Dispensing device and washing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing device which has a filling opening (1), an outlet opening (2), a water-inlet opening (6) and an inclined plane (5) and which can be moved back and forth between a filling position, in which the device can be filled with liquid and / or powder detergent through the filling opening (1), and a flushing-out position, in which the filled liquid and / or powder detergent can be flushed out of the dispensing device, wherein, in the filling position, the inclined plane (5) is arranged such that a filled liquid detergent runs off it and a filled powder detergent remains on it. The invention further relates to a washing machine which contains the dispensing device.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Dispensing device and washing machine

[0003] The invention relates to a dispenser and a washing machine. In particular, the invention relates to a detergent dispenser configured to store detergent after it has been filled by a user until it is flushed into the washing machine by a water inlet during the execution of a wash program, and to a washing machine including the dispenser.

[0004] Common detergent dispensers for washing machines are optimized for either liquid or powder detergents. This is due to the different properties of these media.

[0005] Fig. 1 shows a sketch of a dispenser according to the prior art. The dispenser is designed to hold and dispenser powder detergent. It has a powder detergent chamber 4 which has a filler opening 1, an inclined plane 5 and an outlet opening 2. The filler opening 1 is used to fill the powder detergent chamber 6 with the powder detergent and simultaneously serves as a water inlet opening 6. After a user has filled powder detergent (not shown) into the powder detergent chamber 4 through the filler opening 1, the powder detergent remains in the powder detergent chamber 4 until it is flushed out through the outlet opening 2 by water being supplied through the water inlet opening 6, indicated by an arrow. Liquid detergent cannot be stored in this powder detergent chamber 4 because it will run out of it immediately upon filling.Thus, using this dispenser, liquid detergent is not added at the optimal time during the wash cycle. This is especially true when using a pre-wash cycle. Furthermore, an accessory is known that is optimized for rinsing liquid detergent and can be integrated into the powder wash chamber by the user if necessary. However, this is inconvenient for the user and incurs costs.

[0006] Fig. 2 shows a sketch of another dispenser according to the prior art. The dispenser is designed to hold liquid detergent. It has a liquid detergent chamber 3, which has a filling opening 1, a siphon 7, and an outlet opening 2. The filling opening 1 is used to fill the liquid detergent chamber 6 with the liquid detergent and simultaneously serves as a water inlet opening 6. After a user has poured liquid detergent (not shown) into the liquid detergent chamber 3 through the filling opening 1, the liquid detergent remains in the liquid detergent chamber 3 until it is flushed out by water supply through the water inlet opening 6, indicated by an arrow, through the outlet opening 2 by means of the siphon 7. Although powder detergent can be stored in this dispenser, it is not rinsed out cleanly.Powder residues and water remain in the dispenser and the siphon 7, whose purpose is actually to pump the liquid detergent chamber 3 empty at the end of the water supply, becomes clogged with the powder detergent.

[0007] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a dispenser and a washing machine in which the user can dose detergent in the simplest possible way and, at the same time, the detergent is fed into a washing process at a predetermined time regardless of its state of aggregation.

[0008] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a flushing device having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

[0009] The advantages achieved with the invention are that the user no longer has to worry about where to add the liquid and / or powder detergent or whether to use an additive. Both the liquid and powder detergent are added to the washing process at the scheduled time. Regardless of whether it is liquid or powder detergent, the user can simply add the detergent to the dispenser and still achieve ideal washing results, as the detergent is added to the washing process at the scheduled time.

[0010] Variations in filling the detergent are kept as minimal as possible for the user, as there is only one filling opening for the main wash and no additional component that may need to be inserted.

[0011] The invention relates to a dispenser which has a filling opening, an outlet opening, a water inlet opening and an inclined plane and which can be moved back and forth between a filling position in which it can be filled with liquid and / or powder detergent through the filling opening (1), and a rinsing position in which the filled liquid and / or powder detergent can be rinsed out of the dispenser, wherein in the filling position the inclined plane is arranged in such a way that a filled liquid detergent runs off it and a filled powder detergent remains on it.

[0012] The filling opening is provided to allow the user to fill the dispenser with liquid detergent and / or powder detergent. The water inlet opening is provided to allow water to be supplied to the dispenser. The outlet opening is provided to allow the detergent filled into the dispenser by the user to be flushed out of the dispenser when water is supplied from the dispenser via the water inlet opening.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the inclined plane is arranged opposite the filling opening. This ensures that the detergent hits the inclined plane when the dispenser is filled with detergent. While the liquid detergent then runs off the inclined plane, the powder detergent remains on the inclined plane.

[0014] The dispenser preferably has a liquid detergent chamber configured to receive the added liquid detergent, and a powder detergent chamber configured to receive the added powder detergent. This provides two separate receptacles for the liquid detergent and the powder detergent to accommodate their individual properties.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid detergent chamber is arranged and configured to receive the liquid detergent in the filling position and to hold it in the rinsing position until water is supplied through the water inlet opening into the dispenser. The powder detergent chamber is arranged and configured to receive the powder detergent in the rinsing position and to hold it in the dispenser until water is supplied through the water inlet opening into the dispenser. This ensures that the detergent, regardless of its liquid or solid state, only leaves the dispenser via the outlet opening when water is supplied.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid detergent chamber and the powder detergent chamber are connected in series, so that in the rinsing position, water flowing through the water inlet opening first passes through the liquid detergent chamber and then through the powder detergent chamber before exiting the outlet opening. This eliminates the need for components and costs for a separate water inlet. Preferably, the powder detergent chamber is arranged below the liquid detergent chamber in the rinsing position, while the two chambers are preferably arranged side by side in the filling position.

[0017] The water inlet opening and the outlet opening are preferably formed at opposite ends of the dispensing device. This ensures that the dispensing device in its entirety is flushed with water during the water supply. In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing device has a main compartment which has the filling opening as the only opening for filling with liquid and powder detergents. This makes it easier for the user to fill the dispensing device. In addition to the main compartment, the dispensing device can also have one or more secondary compartments, e.g. for holding detergent for a pre-wash or for holding fabric softener, hygiene cleaner, etc. for the after-treatment of the laundry. The main compartment serves to hold the detergent provided for carrying out the main wash, while the secondary compartments are provided as compartments for additional cleaning of the laundry.The main compartment preferably contains the liquid detergent chamber and the powder detergent chamber, a single filling opening, a single outlet opening and a single water inlet opening.

[0018] The invention further relates to a washing machine comprising a dispensing device according to one or more of the previously described embodiments.

[0019] For the purposes of the invention, a washing machine is understood to mean both a washing machine alone and a combination appliance such as a washer-dryer.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the washing machine further comprises a control device configured to control a translational and rotational movement of the dispenser to move it back and forth between the filling position and the rinsing position. During movement from the filling position to the rinsing position, a rotation is performed, causing the powder detergent, which lies on the inclined plane in the filling position, to fall into the powder detergent chamber below the liquid detergent chamber, which, due to the translational movement, lies below the powder detergent chamber in the rinsing position.

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows schematically and not to scale.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a sketched representation of a flushing device according to the prior art;

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a further sketched representation of a flushing device according to the state of the

[0024] Technology;

[0025] Fig. 3 is a sketched representation of a flushing device according to the invention in a filling position; and

[0026] Fig. 4 is a sketched representation of the flushing device shown in Fig. 3 in a flushing position.

[0027] For a description of Figs. 1 and 2, reference is made to the introduction to the description. Fig. 3 shows a sketched representation of a dispenser according to the invention in a filling position. The dispenser has a filling opening 1, an outlet opening 2, a water inlet opening 6, and an inclined plane 5. The inclined plane 5 is arranged opposite the filling opening 1. The dispenser is shown as a main compartment only, but it can have secondary compartments (not shown). The main compartment has the filling opening 1 as the only opening for filling with liquid and powder detergents. The main compartment further has the water inlet opening 6 as a water inlet opening and the outlet opening 2 as the only outlet opening.

[0028] The dispenser is movable back and forth between a filling position, in which it can be filled with liquid and / or powder detergent, and a rinsing position, in which the added liquid and / or powder detergent can be rinsed out of the dispenser. In the filling position shown in Fig. 3, the inclined plane 5 is arranged such that any added liquid detergent runs off it and any added powder detergent remains on it.

[0029] The dispenser further comprises a liquid detergent chamber 3 configured to receive the added liquid detergent, and a powder detergent chamber 4 configured to receive the added powder detergent. The liquid detergent chamber 3 is arranged and configured to receive and hold the liquid detergent in the filling position. Liquid detergent striking the inclined plane 5 flows into the liquid detergent chamber 3 in the filling position. The powder detergent chamber 4 is arranged and configured not to receive and hold the powder detergent in the filling position; rather, the added powder detergent remains arranged on the inclined plane 5 in the filling position.

[0030] Fig. 4 shows a sketch of the induction device shown in Fig. 3 in a rinsing position. By means of a translational and rotational movement of the induction device, it can be moved back and forth between the filling position shown in Fig. 3 and the rinsing position shown in Fig. 4.

[0031] The liquid detergent chamber 3 is arranged and designed to receive and hold the liquid detergent in the filling position and to hold it in the rinsing position until water is supplied through the water inlet opening 6, indicated by an arrow, into the dispenser. The powder detergent chamber 4 is arranged and designed to receive the powder detergent in the rinsing position and to hold it in the dispenser until water is supplied through the water inlet opening 6.

[0032] The liquid detergent chamber 3 and the powder detergent chamber 4 are connected in series, so that in the rinsing position, water flowing through the water supply inlet opening 6 first passes through the liquid detergent chamber 3 and then through the powder detergent chamber 4 before exiting the outlet opening 2. The water inlet opening 6 and the outlet opening 2 are formed at opposite ends of the dispenser.

[0033] List of reference symbols

[0034] 1 filling opening

[0035] 2 outlet opening

[0036] 3 Liquid detergent chamber 4 Powder detergent chamber

[0037] 5 Level

[0038] 6 Water inlet opening

[0039] 7 suction lifters

Claims

Patent claims 1. A dispenser having a filling opening (1), an outlet opening (2), a water inlet opening (6) and an inclined plane (5) and being movable back and forth between a filling position, in which it can be filled with liquid and / or powder detergent through the filling opening (1), and a rinsing position, in which the added liquid and / or powder detergent can be rinsed out of the dispenser, wherein in the filling position the inclined plane (5) is arranged such that an added liquid detergent runs off it and an added powder detergent remains on it.

2. Flushing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclined plane (5) is arranged opposite the filling opening (1).

3. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a liquid detergent chamber (3) which is designed to receive the added liquid detergent and a powder detergent chamber (4) which is designed to receive the added powder detergent.

4. Dispensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the liquid detergent chamber (3) is arranged and designed to receive the liquid detergent in the filling position and to hold it in the rinsing position until water is supplied through the water inlet opening (6) into the dispensing device, and the powder detergent chamber (4) is arranged and designed to receive the powder detergent in the rinsing position and to hold it until water is supplied through the water inlet opening (6) into the dispensing device.

5. Dispensing device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the liquid detergent chamber (3) and the powder detergent chamber (4) are connected in series, so that in the rinsing position, water flowing through the water inlet opening (6) first runs through the liquid detergent chamber (3) and then through the powder detergent chamber (4) before exiting from the outlet opening (2).

6. Flushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water inlet opening (6) and the outlet opening (2) are formed at opposite ends of the flushing device.

7. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a main compartment which has the filling opening (1) as the only opening for filling with the liquid and powder detergents.

8. Washing machine comprising a dispenser according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Washing machine according to claim 8, characterized by a control device which is designed to control a translational and rotational movement of the dispensing device in order to move it back and forth between the filling position and the rinsing position.

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