GB2157716A

GB2157716A - Detergent dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2157716A
Application number: GB08409811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adriaan Cornelis Besems; Simon Willemse; Peter Willem Appel
Original assignee: Unilever PLC
Current assignee: Unilever PLC
Priority date: 1984-04-16
Filing date: 1984-04-16
Publication date: 1985-10-30

Abstract

A dispenser for liquid and powdered detergent compositions for use in a washing machine comprises a container 1 and a water-inlet means 3 arranged tangentially to the wall of the container. When water is injected through the water-inlet a cyclone/vortex action is created, mixing the detergent composition, which has been brought into the container, with the water thoroughly. A siphon is preferably positioned in the water-intake conduit to discharge the container once the water-intake has stopped. The base 2 of the container is convex as viewed from the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Detergent dispenser The present invention relates to a dispenser for both liquid and particulate detergent compositions for use in washing machines. In particular, the present invention relates to such a dispenser utilizing a cyclone or vortex water action to facilicitate the mixing of the detergent composition in the dispenser with the water for introduction of the detergent composition into the washing compartment of the washing machine.

Dispensers in the current washing machines are primarily designed for particulate detergent compositions. The compartments of these dispensers are usually in open connection with the outer drum of the washing machine, and if a liquid detergent composition would be dosed through these compartments, it would drain directly into the machine before sufficient water has been taken in, which can lead to loss of detergent product in the drain of the washing machine and local over-concentration of the detergent product on the laundry to be cleaned, causing discolouration and other undesired effects thereon. The same problem occurs with pre-wash products; these would drain off simultaneously with the main wash product.

In the prior art, it has been proposed to adapt these dispensers to enable the use of liquid detergent compositions, by using special inserts in the compartments of the current washing machine dispensers. These inserts almost invariably operate according to the syphon principle. However, when more viscous liquid detergent compositions are to be dosed by means of such inserts, efficient dispensing can usually not be achieved because of the relatively small hydrodynamic forces which occur using the syphon principle, and undesirable residues are formed in the dispensing compartment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a dispenser which is suitable for both liquid and particulate detergent compositions, whereby the dispersion in the dispenser should be sufficiently fast to avoid gelation and agglomeration problems, and whereby the dispersed detergent product is gradually discharged from the dispenser, minimizing the loss of effectively available detergent product for the laundering operation and enhancing rapid dissolution of the detergent product. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which does not have dead corners, thus ensuring the optimum removal of the detergent product from the dispenser.

According to the invention, these and other objects of the invention can be achieved by using a dispenser which operates according to the cyclone or vortex principle, using a tangential water-intake.

By the provision of the tangential water-inlet in the side wall of the dispenser the water is injected into the dispenser forming a vortex within the dispenser, by which extreme agitation of the water with the detergent product is obtained resulting in thoroughly mixing the water with the detergent product.

Dispensers, utilizing a cyclone or vortex operation have already been described in the prior art, e.g. in US Patent 3,798,932. However, the dispenser according to this reference is a closed system without a flow over weir, and is provided with a discharge opening in the bottom of the dispenser, which is connected with a syphon which provides for the discharge of the water/ detergent product mixture from the dispenser into the washing zone of the washing machine, and this dispenser is not suitable for particulate detergent compositions. The detergent product is discharged entirely through the syphon, and blockage may therefore occur.

This syphon begins to function once the liquid level in the dispenser reaches the bight portion of the syphon, and the liquid is then withdrawn from the dispenser through the syphon. This process repeats itself intermittently, thus not providing a continuous discharge of the detergent solution to the washing zone, and furthermore during the discharge of the dispenser the vortex action is impaired by the discharging action. In addition, the bottom of this dispenser has an inverted frustoconical shape, which does not provide for the optimal use of the occurring hydro-dynamic forces.Finally, when the dispenser is filled with the detergent product before the water is fed in, some of the detergent product will pass through the discharge opening in the bottom of the dispenser and remain in the conduit of the syphon, and on operation this detergent product will be charged into the washing machine in concentrated form, with the obvious disadvantages.

It has now been found that these problems can be overcome by using a dispenser which is open at the top and providing the bottom of the dispenser with a concave form, seen in the direction from the bottom to the top of the dispenser. The inwardly bulged form of the bottom provides for the detergent product to be present in the area where the hydrodynamic forces are at maximum, i.e. at the circumference of the annular space between the bulge and the wall of the dispenser, thus causing the maximum dispersion of the detergent product in the water. To avoid dead corners, the dispenser should have a cross section which does not have angles, e.g. a circular elliptical etc. cross section, and the bottom and wall should be connected with each other without forming a rib; thus, for example, the edge between wall and bottom is preferably curved or rounded-off.

The present invention therefore is directed to a dispenser for liquid and particulate detergent compositions for use in a washing machine, said dispenser being designed to operate according to the cyclone or vortex principle, comprising a) a container, which has a cross section not showing any angles and which is open at the top, the edge between the bottom and the wall of the container being curved, b) a water-inlet means arranged to introduce water tangentially to the wall to form a vortex in the container, the water-intake being positioned in the wall, whereby the bottom of the container has a concave form, seen in the direction from the bottom to the top of the container.

The container may be made of any suitable material such as plastics, glass, metal etc. and may have any desired form, e.g. cylindrical or tapered.

The concave form of the bottom can be any suitable "bulge" form, the height and form of which may vary according to the size and specific purpose of the dispenser. The water-intake can also be of any suitable form and dimension.

In order to discharge the dispenser once the water-intake has stopped and there is no longer an overflow, the dispenser is provided with discharge means. A preferred discharge system is a small syphon, to be positioned in the water-intake conduit, e.g. before the inlet-opening in the container. This syphon is positioned and dimensioned in such a way that the liquid detergent cannot penetrate back to the syphon under normal conditions, and that despite the pressure increase during the water-intake only a small part of the water passes the syphon, and premature dispensing through the syphon is prevented.

The dispenser of the invention is suitable for liquid detergents, both of high and low viscosity, including (concentrated) fabric softening compositions as well as for particulate detergents.

Two typical dispensers according to the present invention are shown in Figures 1 and 4.

Figure I is a front view and cross section of a dispenser having a tapered form.

Figure Il is a plan view from below.

Figure III is a front view and cross section of a dispenser having a cylindrical form, and Figure IV is a plan view from below.

The dispensers consist of an open container 1 having a concave bottom 2 and a tangential waterinlet 3.

On operation, the dispenser is charged with the detergent product, and the water injected through the water-inlet will create a cyclone/vortex action whereby the detergent is thoroughly mixed with the water. The detergent solution flows over the brim of the dispenser into the washing machine.

When the operation is stopped, a syphon (not shown) in the water-intake conduit will discharge the dispenser.

Claims

1. A dispenser for liquid and particulate detergent compositions for use in a washing machine, said dispenser operating according to the cyclone or vortex principle, comprising a) a container, which has a cross section not showing any angles and which is open at the top, the edge between the bottom and the wall of the container being curved.

b) a water-inlet means arranged to introduce water tangentially to the wall to form a vortex in the container, the water-intake being positioned in the wall, whereby the bottom of the container has concave form, seen in the direction from the bottom to the top of the container.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, also comprising a syphon, positioned in the water-intake conduit before the water-inlet opening in the container.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1, substantially as shown in Figures I to IV.