Metering device

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering device for a metered introduction of a pourable cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, having a device housing (25) providing a receiving chamber (26), a metering opening (27) formed in a boundary wall (29) of the receiving chamber (26) and a chute (28) which connects the metering opening (27) to the treatment chamber (4) in terms of flow, having a first storage container (12) which is configured for accommodating a first type of cleaning agent of a pourable cleaning agent, and a second storage container (13) which is configured for accommodating a second type of cleaning agent of a pourable cleaning agent, which differs from the first type of cleaning agent, wherein the receiving chamber (26) is configured for receiving one of the two storage containers (12, 13) in a rotatable manner about an axis of rotation (32), in a selective and interchangeable manner on the user side, in accordance with the modular concept.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Dosing device

[0003] The invention relates to a dosing device for a dosed introduction of a pourable cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a device housing providing a receiving chamber, a dosing opening formed in a boundary wall of the receiving chamber and a drop shaft which fluidically connects the dosing opening to the treatment chamber.

[0004] A dosing device of the generic type is known, for example, from EP 3 733 041 A1.

[0005] The dosing device known from EP 3 733 041 A1 serves, in a manner known per se, to hold a granular or powdered cleaning agent in a reservoir in a quantity sufficient for several cleaning cycles. During the intended cleaning process, the dosing device doses a corresponding amount of cleaning agent into the treatment chamber of the cleaning device.

[0006] Another dosing device of the generic type is known from DE 102021 110 759 A1.

[0007] In contrast to the dosing device according to EP 3 733 041 A1, the dosing device previously known from DE 102021 110 759 A1 is not used to provide granular or powdered cleaning agent, but to provide cleaning agent in tablet form, also called tabs.

[0008] The two dosing devices known from EP 3 733 041 A1 on the one hand and DE 10 2021 110 759 A1 on the other hand are incompatible with each other. This disadvantageously limits the user's choice of cleaning agent, even though both involve pourable cleaning agents. Neither the dosing device for granular or powdered cleaning agents can be operated with tablets, nor can the dosing device for tablets be operated with granular or powdered cleaning agents. Other types of cleaning agents, such as so-called pouches, cannot be used in combination with either of the generic dosing devices.

[0009] Therefore, based on the aforementioned prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a dosing device of the generic type which is designed to offer an enlarged spectrum of cleaning agents that can be used therewith.

[0010] To achieve this object, the invention proposes a generic dosing device which is characterized by a first storage container which is designed to accommodate a first type of cleaning agent of a pourable cleaning agent, and a second storage container which is designed to accommodate a second type of cleaning agent of a pourable cleaning agent which is different from the first type of cleaning agent, wherein the receiving chamber is designed to receive one of the two storage containers selectively and interchangeably by the user in accordance with the modular principle so that it can be rotated about a rotation axis.

[0011] According to the invention, at least two differently designed storage containers are provided, which can be optionally inserted into the housing of the dosing device by the user. The storage containers each serve to hold a different type of cleaning agent. For example, a first storage container can be provided that is designed to hold granular or powdered cleaning agent. A second storage container is designed to hold pourable cleaning agent in the form of tablets. Additional storage containers can be provided, for example, even those that are designed to accommodate so-called pouches.In contrast to the prior art, not only is one storage container provided according to a first structural design for holding a first type of cleaning agent, but there are at least two structurally differently designed storage containers, each of which is designed to hold a different type of cleaning agent. The dosing device can therefore advantageously be equipped with different types of cleaning agent, depending on the user's wishes, which advantageously gives the user freedom in their choice of cleaning agent and type of cleaning agent, in contrast to the prior art. According to the invention, it is further provided that the receiving chamber of the dosing device is designed to accommodate one of the two storage containers selectively and interchangeably by the user, rotatable about a rotation axis, according to the modular principle."Modular design" within the meaning of the invention means that at least two differently constructed storage containers are available for intended use by a user, whereby the user can optionally insert one or the other storage container into the housing of the dosing device. The storage containers are interchangeable, allowing a user to switch between the storage containers at will. This makes it possible to conduct a first cleaning process with a first storage container and thus a first cleaning agent, and a second cleaning process with a second storage container and thus a second cleaning agent.In contrast to the state of the art, a user is not restricted to a specific type of cleaning agent, but can instead choose which type of cleaning agent is to be used for a cleaning process based on the compatibility of a plurality of storage containers.

[0012] The inventive design thus allows a user to freely select the cleaning agent for carrying out a proper cleaning process. In particular, a user is permitted to operate the dosing device with a granular or powdered cleaning agent, on the one hand, or with a tablet-form cleaning agent, on the other. The inventive design of the dosing device thus expands the spectrum of usable cleaning agents. This enables the use of special cleaning agents for specific cleaning tasks and, moreover, does not restrict a user to a specific type of cleaning agent, thus ensuring proper operation in every case, depending on the availability of certain types of cleaning agents.

[0013] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that a storage container provides an outlet opening and can be transferred from a basic position into a dosing position and vice versa, wherein the outlet opening in the dosing position of the storage container interacts with the dosing opening on the receiving chamber side.

[0014] During intended use, a storage container is held in the housing's receiving chamber and can rotate around a rotation axis. During intended use, the storage container rotates, causing cleaning agent to be metered into the cleaning device's treatment chamber. The storage container can be moved from a home position to a metering position and vice versa.

[0015] The reservoir has an outlet opening to ensure the dispensing of cleaning agent during its intended use. Cleaning agent is discharged through this outlet opening when the dosage is correct.

[0016] When the reservoir is in the dosing position, the outlet opening of the storage container interacts with the dosing opening on the receiving chamber side. During dosing, cleaning agent discharged from the reservoir is transferred from the reservoir into the chute, where the cleaning agent passes through the outlet opening of the storage container and the dosing opening of the receiving chamber. The cleaning agent thus transferred into the chute then reaches the treatment chamber of the cleaning device.

[0017] The above-described design advantageously ensures compatibility between differently constructed storage containers. For proper dosing, it is only necessary to rotate the storage container inserted into the receiving chamber and transfer it from a home position to a dosing position. Regardless of the type of cleaning agent contained in the storage container, a safe transfer of cleaning agent from the storage container to the treatment chamber of the cleaning device always takes place as soon as the storage container is in the dosing position.

[0018] According to a further feature of the invention, the outlet openings provided by the two storage containers are of different sizes. This takes into account the fact that the cleaning agent must be handled differently depending on its design, in particular with regard to portioning and falling behavior when transferred into the drop shaft. For example, if the cleaning agent is in tablet form, no portioning is required. However, it must be ensured that only one tab is dispensed per dosing event. The outlet opening on the storage container side is therefore matched to the size of a tab, with the dimensions of the outlet opening not significantly exceeding the external dimensions of a tab. In contrast, with granular or powdered cleaning agents, portioning must first take place so that a portioned amount of cleaning agent can then be dispensed.The corresponding outlet opening in the reservoir is smaller than the one used to pass through a tablet. The reservoir design thus takes into account the different properties of different types of cleaning agents, which helps ensure safe cleaning agent dosing in every case when used as intended.

[0019] According to a further feature of the invention, at least one storage container is provided, which contains granular or powdered cleaning agent. This container has precisely one outlet opening. For proper dosing, the storage container must be rotated 360° during dosing, whereby a portioned amount of cleaning agent is released through the outlet opening.

[0020] According to a further feature of the invention, an insert is provided which can be arranged optionally in the dosing opening by the user according to the modular principle and which is designed to adjust the size of the dosing opening depending on the size of the outlet opening provided by a storage container or the type of cleaning agent to be dosed.

[0021] According to this preferred embodiment, an insert is provided which, depending on the storage container used, is to be positioned in the dispensing opening by the user for size adjustment. The insert, like the associated storage container, can be used according to the modular principle, whereby “according to the modular principle” in the sense of the invention also means in this case that optional use is permitted by the user. The optional use of the insert is linked to the storage container used or the type of cleaning agent to be dispensed, i.e. if a first storage container contains a first cleaning agent, in particular a cleaning agent in tablet form, the insert is required, but if a second storage container is used, which contains a second cleaning agent, in particular a granular or powdered cleaning agent, this insert is not required.With the insert, the size of the dosing opening is adapted to the size of the outlet opening of the first storage container, or the size of the dosing opening is adjusted depending on the type of cleaning agent to be dosed.

[0022] The dosing opening is designed for the use of granular or powdered cleaning agents. This is because the dosing opening of the receiving chamber must be comparatively large to dose the granular or powdered cleaning agent. Due to its delayed powder fall, such a cleaning agent requires a larger dosing opening than a cleaning agent in tablet form. Dosing takes place while the outlet opening of the storage container moves past the dosing opening of the receiving chamber as it rotates. When using a storage container designed to accommodate tablets, an outlet opening tailored to the size of a tablet is used. Each tablet preferably has its own outlet opening.To ensure proper dosing in this case as well, the size of the dosing opening must be adapted to the size of an outlet opening of the storage container, for which purpose the insert described above is used. This must be positioned in the dosing opening by the user, thereby reducing the clear through-hole dimensions of the dosing opening and thus adapting it to the size of the outlet opening(s) of the associated storage container. This ensures, in particular, that only one tablet is dosed during a dosing process. The use of a storage container for tablets therefore requires the use of the insert described above. When using a storage container for granular or powdered cleaning agents, the insert must be removed to maximize the dosing opening.

[0023] The insert according to the invention, in combination with the storage container, ensures safe and desired dosing of cleaning agent.

[0024] According to a further feature of the invention, the insert provides a magnet which interacts with a Hall sensor on the housing. This allows the dosing device to detect the presence of an insert or to recognize the absence of such an insert. On the system side of the cleaning device, a cleaning program started by the user can thus be blocked, i.e. not executed, if necessary, if the device detects that a storage container has been inserted into the dosing housing which requires the use of the insert, but the arrangement of the insert in the dosing opening has not been detected by the associated Hall sensor. The intended start of a cleaning program is therefore advantageously only possible if the size of the dosing opening and the type of storage container or the cleaning agent contained therein are coordinated with one another.

[0025] According to a further feature of the invention, a support unit is provided which is rotatably arranged in the receiving chamber and which exchangeably receives a storage container.

[0026] For the rotatable arrangement of a storage container in the receiving chamber, the storage container can be arranged either directly in the receiving chamber or with the interposition of a support unit. If a support unit is used, this is arranged rotatably within the receiving chamber and, in turn, accommodates the storage container in an interchangeable manner. During normal dosing, the support unit rotates, taking the storage container with it.

[0027] The use of a carrying unit is particularly useful when differently designed storage containers are to be used for one and the same type of cleaning agent. In this case, the carrying unit serves as a kind of adapter element, allowing storage containers of different designs to be used not only for the type of cleaning agent, but also for one and the same type of cleaning agent. The dosing device according to the invention is therefore multifunctional and enables a wide range of compatibility with storage containers of various designs.

[0028] According to a further feature of the invention, means are provided which are designed to detect a storage container inserted into the receiving chamber.

[0029] Advantageously, it is possible for the dosing device to detect whether or not a storage container is inserted into the receiving chamber. A distinction can also be made between a correctly inserted storage container and an incorrectly inserted storage container, with an incorrectly inserted storage container being counted as a not inserted storage container. The detection or non-detection of a storage container can be further used by a higher-level controller, in particular a controller of the cleaning device, to block the user's selection of a cleaning program and / or to prevent a user-selected cleaning program from starting, if the absence of a storage container has been detected by the means provided according to the invention.Advantageously, the execution of a cleaning program is only possible if the presence of a storage container in the dosing device has previously been detected.

[0030] According to a further feature of the invention, the means are further configured to distinguish a first storage container from a second storage container. Thanks to the means according to the invention, it is therefore not only possible to determine whether a storage container is located in the receiving chamber, but also which type of storage container has been selected by the user and inserted into the receiving chamber. On the system side, therefore, not only is information about the presence of a storage container available, but also information about the type of storage container, and therefore the type of cleaning agent used in the dosing device. On the system side, a corresponding procedure can then be followed, in particular with regard to a dosing process to be carried out depending on the storage container used and / or with regard to a cleaning process to be carried out depending on the cleaning agent stored.On the system side, a process can therefore be optimized with respect to the cleaning agent selected by the user, whether with regard to a rinsing program, drying program, and / or the like to be subsequently performed by the cleaning device. The reservoir detection provided by the invention ultimately ensures that the cleaning device executes the process in a way that is tailored to the cleaning agent used by the user, so that optimized cleaning results can be achieved depending on the cleaning task and the cleaning agent used. This is not possible with dosing devices known from the prior art, as these are limited to the use of only one type of cleaning agent.

[0031] According to a further feature, the means comprise a sensor unit. This sensor unit preferably detects the presence of a storage container as well as the type of storage container. Both detections can therefore be performed with one and the same sensor unit, preferably in a single detection process. Additional sensor units are therefore advantageously not required, which is particularly advantageous for cost reasons.

[0032] According to a further feature of the invention, the sensor unit is formed on the housing side. The sensor unit can thus be installed within the dosing device housing, protected from external influences. All that is then required is a signal connection of the sensor unit to a higher-level control system, in particular to the control system of the cleaning device. However, an additional sensor unit on the cleaning device side is not required. This also enables simplified assembly, since the dosing device itself is already equipped with a sensor unit, thus ensuring its proper functionality.

[0033] According to a further feature of the invention, the sensor unit comprises a contactless sensor, preferably a Hall sensor. A contactless sensor has the advantage of being low-wear, thus ensuring functionality throughout the service life of the cleaning device. The sensor preferably operates without an additional power supply, which increases reliability and also simplifies assembly of the dosing device according to the invention. As an alternative to a contactless sensor, switches, buttons, or the like can also be used, which, during intended use, are in direct contact with a storage container inserted into the receiving chamber.

[0034] According to a further feature of the invention, a storage container or the carrying unit comprises a detection means that interacts with the sensor unit. When used as intended, the detection means is detected by the sensor unit. Depending on the storage container, different detection means and / or differently arranged detection means can preferably be used, so that the presence of a storage container and the type of storage container can be detected simultaneously.

[0035] The detection options provided according to the invention result in not only the presence of an insert within the dispensing opening being detected, but also the type of storage container or support unit inserted into the housing. The combination of these two detection options ensures that the intended combination of storage container and insert takes place. Furthermore, the type of storage container can be detected, so that a corresponding rotational movement can be initiated during dispensing. For example, in a storage container containing granular or powdered cleaning agent, a 360° rotation of the storage container is necessary for proper dispensing.In contrast, a storage container used to house tablets requires a pivoting movement of less than 360° from the home position to the dispensing position, with a twisting movement back to the starting position upon return to the home position. Therefore, the tablet storage container does not rotate 360°, but rather rotates back and forth. The sensor automatically detects which type of storage container is inserted into the dispensing housing, so user selection or programming is not required.

[0036] For sensor detection, a Hall sensor can be used, in particular, which interacts with magnets as detection elements. The number of magnets allows for inference about the storage container. For example, a first storage container can have one magnet, whereas a second storage container has two. The number of magnets detected during intended use allows for inference about the storage container inserted into the housing.

[0037] Accordingly, according to a further feature of the invention, it is proposed that the support unit or a storage container has one or two magnets that interact with a Hall sensor on the housing. This preferred embodiment according to the invention provides the advantages already explained, in particular the ability to detect the presence of a storage container and to determine the type of detected storage container, which allows a conclusion to be drawn about the cleaning agent selected by the user.

[0038] According to a further feature of the invention, a blocking member is provided that can be transferred from a blocking position to a release position and vice versa. When the blocking member is in the blocking position, the chute is blocked by closing the metering opening, preventing cleaning agent from being discharged from the storage container. It is preferred that the blocking member has a cover arranged on the outer circumference of a storage container or a support unit and interacting with the metering opening in the blocking position.

[0039] When not dosing, the blocking device closes the dosing opening, and therefore the chute, so that unwanted moisture can enter the storage container. The blocking device has a cover that is arranged on the storage container or on the support unit. The cover is therefore not located inside the chute, but in front of it in the direction in which the cleaning agent is discharged. In the blocked position, i.e. when not dosing, this cover interacts with the dosing opening and covers it, preventing cleaning agent from entering the chute. This means that unwanted cleaning agent can no longer enter the chute when the blocking device is still in the blocked position. This has the advantage that the risk of unwanted cleaning agent adhering to the inner wall of the chute is further minimized.This ensures that the product functions as intended over the long term.

[0040] The unintentional ingress of moisture into the drop shaft cannot be completely ruled out. Furthermore, even with cleaning agents in tablet form, the possibility of cleaning debris, which is usually in the form of dust, cannot be completely ruled out. This dust-like cleaning debris can accumulate on the inner wall of the drop shaft, potentially leading to the formation of a crust as a result of moisture ingress. The risk of such crusting is significantly reduced with the proposed design of a barrier device with a cover, since the design eliminates the need for intermediate storage of cleaning debris in the drop shaft.

[0041] The cover, which closes the dosing opening when the blocking element is in the blocked position, is arranged on the circumference of the storage container or on a support unit that holds the storage container. The cover therefore moves together with the storage container or the support unit, whereby the storage container or the support unit, which is already provided, serves as the drive for the cover. In this respect, no separately designed electric motor drive is required. A control system and interacting sensors are also not required. This is because the cover moves automatically when the storage container or the support unit rotates during operation. The storage container or the support unit is positioned in a basic position in such a way that the cover carried by it closes the dosing opening of the receiving chamber as intended. During normal dosing, the storage container or the support unit rotates.the support unit holding the storage container, whereby the cover provided by the storage container or the support unit moves automatically and is thereby transferred into its release position, in which the dosing opening is released for the introduction of cleaning agent. During dosing, the storage container or the support unit rotates until the outlet opening of the storage container is in radial opposition to the dosing opening. The cleaning agent stored in the storage container can thus pass through the outlet opening and the dosing opening into the chute and from there into the treatment chamber. The storage container or the support unit then rotates back into the basic position, in which the cover is once again positioned opposite the dosing opening, i.e. the cover is once again in the locked position, in which the dosing opening is closed.

[0042] According to a further feature of the invention, the chute opens into a discharge opening on the treatment chamber side. This creates a fluidic connection between the dosing opening and the treatment chamber, so that, during dosing, cleaning agent can be dispensed from the storage container and discharged into the treatment chamber.

[0043] According to a further feature of the invention, the discharge opening is covered on the treatment chamber side with a scoop providing a gap. This scoop ensures, when used as intended, that only a limited amount of rinsing liquid circulated during cleaning can reach the drop shaft. In particular, the scoop ensures that rinsing liquid discharged by the cleaning device's spray devices is not transferred directly into the drop shaft. To nevertheless enable the intended dispensing of cleaning agent during dosing, the scoop provides a gap through which cleaning agent can enter the treatment chamber after passing through the discharge opening. The gap is particularly suitable for transferring granular or powdered cleaning agent into the treatment chamber. Larger cleaning agent tablets cannot pass through the gap.For this reason, according to a further feature of the invention, the hood is designed to be pivotable, namely pivotable toward larger gap openings. When tablets are used as intended, the hood can thus pivot to widen the gap opening, thus allowing the intended dispensing of tablets into the treatment chamber. The hood is preferably held by spring force in a basic position in which the gap opening has its minimum gap opening size.

[0044] The invention further proposes a cleaning appliance, in particular a dishwasher, equipped with a dosing device of the type according to the invention. A cleaning appliance according to the invention thus offers the advantages already explained above.

[0045] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the figures.

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a program-controlled cleaning device using the example of a household dishwasher;

[0047] Fig. 2 shows a schematic interior view of the appliance door of the cleaning appliance according to Fig. 1 with a dosing device according to a first embodiment;

[0048] Fig. 3 shows a schematic interior view of the appliance door of the cleaning appliance according to Fig. 1 with a dosing device according to a second embodiment;

[0049] Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a storage container according to a first embodiment;

[0050] Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a second storage container according to a second embodiment, including a cooperating support unit; Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of an insert according to the invention;

[0051] Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the housing of a dosing device according to the invention with an insert inserted into the dosing opening;

[0052] Fig. 8 In schematic perspective view the housing according to Fig. 7 without an insert inserted into the dosing opening;

[0053] Fig. 9 shows a schematic plan view from above of a dosing device according to the invention with a storage container according to a first embodiment;

[0054] Fig. 10 shows a schematic plan view from above of the dosing device according to Fig. 9 with a storage container according to a second embodiment;

[0055] Fig. 11 shows a further plan view from above of the dosing device according to the invention with a storage container according to a second embodiment;

[0056] Fig. 12 shows the dosing device according to Fig. 11 with a storage container according to a first embodiment;

[0057] Fig. 13 shows a schematic perspective view of a dosing device according to the invention with the optionally usable storage containers according to the first and second embodiment;

[0058] Fig. 14 shows a schematic detailed view of a hood in the open position;

[0059] Fig. 15 shows a schematic detailed view of the hood according to Fig. 14 in the closed position;

[0060] Fig. 16 shows a schematic detailed view of the hood according to Fig. 14 in a partially open position and

[0061] Fig. 17 shows a schematic side view of the hood in a partially open position according to Fig. 16.

[0062] Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a program-controlled cleaning appliance in the form of a household dishwasher 1. The dishwasher 1 has, in a conventional manner, a housing 2 that accommodates a treatment tank 3. The treatment tank 3, in turn, provides a treatment chamber 4 for receiving items to be cleaned. To feed the treatment chamber 4 with items to be cleaned, the treatment tank 3 has a loading opening 5. This loading opening 5 can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of an appliance door 6, wherein the appliance door 6 is mounted so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis.

[0063] The appliance door 6 is shown in an interior view according to a first embodiment in Fig. 2. As can be seen from this illustration, the appliance door 6 is equipped with a dosing device 8 according to the invention. The dosing device 8 serves to store cleaning agent for several consecutive cleaning cycles.

[0064] To allow user access to the dosing device 8, the inside 7 of the device door 6 is equipped with a corresponding opening. This opening can be closed during intended use by means of a pivoting cover 9 mounted on the device door 6.

[0065] As can also be seen from the illustration in Fig. 2, a discharge opening 35 is provided on the inner side 7 of the appliance door 6, through which, during intended use, cleaning agent dispensed by the dosing device 8 is transferred into the treatment chamber 4 of the dishwasher 1. The discharge opening 35 is at least partially covered by a hood 10, which hood 10 leaves an opening gap 11.

[0066] According to the invention, the dosing device 8 can be equipped with differently designed storage containers, with Fig. 2 showing a dosing device 8 with a storage container 12 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 3 shows the dosing device 9 with a storage container 13 according to a second embodiment.

[0067] The storage container 12 according to the first embodiment is shown in a schematic perspective view in Fig. 4.

[0068] As can be seen from the illustration in Fig. 4, the first storage container 12 is configured to store pourable cleaning agent in the form of so-called tabs 14. For this purpose, the storage container 12 provides a plurality of storage compartments 15, each storage compartment 15 serving to hold a tab 14. Each storage compartment 15 opens radially into an outlet opening 16. During the intended dosing situation, a tab 14 stored in a storage compartment 15 can be discharged via the associated outlet opening 16 and transferred into the treatment chamber 14.

[0069] Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the storage container 13 according to the second embodiment. This storage container 13 serves to store granular or powdered cleaning agent. For this purpose, the storage container 13 has a container 19 that is open on one side and sealed at the top by a film 20. Detergent can be dispensed through an outlet opening 16 (see Fig. 11) during dosing and transferred into the treatment chamber 4 of the dishwasher 1.

[0070] When used as intended, the storage container 13 is accommodated by the dosing device 8 with a carrying unit 21 interposed.

[0071] A summary of Figures 7 to 13 in particular shows the dosing device 8 according to the invention in detail.

[0072] As can be seen from Figures 7 and 8, the dosing device 8 has a housing 25 that provides a receiving chamber 26. This receiving chamber 26 is surrounded by a boundary wall 29 in which a dosing opening 27 is formed.

[0073] The dosing device 8 further comprises a drop shaft 28 which fluidically connects the dosing opening 27 with the treatment chamber 4.

[0074] According to the invention, a first storage container 12 and a second storage container 13 are further provided, wherein the first storage container is configured to accommodate a first type of pourable cleaning agent, namely tablets. The second storage container 13, however, is configured to accommodate a second type of pourable cleaning agent, different from the first type, namely, in the present case, a granular or powdered cleaning agent.

[0075] The receiving chamber 26 of the dosing device 8 is designed, according to the modular principle, to accommodate one of the two storage containers 12, 13, selectively and interchangeably, by the user, so that it can rotate about a rotation axis 32. This rotation axis 32 is defined by a shaft stub 30 on the receiving chamber side.

[0076] The dosing device 8 according to the invention thus comprises two differently designed storage containers 12 and 13. The user has the choice of inserting either one storage container or the other storage container into the dosing housing 25 for the intended dispensing of a corresponding cleaning agent. This is shown in Figures 9 and 10, wherein, according to the exemplary embodiment of Figure 9, the storage container 12 according to the first embodiment is inserted into the dosing device 8, and according to Figure 10, the second storage container 13 according to the second embodiment is inserted.

[0077] For a rotational movement of a storage container 12 or 13, the dosing device 38 has a drive device 31 which interacts with a gear 33, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. In the intended case of use, the gear 33 meshes with a corresponding toothing, which is provided in the case of the storage container itself, as can be seen in Figure 4. In the intended case of use, the storage container 13 is rotatably received by the housing 25 with the interposition of the support unit 21, for which reason, in this case, the toothing 34 is provided by the support unit 21. The support unit 21 interchangeably receives the storage container 13, wherein the storage container 13 rotates together with the support unit 21, which is motor-driven in the manner described above, in the intended case of rotation.

[0078] Furthermore, an insert 22 is provided, as shown in Fig. 6. This insert 22 is arranged in the dosing opening 27 on the user side according to the modular principle, as can be seen from a combination of Figures 7 and 8. The insert 22 is designed to adapt the size of the dosing opening 27 to the size of the outlet opening 16 provided by a storage container 12. In this respect, when the insert 22 is inserted, a reduced dosing opening 27 results, in contrast to a dosing opening 27 without an insert, as can be seen from a combination of Figures 7 and 8 on the one hand and Figures 9 and 10 on the other.

[0079] The use of an insert 22 is necessary if the storage container 12 is inserted into the dosing device 8 instead of the storage container 13. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, if the dosing opening 27 is not reduced in size, two tabs may inadvertently leave the storage container 12 during dosing. This must be prevented, which is the purpose of the insert 22. Secondly, the dosing opening 27 must be closed when not dosing, for which purpose the storage container 12 or the support unit 21 receiving the storage container 13 has a corresponding blocking element 17. A blocking element 17 provides a cover 18 which, when not dosing, rests against the dosing opening 27 and closes it, so that no cleaning agent can enter the chute 28, as can be seen in Figures 9 and 10. The size of the dosing opening 27 is matched to the size of the cover 18 or vice versa.In this respect, the insert 22 is required in order to ensure, in the case of a storage container 12, that the dosing opening 27 is closed as desired when the dosing is not taking place.

[0080] As can be seen from a combined view of Figures 6 and 9, in particular, the insert 22 is supported by a support arm 24 on the inside of a wall of the drop shaft 28. This ensures secure peripheral contact with the storage container 12.

[0081] Furthermore, the insert 22 has a magnet 23 that interacts with a Hall sensor on the housing. This allows the system to detect whether the insert 22 is inserted or not.

[0082] A further Hall sensor is provided on the housing side, which is arranged, for example, in the area of ​​the drive device 31. This Hall sensor interacts with one or more further magnets provided by the storage container 12 or 13 or the support unit 21. In this way, it is possible to detect which storage container 12 or 13 is inserted into the dosing device 8. For example, it can be provided that the storage container 12 is equipped with one magnet, whereas the support unit 21 carries two magnets that are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. If a storage container 12 or 13 is now inserted into the dosing device 8, a rotating movement of the storage container initially takes place, so that it can be detected which type of storage container is inserted. If the device-side Hall sensor only detects one magnet, it is determined that it is the storage container 12.Two magnetically induced signals refer to the support unit 21 and thus to the storage container 13. In this way, the system can distinguish between the two storage containers.

[0083] In combination with the Hall sensor detecting insert 22, operational readiness can be determined. For example, if the system detects both the storage container 13 and the insert 22, a proper system start is not possible, and the user is prompted to first remove the insert 22. The same applies if the storage container 22 is detected while the insert 22 is simultaneously detected not to be inserted. In this case, a system start is simultaneously denied until the system also detects the insertion of the insert 22.

[0084] Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the dosing device 8 according to the invention. As can be seen from this overview, the dosing device 8 provides a housing 25 into which the user can optionally insert either the storage container 12 or the storage container 13. This makes it possible for the user to fill the dosing device 8 with either tablets or granular-powder cleaning agent. One and the same dosing device 8 is therefore designed to store different types of cleaning agent and to be able to dispense them as intended when dosing is required. The use of the storage container 12 is coupled to the fact that the dosing opening 27 is made smaller, which is why the use of the storage container 12 also results in the use of the insert 22, which ensures that the size of the dosing opening 27 is adapted to the size of the outlet opening 16 provided for each storage compartment 15.

[0085] Detergent dispensed during the intended dosing process passes through the chute 28 into the treatment chamber 4. On the treatment chamber side, the chute 28 opens into a discharge opening 35, as shown in Figures 14 to 16. This discharge opening 35 is covered by a scoop 10, thus preventing an unnecessarily large amount of rinsing liquid circulated in the treatment chamber 4 from entering the chute 28. During the intended use, the scoop 10 leaves an opening gap 11 through which the detergent can be dispensed.

[0086] The opening gap 11 is dimensioned such that it is sufficient for dispensing powdered or granular cleaning agent. However, the gap opening 11 may be too small for the intended dispensing of a tablet 14. For this reason, according to one exemplary embodiment, the scoop 10 is pivotably mounted on the wash cabinet door 6, i.e., it can be pivoted from a basic position, in which the opening gap has its minimum gap opening size, into a position with a larger gap opening size of the opening gap 11, as can be seen from a combination of Figures 14, 15, and 16. This pivotability of the scoop 10 allows the scoop 10 to pivot to widen the opening gap 11, so that tablet dispensing is also possible during the intended use. Such a tablet dispensing is shown again in a side view in Figure 17.

[0087] The scoop 10 is preferably held in a basic position under spring force, in which the opening gap 11 has its minimum gap opening size. Dosing occurs in this basic position in the case of a powdered or granular cleaning agent. For this purpose, a leg spring (not shown in the drawings) integrated, for example, in the axis of rotation of the scoop 10 can serve, which returns the scoop 10 to its basic position in the event of pivoting. This can minimize the risk of larger liquid residues, which drip from the wash ware, in particular from glasses, cups, and pots, when the door is fully open, getting into the chute 28 and further into the receiving chamber 26. The spring force is designed such that, on the one hand, the scoop safely assumes the basic position when not dosing, and, on the other hand, when dosing a tablet 14, it is lifted by the tablet due to its kinetic energy, i.e.is briefly pivoted so that the tab can be fed into the treatment room.

[0088] The invention proposes a universal, automatic dosing device with a cleaning supply for multiple rinse cycles, the special feature being that the dosing device 8 can be optionally equipped with different types of cleaning agents by the user. For each type of cleaning agent, a correspondingly equipped storage container is provided, which stores the cleaning agent and which, when used as intended, is accommodated in the housing of the dosing device 8. Since the rotary slide for sealing the drop channel is significantly smaller in a tablet holder, as can be seen in particular in Figures 9 and 10, the previously described insert 22 must also be inserted by the customer when using the tablet holder, i.e., the storage container 12, in order to correspondingly reduce the size of the dosing opening 27.This is important because otherwise the storage room is not sealed against moisture ingress from the treatment room.

[0089] Furthermore, it is important for the system to detect which storage container 12 or 13 is used. For dosing purposes, with a tablet holder, the storage container 12 is only rotated until the outlet opening 16 of a storage compartment 15 containing a tablet 14 radially overlaps the dosing opening 27. As soon as the tablet 14 has been ejected, the storage container 12 rotates back to its original position, in which the cover 18 of the blocking element 17 closes the dosing opening 27. When dosing cleaning agent stored in the storage container 13, the storage container 13 rotates 360°. In contrast to a tablet holder, there is no back-and-forth movement.In order to be able to initiate these different movements as intended during dosing, the detection of the storage container 12 and 13 used is necessary, for which purpose a corresponding sensing is provided, for example by means of a Hall sensor, as described above.

[0090] Reference symbol

[0091] 1 dishwasher 20 19 containers

[0092] 2 housings 20 foil

[0093] 3 Treatment container 21 Carrying unit 4 Treatment room 22 Insert

[0094] 5 Loading opening 23 Magnet

[0095] 6 Sink door 25 24 Support arm

[0096] 7 Inside 25 Housing

[0097] 8 Dosing device 26 Receiving chamber 9 Lid 27 Dosing opening

[0098] 10 scoop 28 chute

[0099] 11 gap opening 30 29 boundary wall

[0100] 12 first storage tank 30 shaft stub

[0101] 13 second storage container 31 drive device 14 cleaning agent tablet 32 ​​rotation axis

[0102] 15 Storage compartment 33 Gear

[0103] 16 Outlet opening 35 34 Toothing

[0104] 17 Blocking device 35 Discharge opening

[0105] 18 Cover

Claims

Patent claims 1. Dosing device for a metered introduction of a pourable cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a device housing (25) providing a receiving chamber (26), a dosing opening (27) formed in a boundary wall (29) of the receiving chamber (26) and a drop shaft (28) which fluidically connects the dosing opening (27) to the treatment chamber (4), characterized by a first storage container (12) which is designed to accommodate a first type of cleaning agent of a pourable cleaning agent, and a second storage container (13) which is designed to accommodate a second type of cleaning agent of a pourable cleaning agent which is different from the first type of cleaning agent, wherein the receiving chamber (26) is designed to selectively and interchangeably accommodate one of the two storage containers (12,13) to rotatably receive a rotation axis (32).

2. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a storage container (12, 13) provides an outlet opening (16) and can be transferred from a basic position into a dosing position and vice versa, wherein the outlet opening (16) in the dosing position of the storage container (12, 13) cooperates with the dosing opening (27) on the receiving chamber side.

3. Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet openings (16) provided by the two storage containers (12, 13) are of different sizes.

4. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an insert (22) which can be arranged optionally in the dosing opening (27) by the user according to the modular principle and which is designed to adapt the size of the dosing opening (27) to the size of the outlet opening (16) provided by a storage container (12).

5. Dosing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the insert (22) provides a magnet (23) which interacts with a Hall sensor on the housing side.

6. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a support unit (21) rotatably arranged in the receiving chamber (27) which exchangeably receives a storage container (12, 13).

7. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by Means configured to detect a storage container (12, 13) inserted into the receiving chamber (26) and / or configured to distinguish a first storage container (12) from a second storage container (13).

8. Dosing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means comprise a sensor unit which is preferably formed on the housing side.

9. Dosing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the sensor unit has a contactless sensor, preferably a Hall sensor.

10. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 9, characterized in that a storage container (12, 13) or the carrying unit (21) has a detection element cooperating with the sensor unit.

11. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the support unit (21) or a storage container (12, 13) has a magnet (23) or two Magnets (23) which interact or interact with a Hall sensor on the housing side.

12. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a blocking member (17) which can be transferred from a blocking position into a release position and vice versa, wherein the chute (28) is blocked in the blocking position of the blocking member (17) by closing the dosing opening (27) for discharging cleaning agent from a storage container (12, 13).

13. Dosing device according to claim 12, characterized in that the blocking member (17) has a cover (18) arranged on the outer circumference of a storage container (12, 13) or a support unit (21) and cooperating with the dosing opening (27) in the blocking position.

14. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chute (28) opens into a discharge opening (35) on the treatment chamber side.

15. Dosing device according to claim 14, characterized in that the discharge opening (35) is covered on the treatment chamber side with a scoop (10) providing a gap opening (11), which is preferably designed to be pivotable.

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