Patent Application
20240279864
This application claims priority to German Application No. 10 2023 201 350.9, filed Feb. 16, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for adding additives for a washing machine and to a washing machine with such a dispensing apparatus.
EP 3 839 125 A1 discloses a means for supplying at least one additive for a laundry treatment machine which has a mixing chamber with a water inlet and an outlet for discharging the washing liquid rinsed through the chamber from the chamber. The means further comprises at least two reservoirs for storing treatment agents and dispensing lines for fluidically connecting the reservoirs to the mixing chamber, wherein each dispensing line has a dispensing pump for delivering the respective treatment agent from the reservoir through the dispensing lines to the mixing chamber.
The object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus and a washing machine equipped therewith which offer advantages over the prior art, in particular with regard to structure, automation, dispensing, functionality and/or resource efficiency, wherein better and more hygienic dispensing of additives into a liquid is preferably possible.
This object is achieved by a dispensing apparatus having the features of claim 1 and by a washing machine having the features of claim 20. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of further claims and are explained in greater detail below. Some of the features are described only for the dispensing apparatus or only for the washing machine. Regardless of this, however, they are intended to be applicable separately and mutually independently both to a dispensing apparatus and to a washing machine. The wording of the claims is incorporated by express reference into the content of the description.
The dispensing apparatus according to the invention for adding additives for a washing machine has a main line along which liquid, preferably water, flows in a direction of flow. The main line has an inlet and an outlet for conveying on or discharging the liquid conducted through the main line. The dispensing apparatus also has at least one arcuate line on the main line, wherein the arcuate line departs from the main line at an inlet opening and rejoins the main line at an outlet opening. The outlet opening is located downstream along the direction of flow from the inlet opening. The arcuate line is additionally longer than the main line between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. In other words, the liquid conducted in the arcuate line travels a greater distance from the inlet opening to the outlet opening than does the liquid conducted in the main line from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. As a result, the liquid conducted in the arcuate line is accelerated compared to the liquid conducted in the main line. The volumetric flow rate in the arcuate line consequently increases. This has a positive effect on the functionality of the dispensing apparatus in that the uptake of additives is accelerated and additionally fresh and clean water is rapidly supplied to the location. This region can thus always be kept clean.
The dispensing apparatus further comprises on the at least one arcuate line at least one controllable dispensing device which is fluidically connected via a dispensing line to the arcuate line and is fluidically connected, preferably via a supply line, to a tank for the additives or includes the tank. In the case of a plurality of arcuate lines, these may be identical to one another or configured differently from one another, such as for example by having different lengths, diameters and/or curvatures. The plurality of arcuate lines may also be arranged at different levels or heights along the main line, which can assist intermixing of additives with the liquid conducted through the main line. The arcuate line has a length of at most 8 cm, preferably of at most 4 cm, and/or of at least 2 cm, preferably of at least 3 cm.
Such a dispensing apparatus according to the invention enables automated, controlled addition of additives or laundry detergents which are dispensed by quantity or volume. Automated dispensing of additives on the one hand lightens the burden on a user of a washing machine with such a dispensing apparatus and, on the other, improves the washing machine's washing process by supplying defined quantities of additives. The dispensing apparatus may take the form of a prefabricated module which can be straightforwardly installed in a washing machine. In particular, the compact design of the dispensing apparatus means that it can be installed or retrofitted, for example, in or instead of the drawer or laundry detergent container in the upper part of existing washing machines. In this case, the dispensing apparatus is inserted into the existing installation space, wherein no major structural changes to the washing machine are necessary. However, the dispensing apparatus can also be installed in the lower part of a washing machine due to its compactness and connections into the washing machine's existing water circuit. In addition to facilitating installation of the dispensing apparatus during the washing machine production process, the dispensing apparatus, in particular in embodiments in the upper part of the washing machine, likewise facilitates access for servicing and repair.
In a further development of the invention, the dispensing line has a length of at most 10 cm, preferably of at most 5 cm. This is a structurally and functionally advantageous implementation for the design and function of the dispensing apparatus. The dispensing line is preferably arranged in a radial direction relative to a wall of the arcuate line and/or mects the arcuate line at a right angle. The liquid conducted in the arcuate line is intermixed for the first time in accordance with the Venturi principle in this region with the additive supplied through the dispensing line. In addition, water exchange in the dispensing line is accelerated due to the accelerated liquid conducted in the arcuate line, whereby the dispensing line is cleaned automatically. This can prevent unwanted reactions between additives.
In a further development of the invention, the at least one arcuate line has an internal diameter which is smaller than an internal diameter of the main line. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one arcuate line has a flow cross-sectional area which is smaller than a flow cross-sectional area of the main line. This is a further structurally and functionally advantageous implementation of the dispensing apparatus in that the volumetric flow rate in the arcuate line is increased compared to the volumetric flow rate in the main line. In addition, in the region of the dispensing line, the arcuate line can have a further reduced internal diameter and/or a further reduced flow cross-sectional area in the manner of a Venturi nozzle, such that the volumetric flow rate increases further there. In an alternative embodiment, the arcuate line and the main line have the same internal diameters or flow cross-sectional arcas.
In a further development of the invention, the inlet opening and the outlet opening are arranged exactly one behind the other in a, preferably straight, line along the direction of flow in the main line. The main line preferably extends in a straight line in this portion, such that the direction of flow corresponds to a longitudinal axis of the main line.
In a further development of the invention, the arcuate line extends at least in part in an oval shape or along an oval curve. The arcuate line preferably extends at least in part along a circular arc or an elliptical arc. In other words, the arcuate line has a curvature at least in portions. The arcuate line may substantially correspond to a portion of a torus.
In a further development of the invention, the dispensing apparatus has a plurality of controllable dispensing devices, each of which is fluidically connected to an arcuate line via a dispensing line. This is a structurally and functionally advantageous implementation of the dispensing apparatus which enables automated, controlled dispensing of a plurality of different additives. The plurality of arcuate lines are preferably arranged spaced apart from one another on the main line along the direction of flow on the main line. This makes it possible to deliver additives spatially separately into the main line and incorporate them into the liquid located there.
In one development of the invention, the plurality of dispensing devices comprise a first dispensing device for delivering a first additive, a second dispensing device for delivering a second additive and a third dispensing device for delivering a third additive. The plurality of dispensing devices are advantageously controlled/controllable via a washing machine controller.
In a further development of the invention, the supply line has a length of at most 5 cm, preferably of at most 2 cm. This is a structurally and functionally advantageous implementation of a compact design of a dispensing apparatus in that the tank for additives can be arranged in the region of the dispensing device.
In a further development of the invention, the main line has a length of at most 80 cm, preferably of at most 40 cm. Additionally or alternatively, the main line has a length of at least 10 cm, preferably of at least 15 cm. The length and also the route of the main line can be adapted to the available installation space, which is determined, among other things, by the number and size of the tanks for additives.
In a further development of the invention, the main line has a three-way valve at the beginning and at the end. On the one hand, this further facilitates connection of the dispensing apparatus to water lines or the water circuit of the washing machine. On the other hand, the dispensing apparatus can as a result reliably be isolated from the water circuit of the washing machine. The dispensing apparatus preferably has a secondary line which is fluidically parallel to the main line and in which a pump is provided. This allows the liquid to be circulated through the pump, the secondary line and the main line, such that, over the course of repeated passes, it is possible to assist intermixing of the liquid conducted therein with the supplied additives. In this case, the dispensing apparatus simultaneously acts as a kind of mixing apparatus with a self-contained water circuit which may have a volume of 0.05 l to 2 l, preferably of 0.2 l to 1 l.
In a further development of the invention, the dispensing device is configured to deliver at a delivery rate of 1 ml/min to 1,000 ml/min, preferably of 50 ml/min to 500 ml/min. This is a structurally and functionally advantageous implementation of the dispensing device, wherein the washing process is improved by the addition of defined quantities of additives. The delivery rate may be adapted to the particular characteristics of the additives and/or to a washing program. Additionally or alternatively, the dispensing device is configured to deliver a delivery volume of 0.5 ml to 50 ml, preferably of 1 ml to 20 ml. The dispensing device can additionally be set up to reverse a delivery direction, such that additives can in part be drawn in from the dispensing line by reversing the delivery direction. In addition to the above-mentioned self-cleaning of the dispensing line, this can also help to avoid unintentional release of an additive into the water circuit and/or to avoid unwanted reactions between different additives.
In a further development of the invention, the dispensing apparatus has a tank for, in particular liquid, additives for each dispensing device. The dispensing apparatus preferably has exactly one dispensing device for a tank. The dispensing device is fluidically connected, in particular detachably, to the tank and/or the main line. The tank is preferably arranged above the dispensing device, such that an additive present in the tank is always in the supply line under the effect of gravity even when the dispensing device is switched off.
In a further development of the invention, the dispensing device is a peristaltic pump or a gear pump. The peristaltic pump or the gear pump are embodied in per se known manner. Alternatively, the dispensing device has a shut-off valve and a liquid pump.
The washing machine according to the invention has a rotatable drum with a water-permeable wall together with a drum drive for rotating it, and a drum receptacle in which the drum is arranged, wherein the drum receptacle encloses the drum. The washing machine has an admission apparatus for introducing water into the drum onto laundry located therein, a pump and water lines in order to pump water to the admission apparatus. A heating means for heating water is also provided, wherein the heating means is connected to the pump in fluid-conducting manner. The washing machine may have a separate heating means, preferably a heating and cooling means, such as for example a Peltier element. The washing machine further has the above-described dispensing apparatus according to the invention, wherein the dispensing apparatus is arranged in fluidically connected manner between the pump and the admission apparatus. The washing machine further has a washing machine controller which is connected to the pump, the heating means, the drum drive and the dispensing apparatus.
These and further features are revealed in the description and in the drawings as well as in the claims, wherein the individual features can each be realized singly or severally in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and can represent embodiments advantageous and protectable per se, for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections and sub-headings does not limit the statements made thereunder in their general validity.
The drawings illustrate advantageous embodiments of the invention. These and further embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below. In the figures:
As illustrated in
The dispensing apparatus 1 according to the invention has a main line 3 along which the liquid F, generally water, flows in a direction of flow FR. The main line 3 has an inlet 4 and an outlet 5 for discharging the liquid F conducted through the main line 3, as can be seen in particular in
In a structurally advantageous embodiment, the dispensing line 10 has a length of at most 1 cm, preferably of at most 0.1 cm. In the embodiments shown, the dispensing line 10 is arranged in a radial direction relative to a wall 13 of the arcuate line 6 and meets the arcuate line 6 at a right angle to the arcuate line 6, as is shown in particular in
In an embodiment which is not shown, the arcuate line 6 has in the region of the dispensing line 10 a reduced internal diameter DB and/or a reduced flow cross-sectional area AB in the manner of a Venturi nozzle, such that the volumetric flow rate VB is raised further there.
In advantageous embodiments, the at least one arcuate line 6 has an internal diameter DB which is smaller than an internal diameter DH of the main line 3, and/or the at least one arcuate line 6 has a flow cross-sectional area AB which is smaller than a flow cross-sectional area AH of the main line 3, as is shown in
In one advantageous implementation, the inlet opening 7 and the outlet opening 8 are arranged exactly one behind the other in a line along the direction of flow FR in the main line 3. In the embodiments shown, the inlet opening 7 and the outlet opening 8 of an arcuate line 6 are located in a common plane. In the examples according to
In a structurally advantageous embodiment, the arcuate line 6 extends at least in part in an oval shape or along an oval curve, as illustrated in particular in
In an advantageous implementation, the dispensing apparatus 1 has a plurality of controllable dispensing devices 9, each of which is fluidically connected to exactly one single arcuate line 6. The plurality of arcuate lines 6 on the main line 3 are preferably arranged spaced apart from one another along the direction of flow FR, as shown in particular in
In the examples according to
In advantageous embodiments, the plurality of dispensing devices 9 comprise a first dispensing device 91 for delivering a first additive A, a second dispensing device 92 for delivering a second additive B and a third dispensing device 93 for delivering a third additive C, as shown in
In an advantageous implementation, the supply line 11 has a length of at most 3 cm, preferably of at most 1 cm. In the examples shown, the tank 12 for additives is arranged in the region of the dispensing device 9 for the purpose of a compact and functional design of the dispensing apparatus 1.
In a structurally advantageous embodiment, the main line 3 has a length of at least 10 cm, preferably of at least 15 cm, and a length of at most 80 cm, preferably of at most 40 cm.
The length and also the route of the main line 3 are preferably adapted to the available installation space, which is determined, among other things, by the number and size of the tanks 12 for additives, as shown in particular in
In an advantageous implementation, the main line 3 has a three-way valve 16 at the beginning 14 and at the end 15, as shown in
In advantageous embodiments, the dispensing device 9 is configured to deliver at a delivery rate of 1 ml/min to 1,000 ml/min, preferably of 50 ml/min to 500 ml/min. The dispensing device 9 is preferably set up to reverse a delivery direction, such that additives can in part be drawn in from the dispensing line 10 by reversing the delivery direction. Additionally or alternatively, the dispensing device may be configured to deliver a delivery volume of 0.5 ml to 50 ml, preferably of 1 ml to 20 ml.
In a structurally advantageous embodiment, the dispensing apparatus 1 has a tank 12 for, in particular liquid, additives A, B, C for each dispensing device 9 or a dispensing device 9 is associated with each tank 12. The dispensing apparatus 1 preferably has exactly one dispensing device 9 for a tank 12, wherein the dispensing device 9 is fluidically connected, in particular detachably, to the tank 12 and/or the main line 3.
In the embodiments shown, the tank is preferably arranged above the dispensing device 9, such that an additive A, B, C present in the tank 12 is always in the supply line 11 even when the dispensing device 9 is switched off.
In a structurally advantageous embodiment, the dispensing device 9 is a peristaltic pump or a gear pump. In the embodiments of
As is clear from the exemplary embodiments shown and the further ones mentioned above, the invention provides a dispensing apparatus and a washing machine which offer advantages over conventional apparatuses in particular with regard to structure, automation, dispensing, functionality and/or resource efficiency.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 201 350.9 | Feb 2023 | DE | national |
