EP1683903A1

EP1683903A1 - Detergent inlet device for washing machines

Info

Publication number: EP1683903A1
Application number: EP05425019A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Silvano Fumagalli
Original assignee: Candy SpA
Current assignee: Candy SpA
Priority date: 2005-01-20
Filing date: 2005-01-20
Publication date: 2006-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-20
Also published as: EP1683903B1

Abstract

A detergent inlet device (1) for washing machines comprises a detergent drawer (2), a housing (3) forming an opening (4) for accommodating the detergent drawer (2) in a displaceable manner between an extracted position (E) and a withdrawn position (I) and urging means (5, 6, 9) applying a force (Fi) on the detergent drawer (2) along a tract with assisted movement (A) in the direction of the inserted position (I) such as to facilitate inserting the detergent drawer (2) in the housing (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a detergent inlet device for washing machines.
Detergent inlet devices are known to comprise a detergent drawer suitable to contain the detergent and a housing integrated within the support and containment frame of the washing machine such as to form an opening receiving the detergent drawer.
Either before or during the washing process, the liquid or powder detergent is poured by the user into the detergent drawer and carried therefrom by a water stream to the washing tank.
Typically, a detergent drawer is divided into several compartments by means of partition walls being provided for containing the detergent, such as for prewash and main wash, as well as the conditioner.
The detergent drawers of the prior art, which are typically manufactured by means of injection moulding, have size tolerances that are relatively high, and accordingly, they tend to jam while being inserted into and extracted from the housing.
On the one hand, this leads to high clearance between the drawer and the housing, and on the other hand, they are difficult to use by a user, who is unable to guess the proper withdrawn position of the detergent drawer, and when the detergent drawer jams, he often tends to push the latter by applying inadequate and often excessive force or even by knocking the washing machine, which will damage the latter over time.
Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a detergent inlet device for washing machines having characteristics such as to facilitate inserting the detergent drawer into the housing.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a detergent inlet device having functional characteristics independent from the supply and control systems of the washing machine, such that expensive modifications to the existing washing machines are not required.
This and other objects are achieved by means of a detergent inlet device for washing machines according to claim 1.
In order to better understand the invention and the advantages of the same, the non-limiting exemplary description of some embodiments thereof, such as illustrated in the figures, is given below as follows:
Figures 1 to 6 are longitudinal sectional views of six embodiments of the invention;
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a detail of the detergent inlet device from Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a sectional enlarged view of a detail of the detergent inlet device from Figure 4;
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX from Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a further enlarged sectional view of the detail from Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a schematic drawing of a further embodiment of the invention.
With reference to the figures, a detergent inlet device for washing machines as a whole is indicated with reference 1.
The device 1 comprises a detergent drawer 2 suitable to contain detergent, a housing 3 defining an opening 4 accommodating the detergent drawer 2 in a displaceable manner between an extracted position E, where detergent can be added to the detergent drawer 2, and a withdrawn position I where the detergent can be conveyed from the detergent drawer 2 to a washing tank (not shown in the figures) of the washing machine. The device 1 further comprises means affecting the movement of the detergent drawer 2 relative to the housing 3, which, in turn, include urging means, for example elastic means, gravitational means or (electro-) magnetic means (not shown). The urging means apply a force Fi on the detergent drawer 2, along a tract with assisted movement A, in the direction of the withdrawn position I of the detergent drawer 2 such as to facilitate inserting the same into the housing 3.
Advantageously, the urging means apply a force Fi sufficient to automatically displace the detergent drawer 2 along the tract with assisted movement A that preferably extends to the inserted position I of the detergent drawer 2, such that just the last tract of the inserting movement of the detergent drawer 2 is either facilitated or automatically carried out, thereby ensuring proper positioning of the latter upon operation of the washing machine.
In accordance with an embodiment such as shown in Fig. 1, the tract with assisted movement A is about 100 mm to about 120 mm long, extending along a main part of the distance D between the extracted position E and the withdrawn position I of the detergent drawer 2. The length of this tract with assisted movement A may, of course, be varied according to the volume sizing of the detergent loading device.
In accordance with a further embodiment, such as illustrated in Fig. 2 and 3, the length of the tract with assisted movement A is less than half the distance D between the extracted position E and the inserted position I of the detergent drawer 2, the insertion thereof being facilitated only in the final area.
In this case, the tract with assisted movement A is 10 mm to 50 mm long, preferably 15 mm to 25 mm long.
Advantageously, the urging means, i.e. the elastic, gravitational or magnetic means interact with the detergent drawer 2 such that part of the energy employed by the user to move the latter will be accumulated. In other words, the energy required to apply the force Fi either to facilitate or automatically carry out the (so far problematic) insertion movement of the detergent drawer 2 is accumulated during at least part of its movement (a less problematic one, for example the extraction) carried out by the user.
According to an embodiment, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the urging means are embodied by a spring 5 connected with the housing 3 and the detergent drawer 2. The spring 5 is stretched (energy accumulation) when the detergent drawer is extracted by the user and either facilitates or carries out insertion of the detergent drawer 2, by applying the elastic force Fi thereon along the tract with assisted movement A.
According to a further embodiment, such as illustrated in Figure 2, the urging means are embodied by a guide 7 associated with the housing 3 with a biased tract 6 extending to a location corresponding to the withdrawn position I of the detergent drawer 2. The guide 7 controls the movement of the detergent drawer 2, particularly of a projection thereof 8, such that the latter is either pulled or pushed towards the withdrawn position by moving down while moving along the biased tract 5 due to the gravitational force.
According to a still further embodiment, such as illustrated in Figure 3, the urging means are embodied by one or more elastic tabs 9, or similar elastic means being connected to the detergent drawer 2 which engage a guide 10 associated with the housing with a biased tract 11 such that the elastic tab 9 (intended as the pressing spring) resting on the biased tract 11 tends to pull the detergent drawer 2 towards the withdrawn position I of the latter. When the user extracts the detergent drawer 2, the elastic tab 9 is pulled along the biased tract 11 in the direction of the extracted position E of the detergent drawer. In this instance, the elastic tab 9 is deformed, whereby the energy required to apply the force Fi on the detergent drawer 2 upon its next insertion in the housing 3 is accumulated.
Furthermore, the guide 10 defines a further tract 12 that is biased in the opposite direction relative to the biasing of the biased tract 11. This further biased tract 12 extends up to a location corresponding either to the extracted position E of drawer 2 or separated position of the same, i.e. full removal, from the housing 3. The further biased tract 12 is configured such as to deform the elastic tab 9 (in order to accumulate the energy required to apply the force Fi on the detergent drawer) in the event that a previously removed detergent drawer is inserted.
In order to be able to remove the detergent drawer 2 from the housing 3 for cleaning and maintenance purposes and being able to restrict the tract with assisted movement only to part of the distance D, there are advantageously provided means for automatic coupling the urging means with the detergent drawer 2. These coupling means are suitable to separate the urging means, particularly the spring 5 from drawer 2 when the latter goes over the limit of the tract with assisted movement A or in case of full removal from the housing 3 as well as automatically reconnect the urging means to the detergent drawer 2 that had been previously extracted when the latter returns within the tract with assisted movement A.
Particularly, the coupling means advantageously interact with suitable means to lock the urging means such as to preserve the power state thereof, for example the stretched configuration of spring 5.
In accordance with an embodiment, the automatic coupling means comprise:
- fastening means connected with the urging means,
- counter-fastening means connected with the detergent drawer 2 and suitable to engage the fastening means to connect the urging means to the detergent drawer,
- guide means suitable to adjust the relative position between the fastening means and the counter-fastening means as a function of the position of the detergent drawer 2 relative to the housing 3, such that the fastening and counter-fastening means are automatically engaged and disengaged in pre-established positions of the detergent drawer while being inserted into and extracted from the housing.
According to an embodiment such as illustrated in Fig. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the coupling means comprise a hook 13 connected to the spring 5 and a ridge or pin 14 formed in the detergent drawer 2 and suitable to engage the hook 13 for the spring 5 to be coupled with the detergent drawer 2. The hook 13 is slidingly supported along a guide track 15 either connected with the housing 2 or formed as one piece therewith.
The hook 13 has two abutment points or surfaces 16 being spaced apart from each other and both engaging the guide track 15 such that the biasing or orientation of the guide track also defines the biasing or orientation of the hook 13. The guide track 15 has a substantially straight main tract 17 corresponding to the tract with assisted movement A, the orientation thereof defining an orientation of the hook 13 suitable to ensure the coupling of the hook 13 with the detergent drawer 2.
At the end of the tract with assisted movement A (for example, at half the length between the withdrawn I and extracted E positions), the guide track 15 comprises a secondary tract 18 transversal to the movement direction of the detergent drawer 2 and oriented such as to define a bias of the hook 13 suitable to disengage the detergent drawer 2 and define a stop surface 19 preventing the hook 13 (now being separated from the detergent drawer 2) from moving in the direction of the withdrawn position I of the detergent drawer 2, thereby preserving the elastic energy accumulated in the stretched spring 5.
Upon next insertion, the detergent drawer 2 engages the hook 13 by means of the pin or ridge 14. Due to the initial thrust carried out by the user, the detergent drawer 2 displaces the hook 13 from the secondary tract 18 of the guide track 15 to the main tract 17, thereby the hook 13 disengages the stop surface 19 and rotates in its engagement position with pin 14. The detergent drawer 2, due to the elastic force of spring 5, is then automatically pulled in its withdrawn position I (see for example Fig. 1 and 7).
Alternatively to the coupling means such as described and illustrated therein, there may be used for example coupling means based on the principle of a pawl that can be snap engaged/disengaged.
In accordance with an embodiment, the means affecting the movement of the detergent drawer further comprise shock-absorbing means interacting with the detergent drawer such as to dampen the movement of the latter in the direction of the withdrawn position I along a tract with dampened movement S.
In accordance with an embodiment such as shown in Figure 4, the track with dampened movement S is about 100 mm to about 120 mm long, extending along a main part of the distance D between the extracted E and the withdrawn I positions of the detergent drawer 2. The length of this tract with dampened movement S can of course be varied according to the volume sizing of the detergent loading device.
In accordance with a further embodiment, such as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the length of the tract of dampened movement S is less than half the distance D between the extracted position E and the withdrawn position I of the detergent drawer 2, thereby dampening the movement thereof only in the final tract.
In this case, the tract with dampened movement S is 10 mm to 50 mm long, preferably 15 mm to 25 mm long.
In accordance with an embodiment, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, 8 and 10, the shock-absorbing means comprise at least one shock-absorber 20, 25 directly acting on the urging means.
Advantageously, this shock-absorber 20 is parallel connected to the urging means such that the force Fi applied by the latter on the detergent drawer is always accompanied by a decelerating effect provided by the shock-absorber 20, such as may be seen in Fig. 4.
To the purpose, the means for automatic coupling the urging means with the detergent drawer can be advantageously configured such that they also provide the automatic coupling of the shock-absorbing means with the detergent drawer.
In accordance with an embodiment, such as illustrated in Fig. 5 and 6, the shock-absorbing means comprise at least one shock- absorber 21, 24 directly acting on the detergent drawer.
Advantageously, this shock-absorber 21 is a rotary shock-absorber connected to the housing 3 and provided with a gear 22 engaging a toothed rack portion 23 of the detergent drawer 2, such as shown in Fig. 5. Alternatively, one or more linear shock-absorbers 24 can be used, such as shown in Fig. 6.
In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment, the shock-absorbing means are configured such that the dampening value of the movement of the detergent drawer in the direction of the withdrawn position I is greater than the dampening value of the movement of the detergent drawer in the direction of the extracted position E.
Fig. 9 and 10 are exemplary views of a "unidirectional" shock-absorber 25 being provided with a wall 26 which is more pervious to a fluid (such as air, lubricating grease or silicone) in one direction than in the opposite direction.
This difference in perviousness can be obtained for example by means of a valve providing different passage openings according to the fluid flow direction, as can be seen in Fig. 10.
In accordance with a further embodiment shown in Fig. 11, the shock absorbing means comprise a shock-absorber with a first portion 27 connected, either directly or indirectly, to the housing 3 and a second portion 28, the movement of the latter being dampened relative to the first portion 27. The second portion 28 is suitable to rest against the detergent drawer 2 in the direction of the extracted position E of the latter, such as to dampen the movement of drawer 2 in the direction of the withdrawn position I of the latter. An auxiliary spring 29 of a (preferably much) less rigidity than spring 5 elastically urges the second portion 28 of the shock-absorber in the direction of the extracted position E of the drawer such that the drawer and the shock-absorber are kept in contact to each other.
Due to the fact that the shock-absorber does not act on the urging means, i.e. spring 5, and the force produced by the auxiliary spring 29 is smaller than the opposing force provided by spring 5, in order to extract the drawer the user is not required to overcome also the delaying, i.e. decelerating, force of the shock-absorber. In fact, upon extracting the detergent drawer from the housing, the second portion 28 of the shock absorber can detach temporarily from the drawer and approaches thereto with a certain delay due to the elastic thrust of the auxiliary spring 29.
The means for affecting the movement of the detergent drawer relative to the housing can be advantageously arranged on both lateral sides of the detergent drawer, or, as an alternative, on the upper side, preferably at a middle detergent compartment thereof.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the means for affecting the movement of the detergent drawer are placed on the drawer, such that the encumbrance within the housing is reduced, thereby facilitating the water-supply systems within the delivery pipes.
Due to the varying lengths of the tracts with assisted movement and dampened movement, a system is advantageously obtained, in which the drawer is withdrawn in the housing at two different speeds, i.e. a first, quick tract (by the action of the elastic spring) and a second, decelerated tract (by the combined action of the elastic spring and the shock-absorber).
As may be appreciated from the description above, the detergent inlet device according to the invention has a number of advantages.
It allows to facilitate the operation of the detergent drawer, particularly during the most critical steps and obviate to, as a consequence, any malpositioning of the detergent drawer as well as damages to the washing machine which may be due to excessive force being applied on the drawer.
Furthermore, due to the self-accumulation of the energy required to assist the movement of the drawer while being inserted, the detergent inlet device can be adapted to a number of washing machines, washing-drying machines and the like, regardless of their supply and control systems.

Claims

A detergent inlet device (1) for washing machines, comprising :
- a detergent drawer (2) suitable to contain a detergent,

- a housing (3) forming an opening (4) for accommodating the detergent drawer (2) in a displaceable manner between an extracted position (E), where detergent can be added in the detergent drawer (2), and a withdrawn position (I), where the detergent can be conveyed from the detergent drawer (2) to a washing tank of the washing machine,

- means (5...29) for affecting the movement of the detergent drawer (2) relative to the housing (3),
wherein the means (5...29) for affecting the movement of the detergent drawer (2) comprise urging means (5, 6, 9) applying a force (Fi) on the detergent drawer (2) along a tract with assisted movement (A) in the direction of the withdrawn position (I) such as to facilitate inserting the detergent drawer (2) in the housing (3).
The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said urging means (5, 6, 9) apply a force (Fi) sufficient to automatically displace the detergent drawer (2) along said tract with assisted movement (A).
The device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tract with assisted movement (A) extends to the withdrawn position (I) of the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tract with assisted movement (A) extends along a main part of the distance (D) between the extracted position (E) and the withdrawn position (I) of the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the tract with assisted movement (A) is about 100 mm to about 120 mm long.
The device (1) according to any claim 1 to 3, wherein the length of the tract with assisted movement (A) is less than half the distance between the extracted position (E) and the withdrawn position (I) of the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the tract with assisted movement (A) is 10 mm to 50 mm long.
The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the tract with assisted movement (A) is 15 mm to 25 mm long.
The device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said urging means (5, 6, 9) comprise means for accumulating the energy (5, 6, 9) required to apply said force (Fi) on the detergent drawer (2),
wherein said means for accumulating the energy (5, 6, 9) interact, in turn, with the detergent drawer (2) such as to accumulate part of the energy employed by the user to move the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the urging means (5, 6, 9) comprise means selected from the group comprising: elastic means, gravitational means, (electro-)magnetic means.
The device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the means (5...29) affecting the movement of the detergent drawer (2) comprise means (13...19) for automatically coupling the urging means (5) with the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the automatic coupling means (13...19) comprise:
- fastening means (13) connected to the urging means (5),

- counter-fastening means (14) being connected to the detergent drawer (2) and suitable to engage the fastening means (13);

- guide means (15...18) suitable to adjust the relative position between the fastening means (13) and the counter-fastening means (14) as a function of the position of the detergent drawer (2) relative to the housing (3), such that the fastening and counter fastening means are automatically engaged and disengaged in pre-established positions of the detergent drawer (2) while being inserted into and/or extracted from the housing (3).
The device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the means (5...29) for affecting the movement of the detergent drawer (2) comprise shock-absorbing means (20, 21, 24, 25) interacting with the detergent drawer (2) such as to dampen its movement in the direction of the withdrawn position (I) along a tract with dampened movement (S).
The device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tract with dampened movement (S) extends along a main part of the distance (D) between the extracted position (E) and the withdrawn position (I) of the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the tract with dampened movement (S) is about 100 mm to about 120 mm long.
The device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the length of the tract with dampened movement (S) is less than half the distance between the extracted position (E) and the withdrawn position (I) of the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the tract with dampened movement (S) is 10 mm to 50 mm long.
The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the tract with dampened movement (S) is 15 mm to 25 mm long.
The device (1) according to claim 13 and those depending thereon, wherein the dampening value of the movement of the detergent drawer (2) in the direction of the withdrawn position (I) is greater than the dampening value of the movement of the detergent drawer (2) in the direction of the extracted position (E).
The device (1) according to claim 13 and those depending thereon, wherein the shock-absorbing means (20, 21, 24, 25) comprise at least one shock-absorber (20) acting on the urging means (5).
The device (1) according to claim 13 and those depending thereon, wherein the shock-absorbing means (20, 21, 24, 25) comprise at least one shock-absorber (21) directly acting on the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to claim 13 and those depending thereon, wherein the means (13...19) for automatic coupling the urging means (5) with the detergent drawer (2) also control the automatic coupling of the shock-absorbing means (20, 21, 24, 25) with the detergent drawer (2).
The device (1) according to claim 13 and those depending thereon, wherein the shock-absorbing means (20, 21, 24, 25) comprise a shock-absorber having:
- a first portion (27) being either directly or indirectly connected to the housing (3).

- a second portion (28) with a dampened movement relative to the first portion (27), said second portion (28) being suitable to rest against the detergent drawer (2) in the direction of the extracted position (E) such that its movement towards the withdrawn position (I) is dampened;

- an auxiliary spring (29) elastically urging the second portion (28) in the direction of the extracted position (E) of the detergent drawer (2),
wherein the force provided by said auxiliary spring (29) is less than the opposing force (Fi) provided by the urging means (5).