Washing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing machine comprising a housing (2), an outer tub (15) for receiving washing liquid, a drum (16) mounted rotatably in the outer tub (15) for receiving laundry, a metering device which is designed to receive at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) and to meter detergent (12a, 12b) contained in the cartridge (9a, 9b) into the outer tub (15) and / or the drum (16), the housing (2) accommodating the outer tub (15), the drum (16) and the metering device and having a housing flap (5) which is situated in front of the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) that can be placed in the metering device, characterised in that the housing flap (5) is at least partly transparent or has at least one opening such that when the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) is placed in the metering device a fill level of the at least one translucent cartridge (9a, 9b) is at least partly visible from outside the housing (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a washing machine. In particular, the invention relates to a washing machine comprising a housing, a tub for receiving washing liquid, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub for receiving laundry, a dosing device configured to receive at least one cartridge and to dose detergent contained in the cartridge into the tub and / or the drum, wherein the housing encloses the tub, the drum and the dosing device and has a housing flap arranged in front of the at least one cartridge that can be arranged in the dosing device.

[0002] EP 2 743 393 A1 and DE 10 2009 028066 A1 show washing machines of the type.

[0003] It is known from unpublished prior art that such a washing machine has an empty-level sensor designed to detect when the cartridge in the dosing unit is empty. However, the empty-level sensor only detects the cartridge being empty once it is actually empty. This can lead to a wash cycle being performed with little or no detergent, thus impairing washing performance.

[0004] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a washing machine in which an empty cartridge can be prevented in time.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a washing machine with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0006] The advantages achievable with the invention include, besides the ability to detect the fill level of the detergent in the cartridge from outside the housing, the fact that the solution according to the invention is cost-effective compared to the empty level sensor.

[0007] According to the invention, the housing flap is designed to be at least partially transparent or to have at least one opening, so that when the at least one cartridge is arranged in the dosing device, the fill level of the at least one cartridge is at least partially visible from outside the housing.

[0008] This allows a user of the washing machine to visually check the fill level of the cartridge and have a new cartridge ready in time to replace the empty one. For this to work, the cartridge installed in the washing machine must be translucent or transparent. The invention is based on the fundamental idea that the fill level of the cartridge installed in the dosing unit is visible from outside the housing. The cartridge itself, however, is not part of the subject matter of claim 1. Rather, it can be installed in the washing machine by a user as needed. When no cartridge is installed in the dosing unit, a part of the dosing unit, in particular a receiving device of the dosing unit designed to receive the at least one cartridge, is visible from outside the housing.

[0009] The fact that the housing encloses the tub, the drum, and the dosing unit, and has a housing flap positioned in front of the at least one cartridge that can be installed in the dosing unit, means that the housing, including the housing flap, surrounds the protruding components, as is typical for front- and top-loading washing machines. Position and direction specifications refer to the washing machine's standard operating position.

[0010] The housing flap can be made of a transparent plastic. According to the invention, the housing flap has at least one viewing window, which is designed as a transparent window or an opening. The viewing window is designed as a transparent window. The housing flap preferably has an opaque plastic into which a transparent plastic is integrated in a window-like manner. Preferably, the housing flap has a number of viewing windows corresponding to the number of cartridges that can be arranged in the dosing device. Preferably, each cartridge that can be arranged in the washing machine is assigned a viewing window, and vice versa.Preferably, each viewing window is arranged such that it is completely filled when it is associated with a cartridge full of detergent, that the viewing window is less filled as the associated cartridge becomes less full of detergent, and that the viewing window is unfilled as soon as the detergent level in the cartridge falls below a predetermined level. This allows the user to easily see and assess the fill level. The predetermined level is preferably a level of detergent in the cartridge sufficient for fewer than five wash cycles, preferably fewer than three. This gives the user enough time to have a new cartridge ready before the empty one runs out. A further advantage is that the user can see the detergent level and not just when it is empty.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, each viewing window is associated with a scale designed to indicate a scaled fill level of the respective cartridge. The scale further assists the user in recognizing and assessing the detergent fill level in the cartridge. The scale can be shared by two viewing windows. It can be configured as one or more lines extending alongside the viewing window, to which numbers are assigned, for example, as indications of the quantity of detergent in the cartridge. For instance, the scale is configured to indicate the percentage of detergent remaining in the cartridge or to show the number of possible wash cycles with the amount of detergent in the cartridge, depending on the fill level.

[0012] Preferably, the dosing device is designed to accommodate at least one elongated cartridge. This allows the cartridge to utilize available space without significantly impacting the size of the washing machine tub. Preferably, the dosing device is designed to accommodate at least one elongated cartridge at an angle along its length. This directs the detergent into a depression, namely the lowest point of the cartridge, when the fill level is low, ensuring effective dosing even at low levels. The elongated cartridge is preferably positioned so that it slopes downwards towards the interior of the washing machine.

[0013] According to the invention, the washing machine further comprises a lighting device which is arranged, aligned, and designed such that it illuminates the at least one cartridge when the at least one cartridge is installed in the dosing unit. This further improves the visibility of the detergent level in the cartridge from outside the housing. Thus, not only the fill level but also the presence of a cartridge in the dosing unit is recognizable from outside the housing. According to the invention, the lighting device is arranged behind the cartridge. This allows the lighting device to be arranged, aligned, and designed to shine in the direction of the viewing window. The lighting device can be configured to illuminate the cartridge only when the washing machine is in operation.

[0014] Preferably, the at least one lighting device is designed as at least one light-emitting diode. This is a cost-effective and durable lighting device.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one cartridge is arranged in the dosing device and is translucent.

[0016] The term "washing machine" encompasses both standalone washing machines and combination appliances such as washer-dryers. Preferably, the washing machine is a front-loading model.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It is shown schematically and not to scale. Fig. 1 a top view of a washing machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 an enlarged partial view of the Fig. 1 Washing machine shown with closed housing flap; Fig. 3 a view of the in Fig. 2 washing machine shown with open housing flap; and Fig. 4 a partial cross-sectional view of the in Fig. 1 washing machine shown.

[0018] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a top view of a washing machine according to the invention. The washing machine has a housing 2 that encloses a tub (not shown) for holding washing liquid, a drum (not shown) rotatably mounted in the tub for holding laundry, and a dosing device (not shown). The washing machine also has a door 3 integrated into the housing 2, which closes a loading opening (not shown) through which the drum can be loaded with laundry. The dosing device is designed to hold two cartridges (not shown) and to dose detergent (not shown) contained in the cartridges into the tub and / or the drum. The washing machine has a housing flap 5 located in front of the two cartridges that can be arranged in the dosing device.The housing flap is at least partially transparent, so that when the two cartridges are arranged in the dosing device, the fill level of the two translucent cartridges is at least partially visible from outside the housing 2. The housing flap 5 is made of an opaque plastic, into which two viewing windows 7a, 7b made of a transparent plastic are integrated.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged partial view of the in Fig. 1 The washing machine shown, with its housing flap closed, is located within line II. The fill level of the detergent 12a and 12b in their respective cartridges 9a and 9b can be seen in the viewing windows 7a and 7b, respectively. A common scale 8 is assigned to both viewing windows 7a and 7b, which is designed to display the scaled fill level of detergent 12a and 12b in their respective cartridges 9a and 9b.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows a view of the in Fig. 2 The washing machine shown has its housing flap open. The housing flap 5 is open so that the two cartridges 9a and 9b, containing the detergent 12a and 12b respectively, are fully visible and removable from the washing machine. The cartridges 9a and 9b are arranged in the dosing unit 10. Cartridge 9a is associated with the viewing window 7a, and cartridge 9b is associated with the viewing window 7b.

[0021] Fig. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the in Fig. 1The washing machine shown. The housing flap 5 has the viewing window 7b, which is arranged such that the fill level of the detergent 12b in the cartridge 9b is visible from outside the housing 2. The dosing device, which is not shown for clarity, is designed to accommodate the elongated cartridge 9b along its length in an inclined position. The washing machine also has a light device 14, which is arranged, aligned, and designed such that it illuminates the cartridge 9b. It is located behind the cartridge 9b so that it shines towards the viewing window 7b when the machine is in operation. The washing machine has the tub 16 and the drum 15 mounted therein. A line 17 of the dosing device is arranged such that it is suitable for directing the detergent 12b into the tub 16 or the drum 15 during a dosing process. Reference symbol list

[0022] 2Gehäuse 3Tür 5Gehäuseklappe 7a, 7bSichtfenster 8Skala 9a, 9bKartusche 10Dosiereinrichtung 12a, 12bWaschmittel 14Leuchteinrichtung 15Laugenbehälter 16Trommel 17Leitung

Claims

1. Washing machine, comprising a housing (2), a suds container (15) for receiving washing liquid, a drum (16) rotatably mounted in the suds container (15) for receiving laundry, a dispensing means (10), which is designed to receive at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) and to dispense detergent (12a, 12b) contained in the cartridge (9a, 9b) into the suds container (15) and / or the drum (16), the housing (2) encasing the suds container (15), the drum (16) and the dispensing means (10) and comprising a housing flap (5), which is arranged in front of the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) which can be arranged in the dispensing means (10), and that the housing flap (5) being at least partially transparent or comprising at least one opening, so that, when the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) is arranged in the dispensing means (10), a fill level of the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) is at least partially visible from outside the housing (2), the housing flap (5) comprising at least one viewing window (7a, 7b), which is designed as a transparent window or the opening, more preferably as a transparent window, and characterised in that at least one light-emitting device (14) is arranged, oriented and designed such that it transilluminates the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) in the direction of the viewing window (7a, 7b) when the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) is arranged in the dispensing means (10).

2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that each viewing window (7a, 7b) is arranged such that the viewing window is completely filled when a cartridge fully filled with the detergent (12a, 12b) is assigned to it, such that the viewing window is less filled the less the cartridge assigned to it is filled with detergent (12a, 12b), and such that the viewing window is empty as soon as the cartridge has a detergent level below a predetermined level.

3. Washing machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each viewing window (7a, 7b) is assigned a scale (8) which is designed to indicate a scaled fill level of the detergent (12a, 12b) in the cartridge (9a, 9b) assigned to the viewing window.

4. Washing machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dispensing means (10) is designed to receive at least one elongate cartridge (9a, 9b).

5. Washing machine according to claim 4, characterised in that the dispensing means (10) is designed to receive at least one elongate cartridge (9a, 9b) along its longitudinal extent in an oblique position.

6. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one light-emitting device (14) is a light-emitting diode.

7. Washing machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one cartridge (9a, 9b) is arranged in the dispensing means (10) and is translucent.

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