BRPI1104483B1 - dispenser of a cleaning agent for a laundry machine - Google Patents

Abstract

dispenser of a cleaning agent for a laundry machine. the invention relates, in general, to dispensers (300) for cleaning agents in laundry machines. according to an embodiment of the invention, the dispenser (300) of a cleaning agent for a laundry machine comprises a container with lower, front, side and rear walls and an upper opening, a channel (320) being formed in an internal side portion of said container to dispense the cleaning agent when a direction of rotation is performed opposite to the normal centrifugation direction of the machine.

Description

“DISPENSER OF A CLEANING AGENT FOR A LAUNDRY MACHINE”

Field of the Invention [001] The invention relates, in general, to dispensers for cleaning agents in laundry machines and, more particularly, the invention relates to a laundry machine comprising a dispenser for cleaning agents simplified cleaning and easy cleaning.

Background of the Invention [002] Laundry machines are household or industrial utensils widely used to assist in the task of cleaning clothing or fabrics. Among the laundry machines, among them the washing machines, some constructive achievements are known, such as the front loading machines and the top loading machines.

[003] The front loading machines have the opening and access door to the inside of the machine, where the washing basket is contained, on the front of the machine, while the top loading machines, access to the inside of the washing compartment through an opening in the upper portion of the machine.

[004] However, the principle of operation of these models of washing machines is similar, and consists of a perforated basket, in order to allow the passage of water and / or cleaning agents of the fabrics, and the agitation of the fabrics in the inside the washing basket in two directions, both clockwise and counterclockwise. After washing and rinsing, there is usually a spin cycle, which aims to eliminate excess water from the fabrics, in order to facilitate their subsequent drying. In the spin cycle, the basket rotates in only one direction at a relatively high speed, such as 500,

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12/2

1,000 rpm or even more.

[005] In the top loading machines, a balancing ring is also provided in the upper portion of the washing basket, which has both an aesthetic finishing function, to give a better visual aspect to the machine, as well as a function of closing the portion between the washing basket and the machine tank, as well as allowing the basket to balance, in order to reduce the risk of accidents and minimize machine vibrations when the basket rotates.

[006] Devices for storing and dispensing cleaning agents in a laundry machine are also known. Such devices are generally formed by one or more compartments in which cleaning agents are stored, and running water is inserted into the desired compartment to dispense that cleaning agent inside the washing basket, depending on the stage of the washing cycle. For example, soap can be dispensed at the beginning of the wash cycle, while fabric softener can be dispensed only at the end of the wash cycle, during the rinse step. Thus, such devices may comprise valves, drawers or compartments, both to store the cleaning agent and to direct the flow of water to the appropriate compartment, depending on the step in the washing cycle.

[007] According to this specification, the term “cleaning agent” should be interpreted as any and all products intended for cleaning and / or caring for fabrics, such as, but not limited to, washing powder, liquid soap , fabric softener, bleach etc. which are dispensed inside the washing basket in a controlled manner according to the stage of the washing cycle.

[008] Also according to this specification, the term “washing cycle” defines one or more steps that comprise a

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3/12 cleaning and care of fabrics in a laundry machine, such as, without limitation, washing, rinsing, spinning, drying etc.

[009] The state of the art reveals some achievements related to devices for storing and dispensing cleaning agents in a laundry machine. DE 33 27 749 and US 2,976,879 disclose, for example, a device that employs a drawer with a siphon so that, on the one hand, the cleaning agent is stored until it is dispensed and, on the other hand, it is dispensed through the siphon when water is inserted into the compartment. The problem with using these device models is that the siphon can easily clog, due to the difference in viscosity of cleaning agents and water. Thus, for proper functioning, it is necessary to constantly clean the device and, particularly, the siphon, but not always with acceptable results. In addition, such drawer-type devices generally make use of valves and water ducts to dispense the cleaning agent related to that stage of the washing cycle in an adequate and controlled manner.

[010] Other achievements, as disclosed in US 3,150,511; US 4,154,069; US 4,240,277; and US 4,417,457, propose the assembly of these devices in the upper portion of the agitator. The problem with these achievements is to dispense cleaning agents in a controlled manner depending on the washing cycle, since the agitator is in constant motion during the different cycles.

[011] Therefore, there is a need for a device to store and dispense cleaning agents that is simple in construction and eliminates the use of drawers, valves or water ducts, as well as prevents clogging of the dispenser and is easy to clean, remove and that can

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4/12 release all cleaning agent contained in the compartment.

Description of the Invention [012] In order to circumvent the above mentioned drawbacks, among others, the invention proposes a cleaning agent dispenser for a laundry machine, which comprises:

a container with lower, front, side and rear walls and an upper opening, in which a channel is formed in an internal side portion of said container to dispense the cleaning agent when a direction of rotation is performed opposite the normal direction of centrifugation of the machine.

[013] According to additional or alternative embodiments of the invention, the dispenser may comprise the following characteristics, alone or in combination:

- said channel is formed between one of the side walls and an inner wall of said container;

- said lower wall is curved;

- said lower wall is curved in such a way that, on one side, it forms a substantially right angle with one of the side walls of the container and, on the other side, it coincides with the upper portion of an inner wall forming the channel;

- said internal wall has a lower height than the external wall that forms the channel;

- said container additionally comprises a removable top lid;

- said top cover has an opening;

- said container is attached to the balancing ring of a laundry machine;

- said removable assembly is carried out in a predicted opening

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5/12 in said balancing ring by means of a recess;

- said container is mounted on the laundry machine basket;

- said container is removably mounted on the inner portion of a balancing ring of a laundry machine;

- said front wall is curved;

- said cleaning agent is a cleaning agent in a substantially liquid state; and

- said cleaning agent is a fabric softener.

Brief Description of the Drawings [014] The invention will now be described in relation to its particular achievements, with reference to the attached figures. Such figures are schematic, and their dimensions and / or proportions may not correspond to reality, since they aim only to describe the invention in a didactic way. Therefore, the figures presented do not have a limiting character beyond that defined by the claims below, being that:

figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a washing basket associated with a balancing ring of a top loading laundry machine, according to an embodiment of the invention;

figure 2 is a top view of figure 1;

figure 3 is a perspective view of the balancing ring, with the dispenser mounted on an inner portion of the balancing ring, according to another embodiment of the invention;

figure 4 is a front view according to section B-B of figure 2;

figure 5 is a front sectional view according to detail C in figure 4; and

- figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a

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6/12 dispenser according to the present invention.

Description of Embodiments of the Invention [015] Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a washing basket (200), a balancing ring (100) and a cleaning agent dispenser (300) according to an embodiment of the invention.

[016] Other components of laundry machines, and particularly of top-loading laundry machines, such as the cabinet, the top opening access cover, the machine tank, structural elements, tank fixing and washing basket , as well as the mechanical and / or electrical elements for driving the agitator and basket, have been omitted in the figures for better visualization of the invention. Such elements mentioned above are common in laundry machines and are known to those skilled in the art, which is why a detailed description of these elements will not be made throughout this specification.

[017] Still in relation to figure 1, a washing basket (200) is shown, which generally comprises a cylindrical shape with holes (210) for the fluid communication of water and, if applicable, cleaning agents with fabrics that are inserted for washing. Alternatively, the washing basket (200) can also be a basket with substantially no holes.

[018] Above the basket, in its upper open portion, a balancing ring (100) is provided, which, as already mentioned, has both an aesthetic and technical function. An aesthetic function to give a finish to the upper portion of the machine, as this is where the fabrics are inserted in the washing basket (200) and that is shown to the user, and a technical function because it can prevent accidents when maintaining the upper portion the basket closed and also allow the basket to be balanced in order to reduce vibrations on the machine, since the rotation of the basket during centrifugation can reach 1,000 rpm or more.

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7/12 [019] The invention proposes that a dispenser (300) of cleaning agents be mounted on the balancing ring (100) of the basket. The dispenser can be mounted directly in an opening provided for in the balancing ring itself, or even be mounted in the inner or outer portion of said ring. Alternatively, the dispenser (300) can also be mounted in the laundry machine's own basket (200).

[020] The dispenser (300) comprises front (310), rear (313), left (311) and right (312) and lower (314) side walls, and an upper opening (340), in which it can also be provided a removable cover (400), which can also comprise an opening (410), as best seen in figure 6.

[021] A channel (320) is preferably formed on one side of the container and, even more preferably, it is formed, on one side, by one of the side walls (312) of the container, such as the right side wall shown here , and, on the other hand, by an internal wall (315) made in the container and which has a lower height than the side wall (312). Also preferably, the lower wall (314) is curved and formed, on the one hand, at a substantially right angle with the lower portion of the side wall (311) opposite the channel and, on the other hand, it is congruent with the upper portion of the inner wall (315), that is, the plane of the lower wall (314) joins the plane in the upper portion of the inner wall (315), similarly to a semi-arch, as shown in the sectional view of figure 4.

[022] In figures 1 and 6, the removable lid (400) is shown, which can serve to close the container (300) in its upper opening (340) and, in turn, can also comprise an opening (410), preferably formed in a decentralized manner in relation to the lid (400), so that its open portion (410) is decentralized in the direction of greater depth of the container, close to the side wall (311), but on the close side

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8/12 to the channel (320), or the shallowest side of the container, the lid (400) has a closed portion, that is, its opening (410) does not extend to the side next to the channel (320) of the container , as will become clearer later when describing the operation of the invention.

[023] The lid can be mounted and fitted in a recess (330) formed in the dispenser (300). In an alternative embodiment, the lid (400) is not removable and integrally formed in solidarity with the dispenser.

[024] The dispenser (300) of the invention is preferably mounted on the balancing ring (100) of a top loading laundry machine. In this case, a specific opening in the balancing ring (100) can be provided so that the dispenser (300) can be received and fitted.

[025] In an alternative embodiment, the dispenser (300) can be mounted directly on the washing basket (200), when fitting the holes (210) present in it, or even on the agitator (not shown).

[026] Still according to an alternative embodiment, the dispenser (300) can be mounted on the outer portion of the balancing ring (100) or on its inner portion, as shown in figure 3.

[027] Preferably, the lid (400) of the dispenser (300) has a removable feature, to facilitate both the removal of the dispenser (300) from the ring as well as its cleaning.

[028] The invention will now be described with respect to its operation.

[029] Before starting the washing cycle, the container is filled with a cleaning agent, preferably a cleaning agent in a substantially liquid state, such as a fabric softener, at a level below the opening formed between the inner wall ( 315) and the bottom wall (314),

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9/12 so that the cleaning agent does not overflow through the channel (320). Preferably, the cleaning agent is filled only to approximately half the height of the deepest portion of the container, in relation to the side wall (311). In this way, the volume and dimensions of the container can be determined based on the typical volume of the cleaning agent for which the dispenser is intended, so that the volume to be filled in the container is approximately half the height of the container. side wall (311) opposite the channel (320).

[030] The filling can be done directly through the upper opening (340) of the container or through the opening (410) provided in the removable lid (400).

[031] During the washing steps, the agitator (not shown) and, possibly, the basket (200) make an alternating rotation movement of relatively low angular amplitude, such as 10 ° to 45 ° in each direction, in order to create a mechanical stirring inside the washing basket (200) to help clean the fabrics.

[032] During this alternating movement, the cleaning agent is also agitated inside the container (300) following the movement of the washing basket (200) due to the inertia created inside the container. However, as the range of motion is relatively small during the washing steps, the cleaning agent contained in the container does not overflow as, on the one hand, the liquid inertia is blocked by the side wall opposite the channel (311 ) and, on the other hand, the upward curved shape of the bottom wall (314) prevents the inertia of the cleaning agent from reaching the channel (320) formed on the other side.

[033] After the washing cycle, and eventually after the rinse cycles, centrifugation is usually done, in which the basket is rotated in only one direction at a relative high angular speed in order to remove water and

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10/12 other tissue cleaning agents. In figure 4, the arrow (450) represents the normal direction of rotation of the basket (200) during centrifugation.

[034] In this case, the channel (320) made on one side of the container must be provided so that it is opposite the side where the cleaning agent will accumulate due to the inertia exerted by the angular velocity of the basket during the normal direction of centrifugation. For example, in the figures, if the rotation during centrifugation is performed in a clockwise direction (450), that is, in the direction from left to right according to the sectional view of figure 4, it is evident to technicians in the matter that the The cleaning will tend to accumulate on the side of the left side wall (311) of the container, opposite the channel (320), due to the reverse direction of the inertia exerted on the cleaning agent.

[035] As the volume of cleaning agent is relatively less than the height of the side wall, it will not overflow through the container, which can also be avoided by the lid (400).

[036] However, the invention proposes that, prior to the step in which the cleaning agent contained in the container is to be used, such as before the final rinse step of the fabrics during the washing cycle, the stage in which a fabric softener must be used. dispensed, for example, the laundry machine performs a continuous or pulsed spin in the opposite direction, according to the direction represented by the arrow (451) in figure 4. Thus, the cleaning agent will tend to accumulate on the other side of the container, that is, will tend to rise through the angle formed on the bottom wall (314) towards the channel (320). As the height of the inner wall (315) is less than the height of the side wall (312) with which the channel forms, a cleaning agent passage is formed from the inside of the container to the channel (320) and from there to the inside the washing basket. As previously mentioned, the lid (400), in this portion that covers the channel (320), is preferably closed, in order to prevent the cleaning agent from being thrown outside the limits of the container (300).

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11/12 [037] The cleaning agent then enters the channel (320) and is dispensed into the washing basket (200), so that, after the spin in the reverse direction, and the consequent dispensing of the cleaning agent cleaning, whether the planned washing or rinsing step is carried out with that cleaning agent, such as the last rinse in which the fabric softener is used.

[038] Naturally, if the laundry machine's normal direction of rotation is reversed to that shown here, the dispenser (300) can also be built in reverse, for example, in a mirrored view in relation to the sectional view of the figure 4 shown here, with the channel (320) provided on the other side (311).

[039] According to this specification, the term “normal spin direction” of a laundry machine should be interpreted as the direction of rotation of the washing basket that a laundry machine performs to remove cleaning agents or excess water from the tissues.

[040] The dispenser (300) of the invention can be easily removed and inserted into the balancing ring (100) of the laundry machine, as well as its cover (400), so that it can be promptly removed for cleaning. Its simple constructive characteristic and with few corners or regions of difficult access also allows that there are no accumulations of cleaning agents, as well as allowing the cleaning of the dispenser, if necessary, to be carried out in a simple way by conventional means.

[041] As can be seen, the invention proposes a dispenser (300) of simpler construction in relation to devices of the state of the art that employ drawers or valves for the correct dispensing of the cleaning product. The possibility of dispensing the cleaning agent in just one direction of rotation of the washing basket (200)

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12/12 also gives an advantage over the dispensers provided on the machine's agitator.

[042] It must be recognized that, although the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, those skilled in the art can expand the knowledge described here and make changes in shape or structure without, however, deviating from the principles and teachings described here. Therefore, the appended claims are to be interpreted as covering any and all equivalents of the invention.

Claims (14)

Claims 1. DISPENSER (300) OF A CLEANING AGENT FOR A LAUNDRY MACHINE, comprising: a container with lower (314), front (310), side (311, 312), rear (313) walls and an upper opening (340), characterized by the fact that a channel (320) is formed in a lateral portion inside the container to dispense the cleaning agent when a direction of rotation is performed opposite the normal spin direction of the machine and the cleaning agent is no longer dispensed when the normal spin direction of the machine is performed. 2. DISPENSER (300) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the channel (320) is formed between one of the side walls (312) and an inner wall (315) of the container. 3. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the lower wall is curved. DISPENSER (300) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the bottom wall is curved so that, on one side, it forms a right angle with one of the side walls (311) of the container and, on the other hand, it coincides with the upper portion of an inner wall (315) that forms the channel (320). 5. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the inner wall (315) is less than one of the side walls (312) that form the channel (320). DISPENSER (300) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container additionally comprises a removable top cover (400). 7. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the upper removable cover (400) has a Petition 870200024897, of 2/20/2020, p. 15/18 2/2 aperture (410). 8. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the container is mounted on the basket (200) of the laundry machine. 9. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the container is removably mounted to a balancing ring (100) of a laundry machine. 10. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that removable assembly is carried out in an opening provided for in the balancing ring (100). 11. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the container is removably mounted on the inner portion of a balancing ring (100) of a laundry machine. 12. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the front wall is curved. 13. DISPENSER (300), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that cleaning agent is a liquid cleaning agent. 14. DISPENSER (300) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning agent is a fabric softener.