WO1989007678A1

WO1989007678A1 - Dosing reservoir

Info

Publication number: WO1989007678A1
Application number: PCT/EP1988/001167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner Künzel; Peter Vierkötter
Original assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien
Priority date: 1988-02-15
Filing date: 1988-12-16
Publication date: 1989-08-24
Also published as: ES1009535Y; DE8801922U1; ES1009535U; PT8035Y; PT8035U; EP0328769A1

Abstract

A dosing reservoir for receiving and discharging a liquid for treating laundry in a washing machine or the like comprises a closure which can be opened during the washing cycle and which has an operating extension (6) projecting above the surrounding surface of the dosing reservoir. To obtain an improved dosing reservoir and in particular a more convenient design, the closure element (4) is lodged in a retainer (7) projecting into the interior of the dosing reservoir (1) and the tip (8) of the operating extension (6) which projects above the surrounding surface of the dosing reservoir (3) in the closed position is located approximately level with or above the surrounding wall of the dosing reservoir (3) in the fully open position.

Description

Dosing memory

The invention relates to a metering device according to the feature of the preamble of claim 1.

Dosing stores for use in a washing machine or the like have already become known in several embodiments. In particular, metering stores are known which have one or more non-closable openings and such metering stores which are closable and release laundry treatment liquid only upon special action. Such a metering memory is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 3,880,391. In this metering reservoir, the closure part is provided with an angled weight which is intended to open the closure part in a spin cycle of a laundry machine. The closure part is designed in detail with a circumferential locking groove, which interacts with a corresponding locking tongue on a retracted nozzle of the metering reservoir in the locked state. The closure part has an outwardly projecting handling extension, which is connected to the metering reservoir by means of a flexible holder in the outer edge region of the connecting piece which has a length reserve in the closed state. In the closed state, the handling extension is completely and the holder for the most part within the socket. However, no opening pressure can be exerted on the closure part via the flexible holder. From US publication 933 001 a metering memory is also known, in which a weight arranged in the interior of the metering memory is connected to the closure part in a comparable manner. The closure part has a mounting extension which projects beyond the wall area of the metering reservoir surrounding the opening. A connecting part, which in the closed state also forms an upwardly projecting loop, is pulled through the mounting extension, via which the mounting extension and thus the locking part is fastened to the metering reservoir. An end region of the holding part extends approximately radially to the handling extension of the closure part.

With these known dosing stores it is possible to supply a laundry treatment liquid only in a certain cycle, the spin cycle. However, there is a need to be able to supply the laundry treatment liquid in the washing machine at the beginning of a laundry treatment after the washing process has been started, but without the liquid being able to leak out of the metering reservoir or otherwise escape before the start of a laundry treatment.

The object of the invention is to improve the known metering reservoir and to make it more advantageous in use.

This object is achieved in a metering store with the features of claim 1.

The inclusion of the closure part in one inside the

Dosing storage projecting cage gives the closure part a limited, but sufficient to open and close movement. In addition, the dimensions of the receiving cage can be chosen so that the

Closure part can be detected at any time on the handling extension to bring it into the closed position. Therefor the length of the handling extension is also important. It is suitably provided that the tip of the handling extension in the fully opened state of the closure part is approximately at the level of the surrounding metering storage wall or above. The surrounding metering storage wall is in particular also the wall of the opening cross section. It is also important that the handling extension is cantilevered in the locked state. At the beginning of a laundry treatment cycle in the washing machine, the wobbling movement of the dosing reservoir which is initiated by the drum movement of the washing machine, in cooperation with the laundry in the washing machine, particularly when the laundry is already wet, reliably causes such pressure on the closure part. over the handling extension, exercised that the closure opens. The cantilever arrangement of the handling extension helps to ensure that the opening is reliable. In the case of the known dosing store, the handling effort when closing is also considered disadvantageous. The closure part must be carefully brought into the closed state over its entire circumference, including the sealing lip. It is also possible to close the closure part only with a relatively large amount of force, since an opening should only take place when a relatively large force is applied. In a preferred development, the invention proposes with regard to the fact that the closure part forms a mounting area for frictionally locking mounting in the closed state. This mounting area is preferably of a relatively small length in order to achieve opening even with a relatively small displacement of the closure part inwards. A frictional mounting of the closure part can advantageously be set in such a way that the given holding force allows the closure part (only) to be opened by the pressure of wet laundry items. If such a dosing storage device is inserted into a washing machine, the laundry treatment liquid comes out of the dosing storage device reliably sig only when the laundry items are already soaked, so the laundry treatment liquid can fully develop its effect.

The receiving cage is designed such that it allows the laundry treatment liquid to pass through to the opening, which can be closed by the closure part. The invention teaches that openings are formed in the receiving cage in the form of slots, which are preferably located in the side wall of the receiving cage. The closure part is suitably provided with a foot area, which provides a positional security in the receiving cage due to its lateral extension. For example, the foot part can engage in grooves formed in the receiving cage and running parallel to the displacement direction of the closure part. In this way it can be achieved that the closure part moves from the closed position into the open position without major tilting.

A special embodiment of the closure part is seen in the fact that it is spherical and consists of a soft, flexible material. The closure part is preferably designed as a solid body. Such a closure part can be fixed in a plug-like manner by frictional engagement in the opening. By suitably coordinating the size and softness of the material, it can be achieved that a specially designed handling extension is not required. The upper region of the closure part which is spherical or elliptical in cross-section and protrudes from the opening in the closed state itself acts as an extension on which wet laundry can act to open it. This area of the closure part can not be detected in a derar term configuration or only with difficulty when the closure part is in the open state. In this context, it is provided according to a further embodiment of the invention that the handling extension or a corresponding area of the closure part a rope or the like is connected to a handling part. For example, the handling part can be a ring on which the closure part can simply be pulled into the closed state, but which ring is of such a size that it cannot penetrate into the interior of the metering reservoir through the opening.

With regard to the guidance of the closure part or the handling extension, it can also be provided that a guide recess for the handling extension is formed in the opening. This, either alone or together with the guides mentioned in the receiving cage, can be a favorable configuration with regard to a mobility of the closure part that is as free of tilt as possible. The opening itself can be formed by an annular space that results in the guide recess in the opening state with respect to the handling extension. In addition to the guide recess, separate openings can also be formed, which are closed by a plate-like design of the upper region of the closure part in the closed state.

The described design of the metering reservoir can also be of importance without the holding cage mentioned. Here, the closure part, as already described in another context, can be connected by means of a rope or the like to a handling part, by means of which it can be put back into a closed state from the open state, in which it is located somewhere inside the metering reservoir. A special embodiment is also seen in the fact that the closure part is essentially conical in its outer contour.

In the described configuration of the dosing reservoir with a closure part caught in the receiving cage, there is also the advantage that the closure part is caused by the wobble movement during the laundry treatment cycle is always moved towards the opening, approximately in its closed position. As a result, an outflow of laundry treatment liquid can be throttled.

The invention is further explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which only shows exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows:

1 shows a cross section through a dosing reservoir with the closure part caught in a receiving cage, in the closed position;

FIG. 2 shows the object according to FIG. 1 in the open state;

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the object according to FIG. 1;

4 shows a detailed view of the opening area in the closed state;

FIG. 5 shows the object according to FIG. 4, in the open state;

6 shows a dosing reservoir with an alternative closure part;

Fig. 7 shows a metering device with a closure part, without a holding cage and

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a frictional holder.

Shown and described in FIG. 1 is a dosing reservoir, designated 1, into which laundry treatment liquid 2 is filled. The metering reservoir 1 has an inwardly drawn upper wall area 3 which forms an opening 25. The opening 25 is closed by a closure part 4, which has a foot part 5 and a handle exercise process 6 has. The closure part 4 is caught in a receiving cage 7. The receiving cage 7 projects into the interior of the metering reservoir 1. It can be seen that in the closed state, FIG. 1, the handling extension 6 has a cantilevered position.

In the fully open position, FIG. 2, the tip 8 of the handling extension 6 is located above the metering storage wall surrounding the opening 25.

The closure part 4 forms a mounting area 9 with which it can be held in the opening 25 in a frictionally locking manner. The holding force given by the frictional engagement is set such that the closure part 4 is revealed by the pressure of wet laundry items or the like.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the mounting cage 7 is designed as an insert which can be inserted into a wall opening in the upper area of the metering reservoir 1. This also has particular advantages in terms of production technology. In a broken line, the closure part 4 is shown in the open state. It can be seen that the tip is almost at the level of the surrounding metering storage wall 3.

The foot portion 5 of the closure part 4 is designed with respect to its lateral extent such that the

Locking part 4 is secured in position in the receiving cage 7. There is only a narrow gap 11 between the foot region 5 of the closure part 4 and the surrounding wall 12 of the receiving cage 7.

Openings 13 are formed in the receiving cage according to FIGS. 1-3 for the passage of the laundry treatment liquid 2. The size and arrangement of these openings can influence the outlet of the laundry treatment liquid. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 the receiving cage is likewise designed as an insert part which can be placed on the wall region 10 of the metering reservoir 1 which forms a collar. In the receiving cage 7, slot-like openings 13 are formed which are located in

Extension direction of the closure part 4 extend. The handling extension 6 has a larger step 14 in its lower area, which is formed by means of a conical transition. The stage 14 closes in the 4, the state shown in the middle opening 25. The side openings 16 and 17 are closed by the foot region 5 of the closure part 4 resting from below.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6 is a ball-like closure part 4 made of soft flexible in the unaffected state

Material provided, which closure part 4 is preferably designed as a solid body. A separate handling extension is missing in this embodiment, rather the laundry pressure acts directly on the upper region 18 of the closure part 4. This closure part 4 is caught in the same way in a receiving cage 7, in which suitable openings 13 are formed. In order to bring this closure part 4 into the closed position, a ring 20 connected via a rope piece 19 is provided. This ring 20 preferably has a diameter that exceeds that of the opening 25. In the opening state shown in dashed lines, the laundry treatment liquid 2 can escape from the metering dispenser 1, for example, in the ways indicated by the arrows 21.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, a separate receiving cage is not provided. The closure part 4 is essentially conical in cross section and in the same way as in the embodiment according to FIG. 6 secured via a cable connection 19 and a ring 20 or can be brought back into a closed position. In a further alternative to the embodiment according to FIG. 7 can in the upper In the area of the closure part 4, one or more wing-like extensions 22 can be provided, which can prevent the closure part 4 from fully entering the interior of the metering reservoir 1. These wing parts 22 replace the receiving cage in this embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed illustration of a frictionally engaging receptacle of a closure part 4 in the opening 15. The wall area 3 of the metering reservoir 1 is designed to form this opening in the form of a funnel opening 26 pointing downwards. In the closed state, there is a sealing effect between the surface of the foot region 5 and the front edge of the funnel mouth 26, while the frictional holding is provided in the interaction region 27.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, the drawing and the claims can be of importance both individually and in any combination for the implementation of the invention.

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Dosing store (1) for receiving and dispensing a laundry treatment liquid in a washing machine or the like, with a closure which is evident during the laundry treatment cycle and which has a handling extension (6) projecting beyond the surrounding dosing storage surface, characterized in that the closure part (4) is caught in a receptacle cage (7) projecting into the interior of the metering reservoir (1) and that the tip (8) of the handling extension (6) which projects freely in the closed state is in the fully open state approximately at the level of the surrounding metering reservoir wall (3) or above located.

2. Dosing reservoir according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure part (4) forms a mounting area (9) for frictional mounting in the closed state.

3. Dosing reservoir according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding force given by the frictional engagement is set such that the closure part (4) is evident from the pressure resulting from wet laundry items.

4. Dosing reservoir according to one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the receiving cage (7) has slot openings (13).

5. Dosing reservoir according to one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that the closure part (4) has a foot region (5) which secures it by its lateral extension in the receiving cage (7).

6. Dosing reservoir, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure part (4) is spherical and consists of a soft, flexible material.

7. Dosing reservoir according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the closure part (4) via a rope or the like is connected to a handling part (20).

8. dosing reservoir, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a guide recess (15) for the handling extension (6) is formed in the opening (15/25).

9. dosing reservoir, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the upper, in the closed state outstanding region of the closure part (4) are formed holding parts (22) which the closure part (4) in cooperation with the foot region (5) in the Catch opening.

10. Dosing reservoir, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure part (4) has upper extensions (22) which catch the closure part (4) in the opening (15/25), an opening gap being given in the opening state .

11. Dosing store for receiving and dispensing a laundry treatment liquid in a washing machine or the like, with a closure which is apparent during the laundry treatment cycle and which has a handling extension projecting beyond the surrounding dosage storage surface, characterized in that the closure part (4) is opened by laundry pressure into the Dosing store (1) can be pressed in and that the closure part (4) is essentially conical in its outer contour.