troughs, which together with the corresponding opposite outer shells form the chambers. To produce the housing halves 45, 46, (folded) plastic film can be used, which is pulled or blown into the corresponding deep-drawing molds. The housing halves 45, 46 are welded together at the circumferential edge 47 and also at the intermediate webs 48 between the individual chambers 41, 42, 43. In a part 47a of the edge 47, the connecting piece 44 is arranged between the two housing halves 45, 46. These connecting pieces are inserted between the housing halves 45, 46 before welding of the part 47a and are then welded to the housing halves 45, 46 in a liquid-tight manner. Only after the chambers 41, 42, 43 have been filled with the corresponding preparations, the part 47a is advantageously sealed / welded to the connecting piece 44. However, during the filling process, the housing halves 45, 46 are already welded together at the edge 47 (except for the part 47a) and at the intermediate webs 48. Thermoforming enables thin walls. The amount of material required is very low. The housing halves 45, 46 can be made of, for example, polypropylene (PP).

[0046] The metering device 10 has a connection socket 23 for each connecting piece 44 (see Figure 2, as shown in the figure (one of the connection sockets). When the container 40 is inserted into the housing 11 of the metering device 10, the connecting member 44 and the connection socket 23 form a liquid-tight connection, enabling the preparation to pass from the chamber into the metering chamber of the metering device 10 configured for the corresponding chamber. Figure 2 The metering chamber and the metering valve are not shown. Figure 2 Only the metering compartment 24 is shown, which receives the metering chamber and the metering valve and is integrated in the rear wall 13. The metering compartment 24 has metering openings 25 for each chamber / metering valve, through which the preparation passes from the corresponding chamber and then through the connection between the connecting member 44 and the connection socket 23 into the interior of the dishwasher. It should be noted that in the operating position of the metering system 1, the bottom 14 points downwards so that when the metering valve is opened, the preparation from the chambers 41, 42, 43 can flow out of the corresponding metering openings 25 due to gravity.

[0047] Figures 4 to 7 Different views of the individual connecting member 44 are shown. Figure 4 Two perspective views are shown ( Figure 4 A and Figure 4 C) and a side view of the chamber ( Figure 4 B) and a side view ( Figure 4 D). Figure 5 A shows the connecting member 44 from below, Figure 5 C shows it from above in a top view. Figure 5 B shows the front view. Figure 5 D shows another side view. Figure 6 A is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view through the connecting member 44. Figure 6 B shows the connecting member 44 in a vertical longitudinal sectional view, while Figure 7 shows a cross-section extending perpendicular to the two sections Figure 6 A, 6B. In addition, Figure 7 a schematic component of the metering device is also shown.

[0048] The connecting member 44 includes a body member 49, which has a welded-in member 50 and a plug-in member 51. The welded-in member 50 forms an inflow channel 52 through which the preparation passes from the chamber into the connecting member 44. The plug-in member 51 forms an outflow channel 53 through which the preparation flows from the connecting member 44 into the connection socket 23 (see Figure 6 and Figure 7)Therein, a connecting channel 54 is provided between the inflow channel and the outflow channel, and this connecting channel connects the inflow channel 52 and the outflow channel 53. In the new state of the connecting member 44, the inflow channel 52 and the outflow channel 53 or the connecting channel 54 are separated from each other by a diaphragm 55. In other words, when the container 40 is new, the preparation cannot enter the outflow channel 53 from the chambers 41, 42, 43. Therefore, the diaphragm 55 protects the preparation in the chamber from the environment and prevents it from leaking out.

[0049] The longitudinal axis 56 of the inflow channel 52 is at a right angle to the longitudinal axis 57 of the outflow channel 51. The connecting channel 54 is substantially aligned with the inflow channel 52.

[0050] The connecting channel 54 is defined towards the top by a rounded and slightly inwardly curved pressing plate 58. The pressing plate 58 is used to accommodate a person's finger in order to establish a pressure or compressive force to press the connecting member 44 with the plug-in member 51 into the connecting seat 23 of the metering device 10. The central axis of the pressing plate 58 coincides with the longitudinal axis / central axis 57 of the plug-in member 51, or has only a very small offset therefrom. The resultant force of the finger force applied to the pressing plate 58 acts vertically directly above the plug-in member 51. In Figure 4 Figs. D, 6B and 7, the resultant force is denoted by F D is represented. A plurality of small openings can be provided in the pressing plate 58 to save material and simplify the injection molding of the connecting member 44.

[0051] A finger ring 59 is attached to the main body member 49. The finger ring 59 is attached to the main body member 49 via two spaced connecting webs 60 (for example, see Figure 5 Figs. C and 6A). Due to the connecting webs 60 starting from the circumferential ends of the finger ring 59, the finger ring 59 has a closed periphery. The finger ring 59 extends circumferentially within an angular range of approximately 270°. When viewed circumferentially, in the intermediate position between the two end-side connecting webs 60, a fixing web 61 is also provided between the finger ring 59 and the pressing plate 58 to hold the finger ring 59 in the shown position.

[0052] The shown position is the so-called initial position of the finger ring 59. In this initial position, the finger ring 59 lies in the same plane as the pressing plate 58 and forms a certain radial extension of the pressing plate 58. From this initial position, the finger ring 59 can be pivoted to an active position. For this purpose, a handle lug 62 is provided in the immediate vicinity of the fixing web 61, through which the finger ring 59 can be lifted relative to the pressing plate 58, but in this case, the fixing web 61 must be disconnected. Further lifting of the handle lug 62 causes the finger ring 59 to pivot about a pivot axis 63 (see Figure 5The pivotal movement (dotted line in C and 6A). The pivotal axis 63 is defined by the position of the connecting webs 61, which deform during the pivotal movement and form a kind of membrane hinge. The connecting web 60 is designed to be much stronger than the fixed web 61 and can absorb the tensile force transmitted through the finger ring 59 and into the main body part 49.

[0053] In Figure 5 D, the active position of the finger ring 59 is indicated by the dotted line 59'. In this position, a person's finger can be hooked into the finger ring 59 or 59'. Therefore, a relatively large tensile force can be applied to the main body part 44 and especially to the insert part 51. In Figure 5 D, the resultant force of the hooked-in finger is denoted by Fz. Figure 4 D and Figure 5 The combination of B shows the resultant force F for establishing the connection between the connecting piece 44 and the connecting socket 23 D and the force F for disconnecting this connection Z are opposite. The connection can be established and disconnected by a linear movement perpendicular to the front wall 12 or the rear wall 13.

[0054] When the finger ring 59 is in the active position, the connecting piece 44 can thus be pulled out from the connecting piece 23. Therefore, in the position when it is inserted into the housing 11 (see Figure 2 ), the container 40 can be separated from the metering device 10. There is no need to introduce the required force into the container 40 via the rather unstable housing halves 45, 46.

[0055] To remove the container 40, first, the three connecting pieces 44 can be slightly lifted one after the other from the corresponding connecting sockets by means of the finger rings, so that they sit on the connecting sockets practically without resistance and without any insertion force. Then, the container 40 is removed from the housing 11 by one finger ring or simultaneously by two finger rings.

[0056] The welded-in part 50 not only forms the inflow channel 52 for the preparation, but also forms the air channel 64 leading to the enclosed air chamber 65 in the main body part 44. The air chamber 65 is arranged next to the connecting channel 54 (see Figure 6 A and 7). As Figure 6 shown in A, the air hose 66 can be inserted into the open end of the air channel 64. The length of the air hose 66 is dimensioned such that the free end of the air hose (i.e., the end not inserted into the air channel 64) is located at the end of the chamber opposite to the connecting piece 44. In Figure 3In the figure, for chamber 42 only, the air hose 66 is shown in dashed lines. In the insertion position of metering system 1, i.e., when the bottom 14 of metering device 10 faces downward, the open end of air hose 66 terminates in the upper region of chamber 42. Such air hoses are also provided for the connectors 44 of the other two chambers 41, 43, but these are not shown in this Figure 3 figure.

[0057] The enclosed air chamber 65 is surrounded by an air chamber wall 67. An outwardly facing protrusion 68 is formed on the air chamber wall 67. At the root of the protrusion 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 part 51 is inserted into the connection socket 23, the diaphragm 55 is first pierced by the central hollow shaft 26 of the connection socket 23 (see Figure 7 ). When the plug-in part 51 is further pressed into the connection socket 23, the abutment 27 of the connection socket contacts the support part 71 of the protrusion 68. The support part 71 is provided at the free end of the protrusion 68.

[0058] The support part 71 has a distance 72 from the predetermined breaking point 69 and the connection point 70. Due to the force acting on the protrusion 68 by the fixed abutment 27 and due to the distance 72, a bending moment acts on the root of the protrusion 68, which results in tensile stress in the region of the predetermined breaking point 69. If the tensile stress is too large, the air chamber wall 67 tears in the region of the predetermined breaking point 69. In doing so, the protrusion 68 rotates upward in the counterclockwise direction around the thin connection point 70 in the Figure 7 figure shown, and the protrusion 68 does not completely detach from the main body part 44. Due to the tearing or breaking at the predetermined breaking point 69, the exchange air between the environment and the air chamber 65 and thus the air exchange between the environment and the chamber is now possible. The ventilation of the relevant chamber is activated.

[0059] The connector 44 and the connection outlet 23 are designed such that when the plug-in part 51 is inserted into the connection outlet 23, the diaphragm 55 is pierced before the ventilation of the chamber is activated (i.e., before the air chamber wall 67 is torn). The central hollow shaft 26 and the abutment 27 of the connection socket 23 and their heights relative to each other are only shown schematically in the Figure 7 figure. According to Figure 7 , the piercing of the diaphragm 55 is about to start, and there is still a gap between the abutment 27 and the support part 71 of the protrusion 68. Only when the connector 44 is further pressed into the connection socket 23 does the protrusion 68 abut against the abutment 27.

[0060] List of reference signs

[0061] 1. Metering system

[0062] 10 Measuring device

[0063] 11 Housing

[0064] 12 Front wall

[0065] 13 Rear wall

[0066] 14 Bottom

[0067] 15 Upper edge of the housing

[0068] 16 Membrane hinge

[0069] 17 Container compartment

[0070] 18 First recess

[0071] 19 Second recess

[0072] 20 Concave bottom

[0073] 21 Lower end

[0074] 22 Upper end

[0075] 23 Connecting socket

[0076] 24 Measuring compartment

[0077] 25 Measuring opening

[0078] 26 Central hollow shaft

[0079] 27 Contact part

[0080] 40 Container

[0081] 41 Chamber

[0082] 42 Chamber

[0083] 43 Chamber

[0084] 44 Connecting piece

[0085] 45 Housing half / Chamber wall

[0086] 46 Housing half / Chamber wall

[0087] 47 Edge (part 47a)

[0088] 48 Intermediate web

[0089] 49 Main body part

[0090] 50 Welded-in part

[0091] 51 Inserted part

[0092] 52 Inflow channel

[0093] 53 Outflow channel

[0094] 54 Connecting channel

[0095] 55 Diaphragm

[0096] 56 Longitudinal axis

[0097] 57 Longitudinal axis

[0098] 58 Pressure plate

[0099] 59 Finger ring (finger ring 59' in the active position)

[0100] 60 Web

[0101] 61 Fixed web

[0102] 62 Handle lug

[0103] 63 Pivot axis

[0104] 64 Air channel

[0105] 65 Air chamber

[0106] 66 Air hose / air pipe

[0107] 67 Air chamber wall

[0108] 68 Protrusion

[0109] 69 Predetermined breaking point

[0110] 70 Connection point / hinge point

[0111] 71 Support part

[0112] 72 Distance

Claims

1. A container (40) for a metering system (1), the metering system being locatable inside a dishwasher, the container (40) having at least one chamber (41, 42, 43) for receiving a preparation and a connection piece (44) associated with the chamber (41, 42, 43), the connection piece being connected to the chamber (41, 42, 43) and being connectable to a connection receiving area (23) of a metering device (10) of the metering system (1) so as to produce a liquid-tight connection between the chamber (41, 42, 43) and the metering device (10), characterized in that, The connecting member (44) has a main body part (49) and a finger ring (59) which is fixed to the main body part (49) and is movable from an initial position to an active position. The finger ring (59) is designed such that in the active position, a person's finger can engage behind it so as to introduce a force into the main body part (49), and the force allows the connecting member (44) to be separated from the connection receiving area (23).

2. The container (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The finger ring (59) is rotatable about a pivot axis (63).

3. The container (40) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that, The finger ring (59) is fastened to the main body part (49) by two connecting webs (60).

4. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The finger ring (59) is circular and extends over an angular range of 180° to 270°.

5. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The finger ring (59) has a handle lug (62) for moving the finger ring (59) from the initial position to the active position.

6. The container (40) according to claim 5, characterized in that, A fixed web (61) is provided in the vicinity of the handle lug (62), and the fixed web holds the finger ring (59) in the initial position.

7. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The main body part (44) includes a welded-in part (50) having an inflow channel (52), and the welded-in part (50) is sealingly fastened to the chamber walls (45, 46), and the inflow channel (51) is connected to the chamber (41, 42, 43).

8. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The main body part (44) includes a plug-in part (51) having an outflow channel (53), and the plug-in part (51) can be inserted into the connection receiving area (23).

9. The container (40) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The inflow channel and the outflow channel are separated from each other by a closed diaphragm (55) in a new state.

10. The container (40) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The diaphragm is integrally formed on the main body.

11. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The finger ring (59) surrounds a pressure plate (58) in the initial position and is substantially in the same plane as the pressure plate (58).

12. The container (40) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The pressure plate (58) is slightly bent inward and serves as a support for a person's finger, and the force of the finger can be used to connect the connecting member (44) to the connection receiving area (23).

13. The container (40) according to claim 11 or claim 12 and according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that, The diaphragm (55) lies in a plane extending parallel to the plane of the pressure plate (58).

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

15. The container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, The connecting member (44) has an air chamber (65) which has an air chamber wall (67), and a protrusion (68) is formed on the air chamber wall (67). The protrusion has a support portion (71) for the abutment portion (27) of the connection receiving area (23) which is spaced apart from the air chamber wall (67), such that when the connecting member (44) is connected to the connection receiving area (23), the force acting on the support portion (71) of the protrusion (68) generates a bending moment, and through the bending moment, the protrusion (68) is rotated and the opening is torn in the air chamber wall (67).

Images