WO2003006731A1

WO2003006731A1 - Washing machine with detergent dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2003006731A1
Application number: PCT/TR2002/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serdar GÜLER; Hakan AMAÇ
Original assignee: Arçelik A.S.
Priority date: 2001-07-13
Filing date: 2002-07-10
Publication date: 2003-01-23
Also published as: ATE354693T1; DE60218322D1; DE60218322T2; ES2281531T3; EP1423564B1; EP1423564A1

Abstract

A washing machine comprising a detergent dispenser in the form of a drawer (2) with one or more compartments (3) for washing agents. The washing agent is transferred via a passage (7) to the washing tub after being mixed with water. The compartment bottom is narrower than the top facilitate spreading of the agent by its own weight. A water distributor (8) mounted to the drawer recess may transfer water to both the inlet (5) of a water duct (4) reaches the bottom of the compartment (3) through the water duct outlet (6). In this way, the washing agent contained in the compartment (3) only partially contacts with the water, and the portion that has first contacted with water is directed towards the washing tub, thus avoiding the solidifying of the replacing agent due to wetting. Water added from above removes the residual washing agent built up on the compartment walls.

Description

WASHING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT DISPENSER

The present invention relates a washing machine comprising a detergent dispenser, which facilitates the in take of the washing agents to the washing tub and avoids wastage of the washing agents.

In washing machines, a detergent drawer that provides the transfer of said washing agents to the washing tub after being mixed with washing water, is used.

In the state of art, water is fed into the detergent compartment located in the detergent drawer by means of water distribution tools placed over it. In this case, the washing agent that is placed to the detergent drawer, is directed to the outlet of the detergent drawer and transferred together to the tub with the water. To sweep off the residual washing agents, especially powder washing agents that are stuck onto the inner wall of the detergent compartment, more sprinlding holes are required on the said drawer. In this embodiment of the technique, detergent residues accumulate between the compartment and the drawer by the time, or may not be completely taken into the washing tub due to the pressure losses in the water system, which interferes with the washing efficiency. In order to avoid this problem the residual detergent accumulated in the drawer and the compartment has to be removed by the user periodically. Since the user cannot spread the washing agents efficiently in the compartment due to its long and slim geometrical structure, she usually feels the necessity to reform it by hand or fills the washing agent into the compartment by moving it above the detergent drawer. Furthermore, as the detergent drawer extends towards the back of the washing machine, it occupies a large space, leading to the restrictions of design.

In GB2165555, water is directed both towards the bottom of the compartment and to an upper flow with a sprinkler method. In the US3696970 and FR 2589893, water is fed to the bottom of the compartment so that the washing agent and water mixing is transferred to the washing tub.

The object of the present invention is to provide and realize a washing machine comprising a detergent drawer that allows effective transfer of the washing agents contained in the drawer to the tub in such manner that all residual washing agentsare removed from the compartments containing them.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the above mentioned objective of the present invention has been illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of the washing machine. Fig. 2 is the perspective view of the detergent drawer.

Fig. 3 is the side sectional view of the detergent drawer together with the water distribution means.

Fig. 4 is the side schematic view of the detergent drawer in a closed position. Fig. 5, is the side schematic view of the detergent drawer in an open position.

Fig. 6 is the side schematic view of the detergent drawer below the water duct.

Fig. 7 is the top schematic view of the means for the distribution of water. Fig.8 is the schematic view of the detergent drawer with the means for the distribution of water equipped with a directing part.

Fig. 9 is the schematic view of the detergent drawer with the means for the distribution of water equipped with a propeller.

Fig. 10 is the schematic view of the drawer recess. The components shown in the figures have individually been enumerated as shown below:

I . Drawer recess 2. Washing agent drawer

3. Washing agent compartment

4. Water duct

5. Inlet

6. Outlet 7. Passage

8. Water distributor

9. Front panel

10. Pin

II. Recess 12. Projection

13. Opening

14. Propeller

15. Channel

16. Directing member

In the washing machines, the washing agents such as detergents, etc. are transferred to the washing tub after being mixed with washing water. The washing machine comprises a front panel (9); a washing agent drawer (2) which contains washing agents wherein said washing agent is mixed with the washing water; a drawer recess (1) into which said washmg agent drawer is placed and a water distributor (8) that directs the water entrained towards said washing agent drawer (2). The washing agent drawer (2) comprises one or more washing agent compartments (3) that receive the washing agent which contribute the washing performance, and one or more water ducts (4) that transfers water required for entraining the washing agent so that it mixes before reaching the tub. The washing agent compartment (3) has a width of which decreases downwards on the vertical axis with regard to the ground, such as a reverse conical or pyramidal structure. Thus, the bottom of the compartment (3) has a geometry that is narrower when compared to its inlet.. Therefore, when washing agent is introduced into washing agent compartment (3) said washing agent spreads by its own weight in said compartment (3) and the user is no more required to spread it manually and furthermore by virtue of this structure, only a small portion of the washing agent, not all of the agents, can be mixed with water and transferred to the tub. A certain number of compartments (3) are provided for the purpose of using different washing agents in the same machine.

The water duct (4) is preferably situated at the rear wall of the said detergent compartment (3). The water duct (4) which is equipped with an inlet (5) and an outlet (6), has preferably a curved structure that prevents the washing agent from passing from the compartment (3) to the washing tub before being mixed with water and supports the mass of the washing material from below. Its inlet (5) is preferably connected to the water distributor (8). Whereas its outlet (6) is provided at bottom of the washmg agent compartment (3), opening to a point higher than its bottom. By virtue of the curved structure of said duct (4), water passing through it accelerates and splashes against the surface opposite to the outlet (6) of the water duct, which is preferably curved due to the occurring jet flow, and creates turbulence. A passage (7) is formed by leaving a gap between the outlet (6) of the water duct and the bottom of the washing agent compartment (3). Thus, the washing agent particles that are mixed with water at the bottom of the washing agent compartment pass through said passage (7) to be transferred to the washing tub.

The water distributor (8) is mounted to the drawer recess (1) in such a manner that water may be transferred both to the water duct inlet (5) and over the washing agent compartment (3). Said water distributor (8) is connected to the hoses that provide the hot and/or cold water circulation. The water distributor (8) itself is also equipped with channels (15) of various shapes and dimensions for the circulation of hot and cold water separately and for its transfer to the compartment (3) and/or water duct (4).

In order to facilitate the opening/closing of the washing agent drawer (2) inside the drawer recess (1), one or more recesses (11) and pins (10) are provided on the drawer recess (1) and one or more projections (12) are formed so that they fit into said recesses (11) and one or more curved openings (13) for receiving the pins (10) and facilitating their movements are provided on both lateral sides of the drawer (2). The washing agent drawer (2) rotates around the axis which is assumed to be the line connecting the projections (12) and the pins (10) move inside the openings (13) formed on the washing agent drawer (2) while opening or closing said drawer (2). The rotational movement of the drawer (2) is limited by the dimensions of the opening (13) and the drawer (2) is in an inclined position when it is opened. This movement of the drawer (2) provides both a facility for its opening or closing and avoids the washing agent introduced into the drawer (2) to be poured out when it is in an inclined position, through the passage (7).

During the washing procedure, while a certain amount of water is being directed towards the bottom of the stack of washing agent contained in the washing agent compartment (3) by the water distributor (8) and the water duct (4), some amount of water is directed towards the inside of the washing agent compartment (3) from above, by means of the water distributor (8), so that the washing agent introduced into the washing agent compartment (3) is completely used for the washing operation. Water, advancing through the water duct (4) reaches the bottom of the washing agent compartment (3) through the water duct outlet (6). Water first gets into contact with the small amount of washing agent present at the bottom of the compartment (3), then splashes against the surface opposing the said outlet (6), which is preferably curved and create a turbulence, passes through the passage (7) after mixing with the washing agent and is transferred into the washing tub. Meanwhile, as the water and washing agent mixture is transferred to the tub by passing through the passage (7) without reaching the upper sections of the washing agent compartment (3), residual washing agent particle accumulation at the inner walls of the washing agent compartment (3) is avoided. At the same time, the washing agent particles on the top of the stack of washing agent take the place of the particles transferred to the tub under the influence of the gravitational force, are transferred to the washing tub after mixing with the water from the water duct (4). In this way, the washmg agent contained in the washing agent compartment (3) only partially contacts with water, and the portion that has first contacted with water is directed towards the washing tub, thus avoiding the solidifying of the replacing washing agent due to wetting. This process continues as long as water, coming from the water duct (4) is directed towards the bottom of the washing agent compartment (3). By means of the water coming from above into the washing agent drawer (2), the residual washing agent built up on the walls of the washing agent compartment (3) are removed and added to the washing liquid, in other words the most efficient mode of utilizing the washing agent is provided. Water may be directed to the washing agent compartment both from the bottom and the top either simultaneously or with a certain phase difference.

In another embodiment of the invention, water is supplied only from the top. In order to provide this, the height of the side of the water duct (4) that forms the back wall of the washing agent compartment (3) that is adjacent to the said compartment is decreased. Thus water, overflowing from the compartment (3) passes over said low side into the water duct (4) and is directed towards the bottom of the washing agent compartment (3).

In one of the embodiments developed for water intake from the top of the washing agent compartment (3), the water distributor (8) above the washing gent drawer (2) is provided with a directing member (16) in the shape of an umbrella with dimensions in conformity with the inlet mouth width of the said compartment (3) below the part above it. Water from the hole flows over the walls of the washing agent compartment (3) as a thin film of water from the surface of the directing member (16) in order to remove the residual washing agent particles.

In another embodiment of the invention, a propeller (14) with blades is placed in the water distributor (8) and the water, which is transferred to the washing agent compartment (3) by rotating the propeller by means of water pressure, cleans the walls. The propeller (14) provides the contact of all wall of the washing agent compartment (13) with water by the water coming out of the holes at different angles, formed on its periphery.

In another embodiment of the invention, two propellers with different angles, sections and dimensions of the blades are superimposed. Water passing through the blades of the upper propeller (14) splashes against the blades of the lower propeller and is directed in an irregular way, towards the walls of the washing agent compartment (3).

Yet in another embodiment of the invention, perforations of various widths and angles are formed on the part of the water distributor (8) that is located above the washing agent compartment (3), so that water is transferred inside and to the walls of the washing agentcompartment (3) by a sprinkling method.

In another embodiment of the invention, water duct (4) is placed at the lower part of the washing agent compartment (3). Here, the bottom of the washing agent compartment (3) opens to the water duct (4) and there remains no need to form a passage (7) between the rear wall and the bottom surface. Thus, the washing agent contained in the washing agent compartment (3) mixes directly with the water in the water duct (4) and is entrained into the tub. In another embodiment of the invention, the washing agent drawer (2) is made of a transparent material so that the user may control whether the washing agent is taken in or not, without opening the drawer.

In another embodiment of the invention, main washing and pre-washing procedures are performed in one compartment (3) by controlling the level and duration of the water flow into the washmg agent drawer (2). In this case a decrease in such requirements as space and the number of values is attained.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising a drawer recess (1) and a washing agent drawer (2) which is placed in said recess (1), characterized with the washing agent drawer (2) comprising one or more washing agent compartments (3) with a structure that has a width of which decreases downwards on the vertical axis with regard to the ground, wherein the bottom of the compartment (3) has a geometry that is narrower when compared to its inlet mouth which enables the washing agent to spread in the compartment (3) by its own weight when its is introduced into said compartment (3) and by virtue of which, the washing material is piece by piece mixed with water and transferred to the tub, and one or more water ducts (4) provided with a water intake inlet (5) and a water outlet (6) where said water is transferred to the lower part of said washing agent compartment (3); which provides the transfer of the washing agent to the washing tub, after being mixed with water.

2. A washing machine as defined in Claim 1, characterized with the washing agent compartment (3) that comprises an inlet mouth used to introduce washing agent, a bottom section with preferably a curved structure, the width of which decreases as compared to the inlet mouth, wherein a small portion of the washing agent is mixed with water and wherein the outlet (6) of the water duct opens, and a passage (7) that provides the transfer of the mixture formed by water coming from the water duct (4) and the washing agent, to the washing tub and prevents the washing agent from reaching the washing tub while being introduced into the drawer.

3. A washing machine as defined in Claim 1, to 2, characterized with the washing agent drawer (2) where the water duct (4) is placed on at least one of the side-and/or back- walls of the washing agent compartment (3).

4. A washing machine as defined in Claim 1, to 3, characterized with the washing agent drawer (2) where the water duct (4) has a curved structure that prevents the washing agent from passing from the compartment (3) to the washing tub before being mixed with water and supports the stacks of the washing material from below.

5. A washing machine as defined in Claim 1, to 4, characterized with the washing agent drawer (2), wherein the water duct (4) comprises at least one hole on its surface, facing towards the inner wall of the washing agent compartment (3).

6. A washing machine as defined in Claim 1, characterized with the drawer recess (1) comprising one or more pins (10) and recesses (11) and, the washing agent drawer (2) which is placed inside the drawer recess (1), which is provided on both lateral sides, with one or more projections (12) formed to fit into said recesses (11) and one or more curved openings (13) provided for receiving the pins (10) to move freely in said openings (13); which assumes that the line connecting the projections (12) is the rotational axis and rotates about this axis, said rotational movement being limited with the dimensions of said opening (13), and which stays at an inclined position when it is opened and avoids the falling of the washing material introduced into the drawer (2) when it is in an inclined position, through the passage (7).

7. A washing machine as defined in Claim 1 to 6, characterized with a water distributor (8) that is mounted to the drawer recess (1) and provided with holes in such a manner that water may be transferred both to the water duct inlet (5) and to the washing agentcompartment (3) and is connected to the hoses that provide the hot and/or cold water circulation in the washing machine.

8. A washing machine as defined in Claim 7, characterized with the water distributor (8) that comprises channels (15) of various shapes and dimensions for the circulation of hot and cold water separately and for its transfer to the compartment (3) and/or water duct (4).

9. A washing machine as defined in Claim 8, characterized with the water distributor (8) that comprises at least one propeller (14) which rotates by means of the pressure of water coming through the channels (15) and transfers said water to the washing agent compartment (3) and to its lateral surfaces in order to clean the inner walls of said compartment (3).

10. A washing machine as defined in Claim 8, characterized with the water distributor (8) that comprises, a directing member (16) in the shape of an umbrella with dimensions in conformity with the inlet mouth width of the said compartment (3), wherein water from the hole flows over the walls of the washing agent compartment (3) as a thin film of water from the surface of the directing member (16) in order to remove the residual washing agent particles on the inner walls.

11. A washing machine as defined in Claim 1, characterized with the washing agent drawer (2) wherein the water duct (4) which is placed at the lower part of the washing agent compartment (3) to form the bottom of the washing agent compartment (3), whereby the washing agent contained in the washing agent compartment (3) mixes directly with the water in the water duct (4) and is entrained into the tub.