EP0268451B1 - Liquid dispensing system - Google Patents

Liquid dispensing system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0268451B1
EP0268451B1 EP87310115A EP87310115A EP0268451B1 EP 0268451 B1 EP0268451 B1 EP 0268451B1 EP 87310115 A EP87310115 A EP 87310115A EP 87310115 A EP87310115 A EP 87310115A EP 0268451 B1 EP0268451 B1 EP 0268451B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
duct
container
valve
valve coupling
liquid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87310115A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0268451A2 (en
EP0268451A3 (en
Inventor
Gerrit Klaas Bunschoten
Wilhelmus Klaas Der Kinderen
Lambertus Gerardus Petrus Van Der Heyden
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP0268451A2 publication Critical patent/EP0268451A2/en
Publication of EP0268451A3 publication Critical patent/EP0268451A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0268451B1 publication Critical patent/EP0268451B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
    • D06F39/022—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents in a liquid state

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid dispensing system, more in particular to a container coupling system which can be used for dispensing liquid detergent products from a container.
  • DE-A-3 246 127 discloses a container coupling system comprising a container for liquid and a liquid duct for connection to the container, the said container comprising a valve coupling providing entrance to the container for transfer of liquid between container and duct, the said duct and valve coupling having cooperating configurations enabling connection together and disconnection of the said duct and valve coupling, without spillage of liquid, the valve coupling comprising a valve sealing member and resilient means urging the sealing member into a position closing the valve, the duct being provided with openings means positioned to displace the sealing member when the duct and valve coupling come into sealing engagement upon connection thereof, said opening means projecting beyond a terminal portion of the duct, whereby sealing means are provided to seal between the valve coupling and the terminal portion of the duct, the opening means and the valve coupling being configured to co-operate with one another to assist closing of the valve coupling as the duct is disconnected therefrom, and wherein a projection from either the opening means or the valve sealing member engages an undercut recess in
  • GB-A-2 147 163 discloses a liquid tight connection formed between the outlet of a reservoir and a dispenser, comprising valve means which allows the passage of liquid from the reservoir outlet to the dispenser, but closes the reservoir outlet when the reservoir is withdrawn from its operative position.
  • a container coupling system of the afore mentioned kind which is characterized in that the duct incorporates an air passage, the said duct and the valve coupling having configurations to enable air to flow into the container via the air passage as liquid flows from the container into the duct.
  • the opening means comprises a pillar having a channel through the pillar leading from atmosphere to one or more openings in the pillar and provided with valve means serving to admit air to the container as liquid flows from the container into the duct.
  • the duct has a protective shield resiliently biased to a position covering an entrance to the duct, and forced to a position exposing the entrance to the duct when the duct and valve coupling are connected.
  • the duct is provided with a level sensor to indicate when liquid from the container is substantially exhausted.
  • Such compositions inevitably release oxygen under the influence of heat and/or light.
  • the oxygen gas thus released increases the pressure above the liquid surface, which could risk rupturing the container, or result in excess internal pressures which can have hazardous effects when the container is coupled to the rest of the system.
  • a similar problem can be encountered with other noxious agents giving rise to gassing or development of volatile components.
  • valve coupling is preferably constructed such that when the container is not connected to the duct, the valve coupling substantially prevents escape of liquid during storage, whilst permitting escape to atmosphere of excess pressure within the container.
  • the valve coupling comprises a sealing member, which may be a sealing washer, resiliently biased against a valve seat, which may be a lip.
  • a sealing member which may be a sealing washer, resiliently biased against a valve seat, which may be a lip.
  • a washer may be provided with a suitably dimensioned slit which allows vapours of gases at excess pressure to escape, yet prevents passage of liquid when the container is inverted ready to be coupled to the duct, by virtue of the weight of the liquid contents.
  • the container may be provided with a gas flow passageway closed by a porous membrane.
  • the membrane may be made of microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with a pore size which will not allow liquid to pass, yet which will allow air in, or excess gas out, according to the pore size employed.
  • PTFE microporous polytetrafluoroethylene
  • a container 1, having a plastics wall 3, is filled with a liquid detergent composition 5.
  • the container wall terminates in neck 7 to which is fitted a valve coupling 9.
  • the valve coupling comprises a collar 11 fitted to the container neck by a screw thread arrangement. A bayonet or irremovable snap-fit arrangement is also possible.
  • the valve coupling further comprises a resilient washer 13 mounted on a compression spring 15 which urges said washer against a lip 17. The compression spring is held in place by basket 19. The action of the spring urging the washer against the lip results in sealing of the opening 21 so that substantially none of the liquid contents can escape, even if the container is inverted.
  • the washer is provided with a slit 23 which is dimensioned so as to open at 0.10-0.12 bar excess pressure within the container.
  • a slit 23 which is dimensioned so as to open at 0.10-0.12 bar excess pressure within the container.
  • gassing for example a chlorine bleach
  • any gas at excess pressure above the liquid can degas i.e. escape to atmosphere.
  • an annular sealing washer 25 is also provided to ensure good sealing of the container against the collar.
  • the container and valve coupling are positioned mouth downwards, by virtue of the container being manipulated with handle 27.
  • the container is inserted in receiving module 29 having a lid 31 which is closed by means of a hinge 33.
  • a valve opening means having a head 35, at the top of a hollow pillar 37.
  • An internal channel 38 within the pillar 37 leads from an air inlet, as seen in Figure 4.
  • a nipple 39 is situated on the top of the valve opening means.
  • a probe 41 to detect presence of a container 1 and connected to a reset switch is located inside the receiving module to trigger pumping control equipment (not shown) when an exhausted container is removed and a new one inserted.
  • the valve opening means is positioned at the mouth of a duct 43 provided with an O-ring for ensuring a good seal with the mouth of the container/valve coupling.
  • the duct mouth is connected via chamber 45 containing a float level sensor (provided with output wire 49) to an outlet duct connector 51.
  • the container and duct may be coupled to modular pumping and control equipment of the kind described in the aforementioned UK patent specification.
  • valve coupling is pushed over the valve opening means, a seal being achieved by means of O-ring 44.
  • the nipple 39 locks within a recess 53 within the resilient washer, forcing it away from the lip 17 against the biasof the compression spring. This allows free passage of liquid from inside the container, into the duct.
  • the head 35 is dimensioned to seal the opening 21 until the O-ring 44 enters this opening.
  • the valve opening means is provided with a plurality of valved openings 57 which allow the air to escape into the liquid, through the basket.
  • the valve openings 57 are covered with a sheath 58 of a suitable resilient material which provides the necessary valve action thus allowing the air to enter without liquid escaping through the air channel. It will be appreciated that this obviates the necessity for having a collapsable container.
  • the liquid leaving the container and entering the duct first enters an ante-chamber 59 before the chamber 45 which contains the float level sensor 47, which is provided with an appropriate electrical transducer of any kind which will be well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the output of the transducer is conducted by means of wire 49 which is lead through opening 61 in the chamber, a water-tight seal being effected by means of rubber grommet 63.
  • the float sensor chamber leads on to channel 65 which is joined to the duct outlet connector 51 shown in Figure 3.
  • the floor of the channel is raised above that of the ante-chamber and float chamber so that a level establishes itself within the float chamber.
  • valve opening means can be provided with a cylindrical shield 67 fixed to the upper end of compression spring 71, the lower end of this spring being located in annular groove 73. Connection or disconnection of the container and its associated valve coupling (in the direction of double-headed arrows 75) causes corresponding sliding movements of the shield, respectively against or with the bias of the compression spring 71 (in the direction of double-headed arrows 77).
  • the shield covers the mouth of the duct 43 between the end of this duct and the head 35 of the opening means, to inhibit any back-seepage of liquid in the duct, and avoid any residual liquid coming into contact with the user.
  • the provision of annular groove 73 means that the float chamber 45 is of an alternative shape to that shown in Figure 4 (sensor not shown).
  • the embodiment shown by Figures 6 to 8 has some constructional differences.
  • the container 1 terminates in a neck 7 onto which is screwed a cap 81. This is shaped to provide an encircling collar 83 and a flat face 85 within the neck 7. Upstanding from the centre of face 85 is a tubular portion 87 which is equivalent to opening 21. Extending into the container from face 85 are legs 89 providing a basket accommodating spring 15 which biases a sealing washer 93 to a position as shown in Figure 6 where the washer seals to the tubular portion 87.
  • the washer's relaxed shape is shown in Figure 7. It has a main body similar to that of washer 13, shown in Figure 1, with an undercut recess 53 and a slit 23 as previously described.
  • the body of the washer is joined by thin annuli 95 to sealing lips 97 which seal against the walls of the tubular portion 87. This form of washer is beneficial in giving reliable operation of the slit 23.
  • the container 1 is inserted in a receiving module 29, as shown by Figure 8.
  • This receiving module has a duct 43 projecting from which is a valve opening means with a head 35 at the top of a solid pillar 99.
  • the portion 87 is fitted over the valve opening means and seals onto the duct 43 which may be provided with an O-ring similar to O-ring 44.
  • the valve opening means displaces the washer 93 against the bias of spring 15 allowing liquid to flow between the legs 89 and into the duct 43 through the gap between the duct 43 and the head 35.
  • a short tube 101 Extending into the container 1 from the face 85 is a short tube 101 which is closed at its inner end by a membrane 103 of microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
  • PTFE microporous polytetrafluoroethylene
  • This tube acts as a gas passage, by passing the washer 93.
  • the membrane 103 will not allow liquid passage, but has pores of a size allowing gas to escape when the container 1 is disconnected as in Figure 6, and allowing air to vent into the emptying container, as in Figure 8.
  • the gas passage 101 might be relied on for only one of these functions if desired.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
  • Polysaccharides And Polysaccharide Derivatives (AREA)
  • Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
EP87310115A 1986-11-19 1987-11-17 Liquid dispensing system Expired - Lifetime EP0268451B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868627598A GB8627598D0 (en) 1986-11-19 1986-11-19 Liquid dispensing system
GB8627598 1986-11-19

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0268451A2 EP0268451A2 (en) 1988-05-25
EP0268451A3 EP0268451A3 (en) 1988-10-05
EP0268451B1 true EP0268451B1 (en) 1991-11-21

Family

ID=10607557

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87310115A Expired - Lifetime EP0268451B1 (en) 1986-11-19 1987-11-17 Liquid dispensing system

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0268451B1 (no)
AU (1) AU599435B2 (no)
DE (1) DE3774672D1 (no)
ES (1) ES2027303T3 (no)
GB (1) GB8627598D0 (no)
NO (1) NO169884C (no)
NZ (1) NZ222541A (no)
ZA (1) ZA878632B (no)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101482108B1 (ko) * 2008-05-23 2015-01-13 엘지전자 주식회사 세탁기
EP4071291A1 (en) * 2017-04-17 2022-10-12 Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. Washing additive box and washing machine

Families Citing this family (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3642744A1 (de) * 1986-12-13 1988-06-23 Henkel Kgaa Leerstandsmessvorrichtung
GB2260972B (en) * 1991-10-31 1995-06-07 William George Harold Coventry Valve for dispensing liquid from a container
GB9521730D0 (en) * 1995-10-24 1996-01-03 Gw Chemicals Ltd Dispensing apparatus
DE102005050083B4 (de) * 2005-10-18 2011-11-03 Miele & Cie. Kg Dosiereinrichtung für flüssige Zugabemittel für ein Haushaltgerät
US9004118B2 (en) 2006-04-06 2015-04-14 Reckitt Benckiser N. V. Filling system
GB0606909D0 (en) * 2006-04-06 2006-05-17 Reckitt Benckiser Nv Filling System
US20080028802A1 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Glenn Thomas Jordan Receiving apparatus
DE102007041603B4 (de) 2007-09-03 2011-05-26 Miele & Cie. Kg Dosiereinrichtung und Vorratsbehälter für flüssige Zugabemittel für eine Waschmaschine oder Spülmaschine
KR101482111B1 (ko) 2008-05-23 2015-01-13 엘지전자 주식회사 세탁기
KR101482109B1 (ko) * 2008-05-23 2015-01-13 엘지전자 주식회사 세척기기
KR101482110B1 (ko) * 2008-05-23 2015-01-13 엘지전자 주식회사 세탁기
EP2251480B1 (en) 2009-05-11 2017-11-29 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Laundry washing appliance
DE102010062679A1 (de) * 2010-12-09 2012-06-14 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa Dosiersystem für eine Geschirrspülmaschine
PL2479335T3 (pl) 2011-01-19 2015-04-30 Miele & Cie Urządzenie dozujące do płynnych i lepkich dodatków do pralki oraz pralka
GB2531176B (en) 2013-03-15 2017-10-18 Bissell Homecare Inc Fluid delivery system
US10143350B2 (en) 2015-09-09 2018-12-04 Bissell Homecare, Inc. Cap and receiver for coupling a container to a surface cleaning device
USD865306S1 (en) 2017-12-21 2019-10-29 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance door
USD874764S1 (en) 2017-12-21 2020-02-04 Whirlpool Corporation User interface
USD877431S1 (en) 2017-12-21 2020-03-03 Whirlpool Corporation User interface
USD899720S1 (en) 2017-12-21 2020-10-20 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance
USD848692S1 (en) 2017-12-21 2019-05-14 Whirlpool Corporation Bulk dispensing drawer
USD866887S1 (en) 2017-12-21 2019-11-12 Whirlpool Corporation Pedestal
CN109629185A (zh) * 2019-01-01 2019-04-16 佛山市顺德区硕美工业设计有限公司 一种洗衣机的定量精控系统
EP3722251A1 (en) * 2019-04-12 2020-10-14 Societe Anonyme des Eaux Minerales d'Evian Et en Abrege "S.A.E.M.E" Liquid dispenser
CN112227019B (zh) * 2019-07-15 2024-05-28 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种出液结构、洗涤添加剂盒及洗衣机
WO2021219295A1 (en) 2020-04-28 2021-11-04 Unilever Ip Holdings B.V. Auto-dosing device and container
JP2021090800A (ja) * 2021-02-18 2021-06-17 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 洗濯機
US11647860B1 (en) 2022-05-13 2023-05-16 Sharkninja Operating Llc Flavored beverage carbonation system
US11751585B1 (en) 2022-05-13 2023-09-12 Sharkninja Operating Llc Flavored beverage carbonation system
US12084334B2 (en) 2022-11-17 2024-09-10 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient container
US11745996B1 (en) 2022-11-17 2023-09-05 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient containers for use with beverage dispensers
US11634314B1 (en) 2022-11-17 2023-04-25 Sharkninja Operating Llc Dosing accuracy
US11738988B1 (en) 2022-11-17 2023-08-29 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient container valve control
US11925287B1 (en) 2023-03-22 2024-03-12 Sharkninja Operating Llc Additive container with inlet tube
US11871867B1 (en) 2023-03-22 2024-01-16 Sharkninja Operating Llc Additive container with bottom cover

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3246127A1 (de) * 1982-12-13 1984-06-14 Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, 7000 Stuttgart Geraet mit einrichtungen fuer die bevorratung, dosierung und zugabe von fluessigen wasch- und spuelmitteln
GB8326582D0 (en) * 1983-10-05 1983-11-09 Hotpoint Ltd Dispensing arrangement
GB8327418D0 (en) * 1983-10-13 1983-11-16 Unilever Plc Liquid dispensing system

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101482108B1 (ko) * 2008-05-23 2015-01-13 엘지전자 주식회사 세탁기
EP4071291A1 (en) * 2017-04-17 2022-10-12 Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. Washing additive box and washing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8627598D0 (en) 1986-12-17
DE3774672D1 (de) 1992-01-02
NO874805D0 (no) 1987-11-18
EP0268451A2 (en) 1988-05-25
ZA878632B (en) 1989-07-26
NZ222541A (en) 1989-07-27
NO169884C (no) 1992-08-19
AU599435B2 (en) 1990-07-19
EP0268451A3 (en) 1988-10-05
AU8126687A (en) 1988-05-26
NO169884B (no) 1992-05-11
ES2027303T3 (es) 1992-06-01
NO874805L (no) 1988-05-20

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