Laundry detergent cartridge

Abstract

The invention relates to a detergent cartridge comprising: - a cartridge body (3) filled with a detergent, and having a first end with a first end face (8) and a second end opposite the first end with a second end face (9); - a valve (5) integrated into the cartridge body (3) and arranged at the first end; - a membrane (4) configured to vent and aerate the cartridge body (3), and arranged at the second end on a side wall (10) adjacent to the second end face (9) such that it is positioned above a detergent fill level in both a transport and a coupling state, wherein the transport state is a state in which the detergent cartridge is to be transported, and the coupling state is a further state.in which the detergent cartridge is coupled to the washing machine for supplying the detergent from the cartridge body (1) into the washing machine.

Description

The invention relates to a laundry detergent cartridge. In particular, the invention relates to a laundry detergent cartridge having a cartridge body which contains liquid laundry detergent, and a valve via which laundry detergent can be supplied from the cartridge body to the laundry washing machine during a washing process when the cartridge body is coupled to a washing machine. However, liquid detergents may contain components such as liquid bleaches, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, which are not stable and outgas on storage.A laundry detergent cartridge is known which has a cartridge body which is filled with a laundry detergent and which has a first end having a first end face and a second end, opposite the first end, having a second end face. A valve is integrated into the cartridge body in the first end face. The cartridge body is further provided with a membrane at the second end side, via which air can escape and enter the cartridge body in a transport state in which the laundry cartridge is transported and in a coupling state in which the laundry cartridge is coupled to the washing machine. However, if medium such as the detergent contained in the detergent cartridge is present on the membrane, the function of the membrane is restricted or even blocked. When the membrane is disposed on the second end face, when the second end face is an upper face, it is free in the transport state so that air can escape. In the coupling state, however, the membrane is initially below the liquid level of the washing agent, since the second end side is not the upper side in the coupling state. As a result, venting of the cartridge body is not possible and venting is made more difficult. This results, on the one hand, in an overpressure in the cartridge body. If laundry detergent is removed, the cartridge body can be deformed, which can result in it no longer being detected by an automatic dosing system assigned to the washing machine or coming out of a guide thereof.The invention thus addresses the problem of providing a laundry detergent cartridge which can be aired and de-aired at any time both in the transport state and in the coupling state.According to the invention, this problem is solved by a laundry detergent cartridge having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are evident from the following dependent claims.The advantages which can be achieved with the invention, in addition to the provision of the venting and venting in the two operating states, consist in the fact that no overpressure arises in the cartridge body, which can cause, for example, a leak. Furthermore, no appreciable negative pressure arises in the cartridge body during the removal of the washing agent, which is why the cartridge body does not deform. This makes it possible to produce the cartridge body in a relatively thin wall thickness and to save material. As a result, the washing agent cartridge is cost-effective. In addition, the cartridge can be provided with a relatively high fill volume, whereby a user advantage is achieved, since the latter has to change the laundry detergent cartridge less frequently in a dosing system assigned to the washing machine. Furthermore, the material usage per sold laundry detergent is reduced, which also reduces the packaging costs per laundry detergent.The invention relates to a laundry detergent cartridge comprisinga cartridge body which is filled with a washing agent and which has a first end with a first end side and a second end, opposite the first end, with a second end side,a valve integrated into the cartridge body and disposed at the first end,a membrane which is configured to ventilate and vent the cartridge body and which is arranged at the second end on a side wall adjoining the second end side in such a way that it is arranged both in a transport state and in a coupling state above a fill level of the washing agent, wherein the transport state is a state in which the washing agent cartridge is to be transported, and the coupling state is a further state in which the washing agent cartridge is coupled to the washing machine for supplying the washing agent from the cartridge body into the washing machine.Both in the transport state and in the coupling state, the membrane is above the fill level of a washing agent contained in the cartridge body. This ensures that venting and venting is possible in the two preceding operating states. The washing agent contained in the cartridge body is liquid washing agent.The phrase "the laundry detergent cartridge is coupled to the washing machine for supplying the laundry detergent from the cartridge body into the washing machine" is to be understood as a direct or indirect coupling. The laundry detergent cartridge can be coupled directly to an automatic dosing system of the washing machine, for example, in the coupling state. However, it can also be coupled to the washing machine in the coupling state via a further device, which is, for example, an automatic dosing system external to the washing machine.Preferably, the membrane is arranged on the side wall adjoining the second end face adjoining the second end face. The closer the membrane is in the direction of the second end face, the more washing agent the cartridge body can contain.The valve is preferably arranged on the first end face. The laundry detergent cartridge preferably has a carrier element which is arranged and formed on the first end side in such a way that it forms a planar or substantially surface on the first end side, covering the valve. That is, the first end face is planar or is formed as a substantially planar surface. As a result, a height difference between the valve and an end face of the cartridge body at which the valve is located is compensated. The laundry detergent cartridge can thus stand upright on the first end side in the transport state and can also be stored in this way when not in use.The carrier element is preferably designed as a cardboard carrier, more preferably made of corrugated cardboard. As a result, the carrier element is cost-effective and recyclable.In a preferred embodiment, the laundry detergent cartridge further comprises an adhesive strip which is arranged and designed to fasten the carrier element to the cartridge body. This ensures secure fastening of the carrier element to the cartridge body.The adhesive strip is preferably arranged and designed to close the valve in a dust-tight manner. This ensures that no dirt or dirt reaches the cartridge body before use.In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive strip is arranged on the cartridge body in such a way that it protrudes from it. The user must remove the adhesive strip before using the laundry detergent cartridge, since otherwise no coupling of the washing machine is possible. The adhesive strip is therefore attached to the cartridge body in such a way that the user sees it, can easily grip it and can easily pull it off the cartridge body.In a preferred embodiment, the first end in the transport state is the lower end of the cartridge body and the second end opposite the first end is the upper end of the cartridge body in the transport state. Preferably, in the transport state, the first end side is an underside of the cartridge body and the second end side is an upper side of the cartridge body. This realizes a permanent venting and venting possibility of the cartridge body, while at the same time the cartridge body can be easily deposited by means of the carrier element in the transport state. Preferably, in the coupling state, the side wall in which the membrane is arranged is the upper side of the cartridge body. This ensures that the fill level of the washing agent lies below the membrane. This ensures permanent venting and venting of the cartridge body in the coupled state.In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is air-permeable and detergent-tight up to a predetermined pressure. As a result, venting and venting of the cartridge body by means of the membrane is further ensured.Preferably, the cartridge body contains a bleach-containing detergent, more preferably a hydrogen peroxide-containing bleach. In particular, liquid bleaches such as hydrogen peroxide are not stable and emit gases during storage. Therefore, the cartridge body is particularly suitable for storing detergent containing such components.An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It is schematic and not to scale FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a detergent cartridge according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the detergent cartridge shown in FIG. 1 in a transport state; FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the detergent cartridge shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the detergent cartridge shown in FIG. 1 in a coupling state.Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a detergent cartridge according to the invention. The detergent cartridge has a cartridge body 3 filled with the detergent (not shown). The cartridge body 3 has a first end with a first end face 8 and a second end opposite the first end with a second end face 9. Furthermore, the laundry detergent cartridge has a membrane 4 which is designed to ventilate and vent the cartridge body 3. It is air-permeable and media-tight up to a predetermined pressure and is arranged at a second end of the cartridge body 3 opposite the first end. It is arranged on a side wall 10 which adjoins the second end face 9. The laundry cartridge is shown in a transport state in which it is to be transported. The membrane 4 is arranged at an upper end of the cartridge body 3 in the transport state. The second end face 9 is an upper side of the cartridge body 3 in the transport state. On the cartridge body 3 there is furthermore arranged a carrier element 1 on the first end face 8, which represents an underside of the cartridge body 3 in the transport state. In the transport state, the carrier element 1 is arranged and formed on the underside of the cartridge body 3 in such a way that this underside is formed as a planar or substantially surface. The carrier element 1 is designed, for example, as a cardboard carrier such as corrugated cardboard. The laundry detergent cartridge further comprises an adhesive strip 2 which is arranged and configured to fasten the carrier element 1 to the cartridge body 3. The adhesive strip 2 is arranged on the cartridge body 3 in such a way that it protrudes from it.FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the detergent cartridge shown in FIG. 1 in the transport state. The laundry detergent cartridge further comprises a valve 5 integrated into the cartridge body 3 and configured to supply laundry detergent from the cartridge body 1 to the washing machine in a coupling state in which the laundry detergent cartridge is coupled to a washing machine. The valve 5 in the transport state is arranged at the first end at a lower end of the cartridge body 3 and is closed by the adhesive strip 2. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the valve 5 is arranged on the end face 8 of the first end in the transport state, while, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the membrane 4 is arranged on the upper end of the cartridge body 3 on a side wall 10 adjoining the second end face 9. The cartridge body 3 is filled with liquid washing agent, the fill level 6 of which is below the membrane 4 in the transport state.FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional view of the laundry detergent cartridge shown in FIG. 1. The cartridge body 3, the valve 5, the support member 1 and the adhesive strip 2 are formed to form a bottom surface having a flat surface in the transport state so that the detergent cartridge can stand upright on the bottom surface in the transport state.FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the detergent cartridge shown in FIG. 1 in a coupling state. The valve 5 is arranged at the first end of the cartridge body 3 while the membrane 4 is arranged at the second end in the coupling state. The cartridge body 3 is filled with liquid washing agent, the fill level 7 of which is below the membrane 4 in the coupling state. The side wall 10 constitutes the upper side in the coupling state.List of reference characters1 Carrier element 2 Adhesive strip 3 Cartridge body 4 Membrane 5 Valve 6 Fill level in the transport state 7 Fill level in the coupling state 8 First end face 9 Second end face 10 Side wall

Claims

A laundry detergent cartridge, comprising - a cartridge body (3) which is filled with a laundry detergent and which has a first end with a first end face (8) and a second end, opposite the first end, with a second end face (9), - a valve (5) which is integrated into the cartridge body (3) and is arranged at the first end, - a membrane (4) which is configured to ventilate and vent the cartridge body (3) and which is arranged at the second end on a side wall (10) adjoining the second end face (9) in such a way that it is arranged above a fill level of the laundry detergent both in a transport state and in a coupling state, wherein the transport state is a state in which the laundry detergent cartridge is to be transported and the coupling state is a further state, in which the detergent cartridge is coupled to the washing machine for supplying the detergent from the cartridge body (1) into the washing machine.Laundry detergent cartridge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is arranged on the side wall (10) adjoining the second end face (9) adjoining the second end face (9).Laundry detergent cartridge according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve (5) is arranged on the first end face (8), and in that the laundry detergent cartridge has a carrier element (1) which is arranged and formed on the first end face (8) in such a way that it forms a planar or substantially surface on the first end face (8) so as to cover the valve (5).Laundry detergent cartridge according to claim 3, characterised in that the carrier element (1) is designed as a cardboard carrier, preferably made of corrugated cardboard.Laundry detergent cartridge according to claim 3 or 4, characterised byan adhesive strip (2) which is arranged and designed to fasten the carrier element (1) to the cartridge body (3) and the valve (5).Laundry detergent cartridge according to Claim 5, characterized in that the adhesive strip (2) is designed to close the valve (5) in a dust-tight manner.A detergent cartridge according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the adhesive strip (2) is arranged on the cartridge body (3) in such a manner as to project therefrom.Laundry detergent cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the transport state, the first end side (8) is an underside and the second end side (9) is an upper side and / or, in the coupling state, the side wall (10) is the upper side.Laundry detergent cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (4) is air-permeable and detergent-tight up to a predetermined pressure.Laundry detergent cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge body (3) contains a laundry detergent containing bleach, preferably a bleach containing hydrogen peroxide.

Images