GB2321590A

GB2321590A - Detergent dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2321590A
Application number: GB9801609A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carmelo Vitale; Giuseppe Sergi
Original assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA; Electrolux Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA; Electrolux Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1997-01-29
Filing date: 1998-01-26
Publication date: 1998-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-26
Also published as: FR2758708A1; IT243409Y1; ES1039331Y; ES1039331U; DE29800479U1; GB2321590B; GB9801609D0; ITPN970006U1; FR2758708B3

Abstract

A rotary spray arm assembly 9 is supported by a basket (7, Fig 1.) on which there is mounted a detergent dispenser 15 with a cup-shaped element 16 for receiving a flow of water for delivering therewith, by way of a loading opening 22, the detergent contained in the cup-shaped element. The flow of water is supplied by way of a connecting tube 11 which extends from a side wall of the tub (5, Fig 1.) and communicates directly with the detergent dispenser 15 by way of an opening 14. Preferably the cup-shaped element 16 is provided with an auxiliary through-opening 26 surmounted by a cover portion 27.

Description

1 DISHWASKING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT DISPENSER 2321590 The present

invention relates to a domestic dishwashing machine provided with an improved detergent dispenser which can be used preferably but not exclusively for effecting prewash phases.

EP-B-0517015 discloses a dishwashing machine with a rotary spray arm assembly supported by a basket which can be pulled out, and fed from above with a jet of water passing through an air gap and a diffuser. Mounted on the basket above the rotary spray arm assembly is a detergent dispenser with a cup-shaped element for containing the detergent and receiving a part of the jet of feed water for delivering therewith, by way of an upper loading opening, the detergent contained in the cup-shaped element.

That construction permits correct and well-timed use of the detergent and advantageously minimises the possibility of deposits and/or encrustation of the detergent itself. On the other hand it is possible for a foreign body such as for example an item of crockery to be accidentally positioned in line with the air gap in such a way as to interrupt at least in part the feed of water to the rotary spray arm assembly and to the detergent dispenser, which are thus substantially ineffective as a result.

The aim of the present invention is that of providing a dishwashing machine with a detergent dispenser which not only minimises possible deposits andlor encrustation of detergent but which is also substantially free from malfunctions caused by the presence of foreign 30 bodies at the dispenser itself.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a dishwashing machine with a washing tub in which at least one rotary spray arm assembly is supported by a basket which can be pulled out and on which there is mounted a detergent dispenser comprising a cup-shaped element for containing detergent and for receiving a flow of supply water for delivering therewith, by way of an upper loading opening, the detergent contained in the cup-shaped element, wherein said flow of water is supplied by way of a connecting tube 2 is extending from a side wall of the washing tub and communicating directly with the detergent dispenser by way of a respective opening.

The features and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view through a dishwashing machine according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view on an enlarged scale taken along section line B-B in Figure 3 of the detergent dispenser of the dishwashing machine in Figure 1, with an associated water supply conduit and a rotary spray arm assembly, as a preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a partial view from above of the detergent dispenser shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows the detergent dispenser in section taken along line A-A in Figure 3.

With particular reference to Figure 1, the dishwashing machine primarily comprises a washing tub 5 in which are accommodated a lower basket (not shown for the sake of simplicity) and an upper basket 7 which can be pulled out for loading them with crockery. Disposed below each basket is an associated rotary spray arm assembly 8,9.

In particular the rotary spray arm assembly 9 associated with the upper basket 7 is rotatably supported by the basket itself, in per se known manner. As described for example in EP-B-0401767 the rotary spray arm assembly 9 is capable of being supplied with water under pressure by way of a hydraulic conduit 10 and a connecting tube 11 which are preferably interconnected by way of a collector or manifold 12 having a plurality of outlets, which permits suitable regulation in respect of height of the basket 7.

with reference also to Figs 2 to 4, the connecting tube 11 extends substantially horizontally from a side wall of the tub 5 and at its end 6 communicates with the rotary spray arm assembly 9 by way of a lower opening 13. In addition, by way of an upper opening 14 which is preferably coaxial with the opening 13 and which is of smaller section 3 is the tube 11 communicates with a detergent dispenser 15 which can be generally of a similar type to that described in above-mentioned EP-B0517015.

More precisely the detergent dispenser 15 comprises a cup-shaped element 16 which can be formed by a plurality of assembled complementary parts and the bottom of which has a tubular intake mouth portion 17 which is releasably coupled, for example by bayonet engagement means d iagrammatically indicated at 28, to a corresponding cylindrical portion 18.

The latter extends upwardly from the tube 11, around the upper opening 14. Preferably the mouth portion 17 of the dispenser 15 is substantially closed at the top by a shaped wall 19 provided with upwardly directed through holes 20 (Figure 4). The internal space of the dispenser 15 which is disposed downstream of the mouth portion 17 and the wall 19 defines a chamber 21 which can be loaded with a washing additive (for example detergent in powder form) by way of an upper opening 22 in the cup-shaped element 16. 20 Provided in the chamber 21 of the detergent dispenser in a position adjacent to the opening 22 is a substantially spherical or parabolic cap portion 23, towards which at least some of the holes 20 of the mouth portion 17 are directed. The cap portion 23 is fixed with respect to the cup-shaped element 16, with respect to which it is spaced and connected by means of ribs 24 or the like.

Preferably moreover the cap portion 23 comprises at least one recess 25 or the like, by way of which additive such as detergent in the form of solid pellets can be introduced into the chamber 21.

In accordance with a further, optional feature of the invention, provided in the lower part of the cup-shaped element 16 there is preferably at least one auxiliary through-opening 26 which is substantially surmounted by a cover portion 27 or the like which is preferably produced in one piece with the tubular mouth portion 17.

The general mode of operation of the dishwashing machine is known and is not to be described herein. In particular, when a flow of water under pressure is supplied 4 through the connecting tube 11, part thereof passes through the lower opening 13 to feed the rotary spray arm assembly 9 and part passes through the upper opening 14 to go into the chamber 21 of the detergent dispenser 15 by way of the holes 20 in the shaped wall portion 19, said holes acting as ejector nozzles.

It will be noted that the dispenser 15 can be rapidly removed from the dishwashing machine with a simple movement for disengaging the bayonet engagement means 28 to fill the chamber 21 with detergent in powder form by way of the opening 22. The detergent which is introduced into the opening 22 slides freely around the cap portion 23 and is deposited on the bottom of the cup-shaped element 16, from which the cover portion 27 prevents it from accidentally escaping by way of the auxiliary opening 26. Alternatively or in addition at least one detergent pellet or the like can be introduced into the chamber 21 by way of the recess 25 in the cap portion 23, as already referred to above.

The jets of water emitted by the holes 20 are directed towards the cap portion 23 which in turn diffuses them suitably in the chamber 21 in such a way as completely and efficiently to involve the detergent contained therein.

Under the effect of the flow of water the detergent is thus quickly and completely expelled (already diluted with water) from the cup-shaped element 16 by way of the loading opening 22 to be introduced into the washing tub 5 after having been intercepted by the jets of water (not shown) emitted by the rotary spray arm assemblies 8 and 9.

Advantageously therefore the detergent is delivered in a suspension into the tub of the machine in such a form that it is already substantially dissolved, whereby it can effectively and quickly perform its washing action.

Obviously a small part of the detergent which is diluted with water also normally issues from the auxiliary opening 26 of the dispenser.

The auxiliary opening 26 is particularly important if ever a foreign body (for example and item of crockery) is accidentally positioned in line with the dispenser 15 in such a way as to at least partially obstruct the loading opening 22 thereof. In that case in fact the water and the detergent which cannot issue from the dispenser 15 by the way of the opening 22 issue therefrom. in a forced flow through the auxiliary opening 26.

It will be noted moreover that, by virtue of the combination of the dispenser 15, of the cup-shaped typed, mounted on the basket 7, with a connecting tube 11 which is substantially without any air gaps but which is capable at the same time of permitting height regulation of the basket 7, it is impossible for any foreign bodies to accidentally intercept the flow of water under pressure which feeds the upper rotary spray arm assembly 9 and the detergent distributor 15.

Thus functional effectiveness of the detergent dispenser 15 and the entire machine is ensured practically under any crockery loading conditions.

It will be appreciated that the above-described dishwashing machine may be the subject of many modifications which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

6

Claims

1. A dishwashing machine with a washing tub in which at least one rotary spray arm assembly is supported by a basket which can be pulled out and on which there is mounted a detergent dispenser comprising a cup-shaped element for containing detergent and for receiving a flow of supply water for delivering therewith, by way of an upper loading opening, the detergent contained in the cup-shaped element, wherein said flow of water is supplied by way of a connecting tube extending from a side wall of the washing tub and communicating directly with the detergent dispenser by way of a respective opening.

2. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1, where said cup-shaped element is provided with at least one auxiliary through-opening which is substantially surmounted by a cover portion or the like.

3. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom of the cup-shaped element has a tubular intake mouth portion which is releasably engaged to a corresponding cylindrical portion extending upwardly from the connecting tube around said opening.

4. A dishwashing machine according to claim 3, wherein said mouth portion of the dispenser is substantially closed upwardly by a shaped wall portion provided with through holes for emitting jets of water upwardly, the internal space of the dispenser which is disposed downstream of the mouth portion and the wall portion defining a chamber capable of being loaded with detergent by way of said upper opening of the cup-shaped element.

5. A dishwashing machine according to claim 4, wherein provided in the chamber of the detergent dispenser in a position adjacent to the upper opening is a cap portion towards which are oriented at least some of the holes of the tubular mouth portion, the cap portion being capable of 7 diffusing into the chamber the jets of water which are emitted from the holes so as completely to involve the detergent contained in the cupshaped element.

6. A dishwashing machine according to claim 5, wherein the cap portion is fixed with respect to the cup-shaped element, with respect to which it is spaced and connected by means of ribs or the like.

7. A dishwashing machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the cap portion comprises at least one recess through which additive in the form of solid pellets can be introduced into the chamber.

is

8. A dishwashing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.