GB2130606A

GB2130606A - Additive metering and supply apparatus for use with a washing appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2130606A
Application number: GB08330027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Graf; Manfred Kruger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-16
Filing date: 1983-11-10
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: DE3302925A1; FR2536096B1; GB8330027D0; IT1166546B; IT8323713A0; GB2130606B; FR2536096A1

Abstract

An additive metering and supply apparatus for use with a laundry or dishwashing machine comprises means for storing, automatically controlled metering and addition of liquid washing or rinsing agents and is so adapted that operation of the machine suffices for the normal input of program data for a selectable washing or rinsing process. All fixed values, which need not be entered before each washing or rinsing process, are kept remote from the operating panel of the machine by means of an operating panel of the apparatus, the latter panel having setting elements for the water hardness and for the concentration strength for the stored washing or rinsing agents.

Description

SPECIFICATION Additive metering and supply apparatus for use in association with a washing appliance The present invention relates to additive metering and supply apparatus for use in association with an automatic laundrywashing machine or dishwashing machine.

Such apparatus is known from German (Fed. Rep.) Utility Model 8033429 and has equipment for storing, metering and addition of liquid washing or rinsing agents. In respect of the conduction and control of liquid, such apparatus is arranged forfixed connection to a washing or dishwashing machine, which must possess appropriate equipment. The known apparatus has all components required for metering and storing liquid washing agent components, such as supply containers, filling level indicators, pumps, control and operating panel with change-overswitch esforselectable operation with or without metering appliance and current supply forthe electrical equipment.

The operator of this apparatus must collect data and feed in process data atthe separate panels ofthe machine and the metering apparatus preparatory to each washing or rinsing process. Apart from the increased effort involved, an increased risk of an erroneous operation is also possible. For example, the addition of liquid and powder washing agent can erroneously be chosen simultanteously or no washing agent addition at all. Also, failure to note the absence of washing or rinsing agents can lead to an incorrect process course.

If all operating and indicating elements were to be united on one operating panel, namelythat of the machine, this could lead to confusion of the operator.

Incorrect operating actions might then be possible. In particular, major errors in the operating procedure of the machine concerned might occur. Moreover, when separate metering apparatus is not provided, the machine itself would require expensive equipment.

Itwould accordingly be desirable to relieve the operating panel ofthe machine asfaras possible from additional indicating or operating elements, while retaining forthe operator the possibility of selecting fixed values which remain unchanged in the long term and which must betaken into consideration during the metering of washing or rinsing agent dosages. Such values are, for example, water hardness, concentra tion values for washing or rinsing agents and possibly also the state of switching-on ofthe metering apparatus.

Values dependent on the washing process, such as the kind and quantity of laundry, kind and degree of soiling,washingtemperature.and numberofthe washing, rinsing and spinning operations, are in any case already set through the choice ofthe desired program at the operating panel ofthe laundry washing machine or dishwashing machine. The above-mentioned fixed values remain constant over a longer period of time and, compared with the values which are dependent on the washing process and which must be fed in before each washing process, need only an occasional input or change, for example on the use of a not hitherto employed washing agent with changed concentration.

According to the present invention there is provided additive metering and supply apparatus for use in association with an automatic laundry washing machine or dishwashing machine, the apparatus comprising means for storing, automatically controllable metering, and addition of at least one of a liquid washing agent and a liquid rinsing agent, and an operating panel provided with setting elements for setting parameters dependent on water hardness and on dose concentrations ofthe agent or agents.

With this apparatus, after a single setting of the water hardness and the dose concentration of the individual washing or rinsing agents the operator can leave the setting elements unobservedfora certain time, for examplefour months, and during the input of the process data for washing or rinsing operations concentrate merely on the operating panel ofthe washing ordishwashing machine.

Embodiments ofthe present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of the operating panel offirst metering apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the operating panel of second metering apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the operating panel of a washing machine with which the apparatus is usable; and Fig. 4 is a block schematic circuit diagram of control means in metering apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 an operating panel 18 of not completely automatically controlled metering apparatus which comprises equipmentforthe transmission of certain program parameters, which are fed into a washing or dishwashing machine and from which an electrical or electronic device (not shown) arranged in the metering apparatus automatically determines appropriate metering quantities. Fortriggering ofthe metering, only corresponding knobs or keys 81,82 and 83 are actuated. The keys 81 are provided for setting variable program parameters and can, if required, be augmented by further keys.The keys 82 are provided for initiating addition of appropriate quantities of full or fine washing agents into a chamber I or II of rinsing-in equipment, which chambers are respectively associated with program stages "preliminary wash" and "clearwash". The keys 83 serveforthe addition of automatically determined quantities of soft rinsing agentsorlaundrycareagentsintoachamberlllofthe rinsing-in equipment. An indicating device 84 in the operating panel 18 serves for signalling that a supply container (not illustrated) for fresh water is empty, such water being usable to rinse a supply duct after addition of the washing or rinsing agent.

The panel 18 can be associated with a further operating panel 19 at the outside ofthe metering apparatus orwithin the apparatus in the region of washing or rinsing agent storage means. Counting as fixed values, which do not have to be fed in before each washing or rinsing process, are values for the concentration of the washing or rinsing agent from the connected supply container and the local water hardness. The local water hardness can be established by enquiry to the relevant water authority, while dosage concentration is, for example, often stated by the manufactureron the packetforthe washing or rinsing agent. These values can be set by rotary knobs 91 and 92, which are associated with appropriately calibrated scales.

In anotherform of operating panel (Fig. 2) for such metering apparatus, in which washing or rinsing agentcomponents are stored, the provided setting elements include respective on-off switches 21 and 22 for switching on and offthewashing agent metering or the soft rinsing agent metering. Through the separate switching facility, it is possible to use the metering apparatus onlyforthe automatic metering of the soft rinsing agent when the washing machine is, for example, operated with powdery washing agents.

On the other hand, it is possible to switch offthe soft rinsing agent metering orto switch offthe metering apparatus altogether.

Afurthersetting elements 23 serves for adaption of the automatically calculated metering quantities to the prevailing water hardness. Such a setting element can be a step switch ora setting resistor.

Further setting element 24 serve for adaptation of the automatically calculable metering quantities to the respective concentration of the washing agent or washing aid agent components 1 to 6.

In addition, filling state optical indicators 25forthe component reserves 1 to 6 are present in the operating panel. Each indicator can, for example, light up red when the amount of component in an associated supply container hasfallen below a certain level at which the residual amount is only sufficient for a few more washing processes.

The symbol 26, in the form of a pictogram to the right ofthe operating panel, signifies that the metering apparatus can be equipped with acoustic signalling equipment which, for example, provides buzzer sound each time one ofthe optical indicators is switched on.

The operating panel illustrated in Fig. 3 includes the usual input and indicating elements of a commercially conventional, electronically controlled washing machine but has an additional field 30 with operating and indicating elementsforthe control and monitoring ofthe metering operation. Inthefollowing description, it is presupposed that metering apparatus equipped with an operating panel according to Fig. 2 and a washing machine equipped with an operating panel according to Fig. 3 are coupled together a signal supply connection and a liquid supply connection.

When the washing agent and soft rinsing agent metering is switched on by means ofthe switches 21 and 22 in the operating panel of the apparatus, this is indicated, with the washing machine switched on, by a continuous light at an optical indicator 31 ("washing agent") and by intermittent actuation of an optical indicator32 ("soft rinsing agent"). The washing agent metering is then undertaken automatically without furtheraction. The soft rinsing agent metering is thereagainst merely offered by the flashing indication.

On actuation of a key 33 disposed to the right beside the flashing indication, the soft rinsing operation can be initiated. The indicator32 acknowledges this by providing continuous light after pressing ofthe key 33.

The washing machine control therefore augments the washing program put in previously by the soft rinsing phase.

This manner of interrogation forces the operator during each washing step to consciously decide whether or not soft rinsing is desired. Further optical indicators 34to 36 remain without function when automatic metering is selected.

As soon as the soft rinsing agent or a component in one ofthe supply containers has fallen below the respective minimum level, an optical indicator 37 switches on intermittently and thereby signals to the operatorthat at least one ofthe supply containers should be replenished. Moreover, an acoustic signal device, normally present in the machine, can be switched on so thatthe attention ofthe operating person is further drawn to the need for replenishment of the container. By checking the operating panel of the metering apparatus, the operator can ascertain by reference to the illuminated optical indicator 25 which ofthe component reserves must be replenished.

When the washing agent metering is switched off by means of the switch 21 in the operating panel of the metering apparatus, the optical indicator 31 ("washing agent") remains unlit. In its place, the indicators 34 and 35 (when a program with preliminarywash has been selected, otherwise merelythe indicator35) light up afterthe input of the washing program and indicate that the associated washing agent chambers land II ofthe rinsing-in bowl ofthe washing machine must be charged manually with washing agent.

The metering apparatus can be switched off completely by means ofthe switches 21 and 22 that the optical indicators 31,32 and 37 remain unlit unconditionally. This also occurs when no metering apparatus is connected to this washing machine. During the input of the washing programs, indications are then given by the lighting-u p of the indicators 34 to 36 as to which of the chambers ofthe rinsing-in equipment of the washing machine are to be charged manually with washing or soft rinsing agent.

The metering apparatus may also comprise a control device 40, which contains a signal processing unit CPU forcommand signals to a washing or dishwashing machine connectedthrough lines 41. In that case, input-output circuits 10/IF serve for the adaptation ofthe signal forms to the requirements of the signal processing. The command signals can also include signals which designate the switched-on state of the automatic metering system for washing agent and/or laundry care agent and/orthe state of consumption of the washing or rinsing agent reserves.

Signals indicating the state of consumption of the reserves can, for example, be generated by level sensors 43 disposed in supply containers 42illustrated schemetically in Fig. at such a height above the container bottom that a certain number of meterings of the components is still possible after actuation of the sensors. The sensors are connected through lines 44 with the signal processing unit CPU which, on response of one of the sensors, switches on a counter 45. This determines the numberorthe metering quantities of the metering operations from a washing or rinsing agent reserve after actuation ofthe associated sensor. The counting result is constantly compared in a comparator46with a value predetermined by an input 47 and, on agreement, converted into a command signal to the machine. This command signal causes the control equipment ofthe machine to switch overto manual charging ofthewashing agent chambers on each occasion a demand is put in for automatic metering of the washing or rinsing agent from the supply that has been exhausted.

Claims

1. Additive metering and supply apparatus for use in association with an automaticlaundrywashing machine or dishwashing machine, the apparatus comprising means for storing, automatically controllable metering, and addition of at least one of a liquid washing agent and a liquid rinsing agent, and an operating panel provided with setting elements for setting parameters dependent on water hardness and on dose concentrations of the agent or agents.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,furthercom- prising control elements for selecting parameters of a control program ofthe machine and control elements for varying determined dosage amounts of the agent or agents.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the setting elements are arranged in first operating field and the control elements in a second operating field separate from the first field.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the firstoperatingfield is disposed adjacentto agent storage means in the apparatus.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each setting element for the dose concentration parameter is associated with agentcomponentstorage means in the apparatus.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, comprising on-offswitchesforcontrolling automatic use of different kinds of washing or rinsing agent.

7. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the or each setting element for the dose concentration parameter is associated with optical indicating devices actuableto provide an optical indication of a predetermined state of consumption of the stored agent or agents.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the optical indicating devices are associated in common with an acoustic signalling device arranged to provide an acoustic signal on actuation of any one of the optical indicating devices.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preced ing claims, comprising control means with signal processing meansarrangedto supply control signals to the machine.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, the signal processing means being arranged to supply to the machine signals indicative of the switched-on state of the automatically controlled metering means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10, the signal processing means being arranged to supply to the machine signals indicative ofthe state of consumption ofthestored agent or agents.

12. Apparatus as claimed inanyoneofclaimssto 11, the control means comprising a counter operable to monitor the number of dosages orthe quantity of a stored agent that remains after provision of an indication that a predetermined amount of the agent has been consumed, and comparison means to compare a value indicative of the instantaneous monitored number or quantity with a predetermined value and, on agreement of the compared values, to cause the control means to substitute manually controlled agent metering for automatically controlled agent metering.

13. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figs. 1,2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.