Dispensing system which has a membrane unit and can be freely positioned in a laundry drum

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing system (1) for dispensing at least one preparation into a rotatable laundry drum of a washing machine, wherein the dispensing system (1) is suitable for being freely positioned in the laundry drum and for letting out a certain amount of the preparation in the laundry drum as it rotates, wherein the dispensing system (1) comprises: a) a container (26) for storing the preparation; b) a dispensing device (25), which dispenses the preparation from the container (26) into the laundry drum; and c) a housing (10), which accommodates the container (26) and the dispensing device (25), wherein the dispensing device (25) is arranged in a protective chamber (32) within the housing (10). The invention is characterized in that the protective chamber (32) has a membrane unit (35) with at least a first membrane (36), and the membrane unit (35) is permeable to air and impermeable to water vapour.

Description

[0001] Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG

[0002] September 29, 2025

[0003] Freely positionable dosing system with membrane unit in a washing drum

[0004] The invention relates to a dosing system for dispensing at least one preparation into a rotatable washing drum.

[0005] From EP 4 311 873 A1, a dosing system is known that can be freely positioned in the drum of a washing machine and is suitable for dispensing the preparation while the drum is rotating. The dosing system has a spherical housing with an inner and an outer shell. The outer shell is made of an elastic and damping thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material to cushion impact forces acting on the dosing system inside the drum. A container for storing the preparation is arranged inside the housing. Furthermore, a dosing device is housed in the housing, which dispenses the preparation from the container into the drum.

[0006] The dosing unit contains various electromechanical and / or electronic components that must be protected from moisture to prevent corrosion or malfunction. Therefore, the dosing unit is located in a sealed protective chamber within the housing. However, it has been observed that significant pressure fluctuations occur within this sealed chamber when the dosing system, positioned in the washing drum, is exposed to varying temperatures during a wash cycle. If the dosing system or the protective chamber has areas that are deformed by these pressure changes, repeated deformation can lead to material fatigue and damage. This can result in the complete failure of the dosing system.

[0007] The object underlying the invention is to provide a dosing system that can be freely positioned in a washing drum and that allows for the safe and unobstructed dispensing of the preparation even over a longer period of time.

[0008] In the context of the present invention, a preparation is generally understood to be any active preparation that is used within household appliances with a rotating drum, for example washing machines or tumble dryers, within the framework of usual application programs to improve the respective application result.

[0009] 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.

[0010] According to the invention, the protective chamber comprises a membrane unit with at least one membrane, wherein the membrane unit is permeable to air and impermeable to water vapor. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG

[0011] September 29, 2025

[0012] 2

[0013] Because the membrane unit is permeable to air, pressure equalization can occur between the air enclosed in the protective chamber and the air outside. A pressure increase due to a temperature rise in the washing drum during a wash cycle would be reduced, or ideally prevented altogether, by the air exchange facilitated by the membrane unit. Areas of the dosing system or the protective chamber that would deform due to pressure changes and subsequently experience material fatigue over time would thus be protected.

[0014] At the same time, the membrane unit ensures that moisture in the form of water vapor does not enter the protective chamber and cause corrosion or other damage. Therefore, the invention provides excellent protection for the dosing device or system against damage that could result from pressure changes and moisture within the protective chamber.

[0015] The membrane unit can have an air permeability of 0.3 ml / min or greater. In one embodiment, the air permeability is more than 1 ml / min or even more than 3 ml / min. In another embodiment, the air permeability is between 0.5 ml / mm and 2.5 ml / min (air volume in ml at 1.013 bar).

[0016] The membrane unit comprises at least one first membrane, which may preferably be made of polyester (preferably PET), polyamide, polyether, polypropylene, polysulfone, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), or ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer. Expanded (stretched) microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is particularly preferred as a material.

[0017] The membrane unit can include a first membrane, a second membrane, and optionally further membranes. The first and second membranes are preferably connected in series within the membrane unit, i.e., arranged one above the other or one behind the other, such that air from the outside must enter the protective chamber through the first membrane and then through the second membrane. The material of the first membrane can be the same as the material of the second membrane. However, it is preferred that the materials of the two membranes are different. For example, the first membrane can be made of expanded (stretched) microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), while the second membrane is made of polyester or polypropylene.

[0018] The first membrane can be circular and have an effective area of ​​a few millimeters.

[0019] The effective area can range from, for example, 0.5 to 50 mm. 2 be.

[0020] The membrane unit may also include a support ring, which simplifies the fixing or attachment of the membrane unit to other components of the dosing system. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG

[0021] September 29, 2025

[0022] 3

[0023] In one embodiment, the housing of the dosing system comprises a first housing half and a second housing half that can be separated from the first housing half. The dosing device is housed in the first housing half. The container is located in the second housing half.

[0024] Preferably, the housing is spherical. The first and second halves of the housing can each have the shape of a hollow hemisphere. In this case, the center of the hypothetical sphere would lie in the dividing plane separating the two hemispheres. However, it is also possible that the center does not lie in the dividing plane.

[0025] The protective chamber can be covered by a cover plate attached to the first half of the housing. The cover plate is preferably attached in a way that is resistant to air and water vapor. It can be attached by welding.

[0026] In one embodiment, the membrane unit can be arranged in a membrane receptacle of the cover plate. The membrane receptacle can be located on the inner side of the cover plate below an air opening. The membrane unit can be fixed within the membrane unit by a retaining sleeve.

[0027] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0028] Figure 1 shows a dosing system with a spherical housing in perspective view;

[0029] Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the dosing system with container and dosing device;

[0030] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of one half of the housing and a separate cover plate;

[0031] Figure 4 shows a section through the housing half and the cover plate of Figure 3; and

[0032] Figure 5 shows a section according to Figure 4, but now with the housing half and cover plate in the assembled state.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a dosing system, designated as a whole by 1. During use, the dosing system 1 can be placed in the drum of a standard household washing machine or tumble dryer and is freely movable within it. The dosing system 1 has a spherical housing 10 with a first housing half 11 and a second housing half 12, between which a flat dividing line 13 runs. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG

[0034] September 29, 2025

[0035] 4

[0036] The spherical housing 10 has a first pole 14 and a second pole 15, which is diametrically opposite the first pole 14 and is hidden in Figure 1. A plurality of S-shaped ribs 16 extend from the first pole 14 to the second pole 15. These S-shaped ribs 16 can also be referred to as longitudinal ribs. As can be seen in Figure 1, the longitudinal ribs 16 meet a circular annular rib 17 at the first pole, which encloses a control panel 18. The dosing system can be operated externally by pressing a button on this control panel 18. Another annular rib 19 defines a charging field 20, which allows the dosing system 1 to be electrically charged by induction.

[0037] Between two adjacent longitudinal ribs 16a, 16b, a first dispensing outlet 21 and a second dispensing outlet 22 are arranged. The first dispensing outlet 21 has an opening 23 through which a first preparation, which can be dispensed by the dosing system, exits the housing 10. Through an opening 24 of the second dispensing outlet 22, a second preparation can exit through the housing 10 to the outside.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the dosing system 1, with the two housing halves 11 and 12 separated. The first housing half 11 of the housing 10 serves to hold a dosing device 25. A container 26, which serves to store the first and second preparations, can be inserted into the second housing half 12. The container 26 has a first chamber 27 containing the first preparation. The first preparation can be a highly concentrated perfume oil. The first chamber 27 of the container 26 can be connected to the dosing device 25 via a first dosing lance 28 and a first seal of the container 26, which is covered by a removable protective cap 29 (the protective cap 29 must be removed before connection). Thus, the dosing device 25 can dispense the perfume oil from the first chamber 27 through the opening 23 of the dispensing outlet 21 into the washing drum.A second dosing lance 30 and a second seal, also concealed by the protective cap 29, connect a second chamber 31 to the dosing device 25. The second chamber 31 is significantly larger than the first chamber 27 and serves to hold a detergent, which can be dispensed via the second dispensing outlet 22.

[0039] The dosing device 25 is located in a protective chamber 32, which is bounded by the first housing half 11 and a cover plate 33. The cover plate is airtightly attached to the housing half 11 at its outer edge 34.

[0040] Figure 3 shows the first housing half 11 in a perspective view, with the cover plate 33 shown separately from the housing half 11, in contrast to the illustration in Figure 1. Figure 4 also shows the cover plate 33 in the separated state, while Figure 5 shows the cover plate 33 in the installed state. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG

[0041] September 29, 2025

[0042] 5

[0043] Figures 3 to 5 further show a membrane unit 35 (reference numeral 35 see Figure 5) comprising a first membrane 36, a second membrane 37, and a support ring 38. In the installed state, these components 36, 37, 38 (i.e., the membrane unit 35) are seated in a membrane receptacle 39. The membrane receptacle 39 is integrally formed with the cover plate 33. The membrane receptacle 39 is located on an inner surface of the cover plate facing the metering device 25 and is situated below an air opening 40. A retaining stud 41 provides (additional) security against the membrane unit 35 detaching from the membrane receptacle 39.

[0044] Since the membrane unit is air-permeable, air exchange can take place between the protective chamber 32 and the environment or the washing drum via the air opening 40 (the connection between the housing halves 11, 12 is not airtight). This air exchange prevents virtually any overpressure or underpressure from developing in the protective chamber. The membrane unit is impermeable to water vapor, so moisture cannot accumulate in the protective chamber 32.

[0045] Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG

[0046] September 29, 2025

[0047] Reference symbol list

[0048] 1 dosing system

[0049] 10 cases

[0050] 11 first half of the housing

[0051] 12 second case half

[0052] 13 Dividing line

[0053] 14 first pole

[0054] 15 second pole

[0055] 16 Rib / Longitudinal rib (16a, 16b)

[0056] 17 Ring rib

[0057] 18 Control panel

[0058] 19 ring rib

[0059] 20 loading bays

[0060] 21 first issue

[0061] 22 Opening

[0062] 23 second issue outlet

[0063] 24-hour opening

[0064] 25 Dosing device

[0065] 26 containers

[0066] 27 first chamber

[0067] 28 first dosing lance

[0068] 29 Protective cap

[0069] 30 second dosing lance

[0070] 31 second chamber

[0071] 32 Protective chamber

[0072] 33 Cover plate

[0073] 34 Rand

[0074] 35 Membrane unit

[0075] 36 first membrane

[0076] 37 second membrane

[0077] 38 Support ring

[0078] 39 Membrane attachment

[0079] 40 air openings

[0080] 41 retaining ring

Claims

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG September 29, 2025 7 Patent claims 1. Dosing system (1) for dispensing at least one preparation into a rotatable washing drum of a washing machine, wherein the dosing system (1) is suitable for being freely positioned in the washing drum and dispensing the preparation therein as the washing drum rotates, wherein the dosing system (1) comprises: a container (26) for storing the preparation; a dosing device (25) that dispenses the preparation from the container (26) into the washing drum; a housing (10) accommodating the container (26) and the dosing device (25), wherein the dosing device (25) is arranged in a protective chamber (32) within the housing (10), characterized in that the protective chamber (32) has a membrane unit (35) with at least one first membrane (36), wherein the membrane unit (35) is permeable to air and impermeable to water vapor.

2. Dosing system (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the membrane unit (35) has an air permeability of greater than or equal to 0.3 ml / min, 1 ml / min or 3 ml / min.

3. Dosing system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first membrane (36) is made of polyester (preferably PET), polyamide, polyether, polypropylene, polysulfone, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylenepropylene (FEP), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and particularly preferably of expanded (extended) microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

4. Dosing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the membrane unit (35) has a second membrane (36).

5. Dosing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the membrane unit (35) has a support ring (38).

6. Dosing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (10) has a first housing half (11) and a second housing half (12) that can be separated from the first housing half (11), wherein the dosing device (25) is housed in the first housing half (11) and the container (26) is housed in the second housing half (12).

7. Dosing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the protective chamber (32) is covered by a cover plate (33) which is attached to the first housing half (1 1). Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 2024P00372WG September 29, 2025 8 8. Dosing system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the membrane unit (35) is arranged in a membrane receptacle (39) of the cover plate (33).

9. Dosing system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the membrane receptacle (39) is located on an inner side of the cover plate (33) below an air opening (40).

10. Dosing system 0 according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the membrane unit (35) is fixed in the membrane unit (39) by a retaining nozzle (41).

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