EP2092104B1

EP2092104B1 - Front-loading laundry washing machine with washing agent dispenser in the door

Info

Publication number: EP2092104B1
Application number: EP07825344A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabrizio Petecchia; Giuseppe Camilloni; Luca Cesari; Rodolfo Flumini; Alessandro Menghi
Original assignee: Indesit Co SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2006-12-07
Filing date: 2007-10-12
Publication date: 2010-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-12
Also published as: WO2008068559A1; EP2092104A1; ITTO20060872A1; PL2092104T3; ATE463604T1; DE602007005837D1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a front-loading laundry washing machine which comprises an external structure (2) having a load opening (3) for placing laundry into a drum (5). During the wash, the load opening is closed by means of a door (6) hinged to the external structure of the machine. The latter also comprises a washing agent dispenser (7) associated with the door (6) and comprising at least one inlet aperture (71) for water supply and at least one outlet (73) through which the water supplied can flow out. The washing machine also comprises movable closing means (11) adapted to prevent any fluids from flowing through the dispenser outlet.

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1.
In particular, the invention relates to front-loading laundry washing machines (in particular washing and washing/drying machines) wherein the washing agent dispenser is arranged in the door that closes the load opening.
In these machines, the washing agents are typically dispensed by precipitating water into the dispenser through suitable apertures provided in the top portion of the latter.
The water flows through the dispenser, thereby carrying with it the washing agents contained therein, and then flows out through an outlet located in the bottom portion of the dispenser, thus reaching the wash tub of the washing machine.
Machines of this kind are known from patents GB 1 110 375 and GB 2 029 862 .
In the solutions disclosed by said patents, 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.
This kind of problem has been overcome by patent application WO 2004/055253 , wherein the dispenser is a removable drawer which is inserted in the door from the outer side thereof. Aiming at keeping the shape of the glass door bowl unchanged, this solution utilizes two ducts, i.e. a delivery duct and a return duct, through which water is respectively poured onto the drawer and then recycled in order to be supplied into the wash tub.
However, this solution turns out to be very complex and unreliable for several reasons: first of all because, in order to avoid modifying the glass door bowl, the delivery and return duels are routed first through the hinge that constrains the door to the machine structure and then through the door flange, thus implying construction complexity and maintenance problems.
As a mutter of fact, the ducts are subject to considerable mechanical stress every time the door 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.
It is the object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem of undesired water leakage from the dispenser in laundry washing machines of the type stated above through an effective and reliable solution.
This object is achieve through a laundry washing machine incorporating the features set out in the appended claims, which are intended as an integral part of the present description.
In particular, 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.
Advantageously, the closing means may be provided inside the dispenser, so that they cannot be damaged by bumps or trapped laundry items. Alternatively, these closing means may be external to the dispenser, thus maximizing the washing agent capacity of the latter,
In both cases, 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 detect when the door is being opened and to drive an electrochemical actuator which actuate the closing means. Such a solution offers the advantage of very fast action.
However, since the moisture being present is the door might lead to malfunctions of electromechanical devices, such a sensor may advantageously he replaced with a mechanical button adapted to be set to predetermined positions, corresponding to two predetermined positions of the closing menus.
In particular, such a button may comprise a pin which can slide within a seat obtained in the door: when the latter is closed, the pin is fully pushed into the seat and operates an actuation mechanism which moves the closing means.
Advantageously, the actuation mechanism may be fully mechanical as well, thus comprising a first-degree lever such that the pin, 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. Such a translation is advantageously used for rotating a cover (which is thus lifted from the apertures) or transtating a slider (which slides and opens the drain apertures of the dispenser).
For closing the dispenser outlet, 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 pin 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.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and from the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a laundry washing machine according to the present invention:

Fig. 2a is a front view of the inner side of the door of the machine of Fig. 1;
Fig. 2b is a sectional view of the door of Fig. 2a along the B-B axis thereof:

Fig. 2c is a sectional view of the door of Fig. 2a along the A-A axis thereof:

Fig. 2d is a sectional view of the 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 ar 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 of the system which actuates the outlet closing means.

For clarity and simplicity, 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 1.
The 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 as substantially horizontal axis, it is clear that said axis of rotation may have a different orientation or even be vertical.
Load opening 3 is closed by a door 6 hinged to structure 2 through a hinge 22.
Door 6 has a flange 61 adapted to abut against a matching abutment surface 21 or the structure, and an inner surface 62 adapted to he inserted into opening 3.
In the example of Fig. 1, the inner surface of the door consists almost totally of a washing agent dispenser 7 which comprises three compartments 74 for different washing agents.
Each compartment 74 includes:

an inlet aperture 71 for supplying water and washing agents,
an inspection glass 72 for checking the level of the washing agent poured into the compartment during the filling step,
a washing agent outlet 75, e.g. consisting of siphon in compartment suitable for liquid detergents (Fig. 2e) or bulkheads in compartments suitable for powder detergents (Fig. 2c).

The door also comprises a button, located at flange 61, which essentially consists of a pin 8 which can slide within a seat 63. In particular, when the door is closed the pin is pushed into its seat, thereby actuating closing means which close outlet 73, thus preventing any residual liquid from flowing out of the dispenser.
In the embodiment example described herein, the closing means are arranged between the bottom of compartments 74 and bottom 76 of the 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.
As shown in Figs. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e, door 6 has a structure essentially consisting of a cover 64 and a body 65.
Cover 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 cover 64 and the body 65 for maintenance purposes.
When the door is hinged to the structure of the washing machine, cover 64 faces outwards. Body 65 is shaped in such a way that the portion not facing cover 64 has a flange 61 and an inner surface 62 as described above.
As shown in Fig. 2b, which is a sectional view of the door along the BB axis, surface 651 has an aperture 63 in which pin 8 can slide.
The latter is connected to an arm b1 of a first-degrec lever 9. When the door is closed, pin 8 abuts against external structure 2 of the washing machine, until it reaches (when the door is perfectly closed) predetermined fully inserted position.
The thrust undergone by pin 8 as the door is closed actuates lever 9, which pushes a rod 10 mechanically connected to the other arm b2.
Rod 10 crosses body 65 and enters into dispenser 7, where it abuts against an abutment surface 110 of a lid 11, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
Said lid 11 has such a size and shape that, when outlet 73 is closed, it rests onto the walls of dispenser 7, thus becoming a bulkhead which faces outlet 73 and prevents any fluids from flowing through it.
Advantageously, tightness may he further improved by installing a gasket between lid 11 and the dispenser walls, thus providing a better sealing or lid 11. Said gasket may be secured to ether lid 11 or dispenser 7.
Lid 11 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 11 is allowed to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis.
On the side facing arms 12, supports 14 have a seat adapted to horse 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 11.
On the side opposite to the springs, supports 14 have two U-shaped seats 141 which contain and support pin 13 without preventing it from turning.
As the door is closed, rod 10 slides into dispenser 7 (in the direction opposite to cover 64), and abuts against a matching abutment surface 110 of the lid. Abutment surface 110, when pushed by rod 10, goes from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, thus turning the lid rigidly connected two said abutment surface 110, Fig. 3 clearly shows that abutment surface 110 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. By overcoming the resistance of springs 15, this movement lifts lid11, which will thus take a position that will allow any fluids released from compartments 74 to flow toward outlet 73.
When the door is opened, pin 8 will no longer be pushed into seat 63, thus returning to a predetermined fully extended position outside seat 63.
The action of springs 15 therefore turns lid 11 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 lid 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 cover 64 and thus pin 8 toward the outside of the door. During this movement, lever 9 drags rod 10 which, being removed from under abutment surface 110, allows lid 11 to return to the horizontal position and prevent any liquids from flowing into outlet 73.
The advantages of the present invention are apparent from the above description, in that it automatically prevents any fluids contained in the washing agent compartments from flowing out of the dispenser through outlet 73.
It is however cleat that similar results may also be obtained by using modified outlet closing means (lid 11, arms 12, supports 14, etc,).
For example, springs 15 and 16 may be replaced with flat springs or with elastic return means of a different type, e.g. plastic materials having suitable elastic characteristics.
According to a variant, 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 actuation or lever 9 causes the translation of the rod and the resulting thrust of the slider.
According to a variant, the slider consists of a curved lid which can slide within guides that follow the dispenser profile.
According to another variant, the closing means can be actuated manually by the operator, e.g. through a mechanism which can be operated manually by the operator. Such a mechanism may consist of a snap button provided on cover 64 of the door and adapted to control the cloning means directly, e.g. by acting directly on rod 10.
At the beginning of the wash phase, the button will be pressed by the user in order to push rod 10 and open outlet 73, whereas at the end of the wash phase said snap button will be pressed again by the user in order to retract both the button and rod 10, thus re-closing outlet 73.
According to yet another variant, 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 to take two different position for preventing or allowing any flow of fluids through outlet 73.
Furthermore, rod 10 may be replaced with an electromechanical actuator activated by an electric command generated as the 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 he 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. As an alternative, the electric command may he generated by a sensor adapted to detect contact between the door and the external structure of the machine; such a sensor may for example be an infrared one. The power supply of the electromechanical actuator may he 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.

Claims

Front-loading laundry washing machine comprising:
- an external structure (2) having a load opening (3) for placing laundry into a drum (5);

- a door (6) constrained to said structure (2) and adapted to close said load opening (3);

- a washing agent dispenser (7) associated with said door (6) and comprising at least one inlet aperture (71) for water supply and at least one outlet (73) through which the water supplied into the dispenser (7) can flow out;
characterized by comprising movable closing means (11) adapted to prevent any fluids from flowing through said outlet (73).
Laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the closing means are arranged inside the dispenser, said dispenser (7) comprising in particular compartments (74) adapted to contain washing agents and to release them when water is supplied into said compartments, said closing means (11) being located in an area of said dispenser interposed between a bottom of said compartments and said outlet (73).
Laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the closing means are external to the dispenser.
Laundry washing machine according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closing means (11) are adapted to be actuated manually by a user or automatically through a movement of the door (6), said laundry washing machine additionally comprising an actuation button adapted to be set to two predetermined positions corresponding to two predetermined positions of said closing means, one for allowing and the other for preventing any flow of fluids through said outlet, said button being preferably mechanically connected to an actuation mechanism adapted to move said closing means.
Laundry washing machine according to claim 4, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises a rod (10) adapted to translate between two positions depending on the position of said button, said closing means (11) having in particular an abutment surface (110) adapted to interfere with said rod in at least one rotational movement of said rod between said two positions and said rod being adapted to cause at least one rotation of said abutment surface (110).
Laundry washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said closing means consist of a lid (11) hinged to a support (14) through a pin (13), said laundry washing machine additionally comprising a coil spring (15) wound around said pin (13) and secured to said pin (13) at one end and to said support (14) at the other end, thus exerting a return force adapted to rotate said lid (11) from a position wherein said lid (11) prevents any fluids from flowing through said outlet (73).
Laundry washing machine according to claim 6, wherein said lid is connected to said rotation pin (13) by means of an arm (12), and wherein, when said dispenser outlet (73) is closed, said rotation pins (13) are located higher than a bearing plane of said lid (11).
Laundry washing machine according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein said button is located on a surface (61) of said door (6) which faces the inside of said washing machine, said button comprising in particular a peg (8) forced to slide within a seat (63) provided in an area (61) of said door and adapted to abut against said external structure (2) of the washing machine.
Laundry washing machine according to claim 8 when claim 8 depends on any of claims 5 to 7, which additionally comprises a first-degree lever (9), a first arm (b1) of said lever (9) being mechanically connected to said peg (8) and a second arm (b2) of said lever (9) being mechanically connected to said rod (10), said laundry washing machine additionally comprising elastic means (16) adapted to counter a movement of said second arm (b2) of said lever (9) toward the dispenser (7).
Laundry washing machine according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein said button is located on an external surface of said door (6), said button being preferably mechanically connected to said rod (10).
Laundry washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said closing means comprise a slider which is mechanically connected to said abutment surface (110), said slider being in particular adapted to slide on an external surface of the dispenser (7).
Laundry washing machine according to any of claims 1 to 4, which additionally comprises an electromechanical actuator adapted to actuate said closing means.
Laundry washing machine according to claim 12, wherein said electromechanical actuator is driven by a control signal generated by a control unit of said washing machine.
Laundry washing machine according to claim 12, wherein said electromechanical actuator is driven by a control signal generated by the PTC of a door locking system of the machine, said electromechanical actuator being preferably driven by a control signal generated by a sensor adapted to detect when said door is opened, said sensor being preferably adapted to detect contact between the external structure (2) of the washing machine and the door (6).
Laundry washing machine according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally comprises a gasket adapted to improve the tightness of the closing means.