EA019382B1 - Automatically controlled washing machine having fill level display for laundry treatment agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatically controlled washing machine having a flushing device 8 for laundry treatment agent disposed in the front side of the machine chamber. Said device comprises a drawer 9 accessible from the front and having at least one container 16 to 18 for liquid or gel laundry treatment agent and a handle 10 fixed to the drawer 9 for pulling open and pushing in the drawer 9. In order to simplify the monitoring of the emptying of reservoirs 16 to 18 for the user, such that the user does not need to pull out the drawer 9 of the washing agent flushing device 8 in order to read a deficiency in the container contents, the container 16 to 18 comprises an at least transparent wall 29 behind the handle 10. The handle 10 also has a window-like recess 22 to 24 extending vertically in front of each container 16 to 18 in the drawer 9.

Description

The invention relates to a washing machine with automatic control located at the front in the interior of the machine with a flushing device for laundry treating means, which comprises a pull-out tray accessible from the front with at least one container for storing one or more servings of liquid or gel laundry treating means and is rigidly a handle mounted on the drawer to extend and slide the drawer.

Background of the Related Art

The patent document No. 102009027127.9 of the applicant for this application describes a washing machine of the indicated type, equipped with a storage container in an exemplary embodiment, in which, directly behind the handle, which is a gripping panel, there is a space compartment of a prismatic shape, equipped with at least forward and downward inclination translucent end surface. On this end surface there is a marking of the fill level of the stock container, by which the observer can read the approximate fill level of the stock container. However, for this, the observer must first pull out the box.

In the known machine for drying clothes (ΌΕ 3708516 A1), the filling level of the condensate collecting container can be read out using a water level tube which is mounted on the panel of the collecting container. However, a structural feature here relates to a machine for drying clothes and to monitor the state of filling in a container for collecting condensate.

Patent Document \ ¥ 0 2009/142355 A1 describes a washing machine with an attachment for purchased containers with laundry detergents, which makes it possible to fill the wash tray with liquid detergents, and dispensing of the supplied detergent can be carried out. The disadvantage of the solution is that the machine does not provide any containers for stock. Instead, for each washing process, detergent bottles should be installed on the console. At the same time, the described indicator of the level of filling the wash tray does not give an indication of the available supply of detergent, but indicates only the amount of a single serving of detergent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem to which the present invention is directed is to perform the described washing machine in such a way that it is easier for the user to observe the emptying of the containers for stock due to the fact that to read out the lack of funds in the container, it is not necessary to extend the drawer of the washing device for washing detergents.

In accordance with the invention, the solution to this problem is achieved in a washing machine with automatic control located on the front side in the interior of the machine with a flushing device for laundry processing means, comprising a front pull-out tray with at least one container for storing one or more portions of liquid or gel-like laundry treating means and a handle rigidly mounted on the drawer tray to extend and retract the drawer tray, characterized in that eyner is disposed behind the handle transparent or translucent region, and the handle is disposed before each located directly behind it vertically extending container box.

Due to this, behind each window you can see the container and, through its transparent or translucent area, determine the level of filling of the container with the laundry treatment agent without the need to extend the tray.

Preferably, the container comprises a transparent or translucent region that is located outside the window. Observation is possible even when the container area immediately outside the window is made transparent or translucent. The ability to determine the level of filling is greatly facilitated by the decision when, according to the following exemplary embodiment of the invention, the container wall adjacent to the window is illuminated or illuminated from behind.

According to a further development of the invention, such rear illumination or backlighting can be provided in a technically easily feasible way when the wall adjacent to the window contains a light guide means located between the light source stationary relative to the container and the window. Such a light guide means may already be provided when the container is made of a transparent material.

In this case, the light source can be mounted on a pull-out tray or in the interior of the machine.

Particularly preferred is a solution in which the container wall adjacent to the window is transparent or translucent and has a linear molded portion that extends into the window. In this case, the end surface of the container is maximally approximated to the observer, from which the filling level can be directly read.

However, alternatively, a transparent or translucent liner may also be installed in the window, and the container may fit snugly against the liner from the inside. In this case, the indication of the filling level is transmitted through the liner directly to the outer surface of the handle and is recognized very well. This effect is greatly enhanced when a transparent or translucent liner

- 1 019382 on its outer end surface and / or on its surface facing the container is made convex in a direction parallel to its length in height.

The features of the dependent claims may in any reasonable way be combined with the features of the independent paragraph and with each other within the scope of an inventive idea.

List of figures, drawings and other materials

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a washing machine with automatic control and the location of the washing device for detergents in the upper left spatial corner of the interior of the machine body above the oscillating system;

FIG. 2 shows the washing machine of FIG. 1 in a plan view with the working wall removed and a view of the drawer tray according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a drawer according to the invention, taken out of a slot of a washing device for detergents, wherein only containers for supplying laundry detergent are shown;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the assembly E of FIG. 3 in a modification of execution in comparison with FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the assembly E of FIG. 3 in a modification of execution in comparison with FIG. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the assembly E of FIG. 3 in a modification of execution in comparison with FIG. 3-5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the assembly E of FIG. 3 in a modification of execution in comparison with FIG. 3-6.

Information confirming the possibility of carrying out the invention

In FIG. 1, inside the housing 1 of the washing machine, the dashed line on the oscillating suspension shows the aggregate 2 of the washing solution tank, the central opening of which is locked by the front door 3. On top of the front wall 1.1 (Fig. 2) is a control panel 4 containing devices 5 and an indicator display 6 for program settings that can be set by the program control device 7, which are used to control the processes of the machine, including the processes of automatic dispensing of means for processing laundry.

In the upper left spatial corner of the housing 1, a flushing device 8 for detergents is conventionally installed, comprising a drawer 9 that can be pulled out of the corresponding slot in the housing. On the front side of the drawer tray 9, a gripping panel 10 is mounted as a handle, which, when the tray is completely retracted into the slot in the housing, is in the same outer plane as the control panel 4. Dashed lines indicate that containers 16-18 are located in the drawer tray 9 behind the gripping panel (handle) 10. Windows 2224 are made in the handle 10, through which the observer can look at the front walls of the containers 16-18. These walls, at least in the area of alignment with the windows 22-24 are made transparent or translucent, so that the filling level of containers 16-18 can be visually perceived. On or next to windows 22-24, scales for each fill level can be plotted.

In FIG. 2 shows an example of a drawer. Here, the flushing device 8 for detergents occupies the entire depth of the machine body 1, as in the aforementioned solutions of the prior art. The drawer tray 9, located under the top panel, which serves to supply fresh water, is mounted with the ability to move along the arrow 19. The drawer tray 9 is rigidly connected to the front handle 10 and contains two containers 11 and 12, of which the container 11 is designed for a disposable portion of powder means for processing linen, and the container 12 is intended for a single serving of liquid means for processing linen. In order for liquid to flow out of the container together with water when filling the container 12, a well-known siphon 13 is located in the container 12. For descent from the container 11, it is provided with a lateral outlet (not shown here), which discharges the contents of the container to the bottom of the casing surrounding the flush device 8 for detergents.

Behind the container 11, there is a block of magnetic valves 14, which supply water to the containers 11 and 12 supplied from the device 15 to the water supply system located on the rear wall 1.2 of the housing 1. The laundry treatment agent captured by the water is supplied to the detergent solution tank 2, as shown pipelines.

Containers 16, 17, 18 are located along the right longitudinal side of the drawer 9 and in its front part, which are closed around the entire perimeter, except that in the front area each container 16-18 is provided on its upper surface with a loading hole 20, which can be closed or opened by shutter 21.

In FIG. 3 shows a top view of a pull-out tray 9, taken out of a socket in the housing, in another embodiment. The drawer 9 contains only containers 25-27 for stocking several batches of liquid or gel-like laundry treating agents. Each of the containers 25-27 is inserted into the reception

- 2 019382 space 28 of the drawer and can be replaced by another suitable container for installation. This happens mainly always when one of the containers 25-27 is empty (or 16-18 of FIG. 2 when they are made incomplete). The inserted containers 25-27 fit tightly with their front walls 29 to the rear side of the handle 10 so that the transparent or translucent area of the wall 29 is precisely aligned with the corresponding window 30, 31 or 32. Due to this, this area is visible through the corresponding window and shows the fill level of the corresponding container.

Node E is shown in FIG. 4-7 in other embodiments other than the embodiment of FIG. 3. So, in FIG. 4 shows a variant in which the front wall 29 of the container 25 at the height of the window 30 is directly adjacent to the rear side of the handle 10. However, a light guide 33 is also integrated into the front wall, the light entrance surface 34 of which is facing the light source 35 connected to the handle 10. The light guide 33 optically connected to the translucent region 36 of the front wall 29 of the container 25, so that light coming from the light source 35 passes through the light guide 33 to the translucent region 36. The translucent region 36 passes along the height of the front wall 29 along the window 30. Behind due to the lateral incident of light from the light source 35, the translucent area 36 is sharply distinguished from the background of its surroundings, since the areas of the container 25 moistened with the laundry treatment means appear darker than the non-wetted areas. In this case, it is clearly visible in FIG. 1 vertical strip (for example, in window 22), serving as an analogue measure of the filling level of the corresponding container.

The front wall 37 of the container 38 of FIG. 5 is molded to enter the space of the window 30 over its entire height, so that a geometrically closed connection is formed between the window 30 and the molded portion 39. In this case, light incident on the side on the outer surface of the front wall 37 of the container 38 can be held. In this case, the light guide 40 receives light from the light source 41, which is here mounted on the fixed part of the washing device 8 for detergents. Accordingly, the light entrance surface 42 of the light guide 40 faces the side. In the area of overlapping with the window 30, the light guide 40 has an opaque surface 43, which is obtained, for example, by roughening and comes directly into the interior of the container, so that it is wetted by the laundry treating agent. In this case, the opaque surface 43 in the wetting area looks noticeably darker than its surroundings, and is clearly visible through the window.

A closed geometrical connection between the window 44 of the handle 10 and the molded portion 45 of the front wall 46 of the container 47 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 is expressed even more clearly than in the example of FIG. 5. Here, the molded portion 45 reaches the level of the front surface of the handle 10, so that the laundry treating means located in the container 47 can flow to this surface. Moreover, its darker color is visible directly on the front surface of the handle 10. Compared to the non-wetted molded part 45 of the front wall 46, it forms a sharp contrast surface in ambient light that cannot be overlooked. Additionally, if necessary, to enhance the effect, here also, the container 47 can be illuminated with a light source 48 below or above the molded part 45. At the choice of the designer, this light source 48 can be mounted on the handle 10 or on the drawer 9 or stationary in the housing socket surrounding the drawer .

The handle 10 of FIG. 7 also has a window, however it is filled with a transparent or translucent insert 49, to the inside of which the front wall 50 of the container 51 abuts. In the region of this insert 49, the front wall 50 of the container 51 has a light guide section 52 into which light from a light source comes in from below or above 53.

On its end surface 54, the insert 49 is made convex in a direction parallel to its length in order to increase the level image on the light guide portion 52 due to the created lens effect. Similar molding can also be performed on the surface facing the container 51.

It goes without saying that within the scope of the inventive idea, certain features of the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 1-7 may be used in other exemplary embodiments where appropriate. For example, the molded portion 45 of FIG. 6 may be filled with the transparent or translucent insert of FIG. 7 and have a convex viewing surface. All examples of execution using extraneous light or without it can be combined with a light source, the light from which acts on the end surface of the level either directly or through a fiber with or without an opaque light exit surface.

Claims (9)

1. A washing machine with automatic control with a flushing device (8) located on the front side in the interior of the machine for laundry processing means containing a pull-out tray (9) accessible from the front with at least one container (16-18, 25-27, 38, 47, 51) for stocking one or more servings of a liquid or gel-like laundry treating agent and a handle (10) rigidly mounted on the drawer tray (9) for sliding and sliding the drawer tray (9), characterized in that the container (16- 18, 25-27, 38, 47, 51) has a location beyond by the bracket (10), a transparent or translucent area, and the handle (10) has a vertically extending window (22-24, 30-32, in front of each container directly behind it (16-18, 25-27, 38, 47, 51) 44). 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said transparent or translucent region is located in the wall (29, 37, 46, 50) of the container (16-18, 25-27, 38, 47, 51) outside the window (22 -24, 30-32, 44). 3. A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the wall (37, 46) of the container (38, 47) located next to the window (30, 44) is transparent or translucent and has a linear molded part (39, 45), which enters the window (30, 44). 4. The washing machine according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it contains means for highlighting or illuminating the rear wall (29, 37, 46, 50) of the container (25, 38, 47, 51) located next to the window (30, 44). 5. A washing machine according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the wall (29, 37, 46, 50) located next to the window (30, 44) comprises a light guide means (33, 40, 52) located between the stationary relative to the container (25, 38, 47, 51) with a light source (35, 41, 48, 53) and a window (30, 44). 6. A washing machine according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that the light source (35, 48) is mounted on a drawer tray (9). 7. The washing machine according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that the light source (41, 48, 53) is fixed in the interior of the machine. 8. A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a transparent or translucent insert (49) is installed in the window (30, 44), and the container (51) fits snugly inside the insert (49). 9. A washing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the insert (49) on its outer end surface (54) and / or on its surface facing the container (51) is made convex in a direction parallel to its length in height.