Metering system for a domestic appliance, and domestic appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering system (20) for a water-conducting or air-conducting domestic appliance (1), wherein the metering system (20) comprises: a) a storage container, which is filled with a product for the care, cleaning or scenting of laundry or dishes, and b) a pump for delivering the product from the storage container, wherein the pump has a drive (45) and a pump head (33) with a pump inlet (35) and a pump outlet (59) for the product. The invention is distinguished in that a connection between the pump head (59) and the drive (45) and a connection between the storage container and the pump inlet (35) can be disconnected and re-connected by an average operator of the domestic appliance (1). The invention also relates to a water-conducting or air-conducting domestic appliance (1) comprising the metering system (20).

Description

[0001] Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO

[0002] September 26, 2025

[0003] Dosing system for a household appliance as well as a household appliance

[0004] The invention relates to a dosing system for product supply to a water-bearing or air-bearing household appliance and to a household appliance equipped with the dosing system.

[0005] EP 3 286 369 B1 discloses a water-bearing household appliance in the form of a washing machine equipped with a dosing system. The dosing system comprises two reservoirs, each filled with a liquid product for the care or cleaning of laundry. The dosing system further comprises a pump for conveying the products from the reservoirs. The pump has two pump heads and a common drive, wherein, in one direction of drive, only one pump head is active, and in the opposite direction of drive, the other pump head is active in conveying liquid.

[0006] From EP 2 439 325 B1, a dosing system with a storage container and pump is known for a water-bearing household appliance, wherein the pump is designed as a submersible pump. A pump inlet or the suction side of the pump is arranged as close as possible to the bottom of the storage container. A pump outlet is connected to a flushable drain shaft into which the product is conveyed. The pump is detachably connected to the storage container.

[0007] EP 3 617 380 B1 discloses a washing machine with a dosing system. The dosing system comprises two reservoirs formed within a drawer. Two pump heads are attached to one end of the drawer, each having an opening for a drive shaft. Only when the drawer is fully inserted into the drawer slot do the two drive shafts of a drive unit, located at the end of the drawer slot, engage in these two openings, allowing the pump heads to be driven by the drive unit.

[0008] The dosing systems described above hold various liquid chemical products. The pump drive typically does not come into contact with the product; only the pump head handles the product. Therefore, it is crucial that the pump head and all its components that come into contact with the product are designed and manufactured to suit the specific chemical compositions being pumped. This design can result in very high material requirements for the pump head's product-handling components, leading to significant costs to ensure a sufficiently long service life for the dosing system. Consequently, a careful balance must be struck between service life, material costs, and overall pump price. Furthermore, the system's performance can change over time, and the pump's performance can also change over time.A change in the range of chemical preparations available for a household appliance may result. Newly available compositions on the market may, for example, include, in addition to massive [Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO 26.09.2025].

[0009] 2

[0010] Changes in pH value and viscosity can negatively affect the durability of the materials used in the pump. This can significantly shorten the service life of the dosing system.

[0011] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a dosing system for supplying products, for example active substances, to water-bearing or air-bearing household appliances, which is simple and cost-effective in design and can be operated efficiently over a long period of time.

[0012] For the purposes of the present invention, a product is understood to be any active substance that can be added to an application cycle of the relevant household appliance (for example, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, etc.) and that supports the success of the respective application cycle through its chemical-physical interaction. Such active substances are generally free-flowing, preferably liquid.

[0013] The problem underlying the invention is solved by the subject matter according to claim 1. Exemplary embodiments can be found in the dependent claims to claim 1.

[0014] According to the invention, the connection between the pump head and the pump drive, as well as the connection between the reservoir and the pump inlet, are detachable and re-establishable. This is based on the assumption of an average user of the household appliance who is able to detach and re-establish the connection between the pump head and the drive, and the connection between the reservoir and the pump inlet. Thus, it is readily possible for the average user to replace a pump head with a new one. The fact that the average user may need to consult the operating instructions before replacing the pump head does not preclude the detachability and re-establishability of the two connections required here. An average user is defined as a person who regularly uses the household appliance in the course of performing typical household tasks.

[0015] The replaceable pump head avoids complex and costly repairs for the operator, which would be necessary with a conventional household appliance according to current technology. Furthermore, the ability to easily replace the pump head allows for flexible adaptation to new products whose chemical compositions might be problematic for an older pump head but unproblematic for a newly developed one.

[0016] Due to the interchangeability of the pump head, it is no longer necessary to synchronize its service life with that of the other components of the dosing system or the appliance. The service life requirements for the pump head can therefore be reduced, allowing for more cost-effective manufacturing. The service life can be, for example, one year, or, in the case of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO 26.09.2025

[0017] 3

[0018] The washing machine can be used for approximately 250 wash cycles. Of course, other suitable usage periods are also conceivable.

[0019] In one embodiment, the connection between the pump head and the drive can be disconnected and reconnected without tools. Similarly, the connection between the pump head's inlet and the reservoir can be designed to be disconnected and reconnected without tools.

[0020] A water-using household appliance could be, for example, a washing machine or a dishwasher. An example of an air-using household appliance is a clothes dryer with a dosing system, where, for example, a fragrance is added to the airflow inside the dryer.

[0021] The reservoir can be designed as a replaceable cartridge. If the dosing system has multiple reservoirs, several separate cartridges can be used. The replaceable cartridge can have one or more chambers. Alternatively or additionally, the cartridge can contain one or more flexible pouches for the product or for different products. The use of a flexible pouch has the advantage that it can contract, thus preventing negative pressure from forming inside the pouch when the product is removed.

[0022] In one embodiment, the dosing system has a movable carrier for the cartridge and the pump head. The carrier can hold the pump head in a position relative to the cartridge in which the connection between the pump inlet of the pump head and the cartridge is established. The carrier can have a cartridge compartment into which the cartridge can be inserted. The carrier can also have a pump head compartment for receiving the pump head. The cartridge compartment and the cartridge can be equipped with locking mechanisms. The engagement of these locking mechanisms informs the operator that the cartridge has assumed the correct position within the cartridge compartment. The pump head compartment and the pump head can also have corresponding locking mechanisms, whereby the engagement of these mechanisms indicates the correct position of the pump head within the pump head compartment.

[0023] In one embodiment, the connection between the pump head and the drive can be established by moving the carrier into an operating position. Furthermore, moving the carrier into this position can also establish a connection between the pump outlet of the pump head and a metering outlet. This makes it possible to create a closed connection chain between the cartridge, the pump inlet and outlet of the pump head, and the metering outlet of the metering system by moving the movable carrier into its operating position. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO 26.09.2025

[0024] 4

[0025] The operating position of the carrier can be an end position defined by a stop or similar device. The operator thus receives simple feedback that the carrier is now in its operating position.

[0026] Moving the carrier into its operating position also establishes a connection between the pump head and a control unit of the dosing system and / or between the cartridge and the control unit. This connection allows data or information about the cartridge contents to be transmitted to the control unit. For example, if the product is highly concentrated, the control unit can reduce the dispensing time accordingly or specify a control program tailored to that product. Furthermore, if the cartridge is equipped with a sensor, this connection can inform the control unit that a chamber or bag is completely empty. It is also possible to transmit information to the control unit via this data connection confirming that the pump inlet is properly connected to the cartridge. The control unit then generates control signals for the pump.The pump's drive unit receives these control signals and then drives the pump head accordingly. The drive unit can include a motor and a gearbox.

[0027] The carrier can be designed as a slide-in unit that can be inserted into or removed from a receiving chamber of the dosing system. When removed, the carrier is freely accessible, allowing easy removal of the pump head from its compartment. In one embodiment, the slide-in unit (including the cartridge and pump head) can be completely separated from the other components of the dosing system, which are preferably permanently installed in the appliance.

[0028] The pump head can have an opening into which a drive shaft can be inserted. The connection between the pump head and the drive can thus be a plug-in connection, preferably established by a simple linear movement. Alternatively, a drive shaft can protrude from a housing of the pump head, which can be inserted into an opening in the drive.

[0029] The pump can be designed as a centrifugal pump or a positive displacement pump. An oscillating or rotary positive displacement pump is particularly suitable. An oscillating positive displacement pump can be a reciprocating piston pump or a diaphragm pump. Preferred examples of rotary positive displacement pumps include: vane pumps, progressive cavity pumps, screw pumps, gear pumps, and peristaltic pumps. Gear pumps and peristaltic pumps, in particular, enable the pumping of very small quantities of liquid with high precision. Comparable pumps, especially for pumping small quantities of liquid, are also conceivable. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO

[0030] September 26, 2025

[0031] 5

[0032] A further object of the invention is to provide a water- or air-bearing household appliance that can be operated efficiently; this is achieved by claim 16. Exemplary embodiments of the dosing system of this household appliance can be found in claims 1 to 15 and in this description. The household appliance can be, for example, a washing machine, a dishwasher, or a clothes dryer.

[0033] A first example of a situation requiring pump head replacement is when changing a cartridge containing perfume oil in concentrations above 1%, preferably above 10%, and particularly preferably above 20%. Perfume oils are complex mixtures that are usually added in small quantities to a process within a household appliance, such as a washing machine or tumble dryer. Peristaltic pumps are ideal for this purpose because they can precisely dispense small quantities. Perfume oils can be very aggressive or chemically reactive to conventional tubing materials such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. The tubing material must always be compatible with the perfume oil used. For example, silicone tubing, especially platinum-cured silicone tubing, or expensive fluorinated tubing materials are suitable for this application.The quality, and therefore the service life, of the hoses and thus of the replaceable pump head can now be selected so that it can reliably perform a certain number of dosing cycles. Preferably, this is an annual requirement of approximately 250 washing cycles, particularly preferably approximately 100 washing cycles.

[0034] A second example of a cartridge change is a change in the surfactant system. Surfactants are surface-active; they wet surfaces and can penetrate them. Wetting can cause hoses to stick together in the case of a peristaltic pump, and penetration can be so extensive that the surfactants even pass through the hose material and ultimately destroy it. The same applies, for example, to gear pumps. Here, too, the material of the gears and the surrounding housing must be carefully selected. Often, expensive fluorinated materials are used, given the requirement for a long service life. Especially with surfactant mixtures, extreme pH values ​​can prevail, e.g., < pH 2. If the pH value changes, and thus the composition changes, a new material selection may be necessary.The use of interchangeable pump heads solves this problem, as the new pump head is perfectly matched to the new composition.

[0035] In another possible embodiment, one of the cartridges can contain bleaching agents, in particular peroxy acids such as phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid. This relatively nonpolar peroxy acid can attack oxidation-sensitive plastic materials and, due to its low pH value (< 5), can also cause the hydrolysis of, for example, silicone materials. To find an economical and technically viable solution here as well, instead of using expensive fluoropolymers, it is advisable to regularly replace the pump heads on the peroxy acid carrier. Therefore, it can be advantageous to supply a new pump head directly with each cartridge replacement. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO 26.09.2025

[0036] 6

[0037] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0038] Figure 1 shows a washing machine with a dosing system;

[0039] Figure 2 shows the dosing system in isolation;

[0040] Figure 3 shows the dosing system in exploded view with inserts and storage container;

[0041] Figure 4 shows the dosing system in another view; and

[0042] Figure 5 shows one of the storage containers of Figure 3 in another view.

[0043] Figure 1 shows a water-bearing household appliance in the form of a washing machine, which is designated as a whole by 1. A tub and a rotating drum are housed within a casing 10 of the washing machine 1, enclosing a wash chamber for the laundry to be cleaned. The wash chamber is accessible through a door 11. A dosing system 20 is also arranged within the casing 10, serving to dispense liquid products or active substances for care, cleaning, and / or fragrance into the tub or the wash chamber. The dosing system 20 is covered at the top by a lid 12 of the casing 10.

[0044] Figure 2 shows the dosing system 20 on its own. The dosing system has a frame 21 and a cover 22, which is pivotally attached to the frame 21. Figures 1 and 2 show the cover 22 in an open position. The frame 21 is permanently installed in the washing machine 1.

[0045] Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the metering element 20 and an upper circumferential rim 13 of the housing 10, on which the cover 12 normally rests, but which is not shown in this illustration. The frame 21 forms a first receiving chamber 23, a second receiving chamber 24, and a third receiving chamber 25. The first receiving chamber 23 serves to receive a first carrier 26. The first carrier 26 is designed as a first insert that can be pushed into the first receiving chamber 23 by a linear movement (see arrow 2). The receiving chamber 23 has an opening 27 at its end face through which the insert 26 can be pushed into the first receiving chamber 23.

[0046] In addition to the first carrier 26, the dosing system 20 has a second carrier 28 and a third carrier 29. The second carrier 28 can be inserted into the second receiving chamber 24, and the third carrier can be inserted into the third receiving chamber 25. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO

[0047] September 26, 2025

[0048] 7

[0049] The following section describes the first beam 26 and the first reception area 23 in more detail. Since beams 28 and 29 are essentially identical in construction to the first beam 26, the description for the first beam 26 can be applied to the second beam 28 or the third beam 29. The same applies analogously to the description of the first reception area 23. This description is also intended to be representative of the other two reception areas 24 and 25. Differences between beams 26, 28, and 29, and between reception areas 23, 24, and 25, will be discussed in more detail later.

[0050] The first carrier 26 has a cartridge compartment 30 into which a reservoir in the form of a first cartridge 31 can be inserted (the cartridge 31 is also shown in Figure 5). In addition to the cartridge compartment 30, the first carrier 26 also has a pump head compartment 32 into which a pump head 33 can be inserted. Figure 2 shows the pump head 33 in a position inserted into the pump head compartment 32. When the pump head 33 is in the pump head compartment 32 and the first cartridge 31 is in the cartridge compartment 30 of the carrier 26, a cartridge outlet 34 and a pump inlet 35 are connected. With the pump head 33 inserted in the pump head compartment 32, the connection between the cartridge outlet 34 and the pump inlet 35 can be established by sliding the cartridge into the cartridge compartment 30. This connection is designed as a plug connection, in which the larger diameter cartridge outlet 34 is plugged onto the smaller diameter pump inlet 35.Alternatively, if the two diameters are appropriately dimensioned, the pump inlet 35 can be placed on the cartridge outlet 34.

[0051] The pump head 33 can be inserted into the pump head compartment 32 from above, as shown in Figure 3. The direction of movement for inserting the pump head 33 into the carrier 26 (see arrow 3) can therefore be perpendicular to the direction of movement (see arrow 2) with which the first cartridge 31 can be pushed into the cartridge compartment 30.

[0052] Pump head compartment 32 is designed to hold only one pump head, namely the pump head 33. A pump head compartment 36 of the second carrier or the second insert 28 is designed to hold a triple pump head 37. The triple pump head 37 has three pump inlets 38, into which different products can be introduced. Accordingly, a second cartridge 39 has three chambers or three pouches, each with a cartridge outlet. The third carrier 29 has two pump head compartments 40, 41, into which a pump head 42, 43 can each be inserted. In a third cartridge 44, which can be inserted into the third insert 29, two products are stored in two chambers / pouches.

[0053] At one end face of the first receiving chamber 23 opposite the opening 27, a drive 45 with a drive shaft 46 is arranged. The drive 45 can comprise a motor and a gearbox or a gear pair. This drive shaft 46 can be inserted into an opening in the housing of the pump head 33. The opening for the drive shaft 46 is shown in the illustration of Figure Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO 26.09.2025

[0054] 8

[0055] 3 is concealed and is located on a rear wall of the housing of the pump head 33. A pump outlet is also provided on this rear wall, which can be connected to an inlet opening 47 of a metering outlet 48. A pump outlet of the pump head 42 can be seen in Figure 3 and is marked with reference numeral 59.

[0056] As can be seen in Figure 4, the metering outlet 48 has two end openings 49 through which the product from the cartridge 31 ultimately leaves the metering system 20.

[0057] The second receiving compartment 24 is designed to accommodate the second insert 28 with the triple pump head 37 inserted therein. Accordingly, three drive shafts 51 protrude from a triple drive 50, and these three drive shafts 51 can be controlled independently. Below the drive shafts 51 are three inlet openings 52 of a metering outlet 53, which, like the metering outlet 48, also has two outlet openings 54. The third receiving compartment 25 is assigned a double drive 55 and a metering outlet 56 with two inlet openings 57 and two outlet openings 58.

[0058] Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO

[0059] September 26, 2025

[0060] 9

[0061] Reference symbol list

[0062] 1 household appliance / washing machine

[0063] 2 Arrow / Direction

[0064] 3 Arrow / Direction

[0065] 10 cases

[0066] 11 Door

[0067] 12 lids

[0068] 13 Rand

[0069] 20 dosing systems

[0070] 21 frames

[0071] 22 aperture

[0072] 23 first recording room

[0073] 24 second recording room

[0074] 25 third recording room

[0075] 26 first carrier / insert

[0076] 27 Opening

[0077] 28 second carrier / insert

[0078] 29 third support / insert

[0079] 30 cartridge compartment

[0080] 31 first cartridge

[0081] 32 Pump head compartment

[0082] 33 Pump head

[0083] 34 Cartridge outlet

[0084] 35 Pump inlet

[0085] 36 pump head compartment

[0086] 37 Triple pump head

[0087] 38 Pump inlet

[0088] 39 second cartridge

[0089] 40 pump head compartments

[0090] 41 Pump head compartment

[0091] 42 Pump head

[0092] 43 Pump head

[0093] 44 third cartridge

[0094] 45 drive

[0095] 46 Drive shaft

[0096] 47 Entrance opening

[0097] 48 Metering outlet

[0098] 49 End opening

[0099] 50 Triple drive Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO

[0100] September 26, 2025

[0101] 10

[0102] 51 Drive shaft

[0103] 52 Entrance opening

[0104] 53 Metering outlet

[0105] 54 End opening

[0106] 55 Dual drive

[0107] 56 Metering outlet

[0108] 57 Entrance opening

[0109] 58 End opening

[0110] 59 Pump outlet

Claims

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO September 26, 2025 11 Patent claims 1. Dosing system (20) for a water-bearing or air-bearing household appliance (1), wherein the dosing system (20) comprises: a reservoir filled with a product for the care, cleaning or fragrance of laundry or dishes, a pump for conveying the product from the reservoir, the pump having a drive (45) and a pump head (33) with a pump inlet (35) and a pump outlet (59) for the product; characterized in that a connection between the pump head (59) and the drive (45) and a connection between the reservoir and the pump inlet (35) can be disconnected and reconnected by an average operator of the household appliance (1).

2. Dosing system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the pump head (33) and the drive (45) and / or the connection between the reservoir and the pump inlet (35) can be disconnected and reconnected without tools.

3. Dosing system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the storage container is designed as an exchangeable cartridge (31).

4. Dosing system (20) according to claim 3, characterized in that the dosing system (20) has a movable carrier (26) for the cartridge (31) and the pump head (33).

5. Dosing system (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that the support (26) holds the pump head (33) in a position with respect to the cartridge (31) in which the connection between the pump inlet (35) of the pump head (33) and the cartridge (31) is established.

6. Dosing system (20) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the connection between pump head (33) and drive (45) can be established by moving the carrier (26) into an operating position.

7. Metering system (20) according to claim 6, characterized in that by moving the carrier (26) into the operating position a connection can be established between the pump outlet (59) of the pump head (33) and a metering outlet (48).

8. Metering system (20) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that by moving the carrier (26) into the operating position a connection can be established between the pump head (33) and a control unit of the metering system (20) and / or between the carrier (26) and the control unit. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00339 WO September 26, 2025 12 9. Dosing system (20) according to one of claims 4 or 8, characterized in that the carrier (26) is designed as an insert which can be pushed into a receiving space (23).

10. Dosing system (20) according to claim 9, characterized in that the pump head (33) can be removed from a housing of the insert (26) when the insert (26) is removed from the receiving chamber (23).

11. Dosing system (20) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the carrier (26) is designed to accommodate at least one further storage container and at least one further pump head (42, 43).

12. Dosing system (20) according to one of claims 4 to 11 , characterized in that at least two carriers (26, 28, 29) are provided.

13. Dosing system (20) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the pump head (33) has an opening for a drive shaft (46) of the drive (45).

14. Dosing system (20) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the connection between pump head (33) and drive (45) is designed as a plug connection.

15. Dosing system (20) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the pump is designed as a peristaltic pump.

16. Water-bearing or air-bearing household appliance (1) with a dosing system (20) according to one of claims 1 to 15.

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