Metering system with a hall sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering system (1) that can be positioned in the interior of a dishwasher and which comprises a metering device (10) and a replaceable container (40) which has at least one chamber (41, 42, 43) for receiving a preparation. In a coupled state of the container (40), the preparation can be metered into the interior by means of the metering device (10), and the metering device (10) has a detection unit in order to identify the coupled state of the container (40) and / or in order to identify the container (40). The invention is characterized in that the detection unit has a first Hall sensor (27), a first magnet carrier (28) which is paired with the first Hall sensor (27), said first Hall sensor and first magnet carrier being movable relative to each other, at least one second Hall sensor (33), and a second magnet carrier which is paired with the second Hall sensor (27), said second Hall sensor and second magnet carrier being movable relative to each other, wherein the position of the first magnet carrier (28) relative to the first Hall sensor (27) and the position of the second magnet carrier relative to the second Hall sensor (33) are based on the container (40) in the coupled state.

Description

[0001] “Dosing system with Hall sensor”

[0002] The invention relates to a dosing system which can be arranged in the interior of a dishwasher and comprises a dosing device and an exchangeable container which has at least one chamber for receiving a preparation.

[0003] EP 2 296 520 B1 discloses such a dosing system with an interchangeable container and dosing device. The container has several compartments, each containing a preparation. The dosing device is placed in the interior of the dishwasher with the container coupled. The wash cycle can then begin, with signals being exchanged between the dosing device and the dishwasher. Thus, the preparations can be dosed from the individual compartments of the container during the wash cycle at different times and in different quantities, depending on various parameters.

[0004] EP 2 296 520 B1 further discloses that the container is equipped with an RFID chip that can be read by a detection unit of the dosing device. This provides the dosing device with specific information about the contents or preparations contained in the container. The dosing device takes this information into account when determining the time and / or amount of a preparation to be dispensed. For example, if the preparation is a highly concentrated dishwashing detergent, only a relatively small amount needs to be dispensed.

[0005] Although the RFID chip or a comparable information carrier such as an NFC chip enables targeted and efficient dosing of preparations from containers with different contents, this also has disadvantages. Firstly, the container must be equipped with such a chip, which can lead to relatively high costs, especially for single-use containers. Furthermore, the dosing device must be equipped with a corresponding detection unit in order to read these chips. Secondly, the chip or other necessary additional components such as antennas, etc., can cause problems when recycling the container, making it difficult to recycle the container materials.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a dosing system comprising a dosing device and a container that is simple in design, enables efficient dispensing of the preparation from the container, and in which the container is easy to recycle. The object underlying the invention is achieved with the combination of features according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims to claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, the detection unit comprises at least one first Hall sensor and at least one first magnetic carrier associated with the first Hall sensor, which are arranged to be movable relative to one another. Furthermore, the detection unit comprises at least one second Hall sensor and at least one second magnetic carrier associated with the second Hall sensor, which are likewise movable relative to one another. A position of the first magnetic carrier relative to the first Hall sensor and a position of the second magnetic carrier relative to the second Hall sensor depend on the container in the coupled state. The at least two Hall sensors allow different containers to be differentiated from one another or a container to be identified. Further Hall sensors and magnetic carriers associated with them can also be provided. For example, the dosing device can have three, four or more Hall sensors.

[0008] Unless otherwise stated, the description of the (first) magnetic carrier or the (first) Hall sensor also applies mutatis mutandis to the other magnetic carriers or the other Hall sensors.

[0009] The position of the first magnetic carrier relative to the first sensor depends on the container. In one embodiment, connecting the container to the dosing device changes the position of the magnetic carrier relative to the Hall sensor, resulting in a change in the magnetic field on or in the Hall sensor. The Hall sensor detects this change in the magnetic field and generates a correspondingly changed output signal. From the output signal, the dosing device can then infer a specific container with specific preparations, for example based on correspondingly stored data. It is also conceivable that connecting the container to the dosing device does not result in any relative change in position. Accordingly, the Hall sensor does not detect any change in the magnetic field, which allows the inference to a specific, different container.

[0010] The magnet carrier does not necessarily have to accommodate a magnet whose position changes relative to the Hall sensor when the magnet carrier moves. The magnet carrier can also carry a piece of metal or the like, the position of which relative to the Hall sensor can change the magnetic field in or on the Hall sensor. It should be noted that connecting the container to the dosing device does not necessarily change the (absolute) position of the magnet carrier. Although a movably mounted magnet carrier and a fixed Hall sensor are preferred, it is also conceivable that the Hall sensor moves when the container is connected to the dosing device, or that the Hall sensor and magnet carrier both move simultaneously.The first magnet carrier can have a driver that projects into a container compartment of the dosing device, wherein the container has a first activation region or a first deactivation region associated with the first magnet carrier. Upon insertion of the container into the container compartment, the driver is pressed from a rest position into an activation position if the container has the first activation region. However, if the container is not equipped with the first activation region but with the first deactivation region, the driver is not moved upon insertion of the container and remains in the rest position.

[0011] An example with three Hall sensors and three magnetic carriers illustrates how the dosing device can identify different containers. Depending on the number of Hall sensors, the different containers have three zones, which are configured as either an activation zone or a deactivation zone. In the following table, a "1" represents an activation zone, meaning that the corresponding magnetic carrier is pushed into the activation position when the corresponding container is connected to the dosing device. A "0" indicates a deactivation zone.

[0012] For example, container 7 has a first deactivation zone, a second activation zone, and a third activation zone. If this container 7 is inserted into the dosing device, the first magnet carrier or its carrier remains in its rest position, while the second magnet carrier and the third magnet carrier are each pushed into their activation positions. The second and third Hall sensors would then each output a different output signal, while the output signal of the first Hall sensor remains unchanged. From these three output signals, the dosing device can then identify container 7, provided the corresponding link between the output signals and container 7 is stored in the dosing device.

[0013] Table: Detection of different containers with three Hall sensors

[0014] The first (or any subsequent) deactivation area can be formed as a cutout on one edge of the container. If the container is inserted into the container compartment and the driver of the first magnetic carrier protrudes into the container compartment at the point where the cutout in the container is provided, the inserted container will not move the magnetic carrier or its driver into the activation position.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, the first activation area can be formed as a projection on the edge of the container. The container, container compartment, and the driver of the first magnet carrier are dimensioned such that, due to the projection, the driver is pushed into its activation position when the container is inserted into the container compartment of the dosing device. Without the projection, the driver of the first magnet carrier would remain in the rest position.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first magnet carrier is pivotally mounted about a rotation axis. When the container is inserted into the container compartment, the magnet carrier rotates when it is moved from the rest position to the activation position. The pivot angle of this rotation can be 20 to 70°, preferably 30 to 50°.

[0017] The container can have at least one connector, and the dosing device can have at least one connection receptacle into which the connector is inserted when coupled. The connection between the connector receptacle and the connector can be established by a linear closing movement of the connector. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the magnet carrier runs perpendicular to the direction of the closing movement.

[0018] The dosing device can have a flat housing with a front wall and a rear wall and be designed to be placed like a dish plate in a plate holder in the interior of the dishwasher. A first channel-like recess and a second channel-like recess are provided on the rear wall or the front wall, with the first Hall sensor arranged between the first recess and the second recess. The recesses in the housing allow the dosing device to be placed in a plate compartment of the plate holder, even if the plate compartment is delimited by upright support bars with only a small bar spacing.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show:

[0020] Figure 1 shows a dosing system according to the invention with a dosing device;

[0021] Figure 2 shows a schematic section of the dosing system with dosing device and a container;

[0022] Figure 3 shows a schematic plan view of the container;

[0023] Figure 4 shows the dosing device in an unfolded state; Figure 5 shows the dosing system of Figure 1 in section; and

[0024] Figure 6 shows the dosing device of Figure 4 in section with different positions of a magnet carrier.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a dosing system 1 comprising a dosing device 10 and a container. The container is housed within a flat housing 11 of the dosing device 10 and is not visible in Figure 1. Figures 2 and 3 schematically illustrate the dosing system 1 with the dosing device 10 and the container designated by 40.

[0026] The dosing system 1 can be placed inside a dishwasher and is designed to dispense one or more preparations located in the container 40 during a wash cycle. The dosing system 1 can exchange signals, data, control commands, etc., with the dishwasher so that the preparations can be dosed precisely in terms of time and quantity.

[0027] As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the housing 11 of the dosing device 10 has a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13. The front wall 12, which is rectangular in its basic shape, and the rear wall 13, which is also rectangular in its basic shape, 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 folded open and a container compartment 17 (see Figure 2) of the dosing device 10 is opened. The container compartment

[0028] 17 serves to hold the container 40. When the housing 11 is unfolded, the container 40 can be removed from the container compartment 17 to be replaced with another container. The container 40 can be designed to hold the preparation(s) in a quantity sufficient for several rinse cycles (for example, for 20 to 30 rinse cycles). Once emptied, the container 40 can be replaced with a filled container.

[0029] From Figure 1 it can be further seen 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 similar in design to the first recess

[0030] 18 is identical, the statements regarding the first recess 18 also apply mutatis mutandis to the second recess 19.

[0031] The first recess 18 begins at the base 14 and extends toward the upper housing edge 15. The recess 18 is formed as an elongated, channel-like, or groove-like recess, wherein a length in the longitudinal direction of the recess (direction from the base 14 to the upper housing edge 15) is significantly greater than a width of the recess transverse to the longitudinal direction. The first recess 19 has a groove base 20, the distance of which from the surface in which the rear wall 13 lies defines a depth of the first recess 18. Starting from a lower, open end 21, which is located at the base 14, to an upper, closed end 22, the depth decreases. Accordingly, 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 groove bottom 20 initially runs in a straight line (i.e. the depth is initially constant there) and then merges into a curved section with decreasing depth.

[0032] The two recesses 18, 19 each serve to accommodate a holding rod of a plate holder of a dish drawer, which stands approximately vertically upwards or is slightly inclined to the vertical and can be pulled out from the interior for loading and unloading dishes. The plate holder usually has two parallel rows of holding rods, which are spaced a certain distance apart within a row (bar spacing). The distance between the two recesses 18, 19 corresponds to the distance between the two rows, so that the dosing device 10 with the container 40 located in the housing 11 can be placed in a plate compartment of the plate holder like a plate. The dosing device 10 is supported like a plate on the holding rods that form the plate compartment.Due to the special shape of the groove base 20, with its depth decreasing towards the upper end 22, the dosing device 10 can, on the one hand, be placed in a plate holder where the bar spacing is small and the holding bars are of medium length. On the other hand, the dosing device 10 can also be placed in a plate holder where the bar spacing and the length of the holding bars are large. In the latter case, the dosing device is supported by the upper end of the holding bar in the upper area of ​​the recess 18, i.e., where the depth of the recess is small. As a result, even with a large bar spacing, the dosing device 10 stands upright in the plate holder and does not block adjacent plate compartments by being too tilted.

[0033] The height (distance between base 14 and top edge 15) and the width of the front wall 12 and rear wall 13 correspond to the diameter of a large dinner plate. For example, the housing 11 can have a height of 200 to 280 mm. The width of the housing 11 can be 200 to 280 mm. The height-to-width ratio can be 0.8 to 1.2.

[0034] As can also be seen from Figure 1, the housing 11 has a thickness that is greatest in the area of ​​the base 14 and then decreases slightly toward the upper edge 15. A maximum thickness of the housing, preferably in the area of ​​the base 14, can be between 20 and 28 mm. In the schematic representation of Figure 2, the housing 11 is shown in a simplified form with a constant thickness. Since the maximum thickness of the housing 11 is at least a factor of 5 smaller than the height and width, the housing 11 is also referred to here as a flat housing.

[0035] While Figure 1 depicts the dosing system 1 standing on the base 14, Figure 2 shows the dosing system 2 in a horizontal position with the rear wall 13 facing downward. In this horizontal position, the housing 11 can be opened by pivoting the front wall 12 about the pivot axis of the film hinge 16 (in the illustration in Figure 2, the pivot axis extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). With the front wall 12 folded open, the container 40 can be removed from the container compartment 17.

[0036] Figure 3 clearly shows that the container 40, which is only shown schematically, has several chambers. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three chambers 41, 42, 43. Each chamber serves to hold a preparation, which can be, for example, an alkaline cleaning preparation, an enzymatic cleaning preparation, a rinse aid, or a fragrance. Each chamber is assigned a connecting piece 44, the structure of which does not differ from the structure of the other connecting pieces 44. The chambers 41, 42, 43 are approximately the same size here, but they can also differ significantly from one another in terms of their volume and shape.For example, one of the chambers for a preparation that is dispensed in twice the amount in a wash cycle compared to the other preparations can be designed to be twice as large, so that when the container needs to be replaced, all chambers are emptied as completely as possible or at least only very small residual amounts remain.

[0037] The chambers 41, 42, 43 are delimited by two housing halves or chamber walls 45, 46. Each housing half 45, 46 forms three shells or troughs, which together with the opposite shell form a chamber. To manufacture the housing halves 45, 46, a (folded) plastic film can be used which is drawn or blown into appropriate deep-drawing molds. The housing halves 45, 46 are welded to one another at a circumferential edge 47 and also at intermediate webs 48 between the individual chambers 41, 42, 42. The connecting pieces 44 are arranged between the two housing halves 45, 46 in a section 47a of the edge 47. These are inserted between the housing halves 45, 46 before section 47a is welded and then welded to the housing halves 45, 46 in a liquid-tight manner.Sealing / welding of section 47a to the connecting pieces 44 is preferably performed only after the chambers 41, 42, 43 have been filled with the respective preparations. During filling, however, the housing halves 45, 46 are already welded together at the edge 47 (except for the gate 47a) and at the intermediate webs 48. Thermoforming enables thin walls. The required material consumption is very low. The housing halves 45, 46 can be made of polypropylene (PP), for example. The container 40 can also be manufactured by other means, for example by injection molding or blow molding.

[0038] The dosing device 10 has a connection receptacle 23 for each connection piece 44 (see Figure 2, which shows one of the connection receptacles). When the container 40 is inserted in the housing 11 of the dosing device 10, the connection piece 44 and the connection receptacle 23 form a liquid-tight connection, so that the preparation from the chamber can pass into a dosing chamber of the dosing device 10 assigned to the respective chamber. The dosing chamber and a dosing valve are not shown in Figure 2. Only a dosing compartment 24, which accommodates the dosing chamber and the dosing valve and is integrated in the rear wall 13, is shown in Figure 2. The dosing compartment 24 has a dosing opening 25 for each chamber / dosing valve, through which the preparation then passes from the respective chamber through the connection piece 44 / connection receptacle 23 into the interior of the dishwasher.It should be noted that in the operating position of the dosing system 1, the bottom 14 points downwards so that the preparations from the chambers 41, 42, 43 can flow out of the respective dosing opening 25 due to gravity when the dosing valve is open.

[0039] The connector 44 has a base body with a weld-in part 49 and a plug-in part 50. The weld-in part 49 is arranged between the two thermoformed housing halves 45, 46 and welded to the peripheral edge 47.

[0040] By means of a linear pulling movement (upwards in the illustration in Figure 2), the plug-in part 50 can be pulled out of the connection receptacle 23. A corresponding pulling force can be transmitted into the base body of the connecting piece 44 by a finger ring 51. For this purpose, the finger ring 51 can be rotated from the starting position shown into an active position. In the active position, which is shown in Figure 2 by the dashed line 51', the finger ring can be gripped behind by a human finger and then serves as a pulling means for releasing the connection between the connecting piece 44 and the connection receptacle 23. In order to establish a connection between the connecting piece 30 and the connection receptacle 37 when a new container is to be inserted into the housing 10, a pressure plate 52 is provided. It serves to accommodate a finger with which the plug-in part 50 can be pressed into the connection receptacle 23.In the illustration in Figure 2, the required compressive force acts from above and is directed perpendicular to the rear wall 13. The connecting piece 44 and the connection receptacle 23 are designed in such a way that a membrane of the connecting piece 44 is pierced when these two parts are inserted into one another. In addition, when inserted into one another, ventilation of the chamber is activated so that air can flow into the chamber when it is emptied. For chamber 42, an air hose is indicated by the dashed line 53, through which air can flow from the connecting piece 44 into the chamber 42. Air hoses are also provided for each of the chambers 41 and 43, but these are not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0041] Figure 4 shows the dosing device 10 in an unfolded state. The now open container compartment 17 can be seen, which is empty in the illustration in Figure 4. A cover plate 26 of the dosing compartment 24 extends parallel and spaced from the rear wall (see also Figure 2). Below the cover plate 26, in the dosing compartment 24, there is a first Hall sensor 27 and a magnet carrier 28 associated with the Hall sensor 27, which are, however, hidden in the illustration in Figure 4. Only a driver 29 of the magnet carrier 28 can be seen. The driver 29 protrudes beyond an inner edge 30 of the cover plate 26 and extends into the container compartment 17. The first Hall sensor 27 and the first magnet carrier 28 can be seen in Figures 5 and 6.

[0042] As can be seen from Figure 5, the container 40 arranged in the container compartment 17 has, at the level of the first magnet carrier 28, a tab or projection 54 on the section 47a of the edge 47, which interacts with the driver 29 of the first magnet carrier 28. The container 40 shown in Figure 5 differs in shape and manufacture from the container in Figure 3. The volume of the central chamber 42 is significantly larger than the volumes of the outer chambers 41, 43.

[0043] If there is no container 40 in the container compartment 17, the first magnet carrier 28 assumes a position shown in Figure 6A, which is referred to as the rest position. The rest position can be spring-loaded, so that the magnet carrier 28 or the driver 29 integrally formed on the magnet carrier 28 always returns to this rest position, provided no external mechanical forces act on the magnet carrier 28. If the container 40 is now inserted into the container compartment 17, the projection 54 presses the driver 29 downwards in the illustration in Figure 6, so that the magnet carrier 28, starting from the rest position (Figure 6A), now assumes an activation position (Figure 6B). From the combined view of Figures 6 A and 6 B, it is clear that a distance between a magnet 31, which is held by the magnet carrier 28, and the first Hall sensor 27 has changed by movement from the rest position to the activation position.Since the magnet 31 is now further away from the first Hall sensor 27 in the activated position of the magnet carrier 28, the magnetic field applied to the first Hall sensor has also changed. Due to the change in the magnetic field, the first Hall sensor 27 changes its output signal. The change in the output signal is detected by a control unit of the dosing device 10. The dosing device 10 thus receives the information that the container 40 is now located in the container compartment 17.

[0044] The first magnet carrier 28 is mounted in the housing 11 of the dosing device 10 for rotation about a rotation axis 32. The rotation axis 32 extends into the plane of the drawing in Figure 6 and runs perpendicular to a linear closing movement 55, by which the container 40 is coupled to the dosing device 10. The linear closing movement 55 not only pushes the first magnet carrier 28 from the rest position into the activated position, but simultaneously also establishes the connection between the connecting piece 44 of the container 40 and the connection receptacle 23 of the dosing device 10.

[0045] Figure 5 shows that a second Hall sensor 33 is housed in the dosing compartment 24. A further magnet carrier, not shown in Figure 5, can be inserted into a rotating receptacle 34 associated with this Hall sensor 33. This additional magnet carrier could be activated by a further projection 56 (see dotted line in Figure 5), which could be arranged next to the projection 54. The projections 54 and 56 are also indicated in Figure 3.

[0046] If the dosing device were to have two Hall sensors and two magnetic carriers, the dosing device could distinguish between three different containers 40. A first of these three containers would only have projection 54, a second container would only have projection 56, and a third container would have projection 54 and projection 56. For each of these three containers, a specific array of (modified) output signals results, based on which the dosing device can distinguish between the individual containers and adapt the dispensing to the specific container accordingly. To identify the containers, no chip or similar is required on the container, which could make recycling more difficult. The group of Hall sensors, together with the movable magnetic carriers, represents a robust and cost-effective way of easily distinguishing between different containers.

[0047] List of reference symbols

[0048] I Dosing system

[0049] 10 Dosing device

[0050] II Housing

[0051] 12 front wall

[0052] 13 Rear wall

[0053] 14 Floor

[0054] 15 upper edge of the housing

[0055] 16 film hinge

[0056] 17 Container compartment

[0057] 18 first recess

[0058] 19 second recess

[0059] 20 groove base

[0060] 21 lower end

[0061] 22 upper end

[0062] 23 Connection receptacle

[0063] 24 Dosing compartment

[0064] 25 Dosing opening

[0065] 26 Cover plate

[0066] 27 first Hall sensor

[0067] 28 first magnetic carrier

[0068] 29 drivers

[0069] 30 inner edge

[0070] 31 Magnet

[0071] 32 axis of rotation

[0072] 33 second Hall sensor

[0073] 34 rotary recording

[0074] 40 containers

[0075] 41 Chamber

[0076] 42 Chamber

[0077] 43 Chamber

[0078] 44 connecting piece

[0079] 45 Housing half / chamber wall

[0080] 46 Housing half / chamber wall

[0081] 47 margin (section 47a)

[0082] 48 Intermediate web 49 Weld-in part

[0083] 50 plug-in part

[0084] 51 finger ring (51 'finger ring in active position)

[0085] 52 Pressure plate 53 Air hose

[0086] 54 projection / tab

[0087] 55 Closing movement

[0088] 56 projection / tab

Claims

Dosing system (1) which can be arranged in the interior of a dishwasher and comprises a dosing device (10) and an exchangeable container (40) which has at least one chamber (41, 42, 43) for receiving a preparation, wherein in a coupled state of the container (40) the preparation can be dosed into the interior by the dosing device (10), and wherein the dosing device (10) has a detection unit to identify the coupled state of the container (40) and / or the container (40), characterized in that the detection unit has: - a first Hall sensor (27) and a first magnet carrier (28) associated with the first Hall sensor (27), which are movable relative to one another; and - at least one second Hall sensor (33) and a second magnet carrier associated with the second Hall sensor (27), which are movable relative to one another, wherein a position of the first magnet carrier (28) relative to the first Hall sensor (27) and a position of the second magnet carrier relative to the second Hall sensor (33) depend on the container (40) in the coupled state. Dosing system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first magnet carrier (28) has a driver (29) which projects into a container compartment (17) of the dosing device (10), wherein the container (40) has a first activation region or a first deactivation region associated with the first magnet carrier (28), wherein upon insertion of the container (40) into the container compartment (17) • the driver (29) is pressed from a rest position into an activation position when the container (40) has the first activation area, or • the driver (29) remains in the rest position when the container (40) has the first deactivation region. Dosing system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first deactivation region is formed as a cutout on an edge of the container (40). Dosing system (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first activation region is formed as a projection (54) on the edge of the container (40). Dosing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first magnet carrier (28) is pivotally mounted about a rotation axis (32).Dosing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container (40) has at least one connecting piece (44) and the dosing device (10) has at least one connection receptacle (23) in which the connecting piece (44) is inserted in the coupled state, wherein the connection between the connection receptacle (23) and the connecting piece (44) can be established by a linear closing movement (55).

7. Dosing system (1) according to claim 5 and 6, characterized in that the rotational axis (32) of the first magnet carrier (28) extends perpendicular to the direction of the closing movement (55).

8. Dosing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the Dosing device (10) has a flat housing (11) with a front wall (12) and a rear wall (13) and is designed to be able to be placed in a plate holder in the interior of the dishwasher like a crockery plate, wherein a first channel-like recess (18) and a second channel-like recess (19) are provided on the rear wall (13) or the front wall (12), wherein the first Hall sensor (27) is arranged between the first recess (18) and the second recess (19).

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