DE29722458U1 - Detergent dispenser for water-bearing household appliances - Google Patents

Description

WA-1997/032 KU-mb ■ 03.12.1997

AEG Hausgeräte GmbH D-90327 Nuremberg ,

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Description

Detergent dispenser for water-based household appliances.

The innovation relates to a detergent dispenser according to the generic term of claim 1.

Detergent dispensers of the type in question are generally known, for example, in washing machines. The detergents for the pre-wash and main wash as well as the laundry after-treatment agents are filled into the designated dosing chambers of the detergent dispenser before the respective washing program is started. The agents are then rinsed out of the corresponding dosing chamber automatically at the start of the respective washing or rinsing process. With such a detergent dispenser, the user of the washing machine does not immediately recognize the function of the individual dosing chambers, so that it can happen that a chamber is filled that is then not rinsed out at all in a certain preselected washing program. This can be the case, for example, that the dosing chamber for the pre-wash is filled with detergent even though the preselected washing program is processed without running through a pre-wash program.

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The innovation is based on the task of giving the operator a clear indication as to whether the dosing chambers required for a certain preselected washing or rinsing program should also be filled with a detergent or laundry care product.

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so that an incorrect program execution is avoided. -

The solution to this problem according to the innovation can be found in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous further embodiments of the subject matter of the innovation are specified in the subclaims.

The advantages that can be achieved with the innovation are that the load of the individual dosing chambers is automatically monitored and as a result the program selection is simplified, since, for example, the additional function button "fabric softener" can be omitted.

A preferred embodiment of the innovation is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail below.

Show it: .

Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a detergent dispensing unit consisting of several dosing chambers,

Fig. 2 a dosing chamber in individual representation with weight sensor,

Fig. 3 a detergent dispensing unit designed as a drawer, in which each dosing chamber is equipped with a weight sensor.

The detergent dispenser unit 1 shown in Fig. 1 for a program-controlled washing machine has several separate dosing chambers 2, 3, 4 and 5 for holding various washing and laundry care products (washing liquid). The dosing chamber 2 serves, for example, to hold a softener when

WA-1997/032

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03 .12.1997

Pre-wash, while the dosing chamber 3 holds the detergent for the main wash. The bleach or stain remover can be deposited in the dosing chamber 4 and the fabric softener can be kept ready in the dosing chamber 5.

In the separate dosing chamber 6 shown in Fig. 2, the rinsing liquid is supplied in a wide range. A rinsing opening 8 is provided on one of the narrow sides 7 of the dosing chamber for rinsing. The bottom 9 of the dosing chamber 6 is assigned an electrical sensor 10, preferably a weight sensor, for the purpose of detecting the load, which sends an electrical signal to the electronic program control device of the washing machine. In the detergent dispensing unit 11, 12, 13 designed as a drawer according to Fig. 3, an electrical weight sensor ¹⁴ is attached under each of the dosing chambers 11, 12, 13 or is integrated into the bottom. With such an electrical weight sensor, the piezoelectric effect is used, ie voltage is generated by a pressure force. It would also be conceivable to use a weight-dependent contact switch as a weight sensor, which switches on when a certain minimum load is reached.

.20 load of e.g. 20 g. goes into the closed position and thus delivers a corresponding signal to the electronic control device. The control electronics of the washing machine then recognizes with the help of the signal triggered by this whether the relevant dosing chamber is loaded or not. By comparing it with the preselected washing program, the operator can be optimally or acoustically informed of operating errors. Such an operating error can consist of a washing program with prewash being selected, but the corresponding agent for this is missing in the dosing chamber for prewash. The control electronics only detects the

Flushing process for the detected loaded dosing chamber chambers • initiated. This has the advantage that the

WA-1997/032

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03.12.1997

Only the loaded dosing chambers are rinsed out with the available water quantity.

Claims (4)

17.12.1997 Claims 1. Detergent dispenser for water-based household appliances
with a program control device, such as washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers, consisting
from a detergent dispenser with several dosing chambers for the detergent and rinsing agent, characterized in that each dosing chamber has a sensor (10; 14) by which, in the presence of a detergent or rinsing agent, an output signal the control device can be activated. 2. Detergent dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (10; 14) is a weight sensor
serves. 3. Detergent dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the weight sensor (10) is an electrical sensor or a contact switch responsive to weight
serves. 4. Detergent dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the weight sensor (10 or 14) is arranged below the dosing chamber base (9) or is integrated therein.