Patent Application
20110095049
The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing liquid cleaning or rinsing agents in dishwashers and/or washing machines and having at least one chamber for storing the cleaning or rinsing agent.
Dispensing devices are already known from the prior art, such as from documents WO 02/077353 A1 and DE 10 2006 024 152 A1.
The present invention provides a dispensing device having a readily disposable replacement unit.
Considering a dispensing device of the above-stated type, the dispensing device of the present invention includes at least one chamber for storing the cleaning or rinsing agent, wherein the at least one chamber forms a replacement unit. The at least one chamber is able to store at least two quantity units of the cleaning or rinsing agent, wherein one quantity unit represents the amount of cleaning or rinsing agent required for a respective washing cycle. The dispensing device further includes a control unit for residual emptying of the at least one chamber.
Advantageous exemplary embodiments and further developments of the invention are possible thanks to features further stated herein. These include a filling level sensor for determining the filling level of at least one chamber, an outlet device actuatable by the control unit, a cartridge containing the at least one chamber, an energy source or supply unit, a bracket and a light-emitting diode.
In one aspect a dispensing device according to the invention contains a control unit for emptying at least one chamber of residues. In a further aspect the device includes a plurality of chambers for storing different cleaning or rinsing agents for dispensing. Typically, the amount or quantity units of a rinsing or cleaning agent required for different cleaning or rinsing agents during a washing cycle do not correspond to one another. Although the volume of the respective chambers can be configured so that individual cleaning or rinsing agents are approximately sufficient for an identical number of washing cycles, there may be instances when a residue of the corresponding cleaning or rinsing agent still remains in one or more chambers, while another chamber has already been completely emptied.
With the presence of a control unit which permits the emptying of chambers of their residues, the consumer can relatively straightforwardly dispose of the replacement unit. Moreover, the dispensing device can also be configured in a more environmentally friendly manner, as the consumer no longer has to bother with disposing of any residual amounts of cleaning and rinsing agent together with or separately from the replacement unit.
The drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention and is explained in greater detail below with reference to the FIGURE. Specifically—
The filling level sensors 7, 8, 9 are connected to a control unit 10 via connecting leads 12, 13, 14. Energy can be supplied to the control unit 10 by an energy source such as a battery 11. Outlet devices or actuators 15, 16, 17 can also be provided for dispensing from and/or emptying the chambers 3, 4, 5. In the present exemplary embodiment, the chambers 3, 4, 5 are emptied downwards in the direction of gravity. The outlet devices 15, 16, 17 are controlled by the control unit 10 via control leads 18, 19, 20.
A light-emitting diode (LED) 24, also actuated by the control unit 10, can be mounted on the bracket 6. In the event that the cartridge is separated from the bracket 6, the control unit 10 can cause the LED 24 to light up or flash. For example, a green illuminated LED can mean that a consumer can reconnect the cartridge 2 to the bracket 6 and continue to use the cartridge 2. Should the light-emitting diode 24 flash red, this can mean that the cartridge can be used for only one more washing cycle, after which it must be disposed of. This can also means that the chambers 3, 4, 5 will be emptied of any residue during the next washing cycle.
The exemplary embodiment shown here is designed so that as soon as one chamber is empty, or less than one quantity unit required for a washing cycle is present in one of the chambers, the entire system (i.e., all the chambers 3, 4 and 5) is emptied completely.
In order to make the bracket 6 very easy to dispose of, a predetermined breaking point can be provided for breaking up the bracket 6 and removing the battery 11, thereby enabling segregated, environmentally friendly disposal of bracket 6 and battery 11 and facilitating this for the consumer.
A feature common to all exemplary embodiments and further developments of the invention is that a control unit is provided for emptying at least one chamber of residues.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2008 030 923.0 | Jul 2008 | DE | national |
The present application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/DE2009/000929 filed 1 Jul. 2009, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2008 030 923.0 filed 2 Jul. 2008, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/DE2009/000929 | Jul 2009 | US |
| Child | 12981624 | US |
