EP0839495A1 - Abgabevorrichtung - Google Patents

Abgabevorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0839495A1
EP0839495A1 EP97308388A EP97308388A EP0839495A1 EP 0839495 A1 EP0839495 A1 EP 0839495A1 EP 97308388 A EP97308388 A EP 97308388A EP 97308388 A EP97308388 A EP 97308388A EP 0839495 A1 EP0839495 A1 EP 0839495A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
interior
delivery device
washing
dose
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
EP97308388A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0839495B1 (de
Inventor
Riccardo Paolo Federico Bellati
Robert John Monaghan
Martyn Noel Wallwork
Matthew David Cotterill
Alan Digby Tomlinson
Marco Franciscus Van Dijk
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.)
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Publication date
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Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Priority to EP19970308388 priority Critical patent/EP0839495B1/de
Publication of EP0839495A1 publication Critical patent/EP0839495A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0839495B1 publication Critical patent/EP0839495B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/42—Details
    • A47L15/44—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
    • A47L15/4409—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a device for delivering a dose of a washing material, especially but not exclusively a dose of a detergent composition such as in the form of a tablet, into the interior of a washing apparatus, in particular an automatic dishwashing machine. More particularly, the invention relates to such a delivery device which delivers the dose of washing material at a predetermined selected point or stage in the washing cycle.
  • washing materials e.g. detergent, water softener, rinse aid
  • one or more selected washing materials e.g. detergent, water softener, rinse aid
  • One way in which this aim has hitherto been achieved is to incorporate in the machine specially controlled delivery means which enable a dose of the required washing material to be charged into the machine before the cycle commences and retained in a closed compartment until the predetermined point or stage in the cycle is reached, at which time the delivery means are triggered to release the dose of washing material into the interior of the machine at exactly the desired predetermined time in the cycle.
  • the delivery means is triggered to release the dose of washing material by the wash cycle timing control system.
  • a compartment is provided on the inside of the door of the machine, into which compartment a dose of usually dishwashing detergent is loaded prior to the wash cycle commencing.
  • the compartment is closed by a retractable door or cover to keep the detergent shielded from water within the machine until such time as delivery of the detergent is triggered by the machine control system at the appropriate predetermined point in the cycle.
  • the compartment door or cover is retracted to allow water to reach and flush out the detergent into the interior of the machine.
  • release of the detergent is triggered at the beginning of the main wash stage, following an initial prewash stage which may last typically for between 2 and perhaps 15 or 20 minutes.
  • Automatic delivery means controlled by the machine's overall control system do have the advantage of providing the desired degree of control over exactly when in the wash cycle a given dose of washing material is delivered, but this is not without the cost of various drawbacks.
  • the overall control system of the machine has to be particularly complex, especially so if the machine is designed to have considerable flexibility in the programming of various selectable combinations or series of individual stages in the overall wash cycle. This makes the complexity and cost of the control system high if the machine is designed to have a wide range of different wash programmes. Also, because the means by which opening of the compartment is triggered is an integral part of what is nowadays a completely automatic electronic control system, any malfunction thereof is correspondingly difficult to diagnose and furthermore difficult and costly to rectify.
  • a further drawback, following on from the above, is that since the triggered release of the washing material is controlled as an integral feature of the machine's overall control system as constructed and fitted by the machine manufacturer, this can lead to limitations on the versatility of the machine as applied to new detergent and other washing products which may be designed for new styles of use or dispensing or washing regimes. This may represent a hindrance to the development of new commercially viable washing products, particularly since nowadays dishwashing and other washing machines may remain in service for a period of many years.
  • dishwashing machines which are cheaper to buy and more straightforward to use are of course more attractive and this may lead to trends away from more technologically advanced designs of machines. This places greater pressures on designers and manufacturers to design operating and washing material release systems which offer the consumer convenience in the use and operating of machines whilst as far as possible not compromising on wash performance.
  • dishwashers for instance which do incorporate controlled release devices for detergent, and particularly in recent years since the launch of detergent in the form of tablets as opposed to the more conventional powders, it has become apparent that consumers increasingly make a habit of not using the machine's controlled release system in the way for which it was designed, but may typically drop the detergent tablet directly into the interior of the machine, e.g.
  • the present invention provides a delivery device for delivering a dose of washing material into the interior of a washing apparatus, the device comprising:
  • the chamber includes at least one opening for allowing the selective communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device, and the device further includes closure means for selectively closing or opening the at least one opening in the chamber, the opening of the chamber resulting from the actuation means causing the closure means to move from their closed condition to their open condition at the predetermined temperature.
  • the chamber is selectively openable or closable by virtue of relative movement of respective parts of the means defining the chamber under control of the temperature sensitive actuation means.
  • the delivery device of the present invention relies on a characteristic temperature change, typically a significant rise in temperature, indicative of the beginning of the stage in the wash cycle for which delivery of the washing material is required.
  • This may typically be the beginning of a main wash stage in the cycle which is characterised by a higher water temperature than a cooler prewash stage.
  • a typical prewash stage in an automatic dishwasher may employ a relatively low water temperature of up to about 30, 35 or 40°C, e.g. a temperature in the range 15 to 30 or 35°C, whereas the following main wash stage may typically be at a significantly higher temperature, e.g. in the range 35 or 40 to 80°C, more often in the range 40 or 45 to 70°C.
  • Such higher temperatures of the main wash stage are designed to optimise the performance of detergent compositions used in modern washing regimes.
  • the predetermined temperature or temperature range at which triggering of the washing material release mechanism is designed may be selected according to the detergent composition or other washing material with which the device is designed to be used.
  • the delivery device of the invention may be designed in particular for use with tablets of washing material, especially detergent compositions.
  • Other physical forms of washing material may be possible however, e.g. powder, gel or possibly even liquid (in certain embodiments).
  • the invention is not limited to the delivery of detergent compositions, although these are preferred, and any washing material or combination of washing materials, e.g. water softeners, rinse aids, bleaching compositions, may be used either singly or in combination, or possibly even in combination(s) with detergents, with the device of the invention.
  • the chamber for housing the dose of washing material until it is delivered to the interior of the machine is formed by a housing having at least one aperture, preferably a plurality of apertures, formed in the walls of a lower region of the housing, in order to facilitate delivery of the material to the machine interior.
  • the aperture(s) are open to permit communication between the chamber within the housing and the interior of the machine, in which the delivery device is mounted for use, water or wash liquor within the machine is able to freely dissolve or disperse the washing material contained in the chamber, which action may be further improved by selecting particular sizes, shapes and distributions of apertures formed in the housing walls.
  • the closure means which close the apertures in the housing to shield the dose of washing material from water in the interior of the machine until release of the dose is triggered may take various physical forms, e.g. slidable cover means, hinged or pivotal flaps or any other suitable mechanical means which can be readily moved from their closed to their open position by the temperature sensitive actuation means.
  • the device is formed as a two part housing, a lower, main housing part defining the chamber within which the dose of washing material is contained and from which it is released via one or more apertures in the lower region of that main housing part, and an upper, covering housing part being cooperable with, preferably telescopically slidable with respect to, the lower housing part.
  • the upper covering housing part includes respective side wall portion(s) which close or open the aperture(s) in the lower housing part as the two housing parts are moved telescopically with respect to one another.
  • the relative telescopic movement of the two housing parts is actuated by the temperature sensitive actuation means, such that the aperture(s) in the lower housing part is/are opened at the time the predetermined temperature is reached, as sensed by the actuation means. Further preferred constructional details of the closure means of this preferred embodiment of this first form of device according to the invention are described in detail later.
  • the temperature sensitive actuation means which trigger opening of the closure means when the predetermined temperature of the interior of the washing apparatus has been reached, signifying the reaching of the point or stage in the wash cycle when delivery of the washing material is required, may take various forms, although preferred are simple mechanical actuation means, examples of which may be already known in other technical fields where mechanical movement actuable upon dependence of temperature is required.
  • temperature sensitive actuation means in the context of this first form of device according to the invention comprises, in combination, an actuation element whose shape is dependent upon and varies with temperature, and biassing means which move the closure means from their closed to their open condition when triggered to do so by the temperature sensitive actuation element.
  • the temperature sensitive actuation element may for example be a bimetallic strip, as are well known per se and widely used in various types of thermostat.
  • One end of the strip will typically be mounted fast on one of the two housing parts of the device, whilst the opposite, remote end of the bimetallic strip is provided with catch means which cooperate with detent means provided on the other of the housing parts.
  • the catch and detent means cooperate to lock the two housing parts together so that relative movement of the two housing parts from their closed to their open condition is prevented, whereas when the bimetallic strip is in its hot state (when it is subjected to the triggering temperature) its shape is deformed such that the catch and detent means are released from one another, thereby allowing the two housing parts to move freely with respect to one another to open the apertures to permit delivery of the washing material from within the housing chamber.
  • the biassing means which cause this displacement of the two housing parts when the catch and detent means are released is preferably some type of spring means.
  • it may be a simple tension or compression spring mounted with each of its ends fast with one of the respective housing parts, so that the spring force urges the housing parts to move apart.
  • one or more, preferably a pair of, leaf spring members may be employed, each of which has one end fixed in relation to one part of the housing, with the opposite end abutting a respective abutment seating portion on the other of the housing parts. The spring force of the leaf spring members act together to move the housing parts apart with respect to one another in the desired manner.
  • leaf spring members do not necessarily need to exert high spring forces, in which case they may be provided as integral leaf spring member extensions from the main body of the housing part with which they are formed integrally by moulding.
  • a second preferred form of temperature sensitive actuation means in the context of this first form of device according to the invention comprises simply a bimetallic strip (or other actuation element whose shape is dependent upon and varies with temperature) on its own, without an associated biassing means.
  • the bimetallic strip is anchored at one end to one of the two housing parts of the device, and the other, remote, end of the bimetallic strip is able to move from a locked position to an unlocked position when the predetermined triggering temperature (or temperature range) is reached.
  • the remote end of the bimetallic strip is preferably formed into a catch element which, when that end of the bimetallic strip is in its locked position, engages with a detent element on the other of the two housing parts to lock the two housing parts together in their closed condition in which the chamber containing the dose of washing material is closed.
  • the bimetallic strip deforms, whereby its remote end having the catch means is displaced into its unlocked position in which it ceases to retain the detent element on the other of the two housing parts, thereby enabling the two housing parts to slide apart, preferably simply under the influence of gravity on the lower of the two housing parts, so as to open the chamber to expose the dose of washing material contained therein.
  • Limiting stop means are preferably incorporated into the device to limit the relative sliding displacement of the two housing parts. This particular form of temperature sensitive actuation means is particularly useful in that it employs only a single component, making for simpler and cheaper construction of the overall device.
  • thermosensitive actuation means As an alternative to this bimetallic strip used on its own in this alternative form of temperature sensitive actuation means in the context of the first form of device according to the invention, it is possible to use any other suitable form of temperature sensitive element which causes the respective housing parts to move apart or together to open or close the chamber in dependence on the temperature.
  • One form of such an alternative actuation means is a memory spring such as in the form of a coil spring formed of memory material which is designed to adopt either an expanded or a contracted configuration at selected different temperatures.
  • Such memory springs e.g. of bimetal material, are known in the art and are for example known for use in actuating cut-off valves in central heating systems.
  • An advantage of a memory spring over the other forms of actuation means defined above is that it acts as a truly reversible opening/closing mechanism for the respective housing parts.
  • the housing preferably comprises left side and right side housing parts which define therebetween the chamber for containing the dose of washing material and are connected together by means of a hinge connection in an upper region.
  • the left and right side housing parts are hinged apart relative to one another, their lower parts defining the chamber for the dose of washing material move apart so as to open the chamber to allow communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device.
  • This hinging relative movement of the two housing parts is actuated and controlled by a memory spring mounted on the device with each of its ends anchored on a respective one of the left and right side housing parts.
  • the complete housing of the various forms of delivery device of the invention may be readily formed by an injection moulding or other suitable moulding technique, e.g. from a plastics material, e.g. polypropylene.
  • the housing preferably includes one or more loading openings in its upper region, via which the dose of washing material can be loaded into the device prior to the beginning of the wash cycle.
  • loading opening(s) are closeable and sealable to an extent sufficient to prevent ingress of water during the prewash stage of the wash cycle, by means of any suitable form of closure flap, trap door or the like, which in preferred embodiments may include means for and ensuring against unintentional opening such as resulting from vibration or contact from food debris, e.g. by means of a snap fit arrangement.
  • the various forms of delivery device of the invention preferably include means for attachment to part of the interior of the washing apparatus, particularly the plate tray or cutlery basket of a dishwashing machine.
  • the device preferably further includes hook or clip means to enable it to be simply clipped onto the desired mounting part in the interior of the machine prior to the wash cycle commencing. If desired, the device may be unclipped after each wash cycle and reloaded with the necessary dose of washing material externally of the machine prior to it being replaced therein in readiness for the beginning of the next wash cycle.
  • the device may conveniently remain mounted in the interior of the machine and each new dose of washing material loaded into it whilst the device remains in situ.
  • the delivery device indicated generally as 1 comprises a housing consisting of lower housing part 4 and upper housing part 2.
  • the lower housing part 4 defines therewithin a chamber for containing a dose of washing material, e.g. a detergent tablet, ready for delivery into the interior of a dishwashing machine into which the device is to be mounted for use.
  • the upper and lower housing parts 2, 4 are constructed such that the two housing parts can be brought together in a sliding telescoping fashion, with the side walls of upper housing part 2 lying externally of the corresponding side walls of lower housing part 4.
  • a pair of windows or apertures 9 Formed in the side walls of the lowermost region of the lower housing part 4 are a pair of windows or apertures 9 (only the aperture 9 on one side of the housing is shown in Figure 1), it being via these apertures 9 that communication is provided between the chamber within the lower housing part 4 and the outside, i.e. the interior of the dishwasher when the device is in use, so that water or wash liquor can freely enter the chamber via the apertures to flush out the washing material therefrom.
  • One or more further apertures are preferably formed in the lower region of the front wall of the lower housing part 4, although these are not visible in the drawing.
  • the side walls 2a and 2b (and, if appropriate, the front wall (not shown)) of upper housing part 2 constitute the closure means which obscure and thereby close the respective apertures 9 in the walls of the lower housing part 4 as the two housing parts 2, 4 are slid telescopically together.
  • the upper housing part 2 is provided with a tongue element 16 which acts as a guide for the relative telescopic sliding motion of the two housing parts as they move between their open and closed conditions.
  • the tongue element 16 slides within a channel formed in approximately the upper half region of the rear wall of the lower housing part 4 and bounded by spaced apart ribs 36a, 36b.
  • the upper and lower limits of the thus formed channel serve to define upper and lower limit stops on the relative telescopic movement of the two housing parts 2, 4, in combination with a step 17 formed midway along the tongue element 16.
  • the top wall of the upper housing part 2 is formed with a pair of trap door flaps 14, each of which is moulded integrally with the respective side walls 2a, 2b of the upper housing part 2.
  • the resilience of the material from which the moulding is made enables the flaps 14 to be sufficiently resiliently hingeable about their lines of connection to each respective side wall to enable a detergent tablet to be inserted into the device simply by pushing it through the gap and past the trap door flaps 14 as they flex downwards under manual insertion pressure.
  • the trap door flaps 14 spring back into their closed condition as seen in Figure 2, in which condition they sufficiently close and seal the interior of the device from water or wash liquor within the machine interior when the device is in use. Given that in the majority of automatic dishwashing machines water is delivered from spray means coming from beneath the plate tray or cutlery basket, it is generally not necessary for the sealing action of the trap door flaps 14 to be particularly great and in practical applications it is unlikely to matter very much if there is any small leakage of water into the device via the upper trap door flaps 14.
  • a pair of clip elements 40 Extending rearwardly from the rear wall of the lower housing part 4 are a pair of clip elements 40 which enable the device to be clipped onto a plate tray or cutlery rack of the dishwasher and held securely in place during use.
  • the central portions 44 of the clip elements 40 can be shaped appropriately to provide optimum securement at the site for which mounting of the device is particularly intended.
  • the clip elements 40 are attached integrally to the rear wall of the lower housing part 4 by respective bridging portions 42 which also provide respective abutment portions against which act leaf spring members 20 which cause the two housing parts to slide apart from one another in a telescopic manner when triggered to do so by release of the temperature sensitive actuation means, which will be described in detail further below.
  • Each leaf spring member 20 is formed integrally at its lower end with the upper housing part 2 and the free upper end portions 20a of the leaf spring members 20 are curved towards each other.
  • the resilience of the leaf spring members 20 and the moulded curved shape of their upper portions 20a provide the necessary biassing force to urge the housing parts 24 apart when they are freed to do so.
  • bimetallic strip 30 Forming the other principal essential component of the temperature sensitive actuation means is bimetallic strip 30, which is mounted between the ribs 36a, 36b at the rear of the lower housing part 4.
  • the upper end 31 of the bimetallic strip 30 is mounted fast on the lower housing part 4 by means of clamping element 39.
  • the bimetallic strip 30 may be of a conventional type and construction, and suitable examples will be well known and readily available to the person skilled in the art.
  • the bimetallic strip comprises a fused pair of strips of different metals which have significantly different coefficients of heat expansion.
  • the strip 30 is constructed such that at ambient temperature it assumes a shape substantially as that shown in Figure 4(a), but at an elevated temperature, e.g. a temperature in the range 35 or 40 to 60°C, the strip deforms so as to bend in the direction shown by arrow 90 in Figure 4(c).
  • the material(s) of the bimetallic strip may be selected if desired so as to eliminate or minimise corrosion, or alternatively the entire strip may be coated in a protective layer or sheath, e.g. of plastics material.
  • the lower end of the bimetallic strip 30 is formed into a foot 32 which constitutes a catch means which cooperates with a projecting detent element 42 moulded with and extending outwardly from the lower end of tongue element 16 of the upper housing part 2.
  • Catch element 32 and detent element 42 engage one another when the upper and lower housing parts 2, 4 are in their closed condition, as shown in Figure 4(b), in which condition the upper curved portions 20a of the leaf spring members 20 are stressed and are resiliently biassed to abut against the abutment portions 42 of the lower housing part 4.
  • That triggering is signalled by what may typically be a relatively sharp increase in temperature in the interior of the machine, heralded by the end of a prewash stage of the washing cycle and the commencement of the main wash stage for which delivery of the washing material is required.
  • the increase in temperature causes the bimetallic strip 30 to deform in the direction shown by arrow 90 in Figure 4(c), thereby releasing catch element 32 from detent element 42.
  • the resilient force exerted by the leaf spring members 20 on the abutment portions 42 of the lower housing part 4 then causes the upper housing part 2 to slide telescopically in an upward direction relative to the lower housing part 4, as shown by arrow 92 in Figure 4(c), and in this way the two housing parts 2, 4 start to slide apart from one another.
  • Figure 4(a) shows the two housing parts 2, 4 of the device in their open position either before the wash cycle commences or once it has finished and the temperature inside the machine has returned to ambient, the bimetallic strip 30 having returned to its normal undeformed state.
  • the desired dose of washing material e.g. tablet of detergent composition
  • tablette in this context “tablet” is to be interpreted as meaning simply a block which may typically be in the form of a flat cylinder approximately 1 cm to 2 cm in thickness and 2 cm to 5 cm in diameter
  • the upper and lower housing parts 2, 4 are slid together so as to reach their closed condition as shown in the Figure 4(b).
  • FIG. 5 to 8 of the drawings here there is shown a second embodiment of the delivery device of the invention.
  • This embodiment corresponds very closely in construction and operation to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, except here the principal difference lies in the nature of the biassing means which urges the upper and lower housing parts 102, 104 from their closed into their open condition.
  • Figure 5 shows the device of this second embodiment from the front side, with the upper and lower housing parts 102, 104 in their open condition.
  • a plurality of apertures 109 are provided in the lower region of the lower housing part 104, so that access to the interior chamber within the device is possible from virtually any direction.
  • the front surface 150 of the upper housing part 102 may conveniently provide a land for the placement of a label, trade mark material, indicia or any other desired decorative features.
  • FIG 6 shows the same device in its open condition as in Figure 5, but here from the rear.
  • the biassing means in this embodiment comprises a tension spring 166 which is anchored at its uppermost end adjacent the clamping element 139 on which is mounted bimetallic strip 130.
  • the bimetallic strip 130 consists of a double strip anchored at its centre by clamp 139. Portions of the bimetallic strip extend generally parallel to one another from the clamp 139 and each leg of the strip 130 terminates in an outwardly projecting foot 132a, 132b, each of which acts as a catch element in generally the same manner as does the single catch element 32 of bimetallic strip 30 of the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.
  • the detent element provided on the upper housing part 102 takes the form of a flat-topped peg 160 which is mounted on the lower end of tongue element 116 and projects through and moves along a slot 136 formed in the rear wall of the lower housing part 104 in an analogous manner as detent element 42 within the channel formed between ribs 36a, 36b in the first embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 1.
  • the lower end of the spring 166 is attached and moves with the peg 160 mounted on the tongue element 116, so that the tension force provided by the spring 166 provides the force which urges the upper and lower housing parts 102, 104 apart when triggered to do so by release of the catch and detent elements 132a, 132b, 160 in an exactly analogous manner to the actuation of the corresponding actuation means in the context of the first illustrated embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG 7 corresponds to that of the device shown in Figure 4(a), but further shows a detergent tablet 200 in the process of being inserted into the device through and past the upper trap door flaps 114, as already described.
  • Figure 8 shows the device in its closed condition ready for mounting in the interior of the dishwashing machine, and corresponds to the condition of the device of the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 4(b).
  • FIG. 9 here there is shown a third embodiment of the delivery device of the invention, the basic structure of which in terms of the telescopically slidable upper and lower housing parts 202, 204 corresponds very closely to that of the first and second embodiment devices described above.
  • Figure 9 shows the device of this third embodiment with the upper and lower housing parts 202, 204 in their closed condition.
  • the upper housing part 202 is provided with similar trap door flaps 214 for allowing insertion into the chamber within the device of detergent tablet 200.
  • Similar clip means 240 are provided on the rear of the device to enable it to be clipped onto an appropriate mounting location within the interior of the dishwashing apparatus.
  • the upper housing part 202 is formed with its lower section defining a cage having a plurality of apertures 209 for allowing water or wash liquor to contact and dissolve the detergent tablet when the chamber is opened (which condition is illustrated in Figure 11).
  • Extending downwardly from the upper section of the upper housing part 202 and alongside the cage is a tongue element 216 having at its foot a channel element 217 within which is slidably accommodated arm member 218 extending upwardly from the base of lower housing part 204. Arm member 218 slides within the channel element 217 as the housing parts move apart or together.
  • bimetallic strip 230 which is anchored at its lower end in the channel element 217 at the foot of the tongue element 216. In its cold configuration the bimetallic strip 230 is substantially flat and lies within a channel 205 formed in the upper section of the upper housing part 202. The upper end of the bimetallic strip 230 is formed into a catch element 231 which cooperates with detent element 220 formed at the upper end of arm member 218 extending from the lower housing part 204.
  • the bimetallic strip deforms such as to displace its upper end outwardly from the channel 205, thereby releasing the catch element 231 from the detent element 220 and allowing the lower housing part 204 to move apart from the upper housing part 202 under gravity.
  • the channel element 217 slides upwards through channel 219 formed in the lower housing part 204, whilst arm member 218 slides downwardly through channel 205 formed in the upper section of the upper housing part 202.
  • the open condition reached by the two housing parts is illustrated in Figure 11, in which there is also shown the detergent tablet 200 in the cage of the upper housing part 202 exposed for dissolution by the water or wash liquor within the washing apparatus.
  • the detent element 220 and channel element 217 incorporate a limit stop (not shown in the drawings) in order to limit the downward movement of the lower housing part 204 relative to the upper housing part 202, in order to define a maximum open condition of the device.
  • FIG. 12 to 14 of the drawings here there is shown a fourth embodiment of the delivery device of the invention.
  • This form of the device is particularly advantageous in that it incorporates fewer components and is therefore potentially easier and cheaper to manufacture.
  • the two housing parts differ from those of the previously described embodiments in that they are not telescopically slidable with respect to one another in order to define their open and closed conditions, but instead are left side and right side housing parts which are hingedly connected in their upper region.
  • the left side and right side housing parts 302, 304 define between them the chamber for accommodating a detergent tablet 200 and again the two housing parts together are provided with trap door flaps 314 for permitting insertion of a detergent tablet 200 into the device prior to use.
  • clip means 340 (shown partly cut away for clarity in Figure 13) are provided on the rear of the device to enable it to be mounted inside the washing apparatus at an appropriate location.
  • the housing parts 302, 304 are hingedly connected such as at locations 310 by any suitable hinge mechanism.
  • these hinges 310 may conveniently be formed by bridges of reduced thickness material formed in a process where the complete device is made by integral moulding.
  • a memory spring 366 The opening and closing of the housing parts 302, 304 is actuated and controlled by a memory spring 366.
  • a memory spring 366 Such springs formed from memory metal material are available for example from Memory Metals Limited of Ipswich, Suffolk, England.
  • a suitable memory spring for use in this embodiment of the invention is designed to commence the expansion from its first, contracted condition into its second, expanded condition in a temperature range of from about 35°C to about 44°C.
  • Each of the housing parts 302, 304 has formed on its rear one half of a channel section 330 which has closed ends. The channel itself may be open or closed to the rear.
  • a securing lug 360 Mounted within each end of the channel section 330 is a securing lug 360, the opposite ends of the memory spring 366 being anchored to the respective securing lugs 360.
  • the left side and right side housing parts 302, 304 will be either pulled together into their closed condition (as shown in Figure 12) or pushed apart into their open condition (as shown in Figure 14).
  • the extent of the opening apart of the housing parts 302, 304 may be controlled by the length of the memory spring 366 and/or the distance by which the spring expands/contracts within the range of temperatures for which it is designed to be used.
  • the housing parts may be designed to open just sufficiently to enable adequate access to the interior chamber by water or wash liquor in the washing apparatus to enable the detergent tablet 200 to be dissolved, whilst not opening far enough to allow the detergent tablet to completely drop out of the device under gravity, at least during the initial stages of its dissolution. This provides for optimum dissolution characteristics and thus optimum efficacy of the detergent tablet in the wash cycle.
EP19970308388 1996-10-25 1997-10-22 Abgabevorrichtung Revoked EP0839495B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19970308388 EP0839495B1 (de) 1996-10-25 1997-10-22 Abgabevorrichtung

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96307736 1996-10-25
EP96307736 1996-10-25
EP19970308388 EP0839495B1 (de) 1996-10-25 1997-10-22 Abgabevorrichtung

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0839495A1 true EP0839495A1 (de) 1998-05-06
EP0839495B1 EP0839495B1 (de) 2002-04-10

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EP19970308388 Revoked EP0839495B1 (de) 1996-10-25 1997-10-22 Abgabevorrichtung

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2800982A1 (fr) * 1999-11-13 2001-05-18 Aeg Hausgeraete Gmbh Appareil menager guidant un flux de travail, notamment un lave-vaisselle et/ou un lave-linge
EP1122351A1 (de) * 2000-02-04 2001-08-08 Esswein S.A. Mechanische Produkteausgabevorrichtung für Haushaltgerät
GB2386129A (en) * 2002-03-06 2003-09-10 Reckitt Benckiser Nv Detergent dosing device for a dishwasher
EP1506732A1 (de) * 2000-10-06 2005-02-16 AEG Hausgeräte GmbH Geschirrspüler mit einer Einrichtung zur automatischen Zugabe von Reinigungstabletten mit Klarspüler
US9492361B2 (en) 2011-03-19 2016-11-15 Dental Care Innovation Gmbh System for dissolution of a tablet or granulate in a stream of water
USD947366S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2022-03-29 Water Pik, Inc. Oral irrigator handle

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3739942A (en) * 1972-01-18 1973-06-19 Gen Motors Corp Dispenser having a bimetal actuated metering valve assembly
US4545917A (en) * 1984-02-09 1985-10-08 Creative Products Resource Associates Ltd. Automatic dishwasher product in solid form
US4549693A (en) * 1983-06-20 1985-10-29 Barlics John J Container
EP0611159A1 (de) * 1993-02-11 1994-08-17 Brightwell Dispensers Limited Verbesserungen in Dosiervorrichtungen

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3739942A (en) * 1972-01-18 1973-06-19 Gen Motors Corp Dispenser having a bimetal actuated metering valve assembly
US4549693A (en) * 1983-06-20 1985-10-29 Barlics John J Container
US4545917A (en) * 1984-02-09 1985-10-08 Creative Products Resource Associates Ltd. Automatic dishwasher product in solid form
EP0611159A1 (de) * 1993-02-11 1994-08-17 Brightwell Dispensers Limited Verbesserungen in Dosiervorrichtungen

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2800982A1 (fr) * 1999-11-13 2001-05-18 Aeg Hausgeraete Gmbh Appareil menager guidant un flux de travail, notamment un lave-vaisselle et/ou un lave-linge
EP1122351A1 (de) * 2000-02-04 2001-08-08 Esswein S.A. Mechanische Produkteausgabevorrichtung für Haushaltgerät
FR2804594A1 (fr) * 2000-02-04 2001-08-10 Esswein Sa Distributeur mecanique de produit pour appareil electromenager
EP1506732A1 (de) * 2000-10-06 2005-02-16 AEG Hausgeräte GmbH Geschirrspüler mit einer Einrichtung zur automatischen Zugabe von Reinigungstabletten mit Klarspüler
GB2386129A (en) * 2002-03-06 2003-09-10 Reckitt Benckiser Nv Detergent dosing device for a dishwasher
GB2386129B (en) * 2002-03-06 2004-12-01 Reckitt Benckiser Nv Detergent dosing device
US9492361B2 (en) 2011-03-19 2016-11-15 Dental Care Innovation Gmbh System for dissolution of a tablet or granulate in a stream of water
USD947366S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2022-03-29 Water Pik, Inc. Oral irrigator handle

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