EP1690972A1

EP1690972A1 - Softener-dosing container for electrical household appliances

Info

Publication number: EP1690972A1
Application number: EP04798222A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juan Vives Clavel
Original assignee: Plasticos Mondragon SL
Current assignee: Plasticos Mondragon SL
Priority date: 2003-12-05
Filing date: 2004-11-05
Publication date: 2006-08-16
Also published as: WO2005056905A1; ES2249105A1; ES2249105B1

Abstract

Applicable for electrical appliances which have an upper casing (1), which is positioned at a level above the mixing compartment or drawer (2) of the electrical appliance wherein the cleaning products are introduced. The dispensing reservoir comprises a watertight, hermetically sealed tray (3) of large capacity, partially or totally removable with respect to a cavity (4) defined in the upper casing (1) and it has a drain hole (5) for the passage of fabric softener to the drawer (2) with the intermediation of a gear pump (12), in addition to incorporating a portion adjacent to the tray (3) which forms part of the casing (1) which includes electrical components to operate a motor (7) which, through a transmission and by means of magnetized plates (11-14), determines the rotation of the pump (12) positioned in the removable tray (3) to push the fabric softener to the drawer (2).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fabric softener dispensing reservoir which is found inside the upper casing of an electrical appliance.
An object of the invention is that the dispensing reservoir is incorporated in an internal cavity of the electrical appliance and that it is provided with a removable portion consisting of a tray, and of a portion adjacent to the removable tray, which forms an integral part of the casing, wherein the means of activation and electronics are found which operate the drive means that guide the fabric softener stored in the reservoir to a mixing compartment or drawer with water wherefrom the cleaning products are supplied to the washing drum.
Another object of the invention is that the dispensing reservoir allows the storage of a considerable quantity of fabric softener in order to avoid the manual filling operation of the mixing compartment (drawer) before each wash, and that the tray is partially or totally removable for its occasional filling or for its cleaning, and that the tray is removed without needing to disconnect the drive means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The lids of electrical appliances constitute casing components which have conventionally been mounted for aesthetic purposes, and with the practical purpose of avoiding the entry of humidity therein. Traditionally, the lids consist of fibreboard panels and, as a subsequent development, they are coated with plastic material or with laminate coating to guarantee their waterproofing.
In order to provide greater consistency to the lids and avoid deformations, the incorporation of reinforced ribs with metal strips perpendicular to the plane of the lid which is laterally finished in brackets is envisaged; that is the case of the lid for electrical appliances envisaged in invention patent ES 2 167 249. The means which guarantee the connection of the lid to its frame is the object of a series of certificates of addition to this patent, see invention patents ES 2 170 693, ES 2 170 694, ES 2 170 695 and ES 2 170 696.
Next, the possibility of using the lid for functions which are complementary to the covering function are envisaged; this is the case of the Spanish Utility Model U 200202442 which shows a lid with a hollow body equipped with a portion susceptible of housing electronic components and which has a closed compartment designed to house filling material which performs counterweight functions.
On the other hand, the same applicant of the present invention is also holder of the Spanish patent P 200102871, which discloses a fabric softener reservoir integrated in the upper lid which has a removable drawer to introduce the fabric softener and a large inclined internal base cavity which has a drain hole whereby the fabric softener is guided to the inside of the cleaning product mixing drawer with water. The passage of fabric softener to the washing drawer requires the previous opening of a bypass valve and it is facilitated by a pump operated manually by an external handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances object of this invention is positioned in the cavity defined in the lid or upper casing of the electrical appliance and is fundamentally constituted by two differentiated parts:

A removable portion consisting of a tray which stores a considerable quantity of fabric softener in order to avoid the manual filling of the mixing compartment (drawer) before each wash and which supplies the fabric softener to the drawer, positioned below the reservoir, wherein the cleaning products are conventionally introduced.
The dispensing reservoir is equipped with drive means, to dispense the fabric softener stored in the removable portion or tray to the mixing compartment (drawer), consisting of an electric gear pump disposed in the removable tray.
A portion adjacent to the removable tray, which forms an integral part of the upper casing, wherein the means of activation and electronics to operate the pump are positioned.

In this way, it is achieved that the mixing compartment or drawer receives fabric softener when the pump is operated and that the supply of fabric softener from said mixing compartment or drawer to the washing drum is performed in the established program phase without the need for any manual intervention.
The tray is partially or totally removable for its occasional filling, as well as for its cleaning by the user, in a convenient manner and with no risks. It should be emphasized that the tray is removed with no need to disconnect the pump, since its motor remains in the upper casing, adjacent to the removable tray and transmits the movement via a magnetized plate towards another magnetized plate belonging to the gear pump positioned in the removable tray, which means there is no mechanical/electrical connection between pump and motor.
The pump body has an inlet in correspondence with a tray drain hole whereby the fabric softener penetrates, guided towards a pair of drive gears of the pump which are responsible for facilitating the measured discharge of the fabric softener through a discharge opening to the drawer.
In order to facilitate the insertion or removal of the tray to/from the lid, it has lateral guides with a locking system which ensures it is totally closed, or the partially open position of the tray can be set to introduce the fabric softener liquid through a window defined in a lid (optional) which covers the tray on its upper part, or the tray can be totally removed for its cleaning.
The tray is equipped with a certain inclination to allow the fabric softener to concentrate in the proximities of the tray drain hole for its passage to the mixing compartment (drawer) with the aid of the pump. The gear pump will supply the electrical appliance's drawer with the necessary and exact dose of fabric softener at the right time according to the wash program.
It complementarily has a non-return stop valve in the pump's discharge opening outlet to avoid undesired leaking of liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and with the object of helping towards a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, a set of figures is attached as an integral part of the description, wherein the following has been represented with an illustrative, non-limitative character:

Figure 1.-: Shows a perspective view of an electrical appliance, in this case a washing machine, which depicts the casing and the dispensing reservoir included in the upper casing of the mixing compartment or drawer.
Figure 2.-: Shows a perspective view of an electrical appliance which depicts the dispensing reservoir with the tray removed, incorporating the gear pump.
Figures 3 A to 3C.-: Shows a side view of the opening sequence of the tray which depicts the closed position, the partially open position and the fully open position respectively.
Figure 4.-: Shows a perspective view of the dispensing reservoir which depicts the removable tray and the arrangement of the electric motor which forms an integral part of the casing.
Figure 5.-: Shows a perspective view of the dispensing reservoir which depicts the pump motor which forms an integral part of the casing, wherein the pump is not viewed, as it is positioned just below the tray outlet.
Figure 6.-: Shows a perspective view of the unit constituted by the motor belonging to the casing and pump integrated in the tray, on its lower side.
Figure 7.-: Shows a perspective view which shows the drive gear of the pump.
Figure 8.-: Shows a detailed view of the transmission between the motor and the gear pump.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances which constitutes the object of this invention is applicable for electrical appliances which have an upper casing (1), which is positioned at a level above a mixing compartment or drawer (2) wherein the cleaning products are introduced, and it stands out basically in that it comprises a watertight, hermetically sealed tray (3) of large capacity which houses the fabric softener, which is partially or totally removable with respect to a cavity (4) defined in the upper casing (1), a tray (3) which is provided with a certain inclination to facilitate the fabric softener concentrating in the proximities of a drain hole (5) whereby it is guided to the mixing compartment or drawer (2) with the intermediation of drive means consisting of a pump (12) which has a body (13) integrated in the removable tray (3) and which is operated by an electric motor (7) integrated in the casing (1), and additionally comprises a portion (6) adjacent to the tray (3) which houses the electrical components to operate the motor (7).
The fabric softener is concentrated in the proximities of the drain hole (5) to then penetrate in the pump (12) through an inlet (30) defined in the body (13) of the pump (12) which is positioned in correspondence with the drain hole (5).
The upper casing (1) contains the electric motor (7) which has a drive shaft (8) linked to a magnetized drive plate (11), with the intermediation, preferably, of a transmission (9) connected to the drive shaft (8), and which is equipped with an output shaft (10) at one of which ends is connected the magnetized drive plate (11).
In the removable tray (3) is positioned the pump (12) which incorporates a body (13) which houses a magnetized follower plate (14) solidly joined to a geared drive wheel (15) which simultaneously gears with a geared follower (16).
In this form, with the tray (3) in the closed position and, therefore, in correspondence with the upper casing (1), the magnetized follower plate (14) whereto which the magnetized drive plate (11) transmits movement which rotates by action of the electric motor (7) will be placed opposite and slightly separated from the magnetized drive plate (11). The magnetized follower plate (14) is solidly joined to a geared drive wheel (15) which simultaneously gears with a geared follower (16), both gear wheels (15-16) constituting a drive gear which guides the exact dose of fabric softener through a discharge opening (18) as established in the wash program, to the mixing compartment or drawer (2) to then be supplied to the washing drum (22).
The body (13) of the pump (12) has an outlet gasket (17) equipped with a discharge opening (18) to push the fabric softener to the mixing compartment or drawer (2). In correspondence with the discharge opening (18) is a non-return valve (19), represented in figure 7, which consists of a sphere (20) pressed by a spring (21) which covers the discharge opening (18) or leaves free passage for the discharge of the fabric softener once the spring pressure is exceeded.
The tray (3) optionally has a conveniently attached upper lid (23) which avoids the discharge of the fabric softener when the tray (3) is removed and it is equipped with a window (24) whereby the fabric softener is introduced.
The tray (3) also incorporates a notch (25) in its sides to facilitate the insertion or removal of the tray (3) with respect to lateral guides (26), represented in figure 3, belonging to the upper casing (1).
Figure 3 shows that spaced inserts (27) are positioned on the base of the cavity (4) of the casing (1), wherein lateral protuberances (28) defined in the base of the tray (3) are introduced, so that depending on the position of the tray (3) the following is established: a closed position (Fig.3A), a partially open position of the tray (3) to introduce the fabric softener (Fig. 3B), or the protuberances may exceed the front surface of the upper casing (1) if the tray (3) is totally removed for its cleaning (Fig. 3C).
The tray (3) consists of a front (32) which incorporates a handle (33) and seal (34) which guarantees its watertightness in the closed position.

Claims

Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances, applicable in electrical appliances which have an upper casing (1), and which is found at a level above a mixing compartment or drawer (2) wherein the cleaning products are introduced, characterized in that it comprises a watertight, hermetically sealed tray (3) of large capacity which houses the fabric softener, which is partially or totally removable with respect to a cavity (4) defined in the upper casing (1), a tray (3) which has a drain hole (5) for the passage of the fabric softener stored in the tray (3) to the drawer (2) with the intermediation of drive means consisting of a pump (12) which has a body (13) integrated in the removable tray (3) and which is operated by an electric motor (7) integrated in the casing (1).
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray (3) has an inclination to facilitate the fabric softener concentrating in the proximities of the drain hole (5) to then penetrate in the pump (12) through an inlet (30) defined in the body (13) of the pump (12) which is positioned in correspondence with the drain hole (5).
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claim 1, characterized in that it incorporates a portion (6) adjacent to the removable tray (3) which houses the electrical components to operate the electric motor (7).
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claim 1 characterized in that the electric motor (7) has a drive shaft (8) linked to a magnetized drive plate (11), and in correspondence with this magnetized drive plate (11), and in an arrangement opposite and slightly separate therefrom, it has, included within the body (13) of the pump (12), a magnetized follower plate (14) whereto the magnetized drive plate (11) which rotates by action of the electric motor (7) transmits movement, the magnetized follower plate (14) being solidly joined to a geared drive wheel (15) which simultaneously gears with a geared follower (16), both geared wheels (15-16) constituting a drive gear which guides the exact dose of fabric softener to the drain hole (5) according to the wash program.
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claim 4, characterized in that a transmission (9) equipped with an output shaft (10) to one of which ends the magnetized drive plate (11) is connected to the drive shaft (8).
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the body (13) of the pump (12) has an outlet gasket (17) provided with an outlet or discharge hole (18) to guide the fabric softener to the mixing compartment or drawer (3), and, in correspondence with the outlet (18) is a non-return valve (19), which consists of a sphere (20) pressed by a spring (21) which covers the outlet (18) or leaves free passage to the discharge of the fabric softener once the pressure of the spring (21) is exceeded, to avoid undesired leaking of fabric softener.
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the tray (3) incorporates a notch (25) in its sides to facilitate the insertion or removal of the tray (3) with respect to lateral guides (26) belonging to the upper casing (1).
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claims 1, 2 and 7, characterized in that in the base of the cavity (4) of the casing (1) are inserts (27) wherein lateral protuberances (28) defined in the base of the tray are introduced, which according to the position of the tray (3) determine its closed position, position of partial opening of the tray (3) to introduce the fabric softener, or exceed the front surface of the upper casing (1) in the situation of total removal of the tray (3) for its cleaning.
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claims 1, 2, 7 and 8, characterized in that the tray (3) consists of a front (32) which incorporates a handle (33) and a seal (34) which guarantees watertightness in the closed position.
Fabric softener dispensing reservoir for electrical appliances according to claims 1, 2 and 7 to 9, characterized in that the tray (3) has an upper lid (23) which avoids the discharge of the fabric softener when the tray (3) is removed and it is equipped with a window (24) whereby the fabric softener is introduced.