EP2473664A1

EP2473664A1 - A washing machine comprising a cleaning agent dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP2473664A1
Application number: EP10747217A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehtap Gencer; Ahmet Alptekin
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2009-08-31
Filing date: 2010-08-27
Publication date: 2012-07-11
Also published as: WO2011023808A1

Abstract

The present agent relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a body (6), a housing (3) situated on the body (6) and a dispenser (2) placed into the housing (3), wherein cleaning agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed and where the cleaning agents are mixed with water, having one or more compartments (4) and one or more walls (5) that confine the compartments (4).

Description

A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A CLEANING AGENT DISPENSER

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a

dispenser wherein cleaning agents are placed.

[0002] The washing machines comprise dispensers wherein cleaning agents are placed. The cleaning agent placed in the dispenser is transferred to the tub after being mixed with the wash water. The dispensers comprise compartments wherein cleaning agents used in different steps of the washing, such as prewash, main wash, rinsing, are provided to be loaded separately from each other. For example, the detergent used in prewash is loaded in one compartment, the detergent used in main wash in a different compartment and the softener used in rinsing is loaded in a separate compartment. Mixing of different cleaning agents to one another during loading of cleaning agents creates various problems. For example, detergent penetrating into the softener compartment during loading adversely affects the rinsing performance of the washing machine. Or softener splashing into the detergent compartment causes the detergent in the compartment to be deposited. It is important in terms of consumer satisfaction to prevent the mixing of cleaning agents to one another while loading these in different cleaning agent compartments.

[0003] In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. KR20000014316, a washing machine is described that comprises a cover which can be moved forwards and backwards and which provides the covering of the fiber softener input area so that the detergent is prevented from mixing into the softener input area while loading the detergent.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine comprising a dispenser wherein cleaning agents are prevented from mixing up with one another while loading different cleaning agents into different compartments.

[0005] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0006] The washing machine of the present invention comprises a dispenser wherein cleaning agents are placed, having one or more compartments and one or more walls confining the compartments and a housing wherein the dispenser is placed such as to be moved back and forth. When the dispenser is pulled out of the housing for loading the cleaning agents therein, the height of the walls can be changed. Thus, the cleaning agents are provided to be loaded only in the respective compartment without overflowing into the other compartments. Consequently, the rinsing performance of the washing machine is increased by preventing mixing up of detergent particularly to the compartment wherein the softener used in the rinsing step is loaded.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine

comprises at least one separator which is mounted on the wall and which can be moved up and down on the wall. The separator remains

overlapped to the wall in the case when the dispenser is inside the housing. Thus, it is prevented from obstructing the movement of the dispenser when going in and out of the housing.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the separator is in plate form and is attached on the side of the wall facing inside of the compartment. At least one channel extending in the vertical direction is disposed on the face of the wall to which the separator is attached. The separator is attached to the wall by seating the slide, situated on its side facing the wall, into the channel. The separator is provided to overlap the wall and be positioned on the wall by moving the slide upwards and downwards inside the channel. A neck is provided with a width narrower than the width of the slide at the portion of the channel near its upper end. When the slide is released by skipping the neck, the separator remains motionless on the wall. The slide and channel configuration serves like a locking mechanism for holding the separator and the wall together.

[0009] In a version of this embodiment, an opening is arranged on the separator from which the user can grasp the separator with fingers for moving it upwards and downwards. By means of the opening, moving the separator upwards, downwards is made ergonomic.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator is

configured as a sheath covered on the wall. A heart mechanism is provided between the wall and the separator that helps to hold the two together. When the dispenser is pulled out from the housing for loading cleaning agent, the separator is triggered by pressing thereon and is provided to rise on the wall. After the loading process, the separator is changed back to the initial position of surrounding the wall by again pressing on the separator.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, a cavity is situated on the wall, extending along the wall. The separator in plate form is placed into the cavity in pocket form. The separator is fixed into the cavity by means of at least one spring. When the dispenser is in the housing, the spring is compressed by pressing of the housing base and the separator remains inside the cavity. As the dispenser is pulled out of the housing for loading cleaning agent, the separator is released from the pressing force of the housing base, comes out of the cavity by the pushing force of the spring to be positioned on the wall. Thus, the separator moves upwards

automatically without needing to be triggered by the user.

[0012] By means of the present invention, a washing machine is realized whereby the user can load cleaning agent only in the compartment of the dispenser desired to be loaded and wherein the loaded cleaning agent is prevented from mixing into the other compartments.

[0013] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0014] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine.

[0015] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a dispenser when the separator is at the uppermost position.

[0016] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a dispenser from another angle when the separator is at the lowermost position.

[0017] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a dispenser when the separator is at the uppermost position related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of a dispenser from another angle when the separator is at the uppermost position related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of a dispenser when the separator is at the uppermost position related to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 7 - is the perspective view of a dispenser from another angle when the separator is at the lowermost position related to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Dispenser

3. Housing

4. Compartment

5. Wall

6. Body

7. Separator

8. Channel

9. Slide

10. Opening

11. Heart mechanism

12. Cavity

13. Spring

14. Neck

[0022] The washing machine (1) comprises a body (6), a housing (3) situated on the body (6) and a dispenser (2) placed into the housing (3), wherein cleaning agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed and where the cleaning agents are mixed with water, having one or more compartments (4) and one or more walls (5) that confine the compartments (4) (Figure 1). When the dispenser (2) is pulled out of the housing (3) for loading cleaning agent, the height of the wall (5) can be changed. When the dispenser (2) is pulled out of the housing (3), the cleaning agent loaded in one

compartment (4) is prevented from mixing into the other compartments (4) by increasing the height of the wall (5). Consequently, the rinsing performance of the washing machine (1) is increased by preventing, for example the detergent from mixing into the softener compartment (4).

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a separator (7) mounted on the wall (5) and that moves in the vertical direction on the wall (5). When the dispenser (2) is pulled out of the housing (3) for loading cleaning agent, the height of the wall (5) is increased by changing the position of the separator (7) on the wall (5). The separator (7) is positioned to overlap with the wall (5) such that the movement of the dispenser (2) is not obstructed while the dispenser (2) is inside the housing (3). By means of the separator (7), a barrier is formed in front of the cleaning agent not desired to be mixed into other

compartments (4) by increasing the height of the wall (5) during loading. In an embodiment of the present invention, the separator (7) is in plate form and is attached on the side of the wall (5) facing inside of the compartment (4). The washing machine (1) comprises at least one channel (8), situated on the side of the wall (5) facing inside of the compartment (4), extending in the vertical direction and a slide (9) disposed on the separator (7), making an upward, downward sliding movement in the channel (8) by being seated inside the channel (8) (Figure 2 and Figure 3). When the dispenser (2) is inside the housing (3), the slide (9) is at the lowermost point of the channel (8). In this position, the separator (7) is almost in overlapping position with the side of the wall (5) facing inside of the compartment (4). The channel (8) comprises a neck (14) at the portion thereof near its upper end, with a width narrower than the width of the slide (9). When cleaning agent is desired to be loaded by pulling the dispenser (2) out of the housing (3), the slide (9) is moved upwards along the channel (8). Thus, the separator (7) also moves upwards by skimming the surface of the wall (5). The movement of the slide (9) inside the channel (8) is ended by circumventing the slide (9) from the neck (14). Consequently, the separator (7) is also brought to the uppermost point it can be positioned on the wall (5). The user can load the desired cleaning agent into the desired compartment (4) when the separator (7) is at the uppermost position. The cleaning agent is prevented from mixing into the other compartments (4) since the height of the wall (5) is increased by means of the separator (7). When the cleaning agent loading process is completed, the slide (9) is provided to be released from the neck (14) and to move downwards by pressing on the separator (7). Consequently, the separator (7) is changed to the initial position of overlapping the wall (5) and the dispenser (2) is placed inside the housing (3) by being pushed.

[0025] In a version of this embodiment, the washing machine (1) comprises an opening (10) disposed on the separator (7), which enables the user to hold the separator (7) to move (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Consequently, moving the separator (7) upwards is facilitated for the user while loading the cleaning agent into the dispenser (2).

[0026] In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator (7) is in sheath form covered over the wall (5) such that the wall (5) is surrounded. The washing machine (1) further comprises a heart mechanism (11), one piece of which is disposed on the surface of the wall (5) facing inside the compartment (4) and the other piece on the side of the separator (7) facing the wall (5), which holds the separator (7) and the wall (5) together in the desired position (Figure 4 and Figure 5). The separator (7) is in a position of surrounding the wall (5) when the dispenser (2) is inside the housing (3). When the dispenser (2) is pulled out of the housing (3) for loading cleaning agent, the heart mechanism (11) is triggered by the user pressing on the separator (7) and the separator (7) moves upwards. Due to the configuration of the heart mechanism (11), the separator (7) is positioned such as not to move on the wall (5) until the heart mechanism (11) is triggered again. Thus, the user is provided with the opportunity of loading cleaning agent into the desired compartment (4) by preventing mixing into the other compartments (4).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a cavity (12) disposed on the wall (5) and extending along the wall (5) and a separator (7) in plate form that goes in and out of the cavity (12) while the dispenser (2) goes in and out of the housing (3) (Figure 6 and Figure 7). The separator (7) is almost in the embedded position inside the cavity (12) when the dispenser (2) is inside the housing (3). The washing machine (1) further comprises at least one spring (13), situated at the lowest portion of the cavity (12) that pushes the separator (7) upwards while the dispenser (2) goes in and out of the housing (3). When the dispenser (2) is inside the housing (3), the spring (13) in the compressed position holds the separator (7) inside the cavity (12). When the dispenser (2) is pulled out of the housing (3) for loading cleaning agent, the separator (7) is released from the compressing force of the spring (13), moves upwards automatically and is positioned on the wall (5). Thus, the dispenser (2) becomes available for the cleaning agent placed in each compartment (4) to be loaded without mixing up with each other. The rear side of the separator (7) has an inclined form. Accordingly, as the dispenser (2) is pushed into the housing (3) after loading cleaning agent into the dispenser (2), the separator (7) is provided to automatically enter into the cavity (12) by the base of the housing (3) pressing on the separator (7). Thus, the separator (7) is automatically positioned on the wall (5) when the dispenser (2) is outside the housing (3) and in the cavity (12) when the dispenser (2) is inside the housing (3).

[0028] In the washing machine (1) of the present invention, the cleaning agents loaded in different compartments (4) are prevented from mixing up with one another while loading the cleaning agent into the dispenser (2).

Consequently, customer satisfaction is increased by improving the rinsing performance of the washing machine (1).

[0029] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the

embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washing machine (1) comprising a body (6), a housing (3) situated on the body (6) and a dispenser (2) placed into the housing (3), wherein cleaning agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed and where the cleaning agents are mixed with water, having one or more compartments (4) and one or more walls (5) that confine the compartments (4) and characterizedin that the wall (5), the height of which can be changed when the dispenser (2) is pulled out of the housing (3) for loading the cleaning agent.

2. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 , characterizedby a separator (7) mounted on the wall (5), that moves in the vertical direction on the wall (5).

3. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterizedby the separator (7) positioned to overlap with the wall (5) while the dispenser (2) is inside the housing (3) such that the movement of the dispenser (2) is not obstructed.

4. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the separator (7) in plate form attached to the side of the wall (5) facing inside of the compartment (4).

5. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by at least one channel (8), situated on the side of the wall (5) facing inside of the compartment (4), and extending in the vertical direction and a slide (9) disposed on the separator (7), making an upward, downward sliding movement in the channel (8) by being seated in the channel (8).

6. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 4 or 5, characterized by an opening (10) which is disposed on the separator (7) and which enables the user to hold the separator (7) to move.

7. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the separator (7) in sheath form covered over the wall (5) such as to surround the wall (5).

8. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by a heart mechanism

(11), one piece of which is disposed on the surface of the wall (5) facing inside of the compartment (4) and the other piece on the side of the separator (7) facing the wall (5), which holds the separator (7) and the wall (5) together in the desired position.

9. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by a cavity (12) disposed on the wall (5) and extending along the wall (5) and the separator (7) in plate form that goes in and out of the cavity (12) while the dispenser (2) goes in and out of the housing (3).

10. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 9, characterized by at least one spring (13), situated at the lowest portion of the cavity (12) that pushes the separator (7) upwards while the dispenser (2) goes in and out of the housing (3).