WO2013037023A1

WO2013037023A1 - Cleaning agent dispenser for a laundry machine

Info

Publication number: WO2013037023A1
Application number: PCT/BR2012/000328
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claudio Roberto GONÇALVES; Estevan Rodrigo CECCON; Marcelo Piekarski; Simone Cristina Lombardi
Original assignee: Electrolux Do Brasil S.A.
Priority date: 2011-09-12
Filing date: 2012-08-31
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: BRPI1104483B1; BRPI1104483A2; CN103842578A; CN103842578B

Abstract

The invention refers, generally, to cleaning agent dispensers (300) in laundry machines. According to an embodiment of the invention, the dispenser (300) of a cleaning agent for a laundry machine comprises a vessel provided with lower wall, front wall, side walls, rear wall and an upper opening, a channel (320) being formed on an inner side portion of said vessel for dispensing the cleaning agent when an inverted spinning direction with respect to the normal spinning direction of the machine is performed.

Description

"CLEANING AGENT DISPENSER FOR A LAUNDRY MACHINE"

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention refers generally to dispensers of cleaning agents in washing machines and, in particular, the invention refers to a washing machine comprising a simplified and easy to clean cleaning agent.

BACKGROUND ART

Washing machines are household or industrial appliances widely used to assist the task of cleaning garments or fabrics. Among the laundry machines and among them the washing machines, some constructive embodiments are known, such as front loading machine and top-loading machines.

Front loading machines feature the opening and the access door inside the machine, where the washing basket is contained, on the front side of the machine, while the access to the interior of the washing compartment for the top-loading machines is made through an opening at the upper portion of the machine.

However, the operating principle of these types of washing machine is similar and consists of a pierced basket, in order to allow the passage of water and/or cleaning agents for textiles, and stirring the fabrics within the washing basket in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. After washing and rinsing, there is usually a spin cycle meant to remove excess water from the fabrics in order to make the subsequent drying thereof. In the spin cycle, the basket rotates in only one direction at a relatively high speed, such as 500 or 1 ,000 rpm or more.

In top-loading machines, a swing ring on the upper portion of the washing basket is also provided for, and it has both an aesthetic finishing function, in order to afford a better visual aspect to the machine, and a function of closing the portion between the washing basket and the tank of the machine, as well as allowing the balancing of the basket, in order to reduce the risk of accidents and minimize the vibrations of the machine as the basket rotates.

Devices for storing and dispensing cleaning agents in a washing machine are also known. Such devices are generally formed by one or more compartments in which the cleaning agents are stored, and running water is inserted in the desired compartment for dispensing that cleaning agent in the washing basket, depending on the stage of the washing cycle. For example, soap may be dispensed at the beginning of the washing cycle, whereas the softener may be dispensed only at the end of the washing cycle, during the rinsing stage. Therefore, such devices may comprise valves, drawers or compartments, both for storing the cleaning agent and for directing the flow of water into the appropriate compartment, depending on the stage of the washing cycle.

According to the present specification, the term "cleaning agent" shall be construed as any and all products for cleaning and/or care of the fabrics, such as, but not limited to, washing powder, liquid soap, softener, bleach etc., that are dispensed within the washing basket in a controlled manner according to the stage of the washing cycle.

Still according to the present specification, the term "washing cycle" defines one or more stages comprising a cycle of cleaning and care of textiles in a laundry machine, such as, but not limited to washing, rinsing, spinning, drying, etc.

The state of the art reveals some embodiments related to devices for storing and dispensing cleaning agents in a laundry machine. The documents DE 33 27 749 and US 2,976,879, for example, disclose a device that employs a drawer with a syphon so that, on one hand, the cleaning agent remains stored until it is dispensed and, on the other, it is dispensed by the siphon when water is inserted in the compartment. The problem related to the use of these models is that the siphon may easily clog due to the difference in viscosity of the cleaning agents and water. Thus, to function properly, a constant cleaning of the device is necessary, particularly of the siphon, but not always with acceptable results. Moreover, such drawer devices generally make use of valves and water conduits for dispensing in a controlled and proper manner the cleaning agent related to that stage of the washing cycle.

Other embodiments, such as disclosed by documents US 3,150,511 ; US 4,154,069; US 4,240,277; and US 4,417,457, propose the assembly of these devices at the upper portion of the agitator. The problem with these embodiments is to dispense in a controlled manner the cleaning agents depending on the washing cycle, since the agitator is in constant motion during the different cycles.

Accordingly, there is a need for a device for storing and dispensing cleaning agents that have a simple assemblage and that eliminates the use of drawers, valves or water conduits; avoids clogging of the dispenser and is easy to clean, remove and that may release all of the cleaning agent contained in the compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, among others, the invention proposes a cleaning agent dispenser for a laundry machine comprising of:

a vessel with lower, front, side and upper walls and an upper opening, wherein

a channel is formed in an inner side portion of said vessel for dispensing the cleaning agent when an inverted spinning rotation in relation to the normal spinning rotation of the machine is executed. According to additional or alternative embodiments of the invention, the dispenser may comprise the following characteristics, by themselves or in combination:

said channel is formed between one of the side walls and an inner wall of said vessel;

said lower wall is curved;

said lower wall is curved such that, on one hand, forms a substantially right angle with one of the side walls of the vessel and, on the other, overlaps with the upper portion of an inner wall forming the channel;

said inner all has a smaller height than the outer wall forming the channel;

said vessel comprises additionally an upper removable lid; said upper lid has an opening;

said vessel is secured to the swing ring of a laundry machine;

said removable assembly is carried out in an opening provided in said swing ring by means of a recess;

said vessel is mounted to the laundry machine basket;

said vessel is mounted to a removable manner in the inner portion of a laundry machine swing ring;

said front wall is curved;

said cleaning agent is a substantially liquid cleaning agent; and

said cleaning agent is a textile softener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention shall now be described with respect to its particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying documents. These figures are schematic, and its dimensions and/or proportions may not correspond to reality, since they aim only to describe the invention in a didactic way. Accordingly, the figures presented do not have a limiting character beyond the one defined by the claims below, considering that:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a washing basket associated to a top-loading washing machine swing ring, according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an upper view of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the swing ring with the dispenser mounted to an inner portion of the swing ring, according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a front view along the B-B line of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cutaway front view according to detail C of

Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a dispenser according to the present invention

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a washing basket (200), a swing ring (100) and a cleaning agent dispenser (300) according to an embodiment of the invention.

Other components of laundry machines, and particularly of top- loading laundry machines, such as the case, the access lid to the upper opening, the machine tank, structural elements, tank fixation and washing basket elements, as well as the mechanical and/or electric drive elements of the agitator and the basket were omitted from the figures for better visualization of the invention. Such elements cited above are common in laundry machines and known to those skilled in the art, due to which a detailed description of such elements shall not be made throughout this specification. Still with reference to Figure 1 , a washing basket (200), which generally comprises a cylindrical shape provided with holes (210) for fluid communication of water and, where appropriate, cleaning agents to fabrics that are placed for washing is depicted. Alternatively, the washing basket (200) may also be a basket substantially free of holes.

Above the basket, in its open upper portion, a swing ring (200) is provided which, as already mentioned, has both aesthetic and technical functions. An aesthetic function to give a finishing in the upper portion of the machine, since it is where the fabrics are inserted in the washing basket (200) and that is on display to the user, and a technical function, because it can avoid accidents by keeping the upper portion of the basket closed and also to allow a balancing of the basket, in order to reduce vibrations in the machine, since the rotation of the basket during the spinning can reach 1.000 rpm or more.

The invention proposes the mounting of a cleaning agent dispenser (300) to the swing ring (100) of the basket. The dispenser may be mounted directly to an opening provided in the swing ring itself, or, still, be mounted to the inner or outer portion of said ring. Alternatively, the dispenser (300) may also be mounted to the laundry machine basket (200).

The dispenser (300) comprises front wall (310), rear wall (313), left side wall (311), right side wall (312), lower wall (312), and a superior opening (340), in which a removable lid (400) may also be provided and which may also comprise an opening (410), as best seen in Figure 6.

A channel (320) is formed preferably on one of the sides of the container and, still preferably, is formed, on one side, by one of the side walls (312) of the vessel, such as the right side wall represented herein, and, on the other, by an internal wall (315) realized in the vessel and that has a lower height than inner wall (312). Also preferably, the inner wall (314) is curved and formed, on one side, in a substantially right angle with the inferior portion of side wall (311) opposite to the channel, and, on the other side, is congruent to the upper portion of the inner wall (315), i.e., the lower wall (314) plan joins the plan in the upper part of inner wall (315), similar to a semi-arc, as shown in the cutaway view of Figure 4.

Figures 1 and 6 depicts the removable lid (400), which may be used to close the vessel (300) in its upper opening (340) and, in turn, may also comprise an opening, preferably formed in a decentralized manner in respect to the lid (400), so that its open portion (410) is decentralized in the direction of greatest depth of the vessel, near the side wall (311), but on the side close to the channel (320) of the vessel, as it will become clearer below upon the description of the functioning of the invention.

The lid may be mounted and fitted into a recess (330) formed on the dispenser (300). In an alternative embodiment, the lid (400) is not removable and is entirely formed in an integral manner to the dispenser.

Preferably, the dispenser (300) of the invention is mounted to the swing ring (100) of a top-loading laundry machine. In this case, a specific opening on the swing ring (100) may be provided in order to receive and fit the dispenser (300).

In an alternative embodiment, the dispenser (300) may be mounted directly to the washing basket (200), by fitting in the holes (210) present therein, or, further, in the agitator (not shown).

In an alternative embodiment, the dispenser (300) may be mounted to the outer portion of the swing ring (100) or to its inner portion, as depicted in Figure 3.

Preferably, the lid (400) of the dispenser (300) has a removable characteristic, in order to facilitate both the removal of the dispenser (300) from the ring and its cleaning.

The invention will now be described in respect to its operation. Before starting the washing cycle, the vessel is filled with a cleaning agent, preferably a cleaning agent in a substantially liquid state, such as a textile softener, at a level below the opening formed between the inner wall (315) and the lower wall (314), so that the cleaning agent does not overflow from channel (320). Preferably, the cleaning agent is filled up to approximately half the height of the deepest portion of the vessel with respect to the side wall (311). Thus, the volume and dimensions of the vessel may be determined based on the typical volume of cleaning agent to which the dispenser is designed, so that the volume to be filled in the container stays, approximately, at half the height of the side wall (3 1) opposite to the channel (320).

The filling may be done directly through the upper opening (340) of the vessel or through the opening (410) provided on the removable lid (400).

During the washing stages, the agitator (not shown) and, occasionally, the basket (200), make a rotational alternate movement of relatively low angular amplitude, such as 10° and 45° in each direction, in order to create a mechanical agitation inside the washing basket in order to help cleaning the fabrics.

During this alternate movement, the cleaning agent agitates itself in the vessel (300) following the movement of the washing basket (200) due to the inertia created inside the vessel. However, as the amplitude of the movement is relatively low during the washing stages, the cleaning agent contained in the vessel does not overflow since, on one hand, the inertia of the liquid is blocked by the side wall opposite to the channel (311) and, on the other, the upward ascending shape of the lower wall (314) prevents the inertia of the cleaning agent from making it reach the channel (320) formed on the other side.

After the washing cycle, and occasionally after the rinsing cycles, the spinning is usually performed, in which the basket is rotated in only one direction at a relatively high angular speed in order to remove water and other cleaning agents from the fabrics. In Figure 4, the arrow (450) depicts the normal direction of rotation of the basket (200) during the spinning.

In this case, the channel (320) realized in one of the sides of the vessel should be provided so that it is at an opposite side with respect to the side where the cleaning agent will accumulate due to the inertia exerted by the angular speed of the basket during the normal spinning direction. E.g. in the figures, if the rotation during the spinning is performed clockwise (450), i.e., in the left to right direction as seen in the cutaway view of Figure 4, it is evident to the those skilled in the art that the cleaning agent will tend to accumulate on the left side wall (311) of the vessel, opposite to the channel (320), due to the reverse direction of the inertia exerted upon the cleaning agent.

Since the volume of the cleaning agent is relatively lower than the side wall height, the cleaning agent will not overflow the vessel, which can also be prevented by the lid (400).

However, the invention proposes that, before the stage in which the cleaning agent contained in the vessel is to be used, such as before the final rinsing of the fabrics stage during the washing cycle, stage in which a softener should be dispensed, for example, the laundry machine performs a continuous or pulsed spinning in a reverse direction, according to direction depicted by arrow (451) at Figure 4. Thus, the cleaning agent will tend to accumulate at the other side of the vessel, i.e., will tend to go up along the angulation formed in the lower wall (314) towards the channel (320). As the height of the inner wall (315) is lower than the height of the side wall (312) with witch it forms the channel, a cleaning agent passage is formed from the interior to the channel (320) and from it to the interior of the washing basket. As mentioned previously, the lid (400), in this portion covering the channel (320), is preferably closed in order to avoid the spilling of the cleaning agent from the vessel (300).

The cleaning agent then enters the channel (320) and is dispensed to the interior of the washing basket (200) so that, after the reverse direction spinning and the resulting cleaning agent dispensing, the washing or rinsing stage provided for with that cleaning agent is carried out, such as the last rinsing in which the textile softener is used.

Naturally, if the normal direction of the laundry machine is opposite to the one exemplified herein, the dispenser (300) may also be built in a reverse manner, i.e., in a mirrored view with respect the cutaway view of figure 4 depicted herein, with the channel (320) provided on the other side (3 1).

According to the present specification, the term "normal spinning direction" of a laundry machine should be construed as the spinning direction of the washing basket that a laundry machine performs to remove cleaning agents or excess water from the fabrics.

The dispenser (300) of the invention may be easily removed and inserted in the laundry machine swing ring (100), as well as its lid (400), so that it may be readily removed for cleaning. Its simple constructive characteristic with few corners and areas of difficult access also enable the cleaning agents to not accumulate, and enables the cleaning of the dispenser to be carried out, if necessary, in a simple manner by conventional means.

As it may be observed, the invention proposes a dispenser (300) of simpler construction with respect to the state of the art devices that employ drawers or valves for the correct dispensing of the cleaning product. The possibility of dispensing the cleaning agent in only one spinning direction of the washing basket (200) also provides an advantage over the dispensers provided on the machine agitator. It should be recognized that, although the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, those skilled in the art will be able to expand the knowledge described herein and carry out shape or structural modifications without departing from the principles and teaching described herein. Therefore, the appended claims should be construed as covering all and every equivalents of the invention.

Claims

1. A CLEANING AGENT DISPENSER (300) FOR A LAUNDRY MACHINE, comprising:

a vessel provided with lower wall (314), front wall (310), side walls (311 , 312), rear wall (313) and a top opening (340),

wherein a channel (320) is formed in an inner side portion of said vessel for dispensing the cleaning agent when a rotation direction opposite to the normal spinning direction of the machine is performed.

2. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein the channel (320) is formed between one of the side walls (312) and an inner all (315) of said vessel.

3. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein said lower wall is curved

4. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said lower wall is curved in a way that, on one side, forms a substantially right angle with one of the side walls (311) of the vessel and, on the other, coincides with the upper portion of an inner wall (315) that forms the channel (320).

5. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 4, wherein said inner wall (315) is less high than the outer wall (315) that forms the channel (320).

6. THE DISPENSER (300) of one of claims 1-5, wherein said vessel further comprises an upper removable lid (400).

7. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 6, wherein said upper lid (400) has an opening (410).

8. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein said vessel is mounted to the laundry machine basket (200).

9. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein said vessel is mounted in a removable manner to a laundry machine swing ring (100).

10. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 9, wherein said removable assembly is carried out in an opening provided on said swing ring (100).

11. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein said vessel is mounted in a removable manner in the inner part of a laundry machine

12. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein said front wall is curved

13. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein said cleaning agent is a cleaning agent in a substantially liquid state.

14. THE DISPENSER (300) of claim 1 , wherein said cleaning agent is a textile softener.