ES2915419T3 - System for distributing laundry treatment substances in a washing machine equipped with an automatic dosing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (1) for distributing a liquid treatment substance (2) in a laundry washer (3), the system (1) comprising: - one or more multi-dose tanks (4) adapted to each contain an initial volume (V_init ) of a liquid treatment substance (2), - one or more volumetric dosing pumps (5) connected in flow communication to said one or more multi-dose tanks (4) and which can be activated to selectively extract said liquid treatment substance (2) of said one or more multi-dose tanks (4) and distribute it, - an electronic control unit (6) that: - drives said one or more dosing pumps (5), - determines, for each of said one or more multidose tanks (4), a total dispensable quantity value (Q_tot_init) depending on said initial volume (V_init), - computes, during the actuation of said one or more dosing pumps (5), for each of said one or more plus multi-dose tanks (4), a quantity of bo mbeo (t_p) of the respective dosing pump (5), - determines, for each of said one or more multidose tanks (4), a total distributed quantity value (Q_tot_disp) depending on the computed pumping quantity (t_p) , characterized in that: - said electronic control unit (6) selectively generates, for each of said one or more multi-dose tanks (4), a warning of exhaustion or residual quantity of liquid treatment substance, depending on said quantity value total distributable (Q_tot_init) and said total dispensed quantity value (Q_tot_disp), in which the pumping quantity (t_p) of the dosing pump (5) is computed as a volume expressed in terms of operating time of the dosing pump. volumetric dosing (5) or, alternatively, in terms of the number of pumping cycles of the volumetric dosing pump (5), in which the control unit (6) generates a treatment substance exhaustion warning, depending on or from a comparison between a predetermined depletion threshold value (Q_limit_1) and a difference between said total dispensable quantity value (Q_tot_init) and said total dispensable quantity value (Q_tot_disp), wherein the predetermined depletion threshold value (Q_limit_1) corresponds to a residual amount (Q_res) of treatment substance (2) that is less than an amount of treatment substance (2) required for a single washing cycle.

Description

DESCRIPTION

System for distributing laundry treatment substances in a washing machine equipped with an automatic dosing device

The present invention relates to a system and method for distributing and controlling the residual quantity of treatment substances in a domestic laundry washing machine with automatic detergent dosing or multiple dosing.

Domestic laundry washing machines normally comprise a housing and support structure, housed therein a washing tub provided with a front opening which can be closed by a front hatch door hinged to the housing. A basket for accommodating the laundry to be washed is arranged inside the washing tub in a rotatable manner about a horizontal or inclined axis. The basket also defines a front opening located at the opening of the washing tub to be able to load and unload the laundry.

The washing tub is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the laundry washing steps. A water loading system is provided that can be connected to the water mains to allow the loading of mains water, detergents and additive agents in the tank. In the lower part of the washing tank, there is a drainage conduit with an associated drainage pump that removes the washing liquid from the tank and that controls, together with the loading system, the level of liquid inside the tank.

To add detergent or treatment additive to the washing liquid it is known to arrange a detergent tub in flow communication with the water loading system.

The detergent drawer can be configured as a drawer that can be removed from and inserted into the housing structure and can be manually filled for each wash with an amount of detergent and/or treatment additive sufficient for a single wash cycle.

Washing machines for laundry with multi-dosing tanks to contain a sufficient quantity of treatment substance for a plurality of washing cycles and with an automatic distribution and dosing system are also known, known as washing machines for laundry with multiple dosing.

It is also known to place the multidose detergent tanks, for example, in the front door and, more precisely, in the front door hatch of the washing machine for laundry.

To determine the residual amount of detergent in the multi-dose tanks, it is possible to equip the laundry machine with a system for determining the level of treatment substance, based on the use of optical sensors associated with the multi-dose tanks.

The use of optical sensors or sensors in general, although satisfactory from many points of view, involves additional costs and requires electrical wiring of the area in which the multidose reservoirs are located. This undesirably restricts the freedom of positioning of the multidose reservoirs or requires complex electrical wiring systems that are costly and subject to unwanted mechanical stress, for example when the electrical cables need to extend from the washer housing to the moving door. .

In addition, optical sensor-based residual detergent determination systems are not adapted for use with disposable cartridges of detergent, additives or other processing substances, which are normally opaque to protect the processing substances from light. EP2140795A1 and EP2913431A2 describe examples of prior art multi-dosing washing machines and methods for determining an amount of washing agent.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved system and method for dosing and controlling the residual amount of treatment substances (for example, detergents, additives, enzymes, softeners, etc.) in a multi-dose laundry washing machine. .

A specific objective is to provide a new and improved system and method for dosing and controlling the residual amount of treatment substances, which is easy to handle, versatile in the positioning of multi-dose containers and does not require electrical wiring in multi-dose containers.

Another specific objective is to provide a new and improved system and method for dosing and controlling the residual amount of treatment substances, having characteristic features such as determining a residual amount of treatment substance from multi-dose deposits and, at the same time, allowing the use of mutually different multidose reservoirs, possibly containing treatment substances having different concentrations, as well as the possibility of alternating washings with automatic dosing from multi-dose tanks with washes with user-predetermined detergent dosage for a single wash.

At least one of the objects is achieved by a system according to claim 1 and by a method according to claim 14. The dependent claims relate to advantageous and preferred embodiments.

According to one aspect of the invention, a system for dispensing liquid treatment substance in a multi-dose laundry washer comprises:

- one or more multi-dose reservoirs each adapted to contain an initial volume of a liquid treatment substance,

- one or more volumetric dosing pumps connected in flow communication with said one or more multi-dose reservoirs and that can be activated to selectively extract said liquid treatment substance from said one or more multi-dose reservoirs and distribute it,

- an electronic control unit, which:

- activates said one or more metering pumps 5,

- determines a total distributable quantity value according to said initial volume for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs,

- computes a pumping quantity of the respective dosing pump during the activation of said one or more dosing pumps, for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs,

- determines a total dispensed amount value according to the computed pumping amount for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs,

- generates a warning of depletion or residual quantity of liquid treatment substance, according to said value of total distributable quantity and of said value of total distributed quantity,

having the characteristic features of claim 1.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for dispensing liquid treatment substance in a multi-dose laundry washer comprises:

- providing one or more multidose reservoirs adapted to each contain an initial volume of a liquid treatment substance,

- activating one or more volumetric dosing pumps in flow communication with said one or more multi-dose reservoirs to selectively extract said liquid treatment substance from said one or more multi-dose reservoirs and distribute it,

- determining a total distributable quantity value according to said initial volume for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs,

- computing a pumping amount of the respective dosing pump during the activation of said one or more dosing pumps, for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs,

- determining a total dispensed amount value according to the computed pumping amount for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs,

- generating a warning of exhaustion or residual quantity of liquid treatment substance according to said value of total distributable quantity and of said value of total distributed quantity, having the characteristic features of claim 14.

The determination of the total dispensed amount according to the computation of the pumping amounts in reference to the single multi-dose reservoirs allows the determination of the residual amounts of treatment substance in the multi-dose reservoirs without using sensors in the multi-dose reservoirs themselves.

This avoids the need to electrify or wire the multi-dose reservoir areas and thus allows free positioning of the multi-dose reservoirs on or in the laundry washer, for example inside a hatch door that would otherwise Otherwise, it would create electrical wiring problems.

In order to better understand the invention and appreciate its advantages, some non-limiting embodiments will be described below by way of example with reference to the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a washing machine for laundry containing a dosing system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the dosage system according to one embodiment; Figures 3 and 4 show examples of multidose reservoirs of the distribution system according to embodiments.

With reference to the figure, a system 1 for dispensing a liquid treatment substance 2 in a laundry washer 3 comprises:

- one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4 adapted to each contain an initial volume V_init of a liquid treatment substance,

- one or more volumetric dosing pumps 5 connected in flow communication with said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4 and that can be activated to selectively extract said liquid treatment substance 2 from said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4 and distribute it,

- an electronic control unit 6, which:

- activates said one or more metering pumps 5,

- determines a total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init according to said initial volume V_init for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4,

- computes a pumping quantity t_p of the respective dosing pump 5 during the activation of said one or more dosing pumps 5, for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4,

- determines a total dispensed quantity value Q_tot_disp according to the pumping quantity t_p computed for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4,

- generates a warning of exhaustion or residual quantity of the liquid treatment substance 2, according to said total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init and said total distributed quantity value Q_tot_disp.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for dispensing a liquid treatment substance 2 in a multi-dose laundry washer 3 comprises:

- providing one or more multidose reservoirs 4 adapted to each contain an initial volume V_init of a liquid treatment substance,

- activating one or more volumetric dosing pumps 5 in flow communication with said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4 to selectively extract said liquid treatment substance from said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4 and distribute it,

- determining a total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init according to said initial volume V_init for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4,

- computing a pumping quantity t_p of the respective dosing pump 5 during the activation of said one or more dosing pumps 5, for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4, - determining a total distributed quantity value Q_tot_disp according with the pumping quantity t_p computed for each of said one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4,

- generating a warning of exhaustion or residual quantity of the liquid treatment substance 2 according to said value of total distributable quantity Q_tot_init and of said value of total distributed quantity Q_tot_disp.

According to one aspect of the invention, the value of the total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init may comprise:

a volume value expressed in terms of volume (for example, ml) or

a volume value expressed in terms of the fill level (eg cm), with a known functional dependency, eg constant, or ratio between the fill level and the corresponding fill volume of the multidose container 4, eg, volume = constant area x height of fill level, or

preferably a volume value expressed in terms of the operating time of the volumetric dosing pump 5 (for example, seconds), with a known functional dependency, for example, constant, or ratio between the pump operating time and the corresponding volume pumped by metering pump 5, for example, volume = (volume pumped / time unit) constant x pumping time, or

alternatively, a volume value expressed in terms of the number of pumping cycles of the volumetric dosing pump 5, with a known functional dependency, e.g. constant, or ratio between the number of pumping cycles and the corresponding volume pumped by metering pump 5, for example, volume = (volume pumped / number of pump cycles) constant x number of pump cycles, u

another equivalent value.

Similarly, the total dispensed amount value Q_tot_disp may also comprise a volume value expressed in terms of volume (eg ml), or expressed in terms of fill level (eg cm), or preferably expressed in terms operating time of the volumetric dosing pump 5 (for example, seconds), or, alternatively, expressed in terms of the number of pumping cycles of the volumetric dosing pump 5, or another equivalent value.

Similarly, the pumping quantity t_p of the dosing pump 5 can also be computed as a volume expressed in terms of volume (for example, ml), or in terms of the filling level (for example, cm) of the multidose reservoir 4 , or preferably expressed in terms of the operating time of the volumetric dosing pump 5 (for example, seconds), or, alternatively, in terms of the number of pumping cycles of the volumetric dosing pump 5, or expressed in a way equivalent.

Determining the total dispensed amount value Q_tot_disp according to the computed pumping amounts t_p may comprise a cumulative addition of the computed pumping amount t_p, or a cumulative subtraction of the computed pumping amount t_p, for example, starting from an initial quantity value, eg, an addition from zero or a subtraction starting from the total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init.

The determination of the total dispensed quantity Q_tot_disp according to the computation of the pumping quantities t_p with reference to the single multi-dose reservoirs 4 allows the determination of the residual quantities of treatment substance 2 in the multi-dose reservoirs 4 without using level sensors in multidose reservoirs 4.

This avoids the need to electrify or wire the areas of the multi-dose reservoirs 4 and thus allows free positioning of the multi-dose reservoirs 4 on or in the laundry washer 3, for example inside a hatch door that otherwise it will create electrical wiring problems.

According to a preferred embodiment, the one or more metering pumps 5 are activated to pump at a constant flow rate (expressed in terms of ml/s), and the calculation of the amount of pumping t_p comprises a calculation of the time of activation of the dosing pump 5.

The monitoring of the amount of treatment substance 2 distributed by one or more dosing pumps 5, in terms of pumping time t_p, greatly facilitates the determination of the residual amount of treatment substance 2, because the activation times of the pump they are normally already available in the control software of the dosing system 1 and, in any case, can be detected and recorded very easily.

According to one embodiment, the distribution system 1 comprises a user interface 7 in signal connection with the control unit 6 and which allows the user to enter a recharge confirmation of treatment substance 2 and, possibly, a value indicative of the initial volume V_init of treatment substance 2, selectively for each of the multidose reservoirs 4.

In response to the insertion of the refill confirmation of the treatment substance 2, the control unit 6 automatically determines the respective total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init according to the indicative value of the initial volume V_init of the treatment substance 2 and starts (ie resets or initializes) the computation of the pumping quantity t_p for the respective multi-dose reservoir 4 again from the beginning. Initializing the count of the pump quantity t_p may comprise, for example, resetting the total dispensed quantity Q_tot_disp to zero.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit 6 and one or more dosing pumps 5 are configured so that, during operation, the dosing pump 5 draws the treatment substance 2 from the multidose reservoir 4 at a constant flow rate, eg, in the range of 0.5 ml/s to 1.0 ml/s, preferably at a constant flow rate of about 0.75 ml/s.

In addition, according to the invention, the control unit (6) is configured to generate the depletion warning or residual quantity Q_res of the liquid treatment substance 2, depending on a difference between said total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init and said total distributed quantity value Q_tot_disp.

For example, the control unit 6 generates a display of a residual quantity value Q_res calculated according to the formula Q_res = Q_tot_init - Q_tot_disp, and expressed in terms of volume or in terms of the number of residual washing cycles or in terms of percentage or fraction referring to the total distributable amount value Q_tot_init, for example, a "75%", a "10%" or "1/2", "1/4".

According to the invention, the control unit 6 is configured to generate the exhaustion warning of the treatment substance 2, according to a comparison between a predetermined exhaustion threshold value Q_limit_1 and a difference between said total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init and said total distributed quantity value Q_tot_disp, whereby the control unit 6 generates the depletion warning if Q_res = Q_tot_init - Q_tot_disp < Q_limit_1, and whereby the predetermined depletion threshold value Q_limit_1 corresponds to an amount of treatment substance 2 which is less than an amount of treatment substance required for a single wash cycle.

The control unit 6 can be configured to generate a treatment substance reservation warning, according to a comparison between a predetermined depletion threshold value Q_limit_2 and a difference between said total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init and said total distributed quantity value Q_tot_disp.

For example, the control unit 6 generates the reservation notice if Q_res = Q_tot_init - Q_tot_disp < Q_limit_2.

Possibly, the predetermined reservation threshold value Q_limit_2 corresponds to a residual amount of treatment substance Q_res that is greater than an amount of treatment substance 2 required for a single wash cycle, but less than an amount of treatment substance 2 required for "n" wash cycles, eg, ten wash cycles, where "n" is a value that can be predetermined and/or set by the user.

Advantageously, this allows the reservation notice to be adapted to the needs of the user (for example, users who go to shopping centers less frequently and need to know in advance when the detergent is about to run out).

Preferably, the predetermined reserve threshold value Q_limit_2 corresponds to a residual amount Q_res of treatment substance 2 that is less than an amount of treatment substance 2 required for one fifth, preferably one tenth, of the number of wash cycles that can be performed with the multidose reservoir 4 full.

According to one embodiment, the warnings of "residual treatment substance" and/or "reserve" and/or "exhaustion of treatment substance" comprise acoustic and/or optical warnings, for example, by means of a screen and /or by lighting an LED Warning Light, or flashing said LED Warning Light at different intervals, or a change in the color of the light emitted by said LED Warning Light.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 6 comprises a transceiver system 21 adapted to wirelessly connect the control unit 6 to electronic devices 23 external to the laundry washer 3, such as mobile phones. According to this embodiment, the control unit 6 can be configured or set by the user to send "residual processing substance" and/or "reserve" and/or "processing substance exhaustion" warnings to said devices. 23 external emails, for example, in the form of a text message.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 6 is configured to perform or not prevent the performance of the washing cycles selected by the user, even if the treatment substance 2 is depleted in at least one of the multidose tanks 4 .

This allows a wash cycle to also be performed if the user does not intend to or cannot reload the treatment substance 2, but still needs to wash the laundry.

System and method of distribution using multidose cartridges with initial volume V init fixed

According to one embodiment, the one or more multidose reservoirs 4 comprise one or more replaceable cartridges 8 in which the initial volume V_init of the treatment substance 2 is set (that is, the replaceable cartridges 8 are marketed or supplied with a fixed initial volume V_init of treatment substance 2). The replaceable cartridges 8 may comprise several different replaceable cartridges 8, containing the same or different treatment substance 2 and having the same or different initial volumes V_init.

In the case of a plurality of different replaceable cartridges 8 with a fixed initial volume V_init of treatment substance 2, the replaceable cartridges 8 can be identified by an identification code or name ID_code, for example by a brand name and/or product and/or processing substance.

The control unit 6 may comprise a memory 9 containing a set of cartridges 22 with one or more initial volume values V_init, previously stored for the one or more replaceable cartridges 8 with a fixed initial volume (V_init) of treatment substance 2 .

Additionally, the set of cartridges 22 may contain the previously stored identification codes or names and association links between the previously stored initial volume values V_init and the respective previously stored identification codes or names ID_code.

The user interface 7 can be configured to allow the user to enter or select the identification code ID_code of the replaceable cartridge 8 as said indicative value of the initial volume V_init of treatment substance, selectively for each of the multidose reservoirs 4.

The control unit 6 can be configured to determine, for each of said one or more replaceable cartridges 8, the total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init according to said one or more initial volume values V_init previously stored in the set of cartridges 22 For example, the control unit 6 may use the corresponding previously stored initial volume value V_init as the total distributable amount value Q_tot_init.

In particular, the control unit 6 can be configured to determine, for each of said one or more replaceable cartridges 8, the total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init based on the set of cartridges 22 according to the identification code or name ID_code selected by the user via the user interface 7. The identification code ID_code could simply be, for example, a laundry detergent brand.

This avoids the need for the user to insert initial volumes of treatment substance 2 for each individual multidose reservoir 4 . This also allows the use of replaceable cartridges 8 from different detergent suppliers and, at the same time, makes it easier to identify used replaceable cartridges 8 .

Distribution system and procedure using refillable multidose reservoirs with variable initial volume V init

According to one embodiment, said one or more multidose reservoirs 4 comprise one or more refillable reservoirs 10 that can be refilled, for example, by the user, if the initial volume V_init of the treatment substance 2 is not fixed, but can vary . The refillable reservoirs 10 may comprise a plurality of different refillable reservoirs 10, containing the same or different treatment substances 2 and having the same or different initial volumes V_init.

Advantageously, the refillable reservoir 10 includes a graduated scale 11 that allows the user to choose and/or read the initial fill amount of treatment substance 2 filled.

The user interface 7 can be configured to allow the user to enter an initial filling quantity for the refillable reservoir 10 as said value indicative of the initial volume V_init of the treatment substance 2, selectively for each of the multi-dose reservoirs 4.

The control unit 6 can be configured to determine, for each of the refillable reservoirs 10, the total distributable quantity value Q_tot_init according to the initial fill quantity or the initial volume V_init entered by the user via the user interface. user 7.

According to one embodiment, the treatment substances 2 may be supplied by the detergent manufacturer, accompanied by recommendations on the quantities of treatment substances that may be useful for a single wash cycle. These recommendations normally depend on the concentration of the treatment substance 2 and can be generalized and also specified, for the purposes of the present description, as "unit dosage value" or "concentration value".

Similarly, the user interface 7 can be configured to allow the user to enter an indicative concentration value for a concentration of Processing Substance 2 or for a recommended unit amount of Processing Substance 2 for a single wash cycle, selectively for each of the multidose containers 4.

The control unit 6 can be configured to determine the duration of the activation steps of the one or more dosing pumps 5, selectively for each of the multidose tanks 10, according to the concentration value entered by the user by means of of the user interface 7.

This allows the use of treatment substances 2 with different concentrations and optimizes the use of treatment substances 2 according to the instructions of the detergent manufacturers and thus reconciles the requirements of washing efficiency, resource saving and compatibility. environmental.

System and method of distribution with the use of single dose containers refillable with an amount of treatment substance pre-dosed by the user

According to an embodiment of the invention, the distribution system 1 comprises one or more single-dose compartments 12 that can be filled with the treatment substance pre-dosed by the user for a single wash, in which the one or more pumps 5 can be connected in flow communication to said one or more single-dose compartments 12 and can be activated to selectively extract said pre-dosed treatment substance from said one or more single-dose compartments 12.

According to one embodiment, each of the one or more single-dose compartments 12 may be provided instead of one of the multi-dose reservoirs 4, respectively.

This allows the use of the distribution system 1 both for an automatic distribution of detergent for a plurality of washing cycles (multiple dosing) and for a distribution of detergent pre-dosed by the user for a single washing cycle (single dosing).

According to one embodiment, the user interface 7 allows the user to confirm a selection of a multi-dose administration from one or more multi-dose reservoirs 4 and a single-dose administration from one or more single-dose compartments 12.

According to one embodiment, said selection confirmation between multidose and single-dose administration can be selectively inserted for one or more single-dose compartments 12 and/or multidose reservoirs 4.

According to one embodiment, a single-dose administration selection confirmation from one of the single-dose compartments 12 excludes and replaces a corresponding multi-dose administration from one of the multi-dose reservoirs 4.

In response to the single-dose dispensing selection entered, the control unit 6 automatically suspends the computation of the pumping quantity t_p for the respective multi-dose reservoir 4, maintaining the total dispensing quantity value Q_tot_init and the total dispensing quantity value Q_tot_disp for the respective multidose reservoir 4 unchanged.

According to one embodiment, in the case of a prior suspension of the calculation of the pump quantity t_p for at least one of the multidose reservoirs 4 and a subsequent confirmation of selection of a multidose distribution from this multidose reservoir 4, the control unit 6 automatically resumes the computation of the pumping amount t_p for the respective multidose reservoir 4 .

The user interface 7 can be configured and/or controlled by the control unit 6 to request from the user, at the beginning of a washing program:

- first, the aforementioned confirmation of selection between single-dose and multi-dose administration, and

- then, in the case of multidose administration selection, a confirmation of the selection between reloading at least one of the multidose reservoirs 4 and continuing the program without reloading one of the multidose reservoirs 4, and,

- in case of refilling selection confirmation of at least one of the multidose reservoirs 4, a selection confirmation between reloading at least one refillable reservoir 10 with a variable initial volume V_init and reloading by connecting at least one new replaceable cartridge 8 with a variable initial volume initial V_init fixed. This makes it possible to avoid errors in the determination of the value of the total distributable quantity Q_tot_init and in the determination of the residual quantities of treatment substances in multidose tanks 4.

Tank interface 13

According to one embodiment, the distribution system 1 comprises a reservoir interface 13 having one or more engagement portions 14 in flow connection with the one or more metering pumps 5 and adapted to reversibly couple to one or more multidose reservoirs 4.

The conformation of the hooking parts 14 and/or the conformation of the reservoir interface 13 and the conformation of the multidose reservoirs 4 are preferably such as to allow a coupling of each of the multidose reservoirs 4 to only one of the hooking parts. 14, respectively.

This allows an unambiguous association of each multi-dose reservoir 4 and thus of each treatment substance 2 with only one of the connecting parts 14 and thus with a given dosing pump 5 .

Advantageously, the one or more single-dose compartments 12 are each formed around one of the hooking parts 14, respectively, so that, with the multidose reservoir 4 separated from the hooking part 14, the hooking part 14 free create a flow connection between the respective pod compartment 12 and one or more dosing pumps 5 possibly without further flow connection switching operations.

Additionally, in particular, it is intuitive for the user to hook a multidose tank 4 and/or pour a single dose of single-dose detergent in exactly the same position of the distribution system 1.

Washing machine for laundry 3

The invention further relates to a washing machine for laundry 3 comprising the dosing system 1.

According to one embodiment, the washing machine for laundry 3 comprises a housing 15, a washing tank 16 arranged inside the housing 15 and having an opening 19, for example front or top, which can be closed by of a front or top door 17, e.g. a hatch door, connected, e.g. hingedly, frontly or at the top, to the housing 15.

The washing machine for laundry 3 also comprises a basket 18 arranged inside the washing tub 16 and possibly rotatable around a horizontal or inclined axis, in which the basket 18 delimits a loading opening 24 that is or can be located in the front opening 19 of the washing tub 16 for loading and unloading the laundry to be washed.

The washing machine for laundry 3 further comprises a water loading system 20 that can be connected to the water network and in communication with the washing tub 16 to load water into the washing tub 16.

Furthermore, the washing machine for laundry 3 comprises a control system with a user interface that can implement or communicate with the aforementioned control unit 6 with the user interface 7 of the distribution system 1 for the distribution of treatment substances 2.

The treatment substance 2 extracted from one or more multi-dose tanks 4 is then transported to the washing tank 16 and/or to the laundry basket 18, for example, directly by one or more dosing pumps 5 and/or by the water charging system 20.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tank interface 13 and/or the multi-dose tanks 4 and/or the single-dose compartments 12 are located on the door 17 of the washing machine for laundry 3, its door 17 not being electrically wired, while the control unit 6 and the one or more dosing pumps 5 are located in the housing 15 outside the door 17 and are electrically powered.

The system 1 and method of distribution of the treatment substance 2 allow to provide the tank interface 13 and/or multi-dose tanks 4 and/or single-dose compartments 12 in the non-wired areas of the washing machine for laundry 1 without having to give up control of the residual level of the treatment substance 2 in the multidose reservoirs 4.

By way of non-limiting example, the treatment substances 2 may comprise one or more detergents, fabric softeners, enzymes, perfumes, disinfectants, scale removers or additives.

The steps of the procedure described for the sake of brevity in relation to the description of the distribution system 1 and/or the washing machine for laundry 3, can also be carried out by means equivalent, alternative or different to the electronic control unit 6, or manually and mentally by an operator.

Obviously, a person skilled in the art can make other changes and variants in the treatment substance distribution system 1, in the washing machine for laundry 3 and in the treatment substance distribution method without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as is defined in the following claims.

Claims (14)

1 . A system (1) for dispensing a liquid treatment substance (2) to a laundry washer (3), the system (1) comprising: - one or more multi-dose reservoirs (4) adapted to each contain an initial volume (V_init) of a liquid treatment substance (2), - one or more volumetric dosing pumps (5) connected in flow communication to said one or more multi-dose tanks (4) and that can be activated to selectively extract said liquid treatment substance (2) from said one or more multi-dose tanks ( 4) and distribute it, - an electronic control unit (6) that: - drives said one or more metering pumps (5), - determines, for each of said one or more multidose reservoirs (4), a total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) depending on said initial volume (V_init), - computes, during the actuation of said one or more dosing pumps (5), for each of said one or more multi-dose tanks (4), a pumping quantity (t_p) of the respective dosing pump (5), - determines, for each of said one or more multidose tanks (4), a value of the total distributed quantity (Q_tot_disp) depending on the computed pumping quantity (t_p), characterized by : - said electronic control unit (6) selectively generates, for each of said one or more multi-dose tanks (4), a warning of depletion or residual quantity of liquid treatment substance, depending on said value of total distributable quantity (Q_tot_init) and of said total distributed quantity value (Q_tot_disp), wherein the pumping quantity (t_p) of the dosing pump (5) is computed as a volume expressed in terms of the operating time of the volumetric dosing pump (5) or, alternatively, in terms of the number of cycles pumping of the volumetric dosing pump (5), in which the control unit (6) generates a treatment substance depletion warning, depending on a comparison between a predetermined depletion threshold value (Q_limit_1) and a difference between said total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) and said total distributed quantity value (Q_tot_disp), in which the predetermined depletion threshold value (Q_limit_1) corresponds to a residual quantity (Q_res) of treatment substance (2) that is less than an amount of treatment substance (2) required for a single wash cycle. 2. A system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the one or more metering pumps (5) are activated to pump at a constant flow rate, and the count of the pumping amount (t_p) comprises a count of the pump activation time (5). A system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the distribution system (1) comprises a user interface (7) in signal connection with the control unit (6) and allowing the user enters a treatment substance refill confirmation and, optionally, an indicative value of the initial volume (V_init) of treatment substance (2), selectively for each of the multidose tanks (4), wherein, in response to the input of the treatment substance reload confirmation (2), the control unit (6): - automatically determines the respective total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) depending on said indicative value of the initial volume (Vinit) of treatment substance, and - resets the total distributed quantity value (Q_tot_disp) to zero. 4. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more multidose reservoirs (4) comprise one or more replaceable cartridges (8) in which the initial volume (Vinit) of the treatment substance (2) and that are identifiable by means of an identification code, in which the control unit (6) comprises a memory (9) containing a set of cartridges (22) with one or more initial volume values (V_init), previously stored for the one or more replaceable cartridges (8) with a fixed initial volume (V_init), wherein the control unit (6) is configured to determine, for each of said one or more replaceable cartridges (8), the total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) depending on said one or more initial volume values (V_init ) previously stored in the set of cartridges (22), in which the user interface (7) is configured to allow the user to enter or select the identification code (ID_code) of the replaceable cartridge (8) as said value indicative of the initial volume (V_init) of treatment substance, selectively for each of the multidose reservoirs (4), and wherein the set of cartridges (22) also contains links associating the initial volume values (V_init) previously stored with the respective identification codes ID_code selectable by means of the user interface (7), wherein the control unit (6) determines, for each of said one or more replaceable cartridges (8), the total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) based on the set of cartridges (22) depending on the identification code ID_code selected by the user through the user interface (7). 5. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more multi-dose reservoirs (4) comprise one or more refillable reservoirs (10) refillable by the user, wherein the initial volume ( V_init) of the treatment substance (2) is not fixed, in which the refillable reservoir (10) may comprise a graduated scale (11) indicating the initial filling amount of treatment substance (2), wherein the user interface (7) allows the user to enter an initial fill amount for the refillable reservoir (10) as said indicative value of the initial volume (Vinit) of treatment substance, selectively for each of the multidose reservoirs (4), in which the control unit (6) determines, for each of the refillable tanks (10), the total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) depending on the initial filling quantity entered by the user. 6. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user interface (7) allows the user to enter or select a concentration value indicative of the concentration of treatment substance, selectively for each one of the multidose tanks (4), in which the control unit (6) determines the duration of the steps to activate the one or more dosing pumps (5), selectively for each of the multidose tanks (4), depending on the concentration value received via the user interface (7). 7. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control unit (6) generates a warning of residual quantity of treatment substance, depending on a difference between said value of total distributable quantity ( Q_tot_init) and said total distributed quantity value (Q_tot_disp). A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control unit (6) generates a treatment substance reservation warning, depending on a comparison between a predetermined reservation threshold value and a difference between said total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) and said total distributed quantity value (Q_tot_disp), wherein the predetermined reserve threshold value corresponds to an amount of treatment substance that is greater than an amount of treatment substance required for a single user-selected or set wash cycle, but less than an amount of treatment substance required for "n" wash cycles, where "n" is a predetermined value and/or a user-set value. 9. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more single-dose compartments (12) that can be filled with treatment substance pre-dosed by the user for a single wash, in which one or more more dosing pumps (5) can be connected in flow communication to said one or more single-dose compartments (12) and can be activated to selectively extract said pre-dosed treatment substance from said one or more single-dose compartments (12). 10. A system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the user interface (7) allows the user to confirm a selection between a multi-dose dispensing from the one or more multi-dose reservoirs (4) and a single-dose dispensing from the one or more single-dose compartments (12), wherein a confirmation of the selection of single-dose distribution from one of the single-dose compartments (12) excludes and replaces a corresponding multi-dose distribution from one of the multi-dose reservoirs (4), in which, in response to the single-dose distribution selection entered, the control unit (6) automatically suspends the calculation of the pumping quantity (t_p) for the respective multi-dose reservoir (4), maintaining the values of the total distributable quantity ( Q_tot_init) and total dispensed quantity for the respective multi-dose reservoir (4) unchanged, where, in the case of a previous suspension of the calculation of the pump quantity (t_p) for at least one of the multi-dose reservoirs (4) and from a subsequent selection confirmation of a multi-dose dispensing from this multi-dose reservoir (4), the control unit (6) automatically resumes the computation of the pump quantity (t_p) for the respective multi-dose reservoir (4). 11. A system (1) according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a reservoir interface (13) having one or more engagement portions (14) in flow connection with the one or more metering pumps (5 ) and adapted to be reversibly coupled to the one or more multi-dose reservoirs (4), in which the one or more single dose compartments (12) are each formed around one of the hooking parts (14), respectively, so that, with the multidose reservoir (4) separated from the hooking part (14) , the coupling part (14) releases outlets in the respective single-dose compartment (12) and makes the flow connection of the single-dose compartment (12) with the one or more dosage pumps (5). 12. A system (1) according to claim 11, in which the conformation of the reservoir interface (13) and the conformation of the multidose reservoirs (4) are such that they allow a coupling of each of the multidose reservoirs (4) to only one of the hooking parts (14), respectively. 13. A washing machine for laundry (3) comprising a housing (15), a washing tub (16) arranged in the housing (15) and having an opening (19) closable by means of a door (17). ) mobile, a basket (18) arranged inside the washing tub (16) and adapted to receive the laundry to be washed, a water loading system (20) that can be connected to the water network and in communication with the wash tub (16) to load water into the wash tub (16), characterized in that it comprises the distribution system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the treatment substance (2) extracted from the one or more multi-dose tanks (4) is transported to the washing tank ( 16), in which the multidose tanks (4) are located in the door (17), the door (17) is not electrically wired, while the control unit (6) and the one or more dosing pumps (5) are located in the housing (15) outside the door (17) and are electrically powered. 14. A method for distributing and controlling an amount of liquid treatment substance (2) in a laundry washer (3) with multiple dosing, said method comprising: - providing one or more multi-dose reservoirs (4) adapted to each contain an initial volume (V_init) of a liquid treatment substance, - driving one or more volumetric dosing pumps (5) in flow communication with said one or more multi-dose tanks (4) to selectively extract from said one or more multi-dose tanks (4) said liquid treatment substance and distribute it, - determining, for each of said one or more multidose reservoirs (4), a total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) depending on said initial volume (V_init), - computing, during the actuation of said one or more dosing pumps (5), for each of said one or more multi-dose tanks (4), a pumping amount (t_p) of the respective dosing pump (5), - determining, for each of said one or more multidose tanks (4), a value of the total distributed amount (Q_tot_disp) depending on the computed pumping amount (t_p), characterized by : - selectively generating, for each of said one or more multidose tanks (4), a warning of depletion or residual amount of liquid treatment substance, depending on said total distributable amount value (Q_tot_init) and said total distributed amount value (Q_tot_disp), compute the pumping quantity (t_p) of the dosing pump (5) as a volume expressed in terms of the operating time of the volumetric dosing pump (5) or, alternatively, in terms of the number of cycles pumping volumetric dosing pump (5), generate a treatment substance depletion warning, depending on a comparison between a predetermined depletion threshold value (Q_limit_1) and a difference between said total distributable quantity value (Q_tot_init) and said total distributed quantity value (Q_tot_disp), in the that the predetermined exhaustion threshold value (Q_limit_1) corresponds to a residual amount (Q_res) of treatment substance (2) that is less than an amount of treatment substance (2) required for a single washing cycle.