EP3676438A1

EP3676438A1 - Laundry-care appliance comprising a metering module

Info

Publication number: EP3676438A1
Application number: EP18759617.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alper Ayhaner; Edwin Bolduan; Moritz Meitzner; Michael Mitzschke
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2017-08-31
Filing date: 2018-08-24
Publication date: 2020-07-08
Also published as: DE102017215258A1; WO2019042873A1; CN111051598A

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry-care appliance (100) comprising a metering module (105) for metering a liquid laundry-care substance during a metering process, wherein the metering module (105) has a storage container (109-1, 109-2) for receiving the liquid laundry-care substance, and comprising a receiving container (101) for receiving the metering module (105) in the laundry-care appliance (100). The metering module (105) has a pump element (107) which is designed to pump the liquid laundry-care substance out of the storage container (109-1, 109-2) into the receiving container (101). The pump element (107) can be removed from the metering module (105).

Description

Laundry care device with a dosing module

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with a metering module.

In a cleaning process in a laundry care appliance, such as e.g. one

Washing machine, has a lot of washing liquid in the tub of the

Laundry care device may be added to completely clean the recorded in a laundry drum laundry in the laundry care device. In conventionally used laundry care appliances, detergent is placed in an induction bowl which is located in a receptacle of the laundry care appliance. The laundry care device passes water into the receiving container, which then flows into the dispenser tray, whereby the Wäschepflegesubstanz is dissolved in the dispenser tray. The resulting washing liquid is supplied to the laundry care device to the for

Laundry cleaning process to be available. In WO 201 1/009774 a water-conducting household appliance with a housing is disclosed, wherein a shell can be introduced into the housing.

In WO 2010/040674 a metering system is disclosed in a washing machine, wherein the metering system has submersible pumps.

It is the object underlying the invention to provide a laundry care device with an effective dosing.

This object is solved by the objects with the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a laundry care device with a metering module for metering a liquid laundry care substance during a metering operation, wherein the metering module comprises a storage container for receiving the liquid laundry care substance, and with a receptacle for

Receiving the dosing module dissolved in the laundry care device, wherein the dosing a pumping element, which is adapted to pump the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the reservoir into the receptacle, and wherein the

Pumping element can be removed from the metering module.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the metering module dispensing a beneficial for a laundry care process of the laundry care device amount of a liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz such. As detergent or softener, to the

Laundry care device ensures. In addition, the metering module carries out the metering process automatically and can thus ensure a particularly advantageous and precise metering of the laundry care substance.

In addition, the metering module reversible in the receptacle of the

Laundry care device inserted, or pulled out and can be easily replaced. Thus, different dosing modules for

various laundry care processes are used in the laundry care appliance. The metering module ensures optimal addition of a required amount of liquid laundry care substance to the machine through automatic control

Laundry care device to ensure efficient operation of the laundry care device.

In order to carry out an effective dosing process, the dosing module has a pumping element which is designed to pump the liquid laundry care substance from the storage container into the receiving container. In this case, the pumping element can be removed from the metering module.

By removing the pumping element from the metering module, a simplified exchange, - or disassembly of the metering module can be ensured, and

Pumping element and the metering module can be advantageously cleaned. In addition, compact outer dimensions of the dosing are ensured, creating a

trans-national mounting of the dosing as well as an advantageous installation on the assembly line is possible.

A laundry care device is understood to mean a device which is used for laundry care, such as a washing machine or a washer-dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood as a household laundry care appliance. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of household management, and is treated with the laundry in normal household quantities.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the dosing module has a further storage container for receiving a further liquid

Wäschepflegesubstanz on, the pumping element has a first pump which is adapted to pump the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the reservoir into the receptacle, and the pumping element has a further pump, which is formed, the further liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the other reservoir in the Pump receptacle.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that by the two pumps in the pumping element particularly advantageous in the different reservoirs separately recorded different types of liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz

can be dosed differently in the receptacle.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has an energy supply unit, and the pumping element has an energy contact which can be electrically connected to the energy supply unit in order to supply the pumping element with electrical energy during the dosing process.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the power supply unit can not be arranged in the removable pump element but in the laundry care device. Due to the energy contact of the pumping element, the pumping element can be supplied with electrical energy. When the pumping element is removed from the dosing module, the electrically conductive contact between the energy contact of the pumping element and the energy supply unit of the laundry-care device can be separated. In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the pumping element has a fill level sensor which is designed to detect a quantity of the liquid laundry care substance in the storage container, and the pumping element has in particular a further fill level sensor, which is designed a quantity of the further liquid laundry substance in the further

To capture reservoir.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the pumping element is made possible by the level sensor and the other level sensor, a particularly advantageous detection of the remaining amount of the respective liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz in the respective reservoir.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device of the level sensor and / or the further level sensor is formed as a conductivity sensor, which is formed, the level in the reservoir and / or further

Reservoir to determine depending on the detected conductivity of the Leifähigkeitssensors surrounding medium.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly effective level detection can be performed by a conductivity sensor. Here, the electrical conductivity sensor measures the electrical conductivity between the

Conductivity sensor and the medium surrounding the conductivity sensor. When the conductivity sensor is in contact with the liquid laundry care substance, the detected electrical conductivity is greater than when the conductivity sensor is in contact with air in the storage tank.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the dosing module has a pumping opening which fluidly connects the storage container to an outer space of the dosing module, and has the pumping element

Einführstutzen, which is insertable into the pump opening to fluidly connect the pumping element with the reservoir.

This achieves the technical advantage that by introducing the

Einführstutzens in the pump opening an effective connection between the

Pumping element and the reservoir is ensured. The introducer is in the inserted state in fluidic contact with the liquid

Laundry care substance, so that the pumping element allows a particularly effective pumping of liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz. If the pumping element from the Dosing is removed, the insertion can be performed from the pump opening of the dosing.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the dosing module has a further pumping opening, which fluidly connects the further reservoir with an outer space of the dosing module, and has the

Pumping element on a further insertion port, which is insertable into the further pumping port to fluidly connect the pumping element with the other reservoir. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the two separate insertion of the pumping element allow separate pumping of different types of liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the reservoir into the receptacle. At the same time an effective removal of the pumping element from the metering module is possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the dosing module has a module opening for feeding liquid laundry care substance into the storage container, and the dosing module has, in particular, another one

Module opening for supplying further liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz in the other reservoir, wherein the module opening and / or the further module opening in particular by a closure flap can be closed.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved by the lockable

Module openings of the dosing effectively liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz can be refilled into the respective reservoir of Dosiermoduls.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pumping element has a fastening element, in particular a latching element, wherein the fastening element is designed to fasten the pumping element to the dosing module in a fastening position, and wherein the fastening element is designed to release the pumping element on the dosing module in a release position to enable removal of the pumping element from the dosing module. This achieves the technical advantage that the fastening element,

In particular, a latching element ensures, during operation of the pumping element connected to the dosing module, that the pumping element does not unintentionally release from the dosing module. However, if the pumping element is to be removed from the dosing module, the fastening element can be transferred to a release position.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry-care appliance has a lye container for holding laundry-care substance, and the laundry-care appliance has a laundry container accommodated in the lye container

Laundry drum for receiving laundry, and has the receptacle on a drain pipe, which is fluidly connected to the tub.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved by the drain port of the

Receiving container in the receiving container metered liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz can be dosed particularly advantageous in the tub to be advantageous during the laundry care process of a laundry cleaning available.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a water supply device which is designed to supply water to the receptacle in order to deliver the liquid laundry care substance dispensed by the metering module to the receptacle and / or further

Rinse the laundry care substance through the discharge nozzle from the storage container and feed it to the tub.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the water supply means by supplying water into the receptacle ensures effective dissolution of the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz in the receptacle and thereby enables the Wäschepflegesubstanz can be supplied through the discharge nozzle effective the receptacle. In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device is the

Receiving container connected to a housing of the laundry care device, the metering module can be removed from the receptacle, and the metering module can be inserted into the receptacle. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the metering module can be introduced into or removed from the receiving container in a particularly advantageous manner.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the dosing module has a dosing bowl and a dosing lid which delimit the at least one storage container.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the dosing and the Dosierdeckel allow a particularly effective limiting the reservoir.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a container lid, which is designed to be

Receptacle at least partially closed, wherein between the container lid and the receptacle, an insertion opening is formed, and wherein the metering module is inserted through the insertion opening into the receptacle.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the container lid the

Receiving container effectively limited, so that the dosing between the

Container lid and the receptacle can be effectively absorbed in the laundry care device. For this purpose, the metering module can be inserted and removed through the insertion opening into the receptacle.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a metering module for metering a liquid laundry care substance during a metering operation, wherein the metering module a reservoir for receiving the liquid

Includes laundry care substance, and wherein the metering module is receivable in a receptacle of a laundry care device, wherein the metering module has a pumping element which is formed, the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the

To pump reservoir into the receptacle, and wherein the pumping element can be removed from the metering module.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the metering module can be used as a stand-alone module in various types of laundry care equipment and fulfills its function. The dosing module is placed in the receptacle of a

Inserted laundry care device and can be removed if necessary.

Further embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a laundry care device; and Figs. 2A, 2B schematic representations of a metering module with inserted and removed pumping element; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a dosing in

Exploded view.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a washing machine representative of a general laundry care device 100. The laundry care device 100 comprises a receptacle 101, in which a metering module 105 for receiving liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz, can be added. The household appliance 100 comprises a door 103 for loading the laundry care appliance 100 with laundry.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a dosing module 105, which is received in a receptacle 101 of the laundry care device 100. The

Metering module 105 has a pumping element 107, which is designed to meter liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the metering module 105 into the receptacle 101. In the illustration selected in FIG. 2A, the pumping element 107 is accommodated in the dosing module 105. In the illustration selected in FIG. 2B, this is

Pumping element 107 removed from the metering module 105. The dosing module 105 has a storage container 109-1 for receiving a liquid laundry care substance, and has a further storage container 109-2

Picking up another liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz on. The liquid

Wäschepflegesubstanz can by a closed by a flap 1 10 Module opening 1 1 1 -1 are filled into the reservoir 109-1. The further liquid laundry care substance can be filled into the further storage container 109-2 by a further module opening 11 1 -2 closed by a closing flap 110.

The pumping element 107 has a first pump, which is designed to pump the liquid laundry care substance from the storage container 109-1 into the receiving container 101, and the pumping element 107 has a further pump, which is formed, the further liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the other To pump reservoir 109-2 in the receptacle 101. In Fig. 2A and 2B, the pump and the other pump are not shown.

By means of the two reservoirs 109-1, 109-2, which are separated from one another by fluid technology, different types of laundry care substance, e.g. Softener and detergent, separated from each other to the receptacle 101 are discharged. Although not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the laundry care apparatus 100 further includes a water supply device configured to supply water to the receptacle 101 so as to supply the water to the receptacle 101 through the metering module 105

Receiving container 101 delivered liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz and / or further Wäschepflegesubstanz by at least one outlet nozzle 1 13 of the receptacle 101 and at least one supply line to a tub of the

To feed laundry care device 100.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the pumping element 107 has a fill level sensor 1 15- 1, which is designed to detect a quantity of the liquid laundry care substance in the storage container 109-1, and the pumping element 107 has a further fill level sensor 1 15-. 2, which is designed to detect a quantity of the further liquid laundry care substance in the further storage container 109-2.

The level sensors 1 15-1, 1 15-2 are in this case formed as conductivity sensors, which are formed, the level of the respective Wäschepflegesubstanz in the respective reservoir 109-1, 109-2 in dependence of the conductivity of the

Conductivity sensor surrounding medium to determine. If the pumping element 107 is in the dosing module 105 is fully inserted, then the respective level sensors 1 15-1, 1 15-2 dip into the respective Wäschepflegesubstanz.

So that the pumping element 107 can be introduced into the respective storage containers 109-1, 109-2, the dosing module 105 has a pumping opening 171 and a further pumping opening 17-2. The pumping element 107 has an insertion connection 1 19-1, which can be introduced into the pumping opening 1 17-1, and the pumping element 107 has a further insertion connection 1 19-2, which can be introduced into the further pumping opening 1 17-2 to connect the pumping element 107 with the respective reservoir 109-1, 109-2.

Thus, the first pump of the pumping element 107 can pump the liquid laundry substance from the reservoir 109-1 into the receptacle 101, and the second pump of the pump element 107 can pump the further liquid laundry fabric from the further reservoir 109-2 into the receptacle 101.

Because the pumping element 107 can be removed from the dosing module 105, a simplified exchange or disassembly of the pumping element 107 is ensured. In addition, the entire size of the metering module 105 can be reduced so that compact outer dimensions of the metering module 105 result, whereby the metering modules 105 can be used across borders. This results in cost-effective and standardized manufacturing processes.

By removing the pumping element 107 from the metering module 105 and the

Removal of the dosing module 105 from the receptacle 101 results in an advantageous possibility to clean the components. In addition, a mounting of the dosing module 105 on the assembly line is directly possible.

3 shows a schematic representation of a metering module in an exploded view. In the view shown in Fig. 3, the receptacle 101 of the laundry care device 100 is connected to a container lid 121 by connecting elements 123. Between the container lid 121 and the receptacle 101, an insertion opening 125 is formed through which the dosing module 105 in an insertion 127 in the Receptacle 101 is inserted, and through which the introduced metering module 105 can be removed again in a removal direction 129 from the receptacle 101.

In order to limit an outward movement of the dosing module 105 out of the receptacle 101, the dosing module 105 has a locking element 137, which prevents the dosing module 105 from being pulled out of the receptacle 101 unintentionally.

The metering module 105 has a metering lid 131 and a metering container 133, which delimit the storage container 109-1 and the further storage container 109-2. By each closed by a flap 1 10 module opening 1 1 1 -1 and more module opening 1 1 1 -2 Wäschepflegesubstanz in the reservoir 109-1, and the other reservoir 109-2 be filled. So that the pumping element 107 can be introduced into the dosing module 105, the dosing module 105 has a pump opening 17 1 and a further pump opening 1 17-2, wherein an insertion connection 1 19-1 of the pumping element 107 into the pumping opening 1 17-1, and wherein a further insertion port 1 19-2 of the pumping element 107 in the further

Pump opening 1 17-2 can be inserted, leaving the first pump

Wäschepflegesubstanz from the reservoir 109-1, and so that the additional pump Wäschepflegesubstanz can dosed from the other reservoir 109-2 in the receptacle 101.

The pumping element 107 also has level sensors 1 15-1, 1 15-2, which are designed to detect the respective quantities of the laundry-care substance in the respective storage container 109-1, 109-2.

In order to fix the pumping element 107 advantageously to the dosing module 105, the pumping element 107 has a fastening element 135, in particular a latching hook. The fastening element 135 fastened in a fastening position, the pumping element 107 to the metering module 105 and the fastener 135 are in a release division of the pumping element 107 on the metering module 105 free, so that the released

Pumping element 107 can be advantageously removed again from the dosing module 105. All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 laundry care device

101 receptacle

103 door

105 dosing module

107 pumping element

109-1 reservoir

109-2 Additional storage tank

1 1 1 -1 module opening

1 1 1 -2 Further module opening

1 13 drain connection

1 15-1 level sensor

1 15-2 Additional level sensor

1 17-1 pump opening

1 17-2 Additional pump opening

1 19-1 inlet nozzle

119-2 Additional inlet nozzle

121 Container lid

123 connecting elements

125 insertion opening

127 insertion direction

129 removal direction

131 Dosing lid

133 dosing bowl

135 fastener

137 locking element

Claims

1 . A laundry care device (100) comprising a metering module (105) for metering a liquid laundry care substance during a metering operation, wherein the metering module (105) comprises a reservoir (109-1) for receiving the liquid laundry care substance, and a receptacle (101) for receiving the metering module (105) in the laundry care appliance (100), characterized in that

the dosing module (105) has a pump element (107) which is designed to transfer the liquid laundry care substance from the storage container (109-1) into the

To pump receptacle (101), and that

the pumping element (107) can be removed from the dosing module (105).

2. laundry care device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the metering module (105) has a further reservoir (109-2) for receiving a further liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz that the pumping element (107) comprises a first pump, which is formed to pump the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the reservoir (109-1) in the receptacle (101), and that the

Pumping element (107) has a further pump, which is formed, the further liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the further reservoir (109-2) in the

To pump receptacle (101).

3. laundry care device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) has a power supply unit, and that the pumping element (107) has an energy contact, which with the

Power supply unit is electrically connected to supply the pumping element (107) during the dosing process with electrical energy.

4. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pumping element (107) has a level sensor (1 15-1), which is formed, a quantity of the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz in the

To detect reservoir (109-1), and that the pumping element (107) in particular a further level sensor (1 15-2), which is formed, a lot of to detect further liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz in the other reservoir (109-2).

5. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the level sensor (1 15-1) and / or the further level sensor (1 15-2) is formed as a conductivity sensor, which is formed, the level in the reservoir (109-1) and / or further storage container (109-2) in dependence on the detected conductivity of the medium surrounding the Leifähigkeitssensors

determine.

6. laundry care device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering module (105) has a pump opening (1 17-1), which fluidly connects the reservoir (109-1) with an outer space of the metering module (105), and that the pumping element (107) has an inlet connection piece (1 19-1) which can be introduced into the pumping opening (1 17-1) in order to fluidly connect the pumping element (107) to the supply container (109-1).

7. laundry care device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the metering module (105) has a further pumping port (1 17-2), which fluidly connects the further reservoir (109-2) with an outer space of the metering module (105), and that the pumping element (107) has a further inlet connection (1 19-2) which can be introduced into the further pumping opening (1 17-2) in order to fluidly connect the pumping element (107) to the further reservoir (109-2) ,

8. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing module (105) has a module opening (1 1 1 -1) for supplying liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz in the reservoir (109-1), and that the dosing ( 105), in particular a further module opening (1 1 1 -2) for supplying further liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz in the further reservoir (109-2), wherein the module opening (1 1 1 -1) and / or the further module opening (1 1 1 -2) is closable in each case by a closure flap.

9. laundry-care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pumping element (107) has a fastening element (135), In particular, a latching element, wherein the fastening element (135) is formed, in a fastening position, the pumping element (107) on the

Dosage module (105) to fix, and wherein the fastening element (135) is adapted to release in a release position the pumping element (107) on the metering module (105) to allow removal of the pumping element (107) from the metering module (105).

10. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) a tub for

Receiving Wäschepflegesubstanz has, and that the laundry care device (100) has a recorded in the tub laundry drum for receiving laundry, and that the receiving container (101) has a discharge nozzle (1 13), which is fluidly connected to the tub.

1 1. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) has a water supply device which is adapted to supply water to the receptacle (101) to the by the metering module (105) to the receptacle (101) dispensed liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz and / or further Wäschepflegesubstanz through the outlet pipe (1 13) from the

Rinse the receptacle (101) and feed it to the tub.

12. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (101) with a housing of the

Laundry care device (100) is connected, that the dosing module (105) from the

Receptacle (101) is removable, and that the metering module (105) in the

Receptacle (101) is insertable.

13, laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering module (105) has a Dosierschale (133) and a Dosierdeckel (131), which limit the at least one storage container (109-1, 109-2).

14. laundry-care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry-care appliance (100) has a container lid (121) which is designed to close the receptacle (101) at least in sections, wherein an insertion opening (125) is formed between the container lid (121) and the receptacle (101), and wherein the metering module (105) passes through the insertion opening (125). into the receptacle (101) is insertable.

15. Dosing module (105) for dosing a liquid laundry care substance during a dosing operation, wherein the dosing module (105) comprises a reservoir (109-1, 109-2) for receiving the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz, and wherein the

Dosing module (105) in a receptacle (101) of a laundry care device (100) is receivable, characterized in that the dosing module (105) has a pumping element (107) which is formed, the liquid Wäschepflegesubstanz from the reservoir (109-1, 109- 2) in the receiving container (101) to pump, and that the pumping element (107) from the metering module (105) can be removed.