EP0479711A1 - Dispositif distributeur de tablettes de détergent dans une machine à laver pendant le lavage du linge - Google Patents

Dispositif distributeur de tablettes de détergent dans une machine à laver pendant le lavage du linge Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0479711A1
EP0479711A1 EP91610085A EP91610085A EP0479711A1 EP 0479711 A1 EP0479711 A1 EP 0479711A1 EP 91610085 A EP91610085 A EP 91610085A EP 91610085 A EP91610085 A EP 91610085A EP 0479711 A1 EP0479711 A1 EP 0479711A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bag
detergent
mouthpiece
parts
spacer means
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP91610085A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0479711B1 (fr
Inventor
Christian Björn Christensen
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.)
Cleantabs AS
Original Assignee
Cleantabs AS
Viking Industries
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 Cleantabs AS, Viking Industries filed Critical Cleantabs AS
Publication of EP0479711A1 publication Critical patent/EP0479711A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0479711B1 publication Critical patent/EP0479711B1/fr
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
    • D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a detergent when washing clothes in a washing machine by means of a solid detergent in the form of tablets which are placed in the interior of the dispensing device before the latter is placed in the drum of the washing machine and the washing process is started, said dispensing device comprising a flexible fluid permeable bag having a comparatively rigid mouthpiece, defining an inlet opening for the detergent.
  • US-A-3.048.993 discloses the filling of detergent powder into a bag in connection with machine washing of clothes, said bag being placed in the drum of the washing machine together with the clothes to be washed.
  • the washing bag is made of a porous material. During the washing process the bag comes into contact with the wash water, whereby the detergent inside the bag is dissolved and permeates the walls of the bag.
  • EP-A1 0343069 and EP-A1 0343070 disclose reusable receptacles for dispensing a detergent, said receptacles comprising a bag-like body having a rigid mouthpiece with an opening through which the detergent is introduced into the interior of the bag.
  • dispensing receptacles are advantageous in that direct contact between the undissolved detergent and the clothes and thereby the risk of discolouration of the latter is avoided, and that all of the detergent powder is dissolved and available for washing instead of falling directly to the bottom of the machine and leaving it through the drain system without being used during washing. It is furthermore an advantage that the annoying noise during the washing process generated by known dispensing receptacles made of rigid plastics is avoided.
  • the solid detergent may be in the form of tablets.
  • the use of detergent tablets of the type of which only one or a few tablets is used in the dispensing receptacles shown for each wash cycle will result in an unacceptably long dissolving time for the tablet or tablets, especially for fine washing, i.e. relatively short wash cycles at low temperatures. This fact should be seen in the light of the difficulties involved in manufacturing detergent tablets which have excellent transport and storage properties while at the same time being easily dissolvable.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a method of the above mentioned type allowing a quick dissolution of detergent tablets with good transport and storage properties.
  • the detergent dispensing device or receptacle according to the invention is characterised in that the bag has a comparatively rigid closing part adapted to be brought into releasable engagement with the mouthpiece and having means for substantially closing the inlet opening and that at least one of the two parts has means projecting into the bag and keeping the respective adjacent portions of the bag at a distance from each other when the parts engage each other.
  • a detergent tablet is introduced into the interior of the receptacle through the inlet opening.
  • said parts and especially at least one of their spacer means defines a chamber together with the bag, said chamber forming the interior of the receptacle and being closed in the sense that the tablet is not able to leave said chamber in its entirety.
  • the clothes press the flexible bag together thereby pressing the tablet against the spacer means whereby the tablet is broken or crushed.
  • the spacer means exerts a certain abrasive effect on the tablet or broken off portions of the same to grind off the detergent. Therefore, the tablet is relatively quickly disintegrated and the larger free surface of the solid detergent thereby obtained causes the same to be dissolved more quickly and to leave the dispensing receptacle in dissolved condition or at least in a pulverized state.
  • the closing part may have a tubular spacer means, said spacer means at its inner end being closed by means of a wall.
  • a ring-shaped compartment is thereby formed between the tubular spacer means and the bag in the separated condition of the receptacle, the tablet being accomodated in said compartment when inserted in the receptacle and the wall at the inner end of the spacer means closes said receptacle in such a manner that a tablet inserted through the inlet opening is actually placed in the interior of the receptacle.
  • the wall may taper from the inner end of the tubular spacer means. Because the wall tapers or inclines into the interior of the receptacle, it works as a guiding surface to guide a tablet inserted through the inlet opening into said compartment around the spacer means.
  • the mountpiece may have a tubular spacer means defining the inlet opening.
  • said embodiment has been found to be particularly advantageous, especially in connection with a further embodiment of the invention according to which the spacer means tapers in the direction of the interior of the receptacle.
  • the spacer means of the mouthpiece serves as a funnel to guide the tablet into the interior of the receptacle, while because of its converging or conical form the spacer means of the closing part ensures that a suitably large compartment is formed around the spacer means to accomodate the tablet in the separated condition of the receptacle.
  • the spacer means may be provided with openings providing a connection between the interior of the receptacle and the surroundings when the two parts engage each other.
  • the interior of the receptacle communicates with the surroundings both through said openings and through the flexible bag, whereby a rapid renewal of the liquid in the interior of the receptacle is obtained allowing a quick dissolution of the crushed tablet therein and consequently a quick dispensing of the solid detergent to the wash water.
  • the openings of the fluid permeable bag may have a size so as to allow minor detergent particles to leave the interior of the receptacle, thereby further increasing the dispensing rate of the detergent.
  • the spacer means(s) may have a substantially convex outer form and be free from large planar outer surface areas.
  • the end surfaces of the detergent tablet normally having the form of a low cylinder, will not be able to be in planar surface contact with any portion of the spacer means and consequently it will quickly be crushed and pulverized.
  • the surface of the spacer means facing towards the bag may have an uneven structure.
  • the outer surface of the spacer means thereby has an abrasive effect on the tablet to grind off the detergent which may leave the dispensing receptacle in a pulverized or dissolved form.
  • the two parts may be adapted to engage each other by snap action, one part having a snap means at the inner end of the spacer means, said snap means being adapted to engage a complementary snap means on the other part.
  • the two parts may be caused to engage and disengage each other in a particularly simple manner.
  • the two parts may be adapted to threadedly engage each other, one part at the inner end of the spacer means having a screw thread adapted to engage a complementary screw thread on the other part.
  • the embodiment of the dispensing receptacle shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a mouthpiece 1, a closing part 2, adapted to be brought into releasable engagement with the mouthpiece 1, and a flexible permeable bag 3 with the form of a cylinder with a central circumferential bulge, said bag being at one end 4 firmly connected to the mouthpiece and at its second end 5 firmly connected to the closing part.
  • the bag 3 is made of a net-like or woven material, preferably of plastics or a textile and has meshes allowing liquid and possibly small particles to pass through.
  • the mouthpiece 1 is a substantially ring-shaped body with a circular conical wall 6, extending convergingly in the direction of the interior of the receptacle 8 and defining an inlet opening or passageway 7 for the insertion of a detergent tablet 25 into the interior of the receptacle 8 when said receptacle is in the filling position shown in Figure 3, where the two parts 1, 2 are disengaged.
  • the wall 6 continues into a downwardly inclining flange 10, said flange having a downwardly open annular groove 11 near its outer periphery, wherein the upper end portion 4 of the bag is engaged and retained by suitable means, for instance by glueing, welding or mechanical locking.
  • the wall At its lower inner end 12 the wall is provided with a snap bead, adapted to engage a complementarily formed recess on the closing part 2. Furthermore the wall 6 is provided with a number of openings or holes 14 allowing the liquid and possibly minor detergent particles to pass through.
  • the closing part 2 is a substantially cup-shaped body which as shown in Figures 1 to 3, is placed bottom up and comprises a circular conical wall 15, said wall at its lower outer end in Figs 1 to 3 continues into a flange 17 comprising a planar section 18 situated closest to the wall said section serving as a support surface for the closing part and a upwardly and outwardly inclined conical section 19, said section on the top side being provided with an annular groove 20 wherein the lower end portion 5 of the bag 3 is angaged and retained by suitable means such as glueing, welding or mechanical retention.
  • the conical wall 15 extends convergingly into the interior of the receptacle 8 and has at its inner end a closing wall 21 and immediately adjacent said wall a circumferential recess 22 to engage the snap bead 13 of the mouthpiece.
  • the conical wall 15 and the closing wall 21 are provided with a number of openings or holes 23, 24 respectively, through which liquid or possibly small detergent particles may pass.
  • the mouthpiece is subsequently snapped into engagement with the closing part 2, thereby causing the detergent tablet 5 to be in a chamber 26 (see Figure 2) closed to the surroundings in the sense that the tablet cannot leave it in its entirety, but only in dissolved or pulverized form where the detergent permeated through the holes 14 and 24 of the walls 6 and 15 or the mesh openings of the bag 3.
  • the bag has a size so as to be able to at least substantially abut the outer surface 27, 28 of the conical wall 6, 15 of both the mouthpiece 1 and the closing part 2 when the receptacle is in a position ready for use, the clothes will press the tablet against the same with the bag as an intermediary layer, whereby the tablet 25 breaks and is successively crushed and pulverized. Because of said crushing the tablet pieces will quickly be dissolved by the water entering through the holes 14, 24 of the walls 6, 15 and the mesh openings of the bag 3 and be dispensed to the wash water.
  • the embodiment of the dispensing receptacle according to the invention shown in Figure 4 comprises a mouthpiece 31 with a substantially cylindrical form, a closing part 32 with substantially cylindrical cup shape and a bag 33 with a central circumferential bulge, said bag being peripherally connected to both the mouthpiece 31 and the bag 32.
  • the cylindrical wall 36 of the mouthpiece 31 defining an inlet opening or passageway 37 for the introduction of a detergent tablet into the interior of the receptacle 38, is provided with an outwardly facing circumferential indentation 41 near its outer end 39, said indentation having a semicircular cross section.
  • the indentation 41 serves to retain the bag 33 to the mouthpiece 31, a portion of the upper end portion 34 of the bag being retained therein by means of an elastic band, for instance an O-ring 52.
  • the cylindrical wall 45 of the closing part 32 has a corresponding circumferential indentation 50 near its lower end to retain the lower end portion 35 of the bag 33 thereto by means of an O-ring 52.
  • the cylindrical wall 36 of the mouthpiece 31 is provided with a number of openings 44 and its outer surface 57 is provided with a number of axial ribs.
  • the object of said ribs is to exert an abrasive effect on a detergent tablet placed therein during the use of the receptacle to speed up the pulverization of said tablet.
  • any kind of means providing an uneven surface structure may, however, be used.
  • the wall 36 has three short threads 48 near its lower inner end 42, of which only two are shown, said threads being adapted to engage corresponding threads 49 formed on the outside of the outer surface 58 of the wall 45 of the closing part near the inner upper end thereof, when the two parts are brought from the filling position shown in Figure 4 to the position ready for use indicated by the dotted line.
  • the outer wall 45 of the closing part is provided with a ledge 56 immediately below the thread parts 49, said ledge serving as an abutment surface for the lower inner end 42 of the wall 36 of the mouthpiece 31 when the two parts 31, 32 are screwed together.
  • the wall 45 of the closing part 32 continues at its inner end into a closing wall 51 provided with openings 53.
  • the wall itself 36 is provided with openings situated below the ledge 56.
  • This portion of the wall 45 is further provided with outer axial ribs 40 serving the same purpose as the ribs 58 of the mouthpiece.
  • the dispensing receptacle shown in Figure 4 is used and functions in the similar manner as the dispensing receptacle shown in Figures 1 to 3.
  • the mouthpiece 61 and the closing part 62 and their fastening to the bag 63 substantially correspond to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 and therefore only the difference between them will be discussed in greater detail.
  • the closing wall 81 of the closing part 62 extends conically in the direction of the interior of the receptacle 68, whereby a tablet hitting said wall is automatically guided into the compartment between the conical wall 75 of the closing part 68 and the bag 63.
  • a hinge member 91 Adjacent the transition between the conical wall 75 and the conically closing wall 81 a hinge member 91 is formed on the latter, said hinge member together with a corresponding hinge member 92 formed at the lower end of the conical wall of the mouthpiece 61 and a pivot 93 extending through the two hinge members 91, 91, providing a hinged connection between the two parts 61, 62.
  • a short snap bead 73 is formed on the inside of the conical wall 66 of the mouthpiece 61, said snap bead being adapted to releasably engage a complementary formed recess 82 formed on the conical wall 75 of the closing part 62 diametrically opposite the hinged connection.
  • the fourth embodiment of a dispensing device also comprises a mouthpiece 101, a closing part 102 adapted to releasably engage the mouthpiece 101 and a flexible fluid permeable bag 103.
  • the mouthpiece 1 is a substantially cylindrical body with a circular wall 106 provided with a large number of evenly distributed perforations 114, and defining an inlet opening 107 for insertion of a detergent tablet into the interior of the receptacle.
  • the wall 106 continues into a flange 110, said flange at its outer periphery having a downwardly open annular groove 111, wherein the upper end portion of the bag 103 is retained.
  • the wall 106 is provided with an engagement portion adapted to releasably engage a complementary formed engagement portion of the closing part 102.
  • the closing part 102 is substantially of the form of a low cup placed bottom up and comprises a circular cylindrical wall 115, said wall 115 at the lower outer end 116 in Figure 6 continuing into a flange 117, said flange at its outer periphery having an upwardly open annular groove 120 wherein the lower end portion of the bag 103 is retained.
  • the cylindrical wall 115 is provided with a convex closing wall 121 and immediately adjacent said wall a circumferential engagement portion 122 adapted to releasably engage the engagement portion 113 of the mouthpiece 1.
  • the dispensing device shown in Figure 6 is used and functions in the same manner as stated for the dispensing device shown in Figures. 1 to 3.
  • the mouthpiece, the closing part and the flexible bag are made of a material durable up to at least 100°C and preferably the mouthpiece and the closing part are made by means of injection moulding of impact resistant plastics.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
EP91610085A 1990-10-05 1991-10-03 Dispositif distributeur de tablettes de détergent dans une machine à laver pendant le lavage du linge Expired - Lifetime EP0479711B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK2421/90 1990-10-05
DK242190A DK165759C (da) 1990-10-05 1990-10-05 Vaskemiddeludleveringsbeholder til brug ved maskinvask af toej ved hjaelp af et fast vaskemiddel i tabletform

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0479711A1 true EP0479711A1 (fr) 1992-04-08
EP0479711B1 EP0479711B1 (fr) 1995-12-20

Family

ID=8112260

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91610085A Expired - Lifetime EP0479711B1 (fr) 1990-10-05 1991-10-03 Dispositif distributeur de tablettes de détergent dans une machine à laver pendant le lavage du linge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0479711B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69115627T2 (fr)
DK (1) DK165759C (fr)
ES (1) ES2080932T3 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0628652A1 (fr) * 1993-06-11 1994-12-14 Cleantabs A/S Conteneur distributeur de détergent sous forme de tablettes pour machines à laver le linge
EP0699410A1 (fr) * 1994-08-30 1996-03-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Dispositif doseur pour comprimés de détergent
EP0846798A1 (fr) 1996-12-06 1998-06-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Dispositif distributeur de tablettes
WO1998040550A1 (fr) * 1997-03-07 1998-09-17 Unilever Plc Procede et dispositif de distribution pour laver du linge dans un lave-linge
CN111206395A (zh) * 2020-01-07 2020-05-29 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种洗涤剂自动投放装置

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8801528U1 (fr) * 1988-02-06 1988-03-17 Robert Finke Kg, 5950 Finnentrop, De
EP0343069A1 (fr) * 1988-05-18 1989-11-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Procédé de lavage du linge en machine avec un produit particulaire et dispositif pour sa mise en oeuvre
EP0343070A1 (fr) * 1988-05-18 1989-11-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Procédé et dispositif pour le lavage du linge en machine avec un produit particulaire

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8801528U1 (fr) * 1988-02-06 1988-03-17 Robert Finke Kg, 5950 Finnentrop, De
EP0343069A1 (fr) * 1988-05-18 1989-11-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Procédé de lavage du linge en machine avec un produit particulaire et dispositif pour sa mise en oeuvre
EP0343070A1 (fr) * 1988-05-18 1989-11-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Procédé et dispositif pour le lavage du linge en machine avec un produit particulaire

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0628652A1 (fr) * 1993-06-11 1994-12-14 Cleantabs A/S Conteneur distributeur de détergent sous forme de tablettes pour machines à laver le linge
EP0699410A1 (fr) * 1994-08-30 1996-03-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Dispositif doseur pour comprimés de détergent
EP0846798A1 (fr) 1996-12-06 1998-06-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Dispositif distributeur de tablettes
WO1998024963A1 (fr) * 1996-12-06 1998-06-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Distributeur de tablettes
WO1998040550A1 (fr) * 1997-03-07 1998-09-17 Unilever Plc Procede et dispositif de distribution pour laver du linge dans un lave-linge
US6174848B1 (en) 1997-03-07 2001-01-16 Lever Brothers Company, Div. Of Conopco Inc. Process and dispensing device for washing laundry in a washing machine
AU731315B2 (en) * 1997-03-07 2001-03-29 Unilever Plc Process and dispensing device for washing laundry in a washing machine
US6301733B1 (en) 1997-03-07 2001-10-16 Lever Brothers, Division Of Conopco, Inc. Process and dispensing device for washing laundry in a washing machine
CN111206395A (zh) * 2020-01-07 2020-05-29 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种洗涤剂自动投放装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK165759C (da) 1993-06-14
ES2080932T3 (es) 1996-02-16
EP0479711B1 (fr) 1995-12-20
DK242190A (da) 1992-04-06
DE69115627T2 (de) 1996-05-15
DK165759B (da) 1993-01-11
DK242190D0 (da) 1990-10-05
DE69115627D1 (de) 1996-02-01

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