AU746952B2 - Mechanical dosing device - Google Patents

Description

Mechanical Dosing Device The invention relates to a dosing device with a product reservoir and a product stored therein and with product discharge means, which is arranged in the customary position thereof at a commercial dishwashing machine.

Various possibilities are known for metering cleaning agents into the tank of a commercial dishwashing machine.

First of all, the simplest method consists of putting cleaning agent into the tank of the dishwashing machine by hand. The disadvantage of this method is that the user comes into contact with the alkaline cleaning agent, which should be avoided. Moreover, due to human shortcomings it can be forgotten to add the product.

A further known method consists of automatically adding product, particularly liquid product, into the tank of commercial dishwashing machines by means of pumps or injectors. In this case, cleaning agent is pumped into the dishwashing machine by means of pumps, which are frequently o controlled by way of the measured electrical conductivity of the cleaning solution in the tank of the 00* 15 dishwashing machine or by way of a time switch. In that case, contact of the user with the cleaning agent is as good as excluded. The disadvantage of this method is that the pumps have to be *000 mounted in expensive manner. Usually a hole has to be drilled in the dishwashing machine for the S• metering duct and electrical connections for control of the pumps have to be installed.

As an alternative it is also known to meter flowable products by injectors which operate according to the Venturi principle. Here, too, the disadvantage exists that the injectors have to be Sexpensively mounted and a water connection is necessary for operation of the dosing device.

Finally, there are known a method and dosing devices suitable for that method in which powder eeo0 cleaning agent is stored in a product reservoir, discharged from the product reservoir into a flushing chamber via product discharge means and then flushed into the tank of a dishwashing machine with 25 the assistance of a water flow. A dosing device of that kind, which is to be arranged in the customary position thereof at a commercial dishwashing machine, is known from DE-A-3721381. In this dosing device, too, the disadvantage exists that it needs not only a water connection, but also an electrical connection for actuation of the product discharge means. This leads to correspondingly expensive installation requirements for the dosing device.

The invention therefore has an object of providing a solution which reduces the installation requirements and in which the dosing device does not need any water and electrical connections.

In a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided dosing device with a product reservoir and a product stored therein and product discharge means, which is arranged in the customary position thereof externally in a stationary location an a commercial dishwashing machine and which comprises means which mechanically take up a movement of a door or a pivotable housing body part of the dishwashing machine and mechanically transmit said movement to the product charge means in such a manner that this is moved in correspondence with the movement and directly causes metered delivery into a tank of the dishwashing machine of product stored in the product reservoir, wherein said dosing device is located externally to the dishwashing machine, the movement the closing movement of the door or of the pivotable housing body part and the means comprises la an actuating means, which means during the closing movement either impinges on an upper edge region of a housing frame part or an actuating element associated therewith or against which means during the closing movement there is placed a lower edge region of the door or of the housing body part or an actuating element associated therewith, wherein the actuating means in mechanical contact with the respective edge region or the respectively associated actuating element is then moved until termination of the closing movement.

There is now provided by the invention a dosing device which effects metering of product solely by virtue of mechanically acting means. Mechanical in this case signifies solely by direct transmission of force. In the case of the dosing device the movement energy, which arises on closing of a door or [R:\LBC]526240spec.doc:ais the downward pivotation of entire housing body parts of the dishwashing machine as is frequently carried out for the closing of dishwashing machines, is mechanically taken up and mechanically converted into a metering process. The installation cost and the installation requirements are reduced with a dosing device of that kind, as this does not need any water connection and electrical connection. The dosing device to be actuated purely mechanically is able to be constructed in technically simple manner and to be robust and, due to purely mechanically acting components, has little susceptibility to failure.

In an embodiment it is provided that the product disclarge means takes up the closing movement of the door or the pivotable housing body part directly by mechanical contact or an actuating means mechanically takes over the closing movement and transmits said movement to the product discharge means. Whilst it is in principle possible that parts of the pivotable door or the pivotable housing body part of the dishwashing machine mechanically act directly on the product discharge means, the possibility of allowing the door or the housing body part to act on the product discharge means with utilisation of an actuating means offers the advantage that force deflections or force increase means can be provided, which lead to a compact mode of construction of the dosing device.

The invention thus proposes in a further embodiment that the actuating means mechanically takes up the closing movement and mechanically transmits said movement to the product discharge means via cooperating transmission means. The afore-mentioned force deflection, force increase or a force translation ratio can be realised in technically simple and favourable manner particularly by this transmission means.

It is advantageous for the permanent functional capability of the dosing device if the actuating means is arranged at the dishwashing machine to be in permanent operative connection with the transmission means and/or the iroduct discharge means, by which the invention is further characterised. The arrangement of the dosing device at the dishwashing machine and the permanent operative connection of the actuating means with the transmission means and/or the product discharge means has the consequence that the dosing device is arranged at the dishwashing machine in permanent readiness for use and working capability.

It is particularly advantageous for the arrangement and manner of functioning of the dosing device and for the performance of the metering processes if the actuating means is arranged at the door, especially the front door, or the pivotable housing body part or the housing frame of the dishwashing machine in such a manner that for transmission of the closing movement it cooperates either with an upper edge region of a housing frame part of the dishwashing machine and/or an actuating element associated therewith or with a lower edge region of the door or of the pivotable housing body part and/or an actuating element associated therewith. In this manner the dosing device according to the invention can be utilised particularly advantageously in a commercial dishwashing machine, especially a single-tank machine.

There are two advantageous installation locations for placement of the dosing device at the hing machine. Thus, the invention proposes on the one hand that the dosing device is faseed in stationary location at the door or the housing body part and, in the region of the last Libc/526240speci quarter of the closing movement, the actuating means impinges on the upper edge region of the housing frame part or the actuating element associated therewith and, in mechanical contact with the edge region or the actuating element, is moved by this until termination of the closing movement.

Alternatively, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention it is also possible on the other hand that the dosing device is fastened in stationary location at the housing of the dishwashing machine and in region of the last quarter of the closing movement the actuating means is moved by the lower edge region placed thereagainst of the door or of the housing body part or the actuating element associated therewith until termination of the closing movement.

A dosing device which is particularly suitable for the conditions prevailing in kitchens and, in particular, at dishwashing machines and is mechanically robust and with little susceptibility to failure can be realised if the actuating means is a slide with a rack, the transmission means is a gearwheel arrangement, preferably a gear drive, and the product discharge means is a piston spindle in engagement with the gearwheel arrangement, by which the invention is characterised in one embodiment.

The discharge of the product from the product reservoir and thus the product metering can be realised in a particularly favourable manner with the subject of the invention if the product reservoir is a cylinder body, especially a cartridge with a movable piston base.

A form of embodiment, which is technically simple to realise, of the dosing device consists in accordance with a development of the invention in that, when the slide comes into contact with the upper or lower edge region and/or the actuating element associated therewith, the rack of the slide is in engagement with the gearwheel arrangement and sets this into rotational movement when further closing movement occurs, and the gearwheel arrangement in engagement or operative connection with the piston spindle moves the piston spindle into the product reservoir. This represents a favourable possibility for conversion of the closing movement into a longitudinal movement of the piston of the spindle, wherein the piston movement then causes a forcing of the product out of the product reservoir and thus the metering.

So that the dosing device causes a fresh metering when the next closing process takes place after a rinsing process which ends with the opening of the door or pivoting up, ie. an opening movement, of the pivotable housing body part, the invention proposes in a development that the combination of gearwheel arrangement and piston spindle has a freewheel acting in a direction opposite to the closing movement. The freewheel now has the effect that in the case of opening movement of the door the actuating element returns to its starting position again solely due to its own weight. When a fresh closing process takes place, the actuating element is then again available for mechanical conversion of the closing movement into the forward movement of the piston for metering of product.

In order, in the end setting of the piston spindle when this has passed through the entire product reservoir, to be able to move this back into the starting position it is advantageous in accordance with a development of the invention if the operative connection between the gearwheel -ANrrangement and the piston spindle is formed to be releasable, especially by means of a split nut.

Libc/526240speci After release of the operative connection between gearwheel arrangement and piston spindle, the latter can be pulled by the user back into the original starting position.

In order to be able to meter different dose quantities by the dosing device, the invention is further characterised in an advantageous embodiment in that the slide with rack executes a stroke movement, wherein the stroke travel is adjustable. Different stroke travels in that case produce different rotations of the gearwheel arrangement and thus a different extent of longitudinal axial displacement of the piston spindle per stroke movement, which is identical with the respective closing movement.

If the slide and the piston spindle are arranged at right angles to one another, a particularly favourable geometric relationship results for realisation of the dosing device.

In advantageous manner, the slide, gearwheel arrangement, piston spindle and product reservoir are arranged on a base plate fastened to the dishwashing machine outer side.

A particularly advantageous arrangement of the dosing device in dishwashing machines, especially commercial single-tank dishwashing machines which usually have a gap between the lower housing frame part and the pivotable housing frame part or the pivotable door, results if the base plate is fastened to the dishwashing machine by means of retaining arms engaging in a gap formed between the lower housing frame part and the door or the pivotable housing body part of the dishwashing machine.

For delivery of the product stored in the product reservoir, the invention proposes in a development that the reservoir has an outlet opening with a connecting connection channel with a communicating opening directed into the tank of the dishwashing machine.

In that case it is moreover advantageous if the connection channel is similarly guided through the gap formed at the dishwashing machine. No additional bores are then necessary for the introduction of the connection channel or the dosing duct into the interior of the dishwashing machine.

Another form of embodiment of the dosing device according to the invention is characterised in that the actuating means is an entraining finger, the transmission means is a cable pull with a deflecting roller and the product discharge means is a piston pump with a piston moved by the deflecting roller. In this form of embodiment, too, the closing movement of a door or of a pivotable housing part of a commercial dishwashing machine is converted, in a technically less expensive mode and manner, solely by means of mechanical force transmission into a product delivery effected in correspondence with the closing movement.

In order to ensure a fault-free metering and a fault-free refilling of the piston pump with the product in this embodiment the invention proposes that the piston pump is in conductive connection with the product reservoir by way of an inlet valve and has an outlet valve. In the case of a forward movement of the piston of the piston pump into the piston chamber or pump chamber filled with product the inlet valve is opened by virtue of the pressure increase connected therewith and product is pumped into a connected metering duct. In the case of subsequent rearward movement of the piston an underpressure arises in the pump chamber and causes an opening of the inlet valve and an ,afterflow of the product out of the product reservoir.

Libc/526240speci It is similarly of advantage with this form of embodiment if the product reservoir is constructed as an exchangeable container. If the entire stored product is consumed, a new container is inserted into the dosing device in simple manner.

A form of embodiment of the dosing device which is technically simple to realise consists, in accordance with a development of the invention, in that the entraining finger is moved by the closing movement when coming into contact with the upper or lower edge region and/or the actuating element associated therewith, the entraining finger transmits this movement to the cable pull as tension force, this sets the deflecting roller into rotational movement and, by means of the rotational movement thereof, the piston of the piston pump is moved therewith in direction towards the outlet valve.

This embodiment, too, can be fastened in order to arrange the dosing device at the dishwashing machine to be readily reachable to the dishwashing machine in such a manner that the dosing device is fastened to the outer side of the dishwashing machine by retaining arms engaging in a gap formed between the lower housing frame part and the door or the pivotable housing body part.

Similarly, this embodiment proposes in accordance with a refinement of the invention that the piston pump comprises an outlet duct with a communicating opening directed into the tank of the dishwashing machine, wherein it can further be of advantage if the outlet duct is guided through the gap formed at the dishwashing machine, which is finally also proposed by the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following by reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows schematically a commercial single-tank dishwashing machine with a dosing device in accordance with a first example of embodiment arranged thereat; Fig. la shows, in enlarged illustration, a part region of Figure 1; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the first example of embodiment in partially sectioned illustration; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the first example of embodiment in sectioned illustration; Fig. 4 shows in schematic illustration a commercial single-tank dishwashing machine with a dosing device in accordance with a second example of embodiment arranged thereat; Fig. 5 shows a side view of the second example of embodiment in schematic illustration; Fig. 6 shows a front view of the second example of embodiment in schematic illustration; and Fig. 7 shows the side view, which is opposite relative to the side view according to Figure 5, of the second example of embodiment in schematic illustration.

Figures 1 and 4 show, in schematic sectional illustration, in each instance a commercial dishwashing machine 1, in this case a single-tank dishwashing machine. In its lower part the dishwashing machine consists of a housing frame part 3 provided with support legs 2. The tank 4 is arranged in the housing frame part 3. Cleaning solution is sucked out of the tank 4, fed by means of pipe ducts 5 under pressure to spray nozzles 6, the so-termed spray registers, and sprayed onto the dishes disposed in the upper part of the dishwashing machine 1. In order to be able to introduce soiled dishes into the dishwashing machine 1 and remove cleaned dishes again from the dishwashing machine 1, the dishwashing machine 1 has in its upper part a door pivotable in the direction of the arrow 7 or a pivotable housing body part 8. This pivotable housing body part 8 is to be pivoted by means of a handgrip 9 by the user upwardly for opening and downwardly again for closing into the 4 position illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. As can be inferred from the enlarged detail illustration of a part Libc/526240speci of the dishwashing machine 1 in Figure la, a gap 12 is formed between the upper edge region 10 of the housing frame part 3 and the lower edge region 11 of the door or of the pivotable housing body part 8. This gap is about 5 to 10 millimetres wide and forms a passage from the outer side of the dishwashing machine 1 to the interior thereof at about the height of the support surface for the dishes to be cleaned.

A first form of embodiment of a dosing device, which is designated in its entirety by 13, is, in the case of the embodiment according to Figure 1, fastened in stationary position in the lower region of the door, in particular front door, or of the pivotable housing body part 8 and to this door or body part.

A second embodiment of a dosing device 14 is, in the case of the embodiment according to Figure 4, fastened in the upper region of the housing frame part 3 and to this frame part.

As explained in more detail in the following, the two dosing devices 13, 14 meter the product, which is stored in the dosing devices 13, 14, into the tank 4 of the dishwashing machine 1 in a purely mechanically acting mode and manner, ie. solely by direct force transmission in correspondence with the closing movement of the door or the pivotable housing body part 8. For this purpose, the dosing devices 13, 14 comprise means 17, 18, 25 to 28; 50 to 52 which mechanically take up the closing movement of the door or of the pivotable housing body part 8 and mechanically transmit said movement to product discharge means 29, 30; 47, 48, 49 in such a manner that these are moved in correspondence with the closing movement of the door or of the pivotable housing body part 8 and directly cause the metered delivery of product, which is stored in a product reservoir 32, into the tank 4 of the dishwashing machine 1. In that case, the means cooperates either with the upper edge region 10 of the housing frame part 3, (dosing device 13, Figure 1) or an actuating element (not illustrated) associated with the upper edge region 10 or with the lower edge region 11 of the pivotable housing body part 8 (dosing device 14, Figure 4) or an actuating element (not illustrated) associated with the lower edge region 11.

The dosing device 13 comprises a base plate 15 with retaining arms 16 arranged thereon. The retaining arms 16 are constructed to be L-shaped in cross-section in such a manner that, with engagement around the lower edge region 11 of the pivotable housing body part 8, they enable the stationary fastening of the base plate 15 to the components arranged thereon of the dosing device 13 at the outer side of the pivotable housing body part 8 in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1. The retaining arms 16 are, in the arrangement of the dosing device 13 at the dishwashing machine apparent from Figure 1, guided through the gap 12 in the closed setting of the dishwashing machine 1 and are dimensioned accordingly. As actuating means, a slide 17 with a rack 18 fixedly arranged thereon is arranged on the base plate 15 to be slidably guided. In the case of closing movement of the pivotable housing body part 8, the lower edge region 19 of the slide 17 impinges on the upper edge region 10 of the housing frame part 3 in the last quarter of the closing movement and, as further closing movement takes place, is guided on the base plate 15 in the direction of the arrow 20. In that case, the lower edge 19 of the slide 17 bears against the upper edge region 10 and in this manner produces the mechanical force transmission or the mechanical transmission of the closing movement of the pivotable housing body part 8. This movement in the direction of the arrow 20 continues until Vn abutment pin, which is not illustrated and which is arranged in one of the bores 21 of the slide 17 Libc/526240speci opposite the edge 19, abuts against an abutment edge 22 formed in the base plate 15. This abutment position or end setting of the slide 17 is illustrated in Figure 2 after termination of the closing movement, ie. when the dishwashing machine 1 is closed. The dimensioning of the slide 17, the base plate 15 and the arrangement of the dosing device 13 at the outer side of the pivotable housing body part 18 is in that case such that this abutment position or end setting corresponds with the closed setting of the pivotable door or of the pivotable housing body part 8 of the dishwashing machine 1.

The abutment edge 22 is a part of a recess 23, which is formed in step shape, of the base plate In the present embodiment the recess 23 has four steps, wherein a bore 21, into which the notillustrated abutment pin can be selectably screwed, corresponds with each step. If the door or the pivotable housing body part 8 is now pivoted out of the closed setting and back into an open setting of the dishwashing machine, the slide 17 moves by virtue of its own weight out of the abutment setting, which is illustrated in Figure 2, in the direction of the arrow 24 until the abutment pin impinges, in accordance with its respective positioning in one of the bores 21, against a side edge of the stepshaped recess 23 opposite the abutment edge 22. In the case of the next closing movement of the door or of the pivotable housing body part 8, the edge 19 of the slide 17 again impinges on the upper edge region 10 of the housing frame part 3 and moves the slide in the direction of the arrow against the abutment edge 22. Due to the step-shaped recess 23, different stroke travels of the slide 17 result between opposite abutment edges in accordance with the respective arrangement of the abutment pin in one of the bores 21. The stroke movements are, as explained in the following, transmitted by way of a gearwheel arrangement to a product discharge means. So that the slide 17, .in the case of the opening movement of the door or of the pivotable housing body part 8, drops back again into its initial setting solely by virtue of its own weight under the force of gravity, the gearwheel arrangement is equipped with a freewheel 28 acting in this direction. For increase in the own weight of the slide 17, an additional weight, ie. an appropriate mass body, can be fastened thereto in the lower region thereof, which additional weight is not illustrated.

For transmission of the stroke movement of the slide 17 in the direction of the arrow 20 to the product discharge means, the dosing device 13 comprises a gearwheel arrangement consisting of gearwheels 25 to 27, in the present case a drive gear. The gearwheels 25 to 27 are in permanent operative connection with one another and the gearwheel 25 is in permanent engagement with the rack 18. In addition, the gear arrangement comprises the freewheel 28. On movement of the slide 17 in the direction of the arrow 20, the gearwheel 27 engages a piston spindle 29, which by means of the freewheel 28 is relieved of force when the slide 17 is moved in the direction of the arrow 24. In the case of actuation of the slide 17 in the direction of the arrow 20, the movement of the slide 17 is transmitted by means of the rack 18 to the gearwheel 25 and sets this in rotation. Due to the permanent operative connection between the gearwheels 25 to 27 the piston spindle 29 together with the piston 30 arranged thereon is thereby moved at the same time in the direction of the arrow 31. In the case of a movement subsequent thereto of the slide 17 in the direction of the arrow 24, the piston spindle 29 then remains, due to the freewheel 28, in the position which has been taken up, so as to be moved again in the direction of the arrow 31 immediately on the next following movement of the slide 17 in the direction of the arrow 20. A product reservoir 32 is formed opposite the piston 30 in the Libc/526240speci direction of the arrow 21. With each stroke movement of the slide 17 in the direction of the arrow the piston 30 is moved deeper in the direction of the arrow 31 into the product reservoir 32. The product reservoir 32 is a commercially available cylindrical cartridge with closure piston at the base side. This cylindrical cartridge has an outlet opening constructed in the form of a nipple 33 with an external thread. This nipple 33 is screwed into a bore 34, which is provided with an internal thread, of the dosing device 13. An outlet channel 35, which ends in the form of a hose stub pipe 36, is connected to the bore 34. The bore 34, the connection channel 35 and the hose stub pipe 36 are formed in or at a cartridge adaptor 37 pivotably arranged at the base plate 15. The cartridge adaptor 37 is pivotable out of the dosing setting illustrated in Figure 2 and into the refill position illustrated in dashed lines in Figure 3. In this refill position the cylindrical cartridge 32 can be conveniently exchanged.

With each stroke movement of the slide 17 in the direction of the arrow 20 the piston 30 is now moved again in the direction of the arrow 31 into the product reservoir 32 or the cartridge. As a consequence, the product stored therein is forced into the bore 34 and the connection channel Due to the predetermined stroke movement, which is defined in accordance with the respective position of the abutment pin in one of the bores 21, of the slide 17 and the transmission ratio fixedly predetermined by virtue of the gear arrangement, the piston is moved, by virtue of the rotational movement of the piston spindle 29, into the product reservoir 32 by a specific movement length defined for each stroke. As a consequence, a product delivery results which is precisely defined by virtue of the predetermined geometric relationships, ie. a metered product delivery from the product reservoir 32. A connection channel 38 in the form of a hose is arranged at the hose stub pipe 36, as is evident, in schematic form, from Figure 1. This connection channel 38, which optionally is detachable, in the form of a hose is guided through the gap 12 and into the interior of the dishwashing machine 1 and ends by its communicating opening, which is oriented in the direction of the tank 4, above the tank 4 in the dishwashing machine.

In addition, a split nut 39 is part of the transmission means. The split nut 39 is subjected to the action of the tension force of a rubber ring 40 and produces the engagement of the gearwheel arrangement with the piston spindle 29. This engaged setting can be cancelled, against the force of the rubber ring 40, by means of a cone 41 introducible into the split nut 39. In particular, when the piston spindle 29 has been fully moved to its end setting in the arrow direction 31 into the product reservoir 32, the cone 41, which is connected by way of connecting rods 43 with a hand knob 42, is moved into the split nut 39 through actuation of the hand knob and thus cancels the gearwheel engagement relative to the piston spindle 29. The piston spindle 29 can then be moved back into the initial position, which is illustrated in Figure 2, against the direction of the arrow 31 by means of a handgrip 44 arranged at the piston spindle 29. As the handgrip 44 continuously moves together with the piston spindle 29, this also represents an optical filling state indication.

Slots 45 and recesses 46, in which not-illustrated suction bowls can be arranged in order to assist adhesion of the dosing device 13 to the outer side of the dishwashing machine 1, are formed on e rear side, which faces the dishwashing machine 1 in the customary position of the dosing device f the base plate Libc/526240speci As can be inferred from Figures 1 and 4, the dosing devices 13 and 14 are arranged externally at the front side, which can be easily reached by the user, of the dishwashing machine 1. Thus, the dosing devices are simple to reach for the user. In particular, product can be refilled into the product reservoir 32 without problems. Liquid, gel-like, pasty or cream-like product can be stored in the product reservoir 32. Since the retaining arms 16 and the connection channel 38 are guided through the gap 12 into the interior of the machine, it is not necessary, for fastening of the dosing devices 13 and 14, to drill holes in the frame or the housing of the dishwashing machine 1. The dosing devices 13 and 14 produce a metered product delivery solely by virtue of mechanical force transmission and do not need any water connection or current connection. The dosing devices 13, 14 are designed in such a manner that 1.5 to 15 millilitres of product can be metered per stroke movement from the product reservoir 32 into the tank 4 of the dishwashing machine 1.

It is also possible with the assistance of the cone 41 and the split nut 39 to open or close the doors or the pivotable housing 8 without a product delivery taking place. For this purpose, the cone 41 is pressed into the split nut 39 so that the operative connection between the gear arrangement and the piston spindle 29 is released.

In the case of the dosing device 14, the product discharge means consists of a piston pump 47 with associated piston 48 and piston rod 49 arranged thereat. Moreover, the actuating means consists of an entraining finger 50 and the transmission means consists of a cable pull 51 and a deflecting roller 52.

The piston pump 47 comprises an inlet valve 53 and an outlet valve 54. The pump chamber of the piston pump 47 is in conductive connection by way of the inlet valve 53 with the product reservoir 32, which is constructed as a cylindrical refillable bottle. An outlet duct 55 is connected to the outlet valve 54. As in the case of the dosing device 13, the communicating opening 38, which is optionally formed by a hose, at the end of the outlet duct 55 ends within the dishwashing machine 1 with orientation towards the tank 4, wherein the outlet duct 55 is optionally guided through the gap 12 of the dishwashing machine 1.

The dosing device 14 is suspended, by being engaged around, by its retaining arms 16 in the manner of a flower basket in the gap 12 at the upper edge region 12 of the housing frame part 3, as is apparent from Figure 4. On closing movement of the door or of the pivotable housing part 8, the lower edge region 11 of the door or of the pivotable housing body part 8 impinges on the entraining finger and moves this, in the further course of the closing movement, in the direction of the arrow 56. The movement of the entraining finger 50 is transmitted by means of the force transmission of the cable pull 51 to the deflecting roller 52. In correspondence with the movement of the entraining finger the deflecting roller 52 executes a rotational movement about its eccentrically arranged axis 57. For this purpose, the cable pull 51 engages by its end, which faces the deflecting roller 52, at the deflecting roller 52. Similarly, the piston rod 49 engages at the deflecting roller 52 and, on exertion of a tension force at the cable pull 51, is moved into the piston chamber of the piston pump 47 in direction towards the outlet valve 54 by virtue of the rotational movement of the deflecting roller 52 which is thereby caused. Due to this piston movement there arises in known manner in the piston pump an excess pressure which opens the outlet valve 54 and meters product into the outlet duct Libc/526240speci and through the communicating opening 38 into the tank 4 of the dishwashing machine. If the door or the pivotable housing body part 8 is moved back again into its open setting, the deflecting roller 57 moves back in the direction of the arrow 58 into its initial setting. This can take place by means of a spring element, which is not illustrated, or, however, in the case of appropriate mass of the deflecting roller 52 eccentrically mounted on the axle 57, solely by virtue of the own weight thereof. As a consequence of this rotational movement the piston rod 49 and thus the piston 48 are moved back again into the pump chamber piston pump 47. Due to the underpressure which arises in that case, the inlet valve 53 is opened and the pump chamber is filled again by product flowing back from the product reservoir 32.

Alternatively, the dosing devices according to Figures 1 to 5 have, instead of the retaining arms, merely glue strips by which they are fastened to the dishwashing machine. The guidance of the retaining arms through the gap 12 is then superfluous. The dosing device is then particularly simple to install.

Libc/526240speci

Claims (19)

1. Dosing device with a product reservoir and a product stored therein and product discharge means, which is arranged in the customary position thereof externally in a stationary location on a commercial dishwashing machine and which comprises means which mechanically take up a movement of a door or a pivotable housing body part of the dishwashing machine and mechanically transmit said movement to the product charge means in such a manner that this is moved in correspondence with the movement and directly causes metered delivery into a tank of the dishwashing machine of product stored in the product reservoir, wherein said dosing device is located externally to the dishwashing machine, the movement is the closing movement of the door or of the pivotable housing body part and the means comprises an actuating means, which means during the closing movement either impinges on an upper edge region of a housing frame part or an actuating element associated therewith or against which means during the closing movement there is placed a lower edge region of the door or of the housing body part or an actuating element associated therewith, wherein the actuating means in mechanical contact with the respective edge region or the respectively associated actuating element is then moved until termination of the closing movement.

2. Dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means is arranged at the "dishwashing machine to be in permanent operative connection with the transmission means and/or se the product discharge means.

3. Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuating means is arranged at the door, in particular the front door, or the pivotable housing body part or a housing frame part of the dishwashing machine in such a manner that for transmission of the closing movement it cooperates either with an upper edge region of the housing frame part of the dishwashing machine and/or an actuating element associated therewith or with a lower edge region of the door or of the pivotable housing body part and/or an actuating element associated therewith. 0 o 25 4. Dosing device according to claim 3, wherein it is fastened in stationary location at the door or the housing body part and in the region of the last quarter of the closing movement the actuating means impinges on the upper edge region of the housing frame part or the actuating element associated therewith and, in mechanical contact with the edge region or the actuating element, is moved by this until termination of the closing movement.

5. Dosing device according to claim 3, wherein it is mounted in stationary location at the housing frame part of the dishwashing machine and in the region of the last quarter of the closing movement of the actuating means is moved by the lower edge region placed thereagainst of the door or of the housing body part or the actuating element associated therewith until termination of the closing movement.

6. Dosing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating means is a slide with a rack, the transmission means is a gearwheel arrangement, preferably a gear drive, and the product discharge means is a piston spindle in engagement with the gearwheel rangement.

7. Dosing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product o40 revoir is a cylinder body, in particular a cartridge with a movable piston base. 12

8. Dosing device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein when the slide comes into contact with the upper or lower edge region and/or the actuating element associated therewith the rack of the slide is in engagement with the gearwheel arrangement and sets this into rotational movement when further closing movement occurs and the gearwheel arrangement in engagement or operative connection with the piston spindle moves the piston spindle into the product reservoir.

9. Dosing device according to claim 8, wherein the combination of gearwheel arrangement and piston spindle comprises a freewheel acting in a direction opposite to the closing movement. Dosing device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the operative connection between gearwheel arrangement and piston spindle is constructed to be releasable, in particular by means of a split nut.

11. Dosing device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the slide with rack executes a stroke movement, wherein the stroke travel is adjustable.

12. Dosing device according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the slide and the piston spindle are arranged at right angles to one another. :ees 15 13. Dosing device according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the slide, gearwheel arrangement, piston spindle and product reservoir are arranged on a base plate fastened to the "dishwashing machine outer side.

14. Dosing device according to claim 13, wherein the base plate is fastened to the dishwashing machine by means of retaining arms engaging in a gap formed between the lower housing frame part and the door or the pivotable housing body part of the dishwashing machine.

15. Dosing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product reservoir has an outlet opening with a connecting connection channel with a communicating opening directed into the tank of the dishwashing machine.

16. Dosing device according to claim 15, wherein the connection channel is guided through 25 the gap formed at the washing machine. too*%17. Dosing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the actuating means is an entraining finger, the transmission means is a cable pull with a deflecting roller and the product discharge means is a piston pump with a piston moved by the deflecting roller.

18. Dosing device according to claim 17, wherein the piston pump is in conductive connection with the product reservoir by way of an inlet valve and has an outlet valve.

19. Dosing device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the product reservoir is formed as an exchangeable container. Dosing device according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the entraining finger is moved by the closing movement when coming into contact with the upper or lower edge region and/or the actuating element associated therewith, the entraining finger transmits this movement to the cable pull as a tension force, this sets the deflecting roller into rotational movement and by means of the rotational movement thereof the piston of the piston pump is moved therewith in direction towards the outlet valve. 13

21. Dosing device according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the dosing device is fastened to the outer side of the dishwashing machine by retaining arms engaging in a gap formed between the lower housing frame part and the door or the pivotable housing body part.

22. Dosing device according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the piston pump comprises an outlet duct with a communicating opening directed into the tank of the dishwashing machine.

23. Dosing device according to claim 22, wherein the outlet duct is guided through the gap formed at the dishwashing machine.

24. Dosing device with a product reservoir and a product stored therein and product discharge means, which is arranged in the customary position thereof at a commercial dishwashing machine, said device being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 28 February 2002 15 HENKEL-ECOLAB GMBH Co. OHG see Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON Gos *ee o. o O S S*