The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a washing or rinsing agent according to the preamble of claim 1.
One object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing a washing or rinsing agent of the type which is simplified, low-cost and offers a high degree of reliability.
In order to achieve this object and other objects the subject-matter of the present invention concerns a device for dispensing a washing or rinsing agent which has the characteristic features of the accompanying claim 1.
Further characteristic features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings provided purely by way of a non-limiting example in which:
In connection with the detailed description which follows, the terms “vertical”, “horizontal” and “transverse”, “downwards” and “upwards”, “top” and “base”, “upper” and “lower” have been used to define positions and directions of different components. It is understood that these terms refer solely to the embodiment shown in the drawings only in order to define the relationship between its components in a purely conventional manner, and this must not be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention.
With reference to
The dispensing device 10 is able to release, during a working cycle thereof, a quantity of washing/rinsing agent in powder and/or gel and/or liquid and/or solid form and comprises a container 12 having a form which is substantially symmetrical and shaped in the manner of a hopper directed downwards.
With reference in particular to
The end of the end neck 14c is provided with an outlet opening 22 which is directed downwards and allows dispensing of a quantity of washing/rinsing agent during a working cycle of the dispensing device 10, and which can be selectively closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of closing members which are denoted overall by 24 and which will be described below. It can be noted how the form of tray 14, which is tapered towards the end neck 14c, in an advantageous manner helps direct easily the washing/rinsing agent, which is present in the container 12, towards the outlet opening 22.
On an upper side of the widened portion 14a of the tray 14 there is a conduct 25 communicating with the exterior and intended to allow a flow of air above the filling level of the container 12, in order to facilitate the outflow of the washing/rinsing agent through the outlet opening 22.
With reference to
The screw 26 is provided at the top with an end rod 28 passing through the upper wall of the widened portion 14a of the tray 14 and coaxial with the axis A-A. The end rod 28 is prevented from being displaced by means of a washer 30 situated outside the container 12 and is surrounded by an O-ring 32 (
As can be seen in
Preferably, the top of the lower portion 26b of the screw 26 has a spigot or lug 36 directed vertically and having an axis substantially coinciding with the axis A-A. The upper portion 26a of the screw 26 terminates at its base in a coupling assembly 27 which has a recess 38 arranged in a vertical direction and able to engage with the lug 36 along the axis A-A and also has a transverse through-hole 40. The through-hole 40 is adapted to house with vertical play a pin 42 able to be engaged in a fixed manner with the lug 36, for example by means of a force-fit.
In
Preferably, but not necessarily, the container 12 rotatably houses a pair of driven gear wheels 46 which mesh with the screw 26 and are rotationally driven by the latter. In this way the mixing/rinsing agent may be stirred and mixed, as well as being conveyed towards the outlet opening 22. This feature is particularly useful if the washing/mixing agent used is in the form of powder, since the movement of the gear wheels 46 may break up any accumulation of lumps which may have formed and which would risk blocking up the outlet opening 22. Obviously, for the purpose of reduced dimensions, it is also possible to prefer the use of only one of these gear wheels (condition not shown).
An example of the configuration of the closing members 24, mounted in accordance with the embodiment of the dispensing device 10 shown, will now be described.
With reference in particular to
With reference to
As can be seen more clearly in
The configuration shown above envisages that the butterfly shutter 56 is rotationally locked with the screw 26.
In
During assembly in a dishwashing machine (not shown), the dispensing device 10 is preferably fitted in the front door of the dishwashing machine, in such a way that:
The operating principle of the dispensing device 10 shown in the drawings will now be explained briefly.
During an inactive state of the dispensing device 10, where dispensing of the washing/rinsing agent is not required, the actuator 60 is not excited and the movable shutter 62 is kept by the resilient elements in the closed position. This prevents an undesirable outflow of washing/rinsing agent when the dishwashing machine is deactivated.
During an operating cycle of the dispensing device 10, during which a given quantity of washing agent is to be released, the actuator 60 is excited and therefore pushes the movable shutter into the open position, while the motor members rotationally drive the transmission gear wheel 34 which actuates the screw 26.
Consequently, the screw 26 causes in turn rotation of the driven gear wheels 46 and the butterfly shutter 56. The driven gear wheels 46 mix and stir the washing/rinsing agent, helping, together with the screw 26, to convey it towards the outlet opening 22 of the neck 14c of the tray 14.
Subsequently, when the washing/rinsing agent reaches the orifices 54, the shaped part 56c of the shutter 56 slides on the diaphragm 52 and acts in the manner of a blade, gradually and periodically freeing and closing off these orifices 54 during rotation about the axis A-A. Sliding of the shaped part 56c on the diaphragm 52 also facilitates the separation of any accumulation of solidified washing/rinsing agent from the orifices 54.
The movement of the screw 26 may be suitably adjusted and/or controlled temporally by the motor members, so as to produce the release of the desired quantity of washing/rinsing agent. For example, during the operating cycle of the dispensing device 10, a variation in the number of revolutions imparted to the screw 26 by the transmission gear wheel 34 and/or a variation in the activation time of this screw 26 results in a variation in the quantity of washing/rinsing agent dispensed. Therefore, the dispensing device 10 may be programmed by the user so that rotation of the screw 26 ensures advantageously adjustable metering of the washing/rinsing agent, for example depending on the load of the dishwashing machine.
In the event of the operating cycle of the dispensing device 10 suddenly being interrupted, the shaped part 56c could remain blocked in a position such that it does not cover completely the orifices 54, with the risk that the washing/rinsing agent continues to flow out towards the washing chamber of the dishwashing machine even when the latter is deactivated. However, with interruption in the flow of electric current in the actuator 60, the resilient return elements bring the movable shutter 62 back into the closed position, intercepting the flow of washing/rinsing agent out from the dispensing device 10.
The particular structure of the coupling assembly 27, which allows play in the vertical direction between the portions 26a, 26b of the screw 26 along the axis A-A, and the positioning of the spring 44 are useful for preventing blockage of the dispensing device 10. In fact, if a lump of powder or gel washing/rinsing agent should become lodged between the butterfly shutter 56 and the diaphragm 52, and if the screw 26 were to be formed as one piece, the screw 26 and the butterfly shutter 56 might not be able to push this lump beyond the diaphragm 52. Instead, the combined action of the spring 44 and coupling assembly 27 allows more effective expulsion of any lumps of washing/rinsing agent outside of the dispensing device 10.
In embodiments simplified (and not shown) in order to reduce the complexity and the overall costs of the dispensing device only the movable shutter 62 may also be envisaged the presence of the butterfly shutter 56 and the valve part 48 being excluded. Likewise it is also possible to consider the use of the butterfly shutter 56 alone together with the valve part 48, without using the movable shutter 62.
In other embodiments of the dispensing device, depending on requirements, it is also possible to direct the screw 26 and outlet opening 22, which are coaxial with each other, in the horizontal direction or also in an inclined direction, differently from that shown in the accompanying drawings, and also the shape of the container 12 may be different from that shown.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the embodiments and constructional details may be widely varied with respect to that described and illustrated, purely by way of a non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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TO2005A0651 | Sep 2005 | IT | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070062564 A1 | Mar 2007 | US |