WO2009083577A1

WO2009083577A1 - A dishwasher

Info

Publication number: WO2009083577A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/068303
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ufuk Askin; Songul Bayraktar
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-12-31
Filing date: 2008-12-27
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: TR201005126T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) having a detergent dispenser (2) comprising a reservoir (3) filled with water during the washing process and provides the tub with a solution produced therein resulting from the contact of water with the tablet (T), and a tablet holder (5) in the form of a grill or mesh which is pivotally mounted with a hinge to the top of said reservoir (3) in such a way that, when opened, a tablet (T) can be inserted therein, and when closed, holds the tablet suspended horizontally over the reservoir (3), and which enables water to reach the tablet (T) through the part that stays inside the reservoir (3).

Description

A DISHWASHER

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher that comprises a cleaning agent dispenser.

[0002] In dishwashers, detergent dispensers generally mounted onto the interior of the door are used. Inside these dispensers, reservoirs are disposed to place detergent and polishing chemical agents. Detergent placed inside the reservoir provides the dissolution of dirt over dishes, and the polishing agent enables the improvement of drying by reducing surface roughness of water. Chemical agents used in a cleaning process can be effective only if they are added during the correct cycle: For example, detergent should be added during the main wash cycle, whereas compounds like polishers and glass protectors need be added during the hot rinse (the second rinse) cycle. When powder and/or liquid chemicals are used, each chemical is placed inside a separate division of its own; opening of these divisions at the appropriate cycle enables the use of the right chemical at the right moment. However, detergent tablets named 2in1 or 3in1 , combining more than one chemical such as detergent, water softener, polisher dissolving at different temperature, pressed in layers, are dissolved under the mechanical impact of water jets during circulation when directly placed into the washing environment. During that same period, the polishing chemical agent, usually in the form of a ball inside the tablet and soluble only at high temperature, also dissolves and is discharged from the dishwasher with waste water at the end of the main wash cycle, leaving no more polisher for use during the hot rinse cycle.

[0003] In the state of the art, the United States of America Patent Document No US2969072, a detergent dispenser used in dishwashers and pivotally mounted onto the basket wherein the dishes are loaded is described.

[0004] In the state of the art, the Great Britain Patent Document No GB2321590, a detergent dispenser used in dishwashers and mounted onto the connecting tube that conducts water to the spray arms is explained.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a detergent dispenser wherein a detergent tablet is placed and which conserves the polishing chemical element inside said tablet up to the end of the washing.

[0006] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0007] In the dishwasher, a tablet in the form of a rectangular prism comprising a layer containing agents such as detergent and softener, and a polishing ball containing dissolving at high temperatures such as polisher or glass protector is placed into the detergent dispenser for cleaning the dishes and the preservation of the polishing ball till the hot rinse cycle at the end of the washing by dissolving the tablet gradually is provided.

[0008] The detergent dispenser comprises a reservoir, which provides the tub with the detergent-water solution produced therein, and a tablet holder in the form of a grill or mesh, which is disposed within the reservoir, and opened for placing the tablet therein, and when closed the part of which remains within the reservoir enables the water to reach the tablet.

[0009] The detergent dispenser furthermore comprises a guide arranged in the tablet holder, ensuring the placement of the tablet inside the tablet holder in a position pre-determined by the manufacturer.

[0010] The guide is configured to be a semi-cylindrical or a dome shape wherein the fragment of the polishing ball that projects out from the layer is fitted ensuring the placement of the tablet in a way in which the polishing ball faces upwards and the detergent layer faces downwards when the tablet holder is closed onto the reservoir.

[0011] The guide prevents misplacement of the tablet having a polishing ball within into the tablet holder, ensuring the correct positioning thereof. Following correct placement of the tablet into the tablet holder by means of the guide, when the tablet holder is closed onto the reservoir, the polishing ball in the tablet is positioned outside and the detergent layer inside with regard to the reservoir.

[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the tablet by means of the guide configured as a depression extending upwards over the lid of the tablet holder is positioned so that the polishing ball faces upwards, the layer faces downwards and the water inside the reservoir reaches the detergent layer first and does not contact with the polishing ball until the layer is dissolved when the tablet holder is positioned horizontally. [0013] A dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, where: [0014] Figure 1 - is a schematic view of a dishwasher, [0015] Figure 2 - is a schematic view of a tablet detergent, [0016] Figure 3 - is a sectional view of a detergent dispenser, [0017] Figure 4 - is a perspective view of a detergent dispenser, [0018] Figure 5 - is a view from above a detergent dispenser. [0019] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher

2. Detergent dispenser

3. Reservoir

4. Bottom wall

5. Tablet holder

6. Guide

7. Lid

[0020] The dishwasher (1) comprises a tub wherein the washing process is carried out, a door that enables access into the tub, more than one basket wherein items to be washed are loaded, one or more spray arms providing water supply onto the items placed in the baskets, and a detergent dispenser (2) wherein a tablet (T) is placed.

[0021] The tablet (T) placed inside a detergent dispenser (2) comprises a layer (L), which is preferably in the shape of a rectangular prism and contains agents such as detergent and softener, and a polishing ball (B), which projects out in a spherical shape starting from the centre of the layer (L), containing chemicals which dissolve at high temperature such as polisher or glass protector and which is required to dissolve during the hot rinse cycle towards the end of a washing program

[0022] The detergent dispenser (2) comprises,

- a reservoir (3) filled with water during a washing process and providing the tub (2) with a solution produced when water contacts the tablet (T) therein, - a tablet holder (5) wherein a tablet (T) is placed, which is arranged over the reservoir (3), remaining therein when closed onto the reservoir and which comprises a bottom wall (4) in the form of a grill or mesh enabling water to reach the tablet (T) and

- a guide (6) arranged in the tablet holder (5), which ensures the placement of the tablet (T) inside the tablet holder (5) in a position pre-determined by the manufacturer, and which is configured to be a semi-cylindrical or a dome shape wherein the fragment of the polishing ball (B) that projects out from the layer (L) is fitted.

[0023] In an embodiment of the invention, the tablet holder (5) holds the tablet (T) suspended horizontally over the reservoir (3).

[0024] The tablet holder (5) comprises a lid (7) positioning horizontally when closed onto the reservoir (3) and which covers the top thereof (3). The guide (6) is configured as a depression on the lid (7) and extends upward over the lid (7) when the lid (7) is positioned horizontally. Consequently, the guide (6) enables the positioning of the tablet (T) in a way that the polishing ball (B) faces upwards and the layer (L) downwards over the reservoir (3) and reaching of water inside the reservoir to the layer causing the detergent layer to dissolve first, prevents the contact of water to polishing ball until the detergent layer is fully dissolved. The water inside reservoir contacts the polishing ball, only after the ball reaches the bottom wall following the dissolving of the layer under the impact of gravity.

[0025] The guide (6) prevents the tablet (T) having a polishing ball (B) from being misplaced into the tablet holder (5). Once the tablet (T) is placed into the tablet holder (5) in the correct position by means of the guide (6), with the closing of the tablet holder (5) onto the reservoir (3), the polishing ball (B) stays on the top and the layer (L) containing other detergent elements remains on the bottom. Firstly, the contact of the water inside the reservoir (3) to the layer (L) positioned on the lower part of the tablet (T) and required to be dissolved at the start of a washing program is provided. The water inside the reservoir contacts the polishing ball reaching the bottom wall towards the end of the washing program, following the dissolving of the layer (L) located below, thus enabling the preservation of the polishing ball till the end of the washing, providing the polishing ball to be used effectively during the hot rinse cycle at the end of the washing program. The detergent dispenser (2) used in the dishwasher (1) of the present invention provides a controlled dissolution of the tablet (T) and preserves the polishing ball (B) of the tablet (T) without dissolving until the second rinse cycle of the washing program.

Claims

1. A dishwasher (1) comprising

- a detergent dispenser (2) wherein a tablet (T) comprising a layer (L) containing agents such as detergent and softener and a polishing ball (B) containing chemical agents dissolving at high temperatures such as polisher or glass protector and which is required to be dissolved during the hot rinse cycle towards the end of the washing program is placed, and characterized by

- a reservoir (3) wherein the water is filled during a washing process and which provides the tub with a solution produced by water contacting the tablet (T),

- a tablet holder (5) wherein a tablet (T) is placed, arranged over the reservoir (3), remaining therein when closed over the reservoir (3) and comprising a bottom wall (4) in the form of a grill or mesh, enabling the water to contact with the tablet (T),

- a guide (6) arranged in the tablet holder (5), which ensures the placement of the tablet (T) inside the tablet holder (5) in a pre-determined position, and which is configured to be a semi-cylindrical or a dome shape wherein the fragment of the polishing ball (B) that projects out from the layer (L) is fitted.

2. A dishwasher (1), as described in Claim 1 , characterized by the detergent dispenser (2) comprising the tablet holder (5) that holds the tablet (T) suspended horizontally over the reservoir (3).

3. A dishwasher (1) as described in Claims 1 or 2, which is characterized by the detergent dispenser (2) comprising the tablet holder (5) having a lid (7), positioned horizontally when closed onto the reservoir (3) and which covers the top of the reservoir (3), and the guide (6) configured as a depression on the lid

(7).

4. A dishwasher (1) as described in Claim 3, which is characterized by the detergent dispenser (2) comprising the guide (6) which, when the lid (7) is positioned horizontally, extends upward over said lid (7), and which, when the tablet holder (5) is closed onto the reservoir (3), ensures that the tablet (T) is positioned inside said reservoir (3) with the polishing ball (B) on the top and the layer (L) on the bottom, enabling water to reach and dissolve first the layer (L) without contacting the polishing ball (B) before said layer (L) has dissolved away.