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The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a liquid/gel detergent unit.
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In dishwashers, it is important that the use of detergent should be in the optimum level for cleaning the dishes due to both the economic life of the dishes and also for our health and pollution of the environment because of the chemicals contained therein. At the start of each washing cycle, the detergent is filled into the detergent dispenser disposed on the machine by the user. In washing cycles wherein intensively dirty dishes are washed, generally the use of greater amounts of detergent is preferred. Using the detergent in the right amount is among the factors that directly affect the washing performance. Therefore, lately the use of powder or gel/liquid detergents, the amount of which depends on user preference is becoming widespread. In the dishwashers wherein liquid/gel detergent can be used, special compartments are added for such detergents. The detergent is added by the user into the liquid/gel detergent compartment, and the lid is closed. The compartments are generally provided on the door so that users can access them easily. While the door is in the open position, the user adds the detergent, closes the compartment lid, and then brings the dishwasher door to the closed position to start the program. The liquid/gel detergent compartment, which is parallel to the ground while the door is in the open position, becomes perpendicular to the ground when the door is in the closed position. Due to the effect of gravity, the liquid/gel detergent contained therein leaks through the gap between the detergent compartment and the lid. In this case, problems such as not being able to use a sufficient amount of detergent and staining on the door occur.
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In the state of the art United Kingdom Patent Application Document No.
GB1521760 , a dishwasher is disclosed, comprising a detergent dispenser having a compartment wherein the liquid detergent moving by gravity is controlled.
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The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a liquid/gel detergent receptacle which is easy to use.
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The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body; a washing tub which is disposed on the body and wherein the washing process is performed, and a door which is disposed on the body and which has open and closed positions. A dispenser enabling the liquid/gel detergent to be delivered into the washing tub is provided on the door.
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The dishwasher of the present invention comprises a storage receptacle which is provided on the dispenser, a reservoir which enables the cleaning agent to be added into the storage receptacle, a lid which covers the reservoir, a first opening which opens from the reservoir to the storage receptacle, and at least one second opening which is provided on the side wall of the reservoir. The delivery of the cleaning agent from the reservoir into the storage receptacle is performed by means of the first opening. When the door is in the closed position, the cleaning agent which flows back from the storage receptacle to the reservoir through the first opening returns into the storage receptacle through the second opening, without being discharged from the dispenser. Thus, the liquid cleaning agent is prevented from leaving the dispenser in an uncontrolled manner.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises the dispenser having an inclined surface which extends from the base of the reservoir to the dispenser surface. The inclined surface extends from the base of the reservoir toward the dispenser surface. The side wall of the reservoir closest to the ground when the door is in the closed position has the inclined surface.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises the second opening which is provided on the inclined surface. The first opening provided on the base of the reservoir and the second opening provided on the inclined surface are positioned so as to be closest to each other on the reservoir. Thus, when the door is brought to the closed position, the cleaning agent which flows back through the first opening follows the inclined surface and returns to the storage receptacle through the second opening. Consequently, the cleaning agent is prevented from being discharged from the dispenser in an uncontrolled manner.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises the inclined surface which is located at the vertical height level corresponding to the maximum amount of cleaning agent that can be collected on the storage receptacle when the door is in the closed position. The lowest edge of the inclined surface when the door is in the closed position is above the vertical level reached by the liquid cleaning agent. Thus, when the door is in the closed position, the liquid cleaning agent is prevented from flowing through the second opening.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises at least one ventilation opening which is provided on the reservoir and at least one barrier which directs the cleaning agent flowing through the ventilation opening toward the first opening. By means of the barrier, the cleaning agent flowing through the ventilation opening is delivered to the storage receptacle through the first opening. Thus, the cleaning agent is prevented from being discharged in an uncontrolled manner.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises the barrier having an inclined structure, one end of which is located near the side edge of the ventilation opening and the other end of which extends toward the first opening. When the door is in the closed position, the barrier nearly completely covers the bottom of the ventilation opening, and the entire cleaning agent expected to flow is directed to the first opening by means of the barrier.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises an intermediate surface which is provided between the upper edge of the inclined surface and the upper edge of the reservoir. The cleaning agent which is not delivered into the storage receptacle via the first surface and the second surface accumulates here. Thus, the cleaning agent is prevented from being discharged in an uncontrolled manner.
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By means of the present invention, a dishwasher is realized, comprising a dispenser which ensures that the liquid cleaning agent is prevented from being discharged in an uncontrolled manner due to the movement of the door.
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The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
- Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the dishwasher.
- Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the dispenser.
- Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the reservoir, the first opening, the second opening, the ventilation opening and the barrier.
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The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
- 1- Dishwasher
- 2- Body
- 3- Washing tub
- 4- Door
- 5- Dispenser
- 6- Storage receptacle
- 7- Reservoir
- 8- Lid
- 9- First opening
- 10- Second opening
- 11- Inclined surface
- 12- Ventilation opening
- 13- Barrier
- 14- Intermediate surface
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The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2); a washing tub (3) which is disposed on the body (2) and wherein the washing process is performed; a door (4) which almost completely closes the washing tub (3) and which has a closed position (K) wherein the door (4) extends in a direction perpendicular to the floor and an open position (A) wherein the door (4) extends almost parallel to the place where access to the washing tub (3) is provided; and a dispenser (5) which is disposed on the door (4), which can be filled with liquid/gel detergent, and which enables the cleaning agent to be delivered to the washing tub (3) during the washing process. While the door (4) is in the open position, the cleaning agent is added onto the dispenser (5), and the door (4) is closed. The liquid/gel cleaning agent added onto the dispenser (5) is transferred into the washing tub (3) during the washing process.
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The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a storage receptacle (6) which is provided on the dispenser (5) and which is filled with the cleaning agent by the user; a reservoir (7) which enables the cleaning agent to be added into the storage receptacle (6); a lid (8) which closes the reservoir (7); at least one first opening (9) which is provided on the base of the reservoir (7) and which enables the cleaning agent to be added into the storage receptacle (6) while the door (4) is in the open position; and at least one second opening (10) which is provided on the side wall of the reservoir (7) so as to located at an angle of at least ninety degrees to the first opening (9) and which enables the cleaning agent flowing into the reservoir (7) through the first opening (9) to be returned into the storage receptacle (6) when the door (4) is in the closed position. When the door (4) is in the open position, the storage receptacle (6) is positioned parallel to the ground, and the user fills the cleaning agent during this time. After the lid (8) is closed, the door (4) is brought to the closed position and the cycle is started. As the door (4) moves from the open position to the closed position, the dispenser (5) shifts from the horizontal position to the vertical position. The liquid/gel cleaning agent filling into the storage receptacle (6) also moves on the storage receptacle (6) and toward the lid (8) through the first opening (9) on the reservoir (7). The cleaning agent moving toward the lid (8) returns to the storage receptacle (6) through the second opening (10). Thus, uncontrolled leakage from the lid (8) is prevented.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises the dispenser (5) having an inclined surface (11) provided on the base of the reservoir (7) such that one edge thereof is in the vicinity of the first opening (9) and the other edge extends toward the lid (8). The inclined surface (11) extends from the base of the reservoir (7) toward the surface of the dispenser (5). When the door (4) reaches the closed position, the cleaning agent flowing back toward the lid (8) through the first opening (9) follows the inclined surface (11). Thus, the inclined surface (11) slows the flow of the liquid cleaning agent.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises the second opening (10) which is provided on the inclined surface (11) and which enables the cleaning agent flowing onto the reservoir (7) through the first opening (9) while the door (4) is in the closed position to be returned into the storage receptacle (6) before reaching the lid (8). When the door (4) reaches the closed position, the cleaning agent flowing back toward the lid (8) through the first opening (9) follows the inclined surface (11) and starts to flow slower. By means of the second opening (10) provided on the inclined surface (11), the cleaning agent flowing toward the lid (8) is enabled to return to the storage receptacle (6). Consequently, the cleaning agent is prevented from being discharged in an uncontrolled manner.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises the inclined surface (11) positioned at the level of the maximum amount of cleaning agent which can accumulate on the storage receptacle (6) when the door (4) is in the closed position. When the storage receptacle (6) is full and the door (4) moves from the open position to the closed position, the inclined surface (11) is located after the vertical level reached by the cleaning agent. Thus, when the door (4) is in the closed position, the cleaning agent is prevented from being discharged through the second opening (10).
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises at least one ventilation opening (12) which is provided on the reservoir (7) and at least one barrier (13) which enables the cleaning agent flowing through the ventilation opening (12) while the door (4) is in the closed position to be directed toward the first opening (9). The ventilation opening (12) is positioned at the upper corner of the dispenser (5). Thus, the storage receptacle (6) is prevented from being deprived of air, and the formation of odors or humidity due to cleaning agent residue inside is avoided. When the door (4) moves from the open position to the closed position, the cleaning agent can be delivered from the storage receptacle (6) toward the ventilation opening (12). By means of the barrier (13), the cleaning agent discharged in an uncontrolled manner through the ventilation opening (12) is directed toward the first opening (9). The barrier (13) extends from under the ventilation opening (12) toward the first opening (9). Consequently, the cleaning agent is prevented from being discharged in an uncontrolled manner.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises the barrier (13), one end of which is located in the vicinity of the side edge of the ventilation opening (12), and the other end of which extends toward the first opening (9) in an inclined manner, and which almost completely covers the underside of the ventilation opening (12). The barrier (13) extends downward from the side of the ventilation opening (12), and from there extends in an inclined manner toward the first opening (9). By means of the barrier (13), a flow surface is formed for the cleaning agent toward the first opening (9).
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises an intermediate surface (14) which is provided between the inclined surface (11) and the uppermost edge of the reservoir (7) and which ensures the accumulation of the cleaning agent flowing without passing through the first opening (9) and the second opening (10). The cleaning agent which cannot return to the storage receptacle (6) through the first opening (9) and the second opening (10) is enabled to be accumulated on the intermediate surface (14). The cleaning agent accumulated here flows back over the inclined surface (11) and is directed toward the second opening (10) or the first opening (9).
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By means of the present invention, a dishwasher (1) is realized, comprising a first opening (9) and a second opening (10) extending at an angle almost perpendicular to the first opening (9), which prevent the uncontrolled discharge of the cleaning agent located on the dispenser (5) which shifts between the horizontal and vertical planes while the door (4) moves between the open and closed positions. Thus, the cleaning agent is used more efficiently. Moreover, the problem of dirt formation on the door (4) due to the cleaning agent is also eliminated.