EP3136938B1 - Dispensing device and metering system for metered release of chemical substances stored in packs to a dishwasher or washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a metering system for the metered delivery of chemical substances stored in containers to a dishwasher or washing machine, comprising at least one dispenser device. Such dosing systems are used in commercial kitchens, laundries, etc.

Dispenser devices on the market have a mains voltage supply, a central logic which is placed directly in the dispenser device and controls all the processes of metered dispensing of a substance from the dispenser device, inlet and outlet valves, a water supply line to dissolve the substance with water and / or to mix a substance output line and sensors, such as a conductivity sensor placed in the dishwasher or washing machine to measure the conductivity of the chemical substance dispensed. A user interface in the form of a display and buttons is attached to the housing of the dispenser and connected to the central logic. An outlet opening of the container of the chemical substance is connected to an inlet opening of the dispenser device, the container being placed directly on the dispenser device and the substance contained therein being detected by means of microswitches based on the shape of the container outlet.

The document DE 196 52 733 A1 discloses a dispenser device for the metered delivery of chemical substances stored in containers to a dishwasher, a control algorithm metering the delivery of the substances based on the conductance of the substance.

The document DE 10 2008 033238 A1 describes a container for a chemical substance for delivery to a washing machine, wherein the container can have an RFID tag that contains information about the contents of the container.

In a first aspect, the present invention is based on the object of specifying an improved control algorithm for dispensing the chemical substance, with which the dosing of the substance succeeds more precisely than hitherto and which leads to improved washing and washing processes in the dishwasher or washing machine, optimally with a simultaneous reduction Substance consumption leads. This improved control algorithm doses the release of the chemical substance so that the actual substance conductance of the mixture of the released chemical substance and water in the dishwasher or washing machine, which mixture is also referred to by experts as a washing liquor or rinsing liquor, a target substance conductance of the mixture of water with the substance dispensed by the dispensing devices is approximated in the dishwasher or washing machine. The control algorithm contains as a control parameter a predefined standard substance conductance, a predefined standard water conductance of the water to be supplied, an actual basic conductance of the water supplied, a predefined standard water hardness of the water to be supplied, an actual water hardness of the water supplied, a compensation factor for the standard - Substance conductance for deviations between the standard water hardness and the actual water hardness as well as an optional adjustable one

Correction factor, the target substance conductivity of the washing liquor is preferably calculated according to the following formula: $$\mathrm{Target\; Substanzleitwert}=\mathrm{correction\; factor}\times \left(\mathrm{StandardSubstanzleitwert}-\mathrm{StandardWasserleitwert}+\mathrm{IstWasserleitwert}\right)\times {\mathrm{compensation\; factor}}^{\left(\mathrm{IstWasserhärte}-\mathrm{Standard\; water\; hardness}\right)}$$

The standard substance conductance is the conductance in µS that the mixture of the chemical substance and water dispensed had shown in tests carried out by the manufacturer in a dishwasher or washing machine, which tests had given a proper washing or washing result.

The standard water conductance is the conductance in µS of the water that was mixed with the substance in the tests.

The standard water hardness is the water hardness in ° dH of the water that was mixed with the substance in the tests.

The actual water conductance is the conductance in µS of the water that is supplied to the dispenser on site.

The actual water hardness is the water hardness in ° dH of the water that is supplied to the dispenser on site.

The correction factor is set by a technician and makes it possible to adapt the dosage on site to the circumstances, for example if old or bad dishwashers are available, or if no prewash is to be carried out, etc.

The compensation factor represents an increase per ° dH and indicates by which factor the dosage of the substance has to be increased with a higher water hardness in order to achieve an equally good rinsing or washing result.

The balancing factor is very important, for example, if the substance to be dosed is a cleaner that contains two different components, one of which is an alkaline component, which is responsible for the performance of cleaning, and a second component is a complexing agent, which is responsible for the binding of all cations is responsible, because only then can the cleaner work effectively. By the Compensation factor is dosed with a higher water hardness to have enough complexing agents in the rinse water mixture, the so-called rinse liquor.

The control algorithm of the donor logic unit delivers particularly good results if it is configured as a fuzzy logic controller.

The detection of a container on conventional dispenser devices using microswitches has proven to be unreliable in rough everyday operation. Another problem with the proposed control algorithms is that they access parameters that are substance-dependent and changeable. It would therefore be desirable if the substance-dependent parameters could not be supplied manually, but automatically to the control algorithm of the dispenser logic of the dispenser device. To achieve these objects, the invention proposes that the dispenser device has an RFID reader near its substance inlet, with which information can be read in an RFID tag attached to the container, the information preferably being a substance identification, such as a product and country code, and substance characteristics, such as a standard substance conductance, a standard basic conductance of the substance to be added water, a standard water hardness from the substance to be added water and a compensation factor for the standard substance conductance for the deviations between the standard water hardness and the actual water hardness.

In a further aspect of the invention, a dosing system with a container is proposed which contains a chemical substance for delivery to a dishwasher or washing machine, the container having an outlet which can be connected to a substance inlet of a dispensing device, the container having an RFID Tag that has a substance identification and substance characteristics, such as a standard substance conductance, a standard water conductance from the substance to be added water, a standard water hardness from the substance to be added water and a compensation factor for the standard substance conductance for those for deviations between the standard water hardness and the actual water hardness.

In known dosing systems it has been shown to be problematic that the mains voltage is present directly in the dispenser. In the event of breaks or leaks in the water and substance lines, the supplied water and the substance spray around in the housing of the dispenser and can cause short circuits in the mains voltage, destroy the central logic and endanger people. If the central logic fails, the entire dosing system, including the dishwasher, is paralyzed. When opening the There is a risk that the dispenser device housing may be kinked or torn off.

To overcome these difficulties, the present invention also proposes to integrate a dispenser device into a dosing system according to the invention for the dosed delivery of chemical substances stored in containers to a dishwasher or washing machine, the dosing system comprising a machine logic unit for controlling the operation of the dishwasher or washing machine and a user -Interface with a display and buttons. The dosing system is characterized by the fact that it has a modular structure, the dispenser logic unit which is contained in each dispenser device being locally separated from the machine logic unit, which can preferably be installed in the dishwasher or washing machine, the machine logic unit with sensors in the dishwasher or washing machine communicates and controls pumps, motors, control inputs and optionally the heating of the dishwasher or washing machine, the machine logic unit having a power supply unit for converting electrical mains voltage into low voltage, in particular 12 volt or 24 volt direct voltage, the at least one dispenser logic unit and the machine logic unit are connected to one another by means of a power supply and communication bus, the power supply lines with the low voltage generated by the power supply and data lines for communication between the at least one donor logic unit and the machine log ik unit has.

The main difference between the dosing system according to the invention and the conventional system is the decentralization of the logic of the system and the modular design of the system. Now each donor device and each unit in the system have their own logic, which independently performs tasks such as control the metered delivery of the substance, the filling of a reservoir, etc. The units are supplied with low voltage generated by a power supply unit via the power supply and communication bus and therefore no longer have to carry mains voltage. Information is provided on the bus. passed on to other system participants.

In one embodiment of the invention, the user interface is configured as a unit which is locally separated from the dispenser device and from the machine logic unit and is connected to the power supply and communication bus.

For the scalability, maintainability and monitoring of the metering system according to the invention, it is advantageous if the on the power supply and communication bus connected units are configured as a master-slave system, in which one unit, preferably the user interface, is defined as a higher-level controller that controls the other units. The machine logic unit preferably transmits measured values of the sensors to which it is connected to the dispenser logic unit.

• Beliebige Erweiterbarkeit des Systems, weitere Komponenten können einfach als Busteilnehmer hinzugefügt werden. Das Dosiersystem kann von seiner Leistungsfähigkeit ideal auf die jeweilige Spülmaschine ausgelegt werden, egal ob es sich um einen kleinen Gläserspüler oder eine große Bandmaschine handelt. Dasselbe gilt auch für Waschmaschinen.
• Minimierter Verkabelungs- u. Montageaufwand, da Signale bzw. relevante Messgrößen direkt dort abgenommen u. verarbeitet werden, wo sie entstehen. Beispielsweise werden Signalzustände der Spülmaschine direkt in der Maschine gemessen, digitalisiert u. verarbeitet.
• Zusatzgeräte, wie z.B. eine Zentraldosierung oder ein Schnittstellen-Modul zur Kommunikation können einfach eingebunden werden ohne dass das Grundsystem verändert werden muss.
• Bei Ausfall einer Einheit im System bleiben die übrigen Einheiten weiter funktionstüchtig; der Aufbau von redundanten Systemen ist möglich.
• Bestimmte Einheiten des Systems können in anderen Systemen verwendet werden, z.B. das Benutzer-Interface in einer Dosier-Anlage für die Wäsche.

The following advantages result from the construction of the metering system according to the invention:

• Any expandability of the system, other components can simply be added as bus participants. The performance of the dosing system can be ideally designed for the respective dishwasher, regardless of whether it is a small glass washer or a large belt machine. The same applies to washing machines.
• Minimized cabling and Assembly effort, since signals or relevant measured quantities are taken directly there and processed where they arise. For example, signal states of the dishwasher are measured, digitized and directly in the machine. processed.
• Additional devices such as central metering or an interface module for communication can be easily integrated without having to change the basic system.
• If one unit in the system fails, the remaining units remain functional; it is possible to set up redundant systems.
• Certain units of the system can be used in other systems, for example the user interface in a dosing system for the laundry.

In order to dissolve the chemical substance in the connected container with water, in particular if the substance is in the form of a compressed, solid powder block, and / or to dilute a liquid or viscous substance, in one embodiment of the invention the dispenser device has a valve or pump controlled water supply to the dispenser logic unit. A water meter communicating with the dispenser logic unit is preferably installed in the water supply line and provides information about the actual water consumption, which in turn enables conclusions to be drawn about defective substances. For example, a substance present as a compressed powder block in the container could be defective if excess water is required to Rinse substance out of the container. In order to achieve an optimal cleaning result, low water consumption and uniform substance consumption, it is favorable if the machine logic unit has a liquid temperature sensor that communicates with a tank of the dishwasher or washing machine, the dispenser logic unit only starting to meter the substance when the liquid in the tank has a has or exceeds the specified minimum temperature.

The regulation of the metered delivery of the substance in the dispenser can be accelerated if the dispenser in the path of the substance through the dispenser has a conductivity sensor for measuring the conductivity of the chemical substance to be dispensed or the mixture of the substance to be dispensed with the water supplied. With this configuration, the donor logic unit has changes in the conductance values immediately available for adapting the control. In particular, the emptying of the substance in the container, the change in the composition of the mixture of the substance with the water supplied or an overflow of the substance in the dispenser can be recognized immediately and the appropriate measures can be taken, whereas in the case of a conductivity measurement only changes in the conductivity in the dishwasher are only delayed get to the donor logic unit.

The dispenser logic unit and the machine logic unit are encased in a watertight manner to increase electrical safety. Their electrical connections are accessible via watertight, preferably polarity-proof, sockets, particularly preferably electrical connections, in particular those connections which carry voltages above the protective extra-low voltage of 50 V, are optoelectronically or galvanically separated.

The dosing system according to the invention makes it possible to connect a personal computer, a notebook, a tablet computer or the like to the power supply and communication bus, on which a monitoring, maintenance or configuration program of the dosing system can be executed. In a further development of the metering system according to the invention, a remote maintenance module of the metering system can be connected to the power supply and communication bus.

In order to still have to lay only one hose to the dishwasher or washing machine when using several dispenser devices at the same time on a dishwasher or washing machine, it is advantageous if the substance outlet of the dispenser device has a connection for connection to a substance outlet of another dispenser device.

• Fig. 1 zeigt schematisch eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen modularen Dosiersystems.
• Fig. 2 zeigt einen Graphen eines bei der Dosierungsregelung verwendeten Algorithmus.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a modular dosing system according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a graph of an algorithm used in dosing control.

It will start on Fig. 1 Reference is made, which schematically shows an embodiment of a modular dosing system according to the invention for the dosed delivery of chemical substances stored in containers 24, 25 to a dishwasher 4. The dosing system has a user interface 1, which serves as an input and output device for the user and technician for controlling and configuring the system. The user interface 1 has a display 10, buttons 11 for control and two bus plugs 12, 13 for the power supply of the user interface 1 and for communication with other bus subscribers by means of a power supply and communication bus.

The metering system further comprises a dispenser device 2 for dispensing a chemical substance 24b in the form of a cleaner pressed into a powder block, which is flushed out of its container 24 by water. The container 24 is connected with its outlet 24a to the substance inlet 2a of the dispensing device 2, the rinsed-out cleaner is passed via the hose connection 20 into the tank 32 of a dishwasher 4. An electronic dispenser logic unit 22 installed in the dispenser device 2 controls and regulates the dispenser device 2. The dispenser logic unit 22 is connected to sensors such as a conductivity sensor 2f and a water meter 2e as well as valves 2d and optionally a pump, all of which are arranged in the dispenser device 2. The dispenser logic unit 22 is connected to the power supply and communication bus via two bus plugs 14, 15, which are used for power supply and communication with the other bus users. The dispenser device 2 has a water supply line 2c for rinsing out the substance 24b. The water supply line is controlled by the dispenser logic unit 22 via the valve 2d. A water meter 2e communicating with the dispenser logic unit 22 is installed in the water supply line 2c. Furthermore, the dispenser logic unit 22 measures the electrical conductivity of the mixture of rinsed-out cleaner and water by means of the conductivity sensor 2f arranged at the substance outlet 2b.

The dosing system comprises a second dispenser 3 for dispensing a chemical substance 25b in the form of a fluid from a container 25. The container 25 is with its Outlet 25a connected to the substance inlet 3a of the dispensing device 3. Depending on the type of fluid, it is either fed directly into the dishwasher 4 via the feed line 21 and the spray arm 26 or through a connecting line 33 connected to the substance outlet 2b of the first dispensing device 2 and further via the hose connection 20 into the tank 32 the dishwasher 4 out. The second dispenser device 3 is constructed very similarly to the first dispenser device 2. It also has an integrated electronic dispenser logic unit 23 which regulates and controls the dispenser device 2. The dispenser logic unit 23 is connected to sensors such as a conductivity sensor 3f arranged at the substance outlet 3b and valves 3d for controlling the flow of the fluid. The dispenser logic unit 23 is connected to the power supply and communication bus via two bus plugs 16, 17, which are used for power supply and communication with the other bus participants.

Depending on the version, the dishwasher 4 can be a small glass washer, or - as in Fig. 1 shown - be a hood machine, or a large belt machine. In the dishwasher 4, a machine logic unit 31 is installed, which has a line 31a for converting electrical line voltage into low voltage, in particular 12 volt or 24 volt direct voltage. With the low voltage, the machine logic unit 31 supplies all participants in the metering system via the bus. The machine logic unit 31 has sensor inputs 29, 30 for recording status values of, for example, solenoid valves 27, motors 28, temperature (from a liquid temperature sensor 35), water quantities, limit switches, etc. The machine logic unit 31 has control inputs E1-E3 for, for example, the functions filling, washing, rinse thoroughly. The dishwasher 4 has a tank 32 in which the washing liquor (= mixture of water with the substance 24b, 25b dispensed by the dispensing devices 2, 3) is located, which is driven by the motor 28, which drives a pump, and the spray Arm 26 is pumped in a circle. For measuring the concentration of the substance 24b, 25b in the wash liquor, a conductivity probe 34 is installed in the tank 32, which is connected to one of the two bus connectors 18, 19 via the bus line 9 and thus communicates with the machine logic unit 31.

All participants in the dosing system are wired using bus cables 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The power supply and communication bus is designed as an RS485 bus.

The dispenser logic units 22, 23 and the machine logic unit 31 are each constructed with a microcontroller and have an RS485 bus interface, possibly voltage converters for 5 V and 3.3 V, a program memory, a non-volatile data memory, a RAM and floating inputs and outputs. Also one Real time clock (RTC) can be provided, optionally also a display and buttons. The dispenser logic unit 22, 23 and the machine logic unit 31 are encased in a watertight manner. Your electrical connections are accessible via waterproof, preferably polarity-proof, sockets and / or plugs.

In this exemplary embodiment, the user interface 1 is locally separated from the dispenser devices 2, 3 and from the machine logic unit 31. In an alternative embodiment, the user interface 1 can also be integrated into the dispenser devices 2, 3.

The units connected to the power supply and communication bus, namely the user interface 1, the dispenser devices 2, 3 and the machine logic unit 31 are configured as a master-slave system, with the user interface 1 as the master, which controls the other units. In an alternative embodiment e.g. the machine logic unit 31 can also be configured as a master and the user interface 1 as a slave.

The control algorithms 22a, 23a of the donor logic units 22, 23 operate as described in detail above and are configured as fuzzy logic controllers. Two separate algorithms are implemented in the fuzzy logic controller. The first algorithm determines the stability of the ascertained actual substance conductance and is based on the knowledge that depending on the type of dishwasher, for example hood machine or belt machine, but also on the size of the machine, the installation situation of the hose connection 20 and the conductance probe 34 in the dishwasher, the positioning of the suction for the washing pump motor 28 and the dynamics in the washing liquor, a more or less inert system of mixing the washing liquor is created. In order to achieve good regulation in this sluggish system, the fuzzy logic controller only regulates the difference between the target substance conductance and the actual substance conductance if it has determined the actual substance conductance as sufficiently stable. This determination is carried out by starting from the current point in time, the average of the last x (eg 16) measured values of the actual substance conductance and determining a bandwidth which is a% (eg 10%) above and b% (eg 10%) is below the mean. If y (eg 10) of the last x measurements used for averaging are within the range, the actual substance conductance is considered to be sufficiently stable. The sampling rate is, for example, 1 measurement / sec. This procedure is in the graph of Fig. 2 shown.

The second algorithm in the fuzzy logic controller takes care of the amount of substance that has to be dosed. This is done on the basis of the duration of the submission Test dosing, which has a certain time value "X", eg 250 ms. After the new actual substance conductance of the washing liquor has stabilized, the difference between the target substance conductance and the actual substance conductance is calculated back to the necessary duration of the substance dispensing by means of a final calculation. This enables a very precise dosing and precise achievement of the target substance conductance. As this works with every dosing process, any changes in water pressure, temperature, consistency of the substance and the level of the substance in the container are taken into account.

Each dispenser device 2, 3 has an RFID reader 2h, 3h near its substance inlet 2a, 3a, with which information located in an RFID tag 24c, 25c attached to the container 24a, 25a can be read. This information contains substance identification and substance identification data, e.g. a standard substance conductance, a standard water conductance of the substance to be supplied water, a standard water hardness from the substance to be supplied water and a compensation factor for deviations of the standard substance conductance between the standard water hardness and the actual water hardness. The information read by means of the RFID reader 2h, 3h is passed on to the control algorithm 22a, 23a and taken into account by it as a control parameter in the control.

Claims (17)

1. A dosing system for the metered delivery of chemical substances stored in containers (24, 25) to a dishwasher (4) or washing machine, comprising at least one dispensing device (2, 3) with a substance inlet (2a, 3a) that is connectable to an outlet (24a, 25a) of a container (24, 25) containing a chemical substance, such as a cleaning agent, products for disinfection, water treatment or a rinse agent, with the dispensing device having a substance outlet (2b, 3b) which is connectable to the dishwasher or washing machine and from which the substance is dispensed, and comprising a dispensing logic unit (22, 23) including a control algorithm (22a, 23a) which controls the dosage of the chemical substance (24b, 25b) to be dispensed from the dispensing device, with the control algorithm (22a, 23a) metering the delivery of the chemical substance (24b, 25b) such that the actual substance conductance of the mixture of the dispensed chemical substance and water in the dishwasher (4) or washing machine is approximated to a desired substance conductance of the mixture of the dispensed chemical substance and water,
   characterized in that the control algorithm (22a, 23a) adjusts the desired substance conductance by including a predetermined standard substance conductance, a predetermined standard water conductance for water to be supplied, an actual water conductance of the supplied water, a predetermined standard water hardness for water to be supplied, an actual water hardness of the supplied water, a compensation factor for the standard substance conductance for discrepancies between the standard water hardness and the actual water hardness as well as, optionally, an adjustable correction factor as a control parameter, taking into account measured values of a conductance sensor (2f, 3f) of the dispensing logic unit (22, 23), wherein the desired substance conductance is preferably calculated according to the following formula: $$\mathrm{desired}\mathrm{substance}\mathrm{conductance}=\mathrm{correction}\mathrm{factor}\times \left(\mathrm{standard}\mathrm{substance}\mathrm{conductance}-\mathrm{standard}\mathrm{water}\mathrm{conductance}+\mathrm{actual}\mathrm{water}\mathrm{hardness}\right)\times \mathrm{compensation}{\mathrm{factor}}^{\left(\mathrm{actual}\mathrm{water}\mathrm{hardness}-\mathrm{standard}\mathrm{water}\mathrm{hardness}\right)}$$

   
2. A dosing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control algorithm (22a, 23a) of the dispensing logic unit (22, 23) is configured as a fuzzy logic controller.
3. A dosing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the fuzzy logic controller determines the stability of the detected actual substance conductance, taking into account measured values of the conductance sensor (2f, 3f), and compensates for the difference between the desired substance conductance and the actual substance conductance only if it computes the actual substance conductance so as to meet a stability criterion, wherein the determination of the stability of the detected actual substance conductance is performed by calculating, starting from the current point in time, the average of the last x measured values of the actual substance conductance and determining a bandwidth which is a % above and b % below the average and subsequently checking as to whether, among the measurements used for calculating the average, y values (x > y) are within the bandwidth, which is regarded as meeting the stability criterion.
4. A dosing system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fuzzy logic controller calculates the dosage of the chemical substance (24b, 25b) to be dispensed based on the duration of the delivery of a test dosage and taking into account measured values of the conductance sensor (2f, 3f) by calculating from the duration of the delivery of the test dosage back to the still required duration of the current delivery of the substance, based on the difference between the desired substance conductance and the actual substance conductance, using a cross-multiplication.
5. A dosing system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing device has, close to its substance inlet, an RFID reader (2h, 3h) by means of which information located in an RFID tag (24c, 25c) attached to the container (24, 25) can be read in, with the information preferably including a substance identification, such as a product and country code, and substance characteristics, such as a standard substance conductance, a standard water conductance of water to be supplied to the substance, a standard water hardness of water to be supplied to the substance and a compensation factor for the standard substance conductance for discrepancies between the standard water hardness and the actual water hardness.
6. A dosing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the dosing system comprises a container (24, 25) containing a chemical substance (24b, 25b) for delivery to a dishwasher or washing machine, the container having an outlet (24a, 25a) connectable to a substance inlet (2a, 3a) of the dispensing device (2, 3), wherein the container (24, 25) comprises an RFID tag (24c, 25c) including a standard substance conductance and optionally further information on the substance identification, such as a product and country code, and substance characteristics, such as a standard basic conductance of water to be supplied to the substance, a standard water hardness of water to be supplied to the substance and a compensation factor for the standard substance conductance for discrepancies between the standard water hardness and the actual water hardness.
7. A dosing system according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized by:

   a machine logic unit (31) for controlling the operation of the dishwasher or washing machine;

   a user interface (1) comprising a display (10) and keys (11);

   wherein the dosing system has a modular structure, wherein the dispensing logic unit (22, 23) contained in each dispensing device (2, 3) is spatially separated from the machine logic unit (31), which preferably can be integrated into the dishwasher (4) or washing machine, wherein the machine logic unit (31) communicates with sensors (34) in the dishwasher or washing machine and monitors and controls pumps (27), motors (28), control inputs (E1-E3) and optionally the heating of the dishwasher or washing machine, with the machine logic unit (31) comprising a power-supply unit (31a) for converting an electrical mains voltage into a low voltage, in particular a direct voltage of 12 volts or 24 volts, wherein the at least one dispensing logic unit (22, 23) and the machine logic unit (31) are interconnected by means of a power supply and communication bus, which comprises power supply lines with the low voltage generated by the power-supply unit and data lines for communication between the at least one dispensing logic unit and the machine logic unit.
8. A dosing system according to claim 7, characterized in that the user interface (1) is configured as a unit spatially separated from the dispensing device (2, 3) and the machine logic unit (31) and connected to the power supply and communication bus.
9. A dosing system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the units (1, 2, 3, 31) connected to the power supply and communication bus are configured as a master-slave system, wherein a unit, preferably the user interface (1), is defined as a higher-level control which controls the remaining units.
10. A dosing system according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the machine logic unit (31) transmits measured values of the sensors (34, 35), to which it is connected, to the dispensing logic unit (22, 23).
11. A dosing system according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the dispensing device (2, 3) comprises a water supply line (2c) controlled by the dispensing logic unit (22, 23) by means of a valve (2d) or pump in order to dissolve and/or mix the chemical substance located in the attached container with water, with a water meter (2e), which communicates with the dispensing logic unit, preferably being installed in the water supply line.
12. A dosing system according to claim 11, characterized in that the machine logic unit (31) comprises a liquid temperature sensor (35) communicating with a tank (32) of the dishwasher (4) or washing machine, wherein the dispensing logic unit (22, 23) enables the metering of the substance only when the liquid in the tank (32) has or exceeds a predetermined minimum temperature.
13. A dosing system according to any of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the dispensing device (2, 3) has, in the path of the substance through the dispensing device, a conductance sensor (2f, 3f) for measuring the conductance of the chemical substance to be dispensed or, respectively, of the mixture of the substance with the supplied water, which mixture is to be dispensed.
14. A dosing system according to any of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the dispensing logic unit (22, 23) and the machine logic unit (31) are sheathed in a watertight manner and their electrical connections are accessible via watertight sockets and/or plugs, which preferably are protected against polarity reversal, wherein particularly preferably the electrical connections are opto-electronically or galvanically separated.
15. A dosing system according to any of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that a computer, in particular a personal computer, a notebook or a tablet computer, is connectable to the power supply and communication bus, with a monitoring, maintenance or configuration program of the dosing system being executable on said computer.
16. A dosing system according to any of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that a remote maintenance module of the dosing system is connectable to the power supply and communication bus.
17. A dosing system according to any of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the substance outlet (2b, 3b) of the dispensing device has a port for connection to a line (33) from a substance outlet of another dispensing device.

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