EP3305969A1 - Storage container for assembly in a metering device of a cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage container for arrangement in a receptacle (10) of a metering device (7) of a program-controlled cleaning device (1), in particular a dishwasher, which has a storage chamber (29) for storing pourable cleaning agent, with a supply chamber (29) providing Container body (28) which is open on one side, and a container lid (30) serving the closure of the open container body side, wherein that the container lid (30) is arranged captive on the container body (28) and a lid portion pivotable relative to the container body (28) (32).

Description

The invention relates to a storage container for arrangement in a receptacle of a metering device of a program-controlled cleaning device, in particular a dishwasher having a storage chamber for storing pourable, in particular powdered detergent, with a storage chamber providing the container body which is open on one side, and a closure the container lid open side serving container lid.

Program-controlled cleaning devices in general and dishwashers in particular are well known from the prior art, which is why a separate documentary proof at this point is not required.

Cleaning devices of the type in question typically have a washing container, which provides a washing compartment, also called treatment room. This rinsing or treatment space is accessible on the user side via a charging opening, which can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a pivotally mounted flushing door. In the intended use case, the washing container serves to receive items to be cleaned, which in the case of a household dishwasher, for example, can be crockery, cutlery and / or the like.

For loading of items to be cleaned with rinsing liquid, the so-called rinsing liquor, the cleaning device has a spray device inside the rinsing container. This spraying device generally provides rotatably mounted spray arms, with typically two or three such spray arms being provided. In the intended use case, a loading of the items to be cleaned with rinse liquor by means of rotating spray arms.

In order to achieve an optimized cleaning result, process chemicals are used, which are supplied to the washing compartment during a cleaning process, in particular as an addition to the washing liquor. Such process chemicals may be, for example, detergents which are part of the washing compartment of the cleaning appliance be programmatically added at a particular time of a running cleaning program.

Detergents in liquid and solid form are known from the prior art. In this case, solid detergent in bulk powder form or as so-called tabs, that is in tablet form. However, practice has shown that it is possible to achieve the best cleaning results with pourable detergent in powder form.

When using a pourable detergent in powder form, a detergent dosing must be carried out by hand on the user's side before each start of a cleaning program. For this purpose, a cleaning device typically has, on the inside of the door, a reservoir which is to be equipped with a manually determining amount of cleaning agent. During the course of a cleaning program, this reservoir opens at a certain time of the wash program and the stockpiled detergent from the reservoir can be washed out by the rinsing liquor located in the washing compartment of the cleaning device.

In order to be able to carry out a detergent supply for a plurality of cleaning programs so that manual detergent dosing does not take place before the start of each cleaning program, dosing devices have been proposed, for example with US Pat DE 10 2013 104 391 A1 and the EP 2 928 288 A1 ,

The previously known from the prior art metering devices have an interchangeable reservoir, which serves to store detergent in an amount that is sufficient for a plurality of cleaning programs. The reservoir is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, wherein in the proper metering program controlled rotation of the reservoir is effected. For this purpose, a motor-driven drive device is provided, by means of which in the case of operation, a rotational movement of the reservoir is made.

For the purpose of dispensing detergent, the reservoir has an outlet opening. About this is in the operation case portionwise detergent issued. In this case, such a detergent dispensing occurs as a result of a rotational movement of the reservoir. Per 360 ° revolution of the reservoir, an always equal amount of detergent portion of the outlet is supplied and discharged from there with the interposition of a channel system in the washing compartment of the cleaning device.

The supply container used according to the prior art metering device has a container body which provides the storage chamber. This storage chamber is for accommodating powdery detergent, wherein the storage chamber provides such a size that detergent can be stored in an amount that is sufficient for the implementation of a plurality of cleaning programs.

In the intended use case, the open container body side of the container body, the so-called feed opening, closed by means of the container lid. An unwanted Reinigungsmittelaustrag through the feed opening is prevented. If a user-side access to the pantry is desired, for example, for the purpose of refilling the reservoir with detergent, the container lid to release the feed opening to be separated from the container body.

Although previously known from the prior art reservoir have proven in everyday practical use, there is room for improvement, especially with a view to a simplified handling. It is therefore an object of the invention to constructively further develop a reservoir of the type mentioned in that a simplified handling by the user is permitted in the intended use case.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a storage container of the type mentioned, which is characterized in that the container lid is arranged captive on the container body and has a relative to the container body pivotally formed lid portion.

The storage container according to the invention has a container lid, which is arranged captive on the container body in the intended use case.

This ensures that the container lid can not be lost. In addition, the user side simplified handling especially when refilling the reservoir with pourable, in particular powdered detergent allowed. This is because with the captive arrangement of the lid on the housing body not only ensures that the lid can not be accidentally lost, but also achieved that the lid is always held positionally secure from the container body, so that a false closure of the container body by a positionungenaue Alignment of the container lid is excluded.

For access to the storage chamber provided by the container body, the container lid has a lid portion, which is designed to be pivotable relative to the container body. This pivotable lid portion can be pivoted on the user side and transferred from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. If the lid portion is in an open position, a user-side access to the storage chamber provided by the container body is made possible, in particular for the purpose of refilling the storage container with cleaning agent. In the closed position of the lid section, the feed opening is closed so that the storage container can be properly put into use and inserted into the receptacle provided therefor for the metering device.

The captive arrangement of the container lid on the container body provides in particular in combination with a pivotable lid portion the further advantage that any labels of the housing cover, any provided by the housing cover showcase, any provided by the lid measurement scales for level detection and / or the like always aligned in the intended manner to the container body are.

According to a first alternative embodiment, the container lid is designed in two parts and has a lid portion on the one hand and on a support portion on the other hand, wherein the pivotally formed lid portion is arranged with the interposition of a film hinge on the fixed relative to the container body support portion of the lid. An advantage of this embodiment is that, by design, overfilling of the reservoir with cleaning agent is basically ruled out.

For a replenishment of the reservoir with detergent, the reservoir is to be taken on the user side. In this case, the user's hand typically also rests, inter alia, on the fixed support section of the cover. For a filling of the reservoir this is upright aligned, so that from above a filling can take place through the released when pivoted lid section feed opening. A filling of the reservoir is possible up to a level that lies in the height direction at the height of the lid portion connecting to the support portion film hinge. Upon reaching this level, no further cleaning agent can be taken up by the reservoir, because this immediately exits via the still open metering opening. In that regard, it is structurally ensured that a filling of the reservoir is only possible up to a predetermined level, overfilling is therefore excluded.

According to a further feature of the invention it is provided that the pivotally formed lid portion pivotally arranged thereon closure tabs which abut in the closed position on a side wall of the container body on the outside. The closure tabs serve to secure the position of the container lid relative to the container body in the closed position. In this case, the closure tabs are arranged pivotably on the pivotable lid portion and can be transferred on the user side from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. In the closed position, the closure tabs preferably engage with a peripheral edge provided by the container body. It is inventively provided that the closure tabs rest in the closed position on a side wall of the container body on the outside. This ensures that a user-side access to the closure tabs is then not possible if the reservoir is used as intended in the designated recording of the metering device. This prevents that a lid opening can be made, for example, for refilling, as long as the reservoir is still in the receptacle of the metering device. Because accessible to the user, the closure tabs only when the reservoir of the metering device is removed. In this way it is structurally ensured that a refilling of the reservoir can only take place when the user has previously removed the reservoir of the metering device. This ensures that in the case of incorrect filling of the reservoir on the reservoir vorbeirieselndes cleaning agent can not inadvertently penetrate into the metering device.

According to a further feature of the invention it is provided that the pivotally formed lid portion has a guide contour on its inside in the closed position facing the container body. This guide contour should serve to provide a directional flow path for the cleaning agent to be introduced into the reservoir in the case of filling. An incorrect filling is thus prevented. It is provided according to a preferred feature of the invention that the guide contour has two webs, which are arranged funnel-shaped. It is created as a filler, which is arranged captive inside the container lid and is available at every filling.

In order to be able to effect a detergent dosing in the dosing case, a dosing unit is provided which has a dosing chamber opening into a dosing opening. This metering chamber is subdivided into two fluidically interconnected subregions, namely a metering chamber on the one hand and a metering channel on the other hand, which are separated from each other by means of a barrier. The barrier delimits the dosing space in such a way that upon a twisting movement of the storage container, first of all the dosing space is filled with a quantity of cleaning agent predetermined by the size of the dosing space. In a further twisting movement, the amount of cleaning agent metered into the dosing space is conducted past the barrier into the dosing channel in the direction of the dosing opening, without additional cleaning agent flowing from the storage chamber into the dosing space. When used as intended, the cleaning agent thus passes from the storage chamber into the metering chamber of the metering chamber, the size of the metering chamber determining the amount of portioned cleaning agent. As a result of a further twisting movement of the reservoir, the portioned detergent leaves the dosing and passes through the dosing to the dosing, which can no longer flow detergent from the storage chamber into the dosing of the dosing due to the continued rotation of the reservoir. The dosing unit thus provides the metering geometry which, in the intended dosing case, provides for the portioning of the cleaning agent to be introduced into the washing compartment of the cleaning appliance.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, it is provided that the metering unit, that is to say the metering geometry, is composed of two metering contours, the one metering contour being formed integrally with the pivotable Cover portion and the other Dosierkontur is integrally formed with the container body. If the closure lid is in the closed position, ie the feed opening is closed, the dosing contours of the lid section, on the one hand, and the container body, on the other hand, interlock to form the dosing geometry.

This embodiment proves particularly advantageous because it does not require a separate embodiment of a metering unit. The Dosierkonturen forming the Dosiergeometry are formed integrally with the lid portion or the container body, which allows a simple and inexpensive production.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Ansicht ein erfindungsgemäßes Reinigungsgerät;

Fig. 2

in einer Draufsicht von oben eine Spülraumtür, und zwar in Blickrichtung II nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

in schematischer Perspektivdarstellung eine Dosiereinrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik mit einem sich in Dosierstellung befindlichen Ausschleusungsrohr;

Fig. 4

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung ein Vorratsbehälter nach der Erfindung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform mit in Offenstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Fig. 5

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung der Vorratsbehälter nach Fig. 4 mit sich in Verschlussstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Fig. 6

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung ein Vorratsbehälter nach der Erfindung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform mit in Offenstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Fig. 7

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung der Vorratsbehälter nach Fig. 6 mit sich in Verschlussstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Fig. 8

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung ein Vorratsbehälter nach der Erfindung gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform mit in Offenstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Fig. 9

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung der Vorratsbehälter nach Fig. 8 mit sich in Verschlussstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Fig. 10

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung ein Vorratsbehälter nach der Erfindung gemäß einer vierten Ausführungsform mit in Offenstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Fig. 11

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung der Vorratsbehälter nach Fig. 10 mit sich in Verschlussstellung befindlichem Behälterdeckel;

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to FIGS. Showing:

Fig. 1

in a schematic view of an inventive cleaning device;

Fig. 2

in a plan view from above a Spülraumtür, in the direction of II after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

in a schematic perspective view of a metering device according to the prior art with a located in metering discharge tube;

Fig. 4

in a schematic perspective view of a reservoir according to the invention according to a first embodiment with befindlichem in open position container lid;

Fig. 5

in a schematic perspective view of the reservoir after Fig. 4 with container lid in the closed position;

Fig. 6

in a schematic perspective view of a reservoir according to the invention according to a second embodiment with befindlichem in open position container lid;

Fig. 7

in a schematic perspective view of the reservoir after Fig. 6 with container lid in the closed position;

Fig. 8

in a schematic perspective view of a reservoir according to the invention according to a third embodiment with befindlichem in open position container lid;

Fig. 9

in a schematic perspective view of the reservoir after Fig. 8 with container lid in the closed position;

Fig. 10

in a schematic perspective view of a reservoir according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment with befindlichem in open position container lid;

Fig. 11

in a schematic perspective view of the reservoir after Fig. 10 with container lid in the closed position;

Fig. 1 can be seen in a purely schematic representation of an inventive cleaning device 1 in the embodiment of a household dishwasher. The cleaning device 1 has, in a manner known per se, a housing 2 which accommodates a washing container 3. The washing container 3 in turn provides a washing compartment 4 for receiving items to be cleaned. For loading the washing compartment 4 with items to be cleaned has the rinse tank 3 via a feed opening 5. This is closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a Spülraumtür 6, wherein the Spülraumtür 6 is mounted drehverschwenkbar about a horizontal pivot axis.

Fig. 2 lets the Spülraumtür 6 in a plan view of the inner door panel 14 recognize, that is in the direction of II after Fig. 1 ,

As Fig. 2 can be seen, has the Spülraumtür 6 inside on a known from the prior art combination device 9, which serves in a conventional manner, for example, the inclusion of detergent, rinse aid and / or the like.

The cleaning device 1 has in addition to the known from the prior art combination device 9 via a metering device 7. This metering device 7 provides a reservoir 15 for storing detergent for a plurality of cleaning programs ready. In the course of a proper use is the corresponding amount of detergent removed from the storage device 15 provided by the metering device 7 per Spülprogrammzyklus and fed to the washing compartment 4 of the washing container 3. In this case, the storage container 15 provided by the metering device 7 is preferably dimensioned such that it can receive cleaning agent in an amount which is sufficient for the completion of twenty to thirty flushing operations.

The metering device 7 has the arrangement of the reservoir 15 via a receptacle 10, which is closed by a pivotable lid 11 when properly inserted reservoir 15.

For dispensing of the metering device 7 stemmenden cleaning agent is a cleaning agent 8. This provides an outlet 12, which is covered by a cover 13. In this case, the lid 13 does not serve the fluid-tight closing of the outlet opening 12, but rather as a splash guard to minimize penetration of wash liquor into the outlet opening 12. For this purpose, the cover 13 on the outlet opening side, for example, webs, so that the cover 13 spaced from each other at the interposition of these webs comes to rest on the peripheral edge surrounding the outlet opening 12. The result is an opening gap through which rinsing liquor can pass into the outlet opening 12, but only in an amount which is required for flushing out cleaning agent located here.

As can be seen in particular from the presentation Fig. 3 results, the reservoir 15 is rotatable by means of a drive means 16, wherein a rotational movement of the reservoir 15 takes place about the axis of rotation 17. The drive device 19 has a motor assembly 18, which drives the reservoir 15 in Dosierfall.

When used as intended, the storage container 15 performs a 360 ° movement for the introduction of cleaning agent into the washing compartment 4. As a result of this twisting movement of the reservoir 15 provided cleaning agent is conveyed out of the reservoir 15, wherein the reservoir side provided metering ensures an always equal Dosiermengenabgabe. The amount of detergent dispensed from the reservoir 15 is then discharged via the cleaning agent 8 in the washing compartment 4. It serves to fluidic connection of detergent outlet 8 and one of the metering device 7 provided detergent dispensing opening 20 a flexibly formed tube 21, also called Ausschleusungsrohr, as can be seen in particular from the illustration Fig. 3 results.

As it turned out Fig. 3 Furthermore, the metering device 7 has a detergent channel 19, which opens into the detergent dispensing opening 20. In the intended use case, therefore, detergent dispensed by the metering device 7 flows through the cleaning agent channel 19 to the detergent-emitting opening 20 on the metering device side.

Between the detergent dispensing opening 20 and the detergent outlet 8, a tube 21 is interposed. This tube 21 has two end portions, namely the cleaning agent outlet 8 near end portion which provides a flange 23, and an end portion 24 opposite the Reinigungsmittelauslass 8. Between the end portion 24 and the flange 23, a bending portion is formed, in which region of the tubular jacket wave-shaped and because of which it is flexible.

Due to its bending portion, the tube 21 is flexible and thus formed pivotable.

Fig. 3 shows the tube 21 in a pivoted position, the so-called metering position, according to which the end portion 24 is pivoted in relation to the flange 23 by bending the tube 21. In this position of the tube 21, the tube 21 is fluidly connected to the detergent dispensing opening 20 of the detergent channel 19, which is why it is in its so-called metering, because in this position of the tube 21 from the reservoir 15 dispensed cleaning agent from the tube 21 to the detergent outlet 8 are promoted ,

For pivoting the tube 21 is a lever 25 which is pivotable about a pivot axis. As a result of a pivoting movement of the lever 25, it comes to the already described pivoting movement of the tube 21. For the purpose of connection of the tube 21 to the lever 25 is a holder 26 in the form of, for example, a clamp or clamp. This holder 26 surrounds the Dosiereinrichtungsseitigen End portion 24 of the tube 21 in the manner of a ring and serves as a connecting member between the lever 25 on the one hand and the tube 21 on the other. In the operating case, the lever 25 acts on the holder 26 and thus also on the trapped end portion 24 of the tube 21 a.

The pipe inlet opening of the tube 21 can be closed by means of a closure lid 27. This closure lid 27 is pivotally mounted on the lever 25, wherein arranged between a lever 25 and cap 27 cam device ensures that pivoting of the lever 25 also leads to a pivoting of the closure lid 27, in such a way that the tube 21 in its not -Dosing closed and in his in Fig. 3 shown dosing is open.

The others FIGS. 4 to 11 let the reservoir according to the invention in each case in detail in a schematic perspective view recognize, wherein the FIGS. 4 and 5 a first embodiment, the FIGS. 6 and 7 a second embodiment, the FIGS. 8 and 9 a third embodiment and the FIGS. 10 and 11 relate to a fourth embodiment.

As can be seen from a synopsis of all the figures, a storage container 15 has a container body 28 that is designed to be open on one side. This container provides the storage chamber 29, which serves for the storage of pourable cleaning agent in the intended use case.

As is apparent from the figures further, the container body 28 is formed in the manner of a one-sided open shell, wherein the open side of the container body forms the so-called feed opening. If necessary, this can be used to refill the storage container 15 with cleaning agent. In this respect, the reservoir 15 can be used multiple times and can be referred to as reusable containers. The container lid 30 serves for a closure of the feed opening. In the closed position, the container closes the feed opening in such a way as to be cleaner-proof, so that undesired discharge of cleaning agent through the feed opening is reliably prevented.

The container lid 30 is arranged according to the invention captive on the container body 28. This ensures that the container lid 30 is not lost unwanted can go

According to the embodiment of the FIGS. 4 and 5 the container lid 30 has a fixed relative to the container body 28 supporting portion 31, whereby the captive arrangement of the container lid 30 is realized on the container body 28. The container lid 30 furthermore has a pivotable cover section 32, which is arranged on the support section 31 with the interposition of a film hinge 33. Fig. 4 shows the open position of the lid portion 32, in which the lid portion 32 is pivoted relative to both the support portion 31 and relative to the container body 28, so that access to the pantry 29 is ensured by the shared feed opening. Fig. 5 shows the container lid 30 in the closed position.

The FIGS. 6 and 7 let recognize a second embodiment. The embodiment shown essentially corresponds to that according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 , In addition, on the in the closed position of the lid facing the container body 28 inside 26 of the lid portion 32 a guide contour 34 is arranged, which provides a flow aid for the cleaning agent during the filling of detergent in the reservoir. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide contour 34 is formed of two webs 35 which are arranged funnel-shaped. By this arrangement, a channeling of the cleaning agent is accomplished in Einführfall, which allows a targeted conveying of cleaning agents in the supply chamber 29 provided by the reservoir.

The FIGS. 8 and 9 let recognize an embodiment, according to which the reservoir also serves to receive a metering unit 39. In this case, the metering unit 39 provides a metering geometry which, in the metering case, carries out a portioning of the cleaning agent to be introduced into the washing compartment of the cleaning appliance. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the metering geometry of the metering unit 39 is composed by two metering contours 38, wherein one metering contour is formed integrally with the lid portion 32 and arranged on the inside 36 thereof and the other metering contour is provided in one piece by the container body 28. Due to the perspective view, only the metering contour 38 can be seen in the figures, which is formed integrally with the lid section 32.

According to a further embodiment according to the FIGS. 10 and 11 If no support section 31 is provided. The container lid 30 is formed solely by the pivotally formed lid portion 32, wherein the pivotable articulation of the container lid 30 on the container body 28, a hinge 40 is provided. An advantage of this embodiment is the particularly large feed opening.

reference numeral

1

dishwasher

2

casing

3

rinse tank

4

Wash cabinet

5

loading port

6

rinsing chamber

7

metering

8th

Reinigungsmittelauslass

9

combination device

10

admission

11

cover

12

outlet

13

cover

14

inner panel

15

reservoir

16

driving means

17

axis of rotation

18

engine location

19

Detergent channel

20

Detergent discharge opening

21

pipe

22

Ausschleusungskanal

23

flange

24

end

25

lever

26

holder

27

cover

28

container body

29

storeroom

30

container lid

31

supporting section

32

cover section

33

film hinge

34

guide contour

35

web

36

inside

37

flap

38

Dosierkontur

39

dosing

40

hinge

Claims (7)

Storage container for arrangement in a receptacle (10) of a metering device (7) of a program-controlled cleaning device (1), in particular a dishwasher, which has a storage chamber (29) for storing pourable cleaning agent, with a container body (28) providing the storage chamber (29) which is open on one side, and a container lid (30) serving for closing the open container body side, characterized
in that the container lid (30) is arranged captively on the container body (28) and has a lid portion (32) designed to be pivotable relative to the container body (28). Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivotable lid portion (32) is arranged with the interposition of a film hinge (33) on a relative to the container body (28) fixed support portion (31) of the lid (30). Storage container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivotally formed lid portion (32) pivotally arranged thereon closure tabs (37) which abut in the closed position on a side wall of the container body (28) on the outside. Storage container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivotally formed lid portion (32) has a guide contour (34) on its inner side (36) facing the container body (28) in the closure position. Store tank according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide contour (34) has two webs (35) which are arranged in a funnel shape. Storage container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a metering unit (39) which, in the closed position of the pivotally formed cover section (32), consists of a metering contour (39) formed integrally with the cover section (32) on the one hand and one integrally with the one Container body (38) formed dosing contour on the other hand. Dosing device (7) for a program-controlled cleaning device (1), in particular a dishwasher, with a receptacle (10) and a storage container arranged or arranged therein according to one of the preceding claims.

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