EP3177196A1

EP3177196A1 - Detergent dispenser having a tablet detergent ejection facility and dishwasher comprising such a detergent dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP3177196A1
Application number: EP14750188.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hasret GURSOY; Didem POLAT; Mehmet DIKSAN; Salih Goksu; Ali Egemen UCAR
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-08-06
Filing date: 2014-08-06
Publication date: 2017-06-14
Also published as: WO2016019987A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a detergent dispenser (1) for use in a dishwasher. The detergent dispenser (1) comprises a main body (2) having a compartment (3) for receiving a tablet detergent (D) and a pivotable lid (4) for opening/closing the compartment (3). The detergent dispenser (1) of the present invention comprises an ejection mechanism (5) including at least one flexible elongated member (6) for supporting the tablet detergent (D) from below.

Description

DETERGENT DISPENSER HAVING A TABLET DETERGENT EJECTION FACILITY AND DISHWASHER HAVING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a detergent dispenser for use in a water conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher. The present invention more particularly relates to a detergent dispenser for dispensing a tablet detergent into the washing tub of the dishwasher.
Conventional dishwashers are commonly known. A conventional dishwasher comprises a washing tub for receiving dishes to be cleaned, a door for opening/closing the washing tub and a detergent dispenser for dispensing detergent into the washing tub. In the conventional dishwasher the detergent dispenser is usually arranged on the inner surface of the door. The user may usually replenish the detergent dispenser with gel detergent, powder detergent, or tablet detergent. Detergent dispensers which are utilized to dispense a tablet detergent into the washing tub are generally known. A conventional detergent dispenser usually comprises a main body which has a compartment for manually receiving a tablet detergent and a pivotable lid for opening/closing the compartment. The lid is usually hinged onto the main body. The conventional detergent dispenser generally has a lock mechanism for locking/unlocking the lid. The lock mechanism usually has a spring which biases the lid from the closed state towards the open state such that the lid opens when it is unlocked. In the conventional dishwasher the controller operates the lock mechanism so as to unlock the lid at a predetermined stage of the washing course. Thereby, the tablet detergent falls, under the action of gravity into the washing tub.
EP 1 698 263 A1 discloses a conventional detergent dispenser for a dishwasher.
A drawback of the above-mentioned type of detergent dispenser is that the tablet detergent may occasionally stick to the bottom of the compartment due to the hot and humid environment. In such circumstances, the tablet detergent does not fall into the washing tub when the lid is opened during the washing course. Consequently the dishes remain dirty. Then, the user must repeat the washing course. Repeating the washing course increases the energy consumption and the water consumption. Moreover, in such cases the consumer satisfaction easily decreases.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a detergent dispenser and a dishwasher having the same which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved washing performance.
This objective has been achieved by the detergent dispenser as defined in claim 1 and the dishwasher as defined in claim 9. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The detergent dispenser of the present invention has an ejection mechanism which includes one or more than one flexible elongated member for supporting the tablet detergent from below. The opposing parts of the flexible elongated member are attached to the compartment and the lid respectively such that when the lid is closed, the flexible elongated member is in the relaxed state and when the lid is opened, the flexible elongated member is in the stretched state. In the stretched state, the flexible elongated member is separated from the bottom of the compartment by a gap.
In an embodiment, the flexible elongated member is made from a flexible metal wire. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible elongated member is alternatively made from a textile yarn. In another alternative embodiment, the flexible elongated member is alternatively made from an elastic band or elastic line.
In another embodiment, the ejection mechanism is detachably attached to detergent dispenser. Thereby, the user can detach the ejection mechanism for cleaning. In a version of this embodiment, the opposing parts of the flexible elongated member are attached to the detergent dispenser respectively via a pair of support members which are insertable into corresponding mounting slots formed into the compartment and the lid. When assembling the ejection mechanism, the user opens the lid and inserts the support members into the corresponding slots. Thereafter the detergent dispenser is ready for use. The user places a tablet detergent on the flexible elongated member and closes the lid. In another version of this embodiment, the support members have openings for supporting the flexible elongated member. The flexible elongated member can be threaded through or knotted to these openings. In another version of this embodiment, the flexible elongated member is threaded through the openings of the support members such that it follows meandering path. In this embodiment, the two ends of the flexible elongate member can be knotted to the first opening and the last opening.
In another alternative embodiment, the ejection mechanism is permanently attached to detergent dispenser.
With the present invention, particularly by virtue of the ejection mechanism the tablet detergent can be reliably ejected into the washing tub during the washing course. Thereby, the tablet detergent can be prevented from getting stuck on the bottom of compartment and the risk of failure of the washing course can be eliminated.
With the present invention, particularly by virtue of the ejection mechanism the tablet detergents can be completely ejected into the washing tub during the washing course.
Thereby, the cleansing performance can be further improved. With the present invention, the customer satisfaction can be increased.
Additional advantages of the detergent dispenser according to the present invention and the dishwasher according to the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 - is a schematic perspective view of the detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the lid is closed and the ejection mechanism is in the relaxed state prior to ejecting the tablet detergent into the washing tub;
Figure 2 - is a schematic perspective view of the detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the lid is opened and the ejection mechanism is in the stretched state during ejection of the tablet detergent into the washing tub;
Figure 3 - is a schematic perspective view of the detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the lid is opened and the ejection mechanism is in the stretched state after having ejected the tablet detergent into the washing tub;
Figure 4 - is a schematic top view of the detergent dispenser as shown in Fig.1;
Figure 5 - is a schematic top view of the detergent dispenser as shown in Fig.2;
Figure 6 - is a schematic top view of the detergent dispenser as shown in Fig.3;
Figure 7 - is a schematic perspective cut-away view of the detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the ejection mechanism is in the relaxed state prior to placing the tablet detergent on the flexible elongated member in the compartment;
Figure 8 - is a schematic perspective cut-away view of the detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the ejection mechanism is in the relaxed state after having placed the tablet detergent on the flexible elongated member in the compartment.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Detergent dispenser
Main body
Compartment
Lid

4a. Lock mechanism
5. Ejection mechanism
6. Elongated member
7a. Opposing part
7b. Opposing part
8. Bottom
9. Gap
10a. Support member
10b. Support member
11a. Mounting slot
11b. Mounting slot
12a. Thin plate
12b. Thin plate
13. Opening
The detergent dispenser (1) is suitable for use in a water conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher (not shown).
The dishwasher comprises a washing tub for receiving dishes to be cleaned and a door for opening/closing the washing tub.
The detergent dispenser (1) comprises a main body (2) which has a compartment (3) for receiving a tablet detergent (D) or the like, a pivotable lid (4) for opening/closing the compartment (3), the lid (4) being hinged onto the main body (2) and a lock mechanism (4a) for locking/unlocking the lid (4) (Fig. 1 to 8).
The detergent dispenser (1) of the present invention further comprises an ejection mechanism (5) which includes one or more than one flexible elongated member (6) which is arranged to support the tablet detergent (D) from below. The opposing parts (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6) are attached to the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively such that when the lid (4) is closed, the flexible elongated member (6) is in a relaxed state and when the lid (4) is opened, the flexible elongated member (6) is in a stretched state. In the stretched state the flexible elongated member (6) is separated from the bottom (8) of the compartment (3) through a gap (9).
The dishwasher of the present invention comprises the detergent dispenser (1) according to the present invention for dispensing a tablet detergent (D) into the washing tub and a controller adapted to control the detergent dispenser (1), in particular the lock mechanism (4a). In the dishwasher of the present invention, the detergent dispenser (1) is arranged on the inner surface of the door.
In an embodiment, the flexible elongated member (6) comprises one or more than one flexible metal wire.
In an alternative embodiment, the flexible elongated member (6) comprises one or more than one textile yarn.
In another alternative embodiment, the flexible elongated member (6) comprises one or more than one elastic band.
In alternative versions of another embodiment, each of the opposing parts (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6) are either permanently attached to the corresponding one of the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively, or detachably attached to the corresponding one of the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively (Fig. 1 to 8).
In another version of this embodiment, the ejection mechanism (5) has two support members (10a, 10b) and two corresponding mounting slots (11a, 11b). The two support members (10a, 10b) support the opposing parts (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6). In addition, the two mounting slots (11a, 11b) are formed into the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively. The two supporting members (10a, 10b) are detachably attachable to the mounting slots (11a, 11b) respectively.
In another version of this embodiment, each support member (7a, 7b) has a thin plate (12a, 12b) which extends parallel to the width of the compartment (3). Each thin plate (12a, 12b) matches the corresponding mounting slot (11a, 11b) and has one or more than one opening (13) for supporting the corresponding opposing parts (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6).
In another version of this embodiment, the flexible elongated member (6) follows a meandering path through the openings (13) of the two thin plates (12a, 12b).
In the subsequent, the operation of the dishwasher (not shown) will be shortly explained according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user places the dishes to be cleaned into the article racks inside the washing tub. Then, the user manually opens the lid (4) of the detergent dispenser (1) and places a tablet detergent (D) onto the flexible elongated member (6) inside the compartment (3) and subsequently closes the lid (4) by manually locking the lock mechanism (4a). Then, the user closes the door and selects a washing course from an interface. At a predetermined stage of the washing course, the controller electrically unlocks the lock mechanism (4a). As the lid (4) is opened by the spring (not shown), the flexible elongated member (6a) gradually transits from the relaxed state to the stretched state. Thus, the tablet detergent (D) is lifted away from the bottom (8) of the compartment (3) and accelerated out of the compartment (3) and eventually thrown into the washing tub through the thrust of the opening lid (4).
With the present invention, particularly by virtue of the ejection mechanism (5) the tablet detergents (D) can be reliably and completely ejected into the washing tub during the washing course. Thereby, the risk of failure of the washing course can be eliminated and the cleansing performance can be further improved. With the present invention, the customer satisfaction can be increased.

Claims

A detergent dispenser (1) for use in a water conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, the detergent dispenser (1) comprising

- a main body (2) which has a compartment (3) for receiving a tablet detergent (D) or the like;

- a pivotable lid (4) for opening/closing the compartment (3), wherein the lid (4) is hinged onto the main body (2) and

- a lock mechanism (4a) for locking/unlocking the lid (4),

characterized in that

- an ejection mechanism (5) which includes one or more than one flexible elongated member (6) which is arranged to support the tablet detergent (D) from below, wherein the opposing parts (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6) are attached to the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively such that when the lid (4) is closed, the flexible elongated member (6) is in a relaxed state and when the lid (4) is opened, the flexible elongated member (6) is in a stretched state and wherein in the stretched state, the flexible elongated member (6) is separated from the bottom (8) of the compartment (3) through a gap (9).
The detergent dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible elongated member (6) comprises one or more than one flexible metal wire.
The detergent dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible elongated member (6) comprises one or more than one textile yarn.
The detergent dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible elongated member (6) comprises one or more than one elastic band.
The detergent dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of the opposing parts (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6) are either permanently attached to the corresponding one of the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively, or detachably attached to the corresponding one of the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively.
The detergent dispenser (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the ejection mechanism (5) comprising

- two support members (10a, 10b) for supporting the opposing parts (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6) and

- two mounting slots (11a, 11b) formed into the compartment (3) and the lid (4) respectively, wherein the two supporting members (10a, 10b) are detachably attachable to the mounting slots (11a, 11b) respectively.
The detergent dispenser (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that each support member (7a, 7b) has a thin plate (12a, 12b) which extends parallel to the width of the compartment (3), wherein each thin plate (12a, 12b) matches the corresponding mounting slot (11a, 11b) and has one or more than one opening (13) for holding the corresponding opposing part (7a, 7b) of the flexible elongated member (6).
The detergent dispenser (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the flexible elongated member (6) follows a meandering path through the openings (13) of the two thin plates (12a, 12b).
A dishwasher comprising

- a washing tub for receiving dishes to be cleaned and

- a door for opening/closing the washing tub,

characterized in that

- a detergent dispenser (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8 for dispensing a tablet detergent (D) into the tub, wherein the detergent dispenser (1) is arranged on the inner surface of the door and

- a controller adapted to control the detergent dispenser (1).