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
• • 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
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
  • D06F34/20—Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors
• • 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
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/40—Opening or locking status of doors
• • 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 
  • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
  • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a laundry washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1 .
• the invention relates to front-loading laundry wishing machines (in particular washing and washing/drying machines) wherein the washing agent dispenser is arranged in the door that closes the load opening.
• the washing agents are typically dispensed by precipitating water into the dispenser through suitable apertures prov ided in the top portion of the latter. The water f lows through the dispenser, thereby carrying with it (he washing agents contained therein, and then (lows out through an outlet located in the bottom portion of the dispenser, thus reaching the wash tub of the washing machine.
• the dispenser comprises means (transversal bulkheads or microperforated surfaces) which can hold powder detergent until it must be released into the tub. at which point it is diluted with water precipitated into the dispenser.
• These solutions suffer from the drawback that those same means that hold the detergent will also hold some water sprinkled onto the dispenser, so that when the door is opened this water may flow out of the dispenser apertures and drip on the floor.
• the ducts are s ⁇ bjeet to considerable mechanical stress every time the duor is opened or closed. and may become obstructed due to limescale or detergent deposits, since the detergent must follow quite a long path. Moreover, if the drawer is not perfectly tight, water may flow out of the housing of the drawer,
• the present invention is based on the general idea of using movable closing means in order to close the dispenser outlet as the door is opened, thus preventing any liquids from flowing out.
• the closing means- may be provided inside the dispenser, .so that they cannot be damaged by bumps or trapped laundry items.
• these closing means may be external to the dispenser, thus maximizing the washing agent capacity of the latter,
• the closing means may be operated manually by the user or, more advantageously, they may be operated automatically as the door is opened or closed.
• a simple but very effective solution employs a sensor adapted to delect when the door is being opened and to drive an electromechanical actuator which actuates the closing means, Such a solution offers the advantage of a very last action.
• such a sensor may advantageously be replaced with a mechanical button adapted to be set to two predetermined positions, corresponding to two predetermined positions of the closing means, in particular, such a button may comprise a peg which can slide within a seat obtained in the door: when the latter is closed, the peg is fully pushed into the seat and operates an actuation mechanism which moves the closing means,
• actuation mechanism may be fully mechanical as well, thus comprising a first-degree lever such that the peg, by acting onto one arm of the lever, causes a translation of. a rod which receives a thrust from the other arm of the lever.
• a translation is advantageously used for rotating a cover (which is thus lifte d from the apertures) or translating a slider (which slides and opens the drain apertures of the dispenser).
• return springs are used which act onto the second arm of the lever, thereby causing the slider or flap to close the drain apertures and the sensor peg to come out of its .seat again.
• Such an actuation system offers the advantage of being fully mechanical and of operating automatically by using the contact between the door and the external structure of the machine.
• - F ig. 1 shows a laundry washing machinc according to the present inventions - Fig. 2a is a front view of the inner side of the door of the machine of Fig, I :
• Fig, 2b is a sectional view of the door of Fig, 2a along the B-B axis thereof:
• Fig, 2e is a sectional view of the door of Fig. 2a along the A-A axis 1 hereof:
• - Fig. 2d is a sectional view of I he door of Fig. 2a along the C-C axis thereof;
• - Fig, 2e is a sectional view of the door of Fig. 2a along the D-D axis thereof;
• - Fig. .3 is a sectional view of a detail of a door according to the present invention, wherein the outlet closing means are in the open position;
• FIG. 4 shows a detail of a door according to the present invention, wherein the outlet closing means are in the closed position
• FIG. 5 shows a second detail ⁇ f the system which actuates the outlet closing means.
• identical or equivalent elements will be referred to in the present description by using the same reference numbers,
• Fig. 1 shows a front-loading laundry washing machine, designated as a whole by reference number I , T he laundry washing machine comprises an external structure 2 which has a front opening .3 through which the laundry to be washed can be placed into a drum 5 housed in a wash tub. Though in the embodiment example of Fig, 1 the drum rotates about a substantially horizontal axis, it is clear that said axis of rotation may have a different orientation or even be vertical.
• the load opening 3 is closed by a lid 6 hinged Io structure 2 through a hinge 22, Lid 6 has a flange 61 adapted to abut against a matching abutment surface 21 of the structure, and an inner surface 62 adapted 10 be inserted into opening 3.
• each compartment 7-1 includes;
• washing agent outlet 75 e.g, consisting of a siphon in compartments suitable for liquid detergents (Fig. 2e) or bulkheads in compartments suitable for powder determents ⁇ Fig. 2c ).
• the lid also comprises a button , located at flange 61 , which essentially consists of a peg 8 which can slide within a seat 63.
• a button located at flange 61 , which essentially consists of a peg 8 which can slide within a seat 63.
• the peg is pushed into its seat, thereby actuating closing means which close outlet 73, thus preventing any residual liquid from flowing out of the dispenser.
• the closing means are arranged between the bottom of compartments 74 and bottom 76 of lhe dispenser, where there is an area through which the fluids (essentially consisting of a watery solution made up of water and washing agents) just come out of compartments 74 flow before reaching dispenser outlet 73.
• lid 6 has a structure essentially consisting of a cover 64 and a body 65. Lid 64 is mounted to body 65 in a removable manner (through a joint 66), so as to allow access to the devices located within interspace 67 between lid 64 and the body 65 for maintenance purposes.
• lid 64 faces outwards.
• Body 65 is shaped in such a way that the portion not facing lid 64 has a flange 61 and an inner surface 62 as described above,
• Fig. 2b which is a sectional view of the lid along the BH axis
• surface 651 has an aperture 63 in which peg 8 can slide
• Rod 10 crosses body 65 and enters into dispenser 7, where it abuts against an abutment surface 1 10 of a lid 1 1 , as clearly shown in Figs, 3 and 4.
• Said lid 1 1 has such a size and shape that, when outlet 73 is closed, it rests onto the walls of dispenser 7. thus becoming a bulkhend which faces outlet 73 and prevents any fluids from flowing through it.
• tightness may be further improved by installing a gasket between lid 1 1 and the dispenser walls. thus providing a better sealing of lid 1 1 .
• Said gasket may be secured to either lid 1 1 or dispenser 7.
• Lid 1 1 is moved by two arms 12. at the free end 121 of which there are two pins 13 which are inserted into two apertures of two supports 14. so that lid 1 1 is allowed to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis.
• supports 14 On the side facing arms 12, supports 14 have a seal adapted to house a spring 15 which is wound around pin 13 and secured to The pin itself at one end and to support 14 at the other end, thus exerting a return force onto pin 13 for rotating lid 1 1.
• supports 14 On the side opposite to the springs, supports 14 have two U-shaped seals 141 which contain and support pin 13 without preventing il from turning.
• abutment surface 1 10 is connected to one of arms 12, so that its rotation, caused by the thrust exerted by the rod, generates a rotation of the arm and of the lid about pins 13.
• springs 15 therefore turns lid 1 1 to the horizontal position, thereby re closing a dispenser sector above outlet 73 and preventing any fluids from leaking out of it
• Spring 16 contributes to bringing the cover back to the closed position, as shown in Fig . 4 (wherein wall 651 has been removed for clarity) and in Fig, 5, Being interposed between lever arm b2 and wall 651 , this coil spring 16 pushes the lever toward lid 64 and thus peg 8 toward the outside of the door.
• lever 9 drags rod 10 which, being removed from under abutment surface 1 10. allows lid 1 1 to return to the horizontal position and prevent any liquids from flowing into outlet 73.
• springs 15 and 16 may be replaced with flat springs ⁇ r with elastic return means of a different type. e.g. plastic materials having suitable elastic characteristics .
• the lid may be replaced with other closing means, such as a slider adapted to slide on drain apertures 73.
• the slider is mechanically connected to an abutment surface which comes in contact with the free head of rod 10 when the latter is pushed into the dispenser by lever 9; the actuat ion of lever 9 causes Ihe translation of the rod and the resulting thrust of the slider.
• the slider consists of a curved lid which can slide within guides that follow the dispenser profile.
• the closing means can be actuated manually by the operator, e.g. through a mechanism which can be operated manually by the operator.
• a mechanism may consist of an snap button provided on lid 64 of the door and adapted Io control the closing means directly, e.g. by acting directly on rod 10, Al the beginning of the wash, the button w ill be pressed by the user in order to push rod 10 and open outlet 73, whereas nt the end of the wash said snap button wili be pressed again by the user in order to retract both the button and rod 10, thus re-closing outlet 73,
• the closing means may be external to the dispenser: for example, one may use a slider which slides along the outer surface of the dispenser in order Lo take two di fferent positions for preventing or allowing ony flow of fluids through outlet 73
• rod 10 may be replaced with an electromechanical actuator activated by an electric command generated as (he door is opened, so that the dispenser outlet will be closed when or immediately before the door is opened,
• the electric command may be generated automatically by the control unit of the washing machine at the end of the wash, or even be generated by using the PTC of a door locking system of the machine; this implies the presence of an electric connection between the control unit and the actuator,
• the electric command may be generated by a sensor adapted to detect contact between the door and the external structure of the machine; such a sensor may for example he an infrared one
• the power supply of the electromechanical actuator may be provided by a dedicated battery, or else it may advantageously provided by the power supply of the washing machine through a suitable wiring routed inside the door

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
• Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=39226837

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2006
  • 2006-12-07 IT IT000872A patent/ITTO20060872A1/it unknown
• 2007
  • 2007-10-12 AT AT07825344T patent/ATE463604T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-10-12 PL PL07825344T patent/PL2092104T3/pl unknown
  • 2007-10-12 DE DE602007005837T patent/DE602007005837D1/de active Active
  • 2007-10-12 WO PCT/IB2007/003039 patent/WO2008068559A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-10-12 EP EP07825344A patent/EP2092104B1/de not_active Not-in-force

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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