WO2017215833A1

WO2017215833A1 - Metering device for shaped cleaning-agent bodies in domestic dishwashers

Info

Publication number: WO2017215833A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/060761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juan Alberto Liarte Marin; Marc Schreiber; Martijn Reinder Torenbeek; Ander Villate Robles
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2016-06-13
Filing date: 2017-05-05
Publication date: 2017-12-21
Also published as: US20190282061A1; EP3468439A1; DE102016210398A1; CN109310265A

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering device (100) for dispensing shaped cleaning-agent bodies (102) from a reservoir (101), which is designed to hold a filling of shaped cleaning-agent bodies (102), into a washing chamber (4) of a domestic dishwasher (1). A cell wheel (105), which serves to actively transport the shaped cleaning-agent bodies (102) from the reservoir (101) into the washing chamber (4), is rotatably mounted in a cavity (104) and has a plurality of transport chambers (107) for holding shaped cleaning-agent bodies (102). The individual transport chambers (107) are separated from each other by separating walls (108), and the separating walls (108) are fastened to a drive cylinder (106) of the cell wheel (105). The separating walls (108) are elastic at least in partial areas and the radial extent of the separating walls (108) is greater than the radial distance (D) between the lateral surface (110) of the drive cylinder (106) and the inner walls (111) of the cavity (104).

Description

Dosing device for detergent tablets in household dishwashers

The present invention relates to a metering device for dispensing detergent moldings from a storage container into a washing compartment of a domestic dishwasher.

In commercial household dishwashers, it is necessary to manually add detergents in powder form or in the form of tabs before the beginning of a rinsing process. Only for rinse aid is it customary to store it in liquid form in a storage container within the household dishwasher for a plurality of applications and to automatically add it via a metering device. The manual addition of detergent before each rinse is perceived by many users as annoying and uncomfortable. Accordingly, attempts have been made for some time to develop so-called automatic dosing systems for domestic dishwashers, which should make it possible to also store cleaning agents in storage containers for a plurality of applications and to automatically admit them via corresponding dosing devices.

From EP 1 159 913 A1, for example, a metering device for dispensing detergent tablets from a storage container into the useful space of a dishwashing machine is known in which a substantially impermeable seal is arranged between the storage container and the usable space. The storage container is designed to receive a loose bed of tablets and the lock has a transport device, for example in the form of a cellular wheel, for actively transporting the tablets through. If desired, the outer circumference of the cellular wheel and / or the inner circumference of the cavity in which the cellular wheel is running may be additionally provided with seals to ensure impermeability to wrinkles. It should be noted, however, that it will often suffice to run the cellular wheel with a small air gap against the surrounding cavity, so that the cellular wheel simultaneously forms the substantially wrasendichte lock. The invention has for its object to provide a metering device for dispensing detergent moldings from a reservoir into a washing compartment of a domestic dishwasher, which allows a reliable automatic addition of detergent tablets for several successive rinses.

This object is achieved by a metering device with the features of claim 1. Accordingly, the metering device has a cellular wheel for active transport of the detergent tablets from a reservoir into a washing compartment of a domestic dishwasher. The reservoir is designed to receive a bed of detergent moldings. The cell wheel is rotatably mounted in a cavity and has a plurality of transport chambers for receiving detergent moldings. The individual transport chambers are each separated by partitions from each other and the partitions are attached to a drive cylinder of the cell wheel. According to the invention, the partition walls are at least partially elastic and the radial extent of the partition walls is greater than the radial distance between the lateral surface of the drive cylinder and the inner walls of the cavity.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "detergent tablets" is to be understood as meaning all tablets having a defined external shape which contain any ingredients which can be used for dishwashing, such as tablets, pellets, granules or capsules Rather, molded articles should also be encompassed which comprise addition agents for use in rinse cycles, for water softening or conditioning, etc. The reservoir is that region of the dosing device which contains the supply of detergent moldings It can be refillable or can also be exchangeable, for example in the form of a cartridge The reservoir is designed to receive a bed, in particular loose bed, of detergent tablets the storeroom lie randomly oriented and are not magazined in a given geometric arrangement.

The inventive design of the reservoir for receiving a bed of detergent moldings allows easy storage even larger amounts of detergent moldings. A complicated magazine the tablets is not required.

The active transport of the detergent tablets from the reservoir into the wash compartment causes a desired amount of detergent to be added reliably. Active transport means that the detergent moldings are transported under the influence of an external force. Specifically, the drive cylinder of the cellular wheel and thus also the cell wheel by means of a drive unit, e.g. an electric motor, actively driven.

The attachment of the partitions to the drive cylinder must be designed such that the radially projecting from the drive cylinder partitions are rotatably connected to the drive cylinder, so that they rotate with the drive cylinder. Preferably, the partitions are formed integrally with the drive cylinder, but they can also be fixed by means of known fastening means on the drive cylinder.

If the drive cylinder and thus the cellular wheel are actively driven, then the radial expansion of the partitions in conjunction with the given at least in some areas elastic training leads to an elastic deformation of the partitions at least in the area in which the cell is surrounded by the inner walls of the cavity. This elastic deformation of the partitions has the consequence that the partitions are urged by a spring force against the inner walls of the cavity are pressed, in which the cell wheel rotates. In this way, a reliable sealing effect is produced with simple and inexpensive structural means, which prevents moisture in the form of liquid or steam from the washing chamber penetrates into the reservoir and there causes the detergent moldings are dissolved, stick, clump or like. An inventively designed cellular wheel thus acts as a lock, which prevents the usual operation of the household dishwasher moisture from the washroom into the reservoir in a circumference penetrates, which leads to a restriction of the usability of the detergent tablets. Accordingly, the partition walls designed according to the invention can be applied to an inner wall of the cavity in a manner impermeable to wrinkles by means of a restoring force resulting from the elastic deformation.

In addition to the sealing effect, the design and in particular the radial extent of the partitions also affect the metering accuracy and the tendency of the detergent moldings to wedging, jamming or bridging. A surprisingly high dosing accuracy and a virtually complete avoidance of wedges, jamming or shaped body bridges can be achieved if the radial extent of the partitions increases the radial distance between the lateral surface of the drive cylinder and the inner walls of the cavity by 10% to 50%, in particular by 10% to Exceeds 30%.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the partitions are elastic only in partial areas, which means in reverse that the remaining portions of the partitions are not elastic. Through the combination of elastic and non-elastic subregions, the sealing forces acting on the inner surfaces of the cavity can be adapted optimally to the respective application and / or the respective environmental conditions both in the radial and in the axial direction. As an alternative or in addition, this advantage can also be achieved by virtue of the fact that the dividing walls each have partial areas with different elastic properties.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the partitions in their, the drive cylinder remote end portions are formed elastically. In this way, the shearing forces acting on the partitions on the walls of the cavity can be minimized.

Alternatively, the partitions in their, the drive cylinder remote end portions but also not be elastic. Such a design namely, improves the sliding properties of the partitions on the inner surfaces of the cavity and thus leads to an increase in the life.

If the detergent tablets are compressed or compressed too much during transport within the transport chambers, this can lead to sticking or compression of the individual tablets. This problem occurs in particular when it is in relation to the receiving volume of the transport chambers to small moldings, so that many detergent moldings are transported simultaneously within a transport chamber. The bonding or pressing of the molded body can on the one hand jamming of the cellular wheel and on the other hand have a reduced cleaning effect after delivery into the washing compartment result. Therefore, it is advantageous to move the axis of rotation of the drive cylinder in the direction of the reservoir compared to an axis of symmetry of the cavity. In this way, the receiving volume of the transport chambers with increasing approach of the transport chamber to a discharge chute for ejecting the detergent moldings becomes increasingly larger. This leads to a loosening of the transported detergent moldings and consequently to an unimpeded movement of the cell wheel and to an optimal dosage, which in turn has a good cleaning performance.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that support webs are attached to the drive cylinder, which are each associated with a partition and are configured and arranged such that an application of the partitions is prevented to the drive cylinder. The inclination of the partitions to such an application can in particular increase with increasing service life and would cause the sealing effect on the inner surfaces of the cavity is increasingly lower and / or even completely eliminated. The support bars thus help to ensure a permanently reliable sealing effect. In order to provide a solution that is as cost-effective as possible, it is advantageous to design the cellular wheel as a two-component injection molded part.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the cellular wheel is compressible in an axial direction thereof. For this purpose, the bucket at least be made in sections of an elastically deformable material, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane. When compressed in the axial direction, the cell wheel may expand in a radial direction. The axial direction is preferably oriented parallel to a rotational axis of the drive cylinder or corresponds to this. In particular, the drive cylinder and / or the partition walls are compressible.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a width of the cellular wheel in a state removed from the cavity is greater than a distance between two mutually opposite side walls of the cavity. The width is determined in particular in the axial direction. The metering device preferably comprises a housing in which the cavity is formed and in which the cellular wheel is received. The housing may comprise the side walls. Preferably, the drive cylinder is rotatably mounted on the side walls.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cellular wheel is biased in each case with a biasing force against the side walls. In particular, the biasing force acts in the axial direction. In this way, a wrasendichte sealing the transfer opening can be achieved in the axial direction.

Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a metering device according to the invention; FIG. 3 shows a schematic detail of a second embodiment of a metering device according to the invention;

4 is a schematic detail of a third embodiment of a metering device according to the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic detail view of a fourth embodiment of a metering device according to the invention. In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements have been given the same reference numerals, unless stated otherwise.

1 shows a schematic perspective view of a household dishwasher 1. The dishwasher 1 has a receiving area in the form of a washing container 2, which is closed by a door 3, in particular waterproof. For this purpose, a sealing device can be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2. The washing container 2 is preferably cuboid. In particular, the washing container 2 may be made of a steel sheet. Alternatively, the washing container 2 can be made at least in sections of a plastic material. The washing container 2 and the door 3 can form a washing compartment 4 for washing dishes. The washing container 2 can be arranged inside a housing of the dishwasher 1.

The door 3 is shown in Fig. 1 in its open position. By pivoting about a provided at a lower end of the door 3 pivot axis 5, the door 3 can be closed or opened. The washing compartment 2 has a wall 6 with a bottom 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The bottom 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 1 1 can be made for example of a stainless steel sheet. Alternatively, for example, the bottom 7 may be made of a plastic material.

The dishwasher 1 further comprises at least one Spülgutaufnahme 12 to 14. In particular, several Spülgutaufnahmen 12 to 14 may be provided, wherein these may comprise a lower basket 12, an upper basket 13 and / or a cutlery drawer 14. The plurality of Spülgutaufnahmen 12 to 14 are preferably arranged one above the other in the washing compartment 2. Each Spülgutaufnahme 12 to 14 is optional in the washing 2 in or out of this displaced. In particular, each Spülgutaufnahme 12 to 14 hineinschiebbar in an insertion direction E in the washing container 2 and opposite to the insertion direction E in an extension direction A from the washing container 2 can be pulled out.

The dishwasher 1 also has a metering device 100. The metering device 100 is arranged in the example of FIG. 1 on the door 3, so that, when the door 3 is closed, it is aligned with the washing compartment 4. This advantageously makes it possible for the metering device 100 to be able to meter detergent molding into the washing compartment 4. The detergent moldings are then dissolved by the washing liquor located in the washing compartment 4.

Notwithstanding the illustration in FIG. 1, further arrangements of the metering device 100, such as. B. on the wall 6 of the washing container 2 or on one of Spülgutaufnahmen 12 to 14, possible. FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a metering device 100 according to the invention. Detergent shaped bodies 102 are located in a storage container 101. The storage container 101 tapers in its lower part and accordingly extends in a funnel shape toward a transfer opening 103. At the transfer opening 103 in the direction of gravity joins a cavity 104, in which a rotatably mounted feeder 105 is arranged. The cellular wheel 105 has a drive cylinder 106, which is actively driven by a drive unit, not shown, in the form of an electric motor. The cellular wheel 105 also includes a plurality of transport chambers 107, which are each designed to receive a predetermined amount of detergent moldings 102. The transport chambers 107 are each separated by radially projecting from the drive cylinder 106 partitions 108 from each other. The partitions 108 are attached to the drive cylinder 106, preferably formed integrally therewith. On the circumference of the cellular wheel 105 open on the one hand, the reservoir 101 with its transfer opening 103 and on the other hand, a discharge chute 109th

During operation of the metering device 100, cleaning agent shaped bodies 102 located in the storage container 101 are initially moved in the direction of the transfer opening 103 due to gravity and in this way fed to the cell wheel 105. During the rotary movement of the cell wheel 105, a quantity of detergent tablets 102 delimited by the receiving volume of the transport chambers 107 falls from the storage container 101 through the transfer opening 103 into an empty transport chamber 107. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is exactly one detergent tablet 102. Dependent of the size of the detergent tablets 102 on the one hand and the receiving volume of the transport chambers 107 but of course also several detergent tablets 102 can be transported simultaneously in a transport chamber 107 and thus also metered in (see Fig. 3).

The detergent moldings 102 are ejected through the discharge chute 109 located diametrically on the opposite side of the circumference of the cavity and fall from there into the washing compartment 4 of the household dishwasher 1.

A lateral surface 110 of the drive cylinder 106 is radially spaced from inner walls 11 of the cavity 104 surrounding the cellular wheel 105. This distance is marked D in FIG. The partitions 108 of the cellular wheel 105 have a radial extent which is greater than the radial distance D between the lateral surface 1 10 of the drive cylinder 106 and the inner walls 1 1 1 of the cavity 104. Nevertheless, a rotational movement of the cell wheel 105 within the cavity 104 to permit, the partitions 108 are formed elastically at least in some areas. The partitions 108 are thereby elastically deformed during a rotational movement of the cellular wheel 105 and thus press with a restoring force (spring force) and thus sealingly, in particular wrasendicht, against the inner walls 1 1 1 of the cavity 104. The cellular 105 forms a wrasendichte lock in this way, which means that during normal operation of the household dishwasher 1 moisture from the washing compartment 4 through the lock in the reservoir 101 can not or at most to penetrate to such an extent that the cleaning agent Shaped bodies 102 are not appreciably dissolved, stick together, clump together or the like.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the metering device 100 according to the invention, wherein for reasons of clarity, the reservoir 101 is only partially shown. This differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 only in that an axis of rotation 1 12 of the drive cylinder 106 is displaced in the direction of the reservoir 101 in comparison to an axis of symmetry 1 13 of the cavity 104. In this way, the receiving volume of the transport chambers 107 with increasing approach of the transport chamber 107 to the discharge chute 109 for ejecting the detergent tablets 102 becomes increasingly larger. This leads to a loosening of the detergent moldings 102 and consequently to an unimpeded movement of the cellular wheel 105 and to an optimal dosage, which in turn results in a good cleaning performance. In order to better recognize this effect, detergent moldings 102 are shown in FIG. 3, which have a smaller diameter compared to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. Since the displacement of the axis of rotation 1 12 of the drive cylinder 106 has the consequence that the radial distance between the lateral surface 1 10 of the drive cylinder 106 and the inner walls 1 1 1 of the cavity 104 is no longer constant, in order to achieve the desired sealing effect in this case Radial expansion of the partition walls 108 may be greater than the maximum radial distance D 'between the lateral surface 1 10 of the drive cylinder 106 and the inner walls 1 1 1 of the cavity 104th

A further embodiment of the metering device 100 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4, wherein in turn the reservoir 101 is only partially shown. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 only in that support webs 1 14 are provided, which are fixed to the drive cylinder 106, preferably formed integrally therewith. Each of the support webs 1 14 is in each case associated with a partition 108 and configured and arranged in such a manner that application of the partitions 108 to the drive cylinder 106 is prevented. The support webs 1 14 are arranged in the illustrated embodiment in an axial outer region of the drive cylinder 106, so that the detergent moldings 102 come to lie behind the support webs 1 14 as shown in FIG. 4 during transport. The support bars 1 14 can but arranged and designed in many ways. The decisive factor is that they on the one hand prevent application of the partitions 108 to the drive cylinder 106 and on the other hand but not hinder the transport of the detergent moldings 102.

A further development of the metering device 100 according to the invention, which can optionally be used in the above-described embodiments of the metering device 100 according to FIGS. 2 to 4, is shown in FIG. 5 in a schematic plan view, that is, viewed from the reservoir 101 the transfer opening 103 is shown.

As shown in Fig. 5, the metering device 100 comprises a housing 1 15, in which the cavity 104 is formed. In the housing 1 15, the feeder 105 is received. The cellular wheel 105 is disposed between two opposite side walls 1 16, 1 17 of the housing 1 15 and the cavity 104 and may be rotatably mounted on the side walls 1 16, 1 17. The cellular wheel 105 is compressible in an axial direction AR, which is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation 1 12. For this purpose, the cellular wheel 105 is at least partially made of an elastically deformable material. The side walls 1 16, 1 17 are spaced from each other by a distance a. The cellular wheel 105 has a width b which is larger than the distance a in a state removed from the housing 15, which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5 and designated by the reference numeral 105 '. For example, the width b is larger by a fraction of a millimeter to a few millimeters than the distance a. If the cellular wheel 105 is installed in the housing 1 15 or in the cavity 104, this is at least partially compressed due to its elastic properties and presses on both sides with a biasing force FV against the side walls 1 16, 1 17. The feeder 105 is thus between the side walls. 1 16, 1 17 biased. As a result, it is also possible to achieve a seal-tight sealing of the transfer opening 103 in the axial direction AR. The rotatability of the cellular wheel 105 in the cavity 104 is not adversely affected thereby.

In all previously described embodiments of the metering device 100, the partition walls 108 are preferably arranged on the drive cylinder 106 that in the Orientation of Fig. 2 to 4 always right and left of the transfer opening 103, a partition wall 108 on the inner wall 1 1 1 of the cavity 104 sealingly abuts. Between the two on the inner wall 1 1 1 adjacent partitions 108 a protruding into the transfer opening 103 partition 108 is arranged. As a result, the transfer opening 103 is always sealed wrasendicht. In particular, with the help of the voltage applied to the inner wall 1 1 1 separating walls 108, a sealing of the transfer opening 103 in a radial direction. That is, in a direction oriented from the drive cylinder 106 to the transfer opening 103 direction. The radial direction or radial direction is oriented perpendicular to the axial direction AR.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, it is variously modifiable.

Used reference signs:

1 household dishwasher

2 rinse tanks

3 door

4 washroom

5 pivot axis

6 wall

7 soil

8 ceiling

9 rear wall

10, 1 1 side walls

12, 13, 14 Spülgutaufnahmen

100 metering device

101 storage tank

102 detergent tablets

103 Handover opening

104 cavity

105 cell wheel

105 'cell wheel

106 drive cylinder

107 transport chamber

108 partition

109 discharge chute

1 10 lateral surface (of the drive cylinder)

1 1 1 inner wall (of the cavity)

1 12 axis of rotation (of the drive cylinder)

1 13 symmetry axis (of the cavity)

1 14 supporting bridge

1 15 housing

1 16 side wall

1 17 side wall a distance A separation direction

AR axial direction

b width

E insertion direction

D radial distance (between lateral surface and inner wall)

D 'maximum radial distance (between lateral surface and inner wall)

FV preload force

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

Dosing device (100) for dispensing detergent shaped bodies (102) from a storage container (101), which is designed to hold a bed of detergent shaped bodies (102), into a washing compartment (4) of a household dishwasher (1). a cellular wheel (105) for actively transporting the cleaning agent shaped bodies (102) from the storage container (101) into the washing compartment (4), the cellular wheel (105)

• is rotatably mounted in a cavity (104),

• Has a plurality of transport chambers (107) for receiving the cleaning agent shaped bodies (102), the transport chambers (107) being separated from one another by partitions (108), and

• has a drive cylinder (106) to which the partition walls (108) are attached,

characterized in that the partitions (108) are designed to be elastic at least in some areas and the radial extent of the partitions (108) is greater than the radial distance (D; D') between the lateral surface (1 10) of the drive cylinder (106) and the Inner walls (1 1 1) of the cavity (104).

Dosing device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the partitions (108) can be applied in a vapor-tight manner to one of the inner walls (1 1 1) of the cavity (104) by a restoring force resulting from the elastic deformation.

Dosing device (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the radial extent of the partition walls (108) is the radial distance (D; D') between the lateral surface (1 10) of the drive cylinder (106) and the inner walls (1 1 1 ) of the cavity (104) exceeds by 10% to 50%, in particular by 10% to 30%.

4. Dosing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partitions (108) are designed to be elastic only in partial areas.

5. Dosing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partition walls (108) are designed to be elastic in their end regions facing away from the drive cylinder (106).

6. Dosing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partition walls (108) are not designed to be elastic in their end regions facing away from the drive cylinder (106).

7. Dosing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (1 12) of the drive cylinder (106) is shifted in the direction of the storage container (101) in comparison to an axis of symmetry (1 13) of the cavity (104). .

8. Dosing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that support webs (1 14) are attached to the drive cylinder (106), which are each assigned to a partition (108) and are designed and arranged in such a way that the Partitions (108) on the drive cylinder (106) are prevented.

9. Dosing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cellular wheel (105) is a two-component injection molded part.

10. Dosing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cellular wheel (105) is compressible in an axial direction (AR).

1 1 . Dosing device (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that a width (b) of the cellular wheel (105 ') in a state removed from the cavity (104) is greater than a distance (a) between two opposite side walls (1 16, 1 17 ) of the cavity (104).

12. Dosing device (100) according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the cellular wheel (105) is biased against the side walls (1 16, 1 17) with a preload force (FV).

13. Household dishwasher (1) with a dosing device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12.