Search

EP-4127300-B1 - DOSING UNIT AND WATER-BEARING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

EP4127300B1EP 4127300 B1EP4127300 B1EP 4127300B1EP-4127300-B1

Inventors

  • Rauch, Jürgen
  • Schiele, Alexander
  • SCHULTZ, JAKOB
  • SING, ALEXANDER

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210322

Claims (10)

  1. A dosing unit (100) for use in an automatic dosing system (20) of a water-bearing household appliance (1) for automatically dosing detergent tablets (102), the dosing unit (100) comprising a storage cartridge (110) for storing a plurality of the detergent tablets (102) and a dosing device (120) for releasing a respective one of the detergent tablets (102), wherein the storage cartridge (110) includes a tubular section (112) configured to store the plurality of detergent tablets (102) ordered in a line one behind the other; wherein a central axis of the tubular section (112) forms a spiral path; and characterized in that the dosing device (120) is arranged at the end of the tubular section (112) in a center of the spiral path; and in that the dosing unit (100) or the storage cartridge (110) is configured to be turned about an axis (X) through the center of the spiral path perpendicular to the spiral path for transporting the detergent tablets (102) along the tubular section (112).
  2. The dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein the dosing device (120) is arranged at the end of the tubular section (112) of the storage cartridge (110), such that the dosing device (120) is configured so that only the first detergent tablet (102) in the line is arranged at the dosing device (120) at a given time.
  3. The dosing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular section (112) has a cross section in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the tubular section (112) which is selected as a function of the size and form of the detergent tablets (102), such that the detergents tablets (102) are movable along the tubular section (112) without tilting.
  4. The dosing unit according to one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the dosing unit comprises a plurality of the detergent tablets (102) and wherein each of the detergent tablets (102) of the plurality has a shape of a cylinder and is arranged in the tubular section (112) of the storage cartridge (110) such that each of the detergent tablets (102) can roll along the tubular section (112).
  5. The dosing unit according to one of claims 1 - 4, comprising a plurality of storage cartridges (110).
  6. The dosing unit according to claim 5, wherein a central axis of each tubular section (112) of each of the storage cartridges (112) forms a spiral path and the storage cartridges (112) are stacked on each other.
  7. The dosing unit according to one of claims 1 - 6, wherein a sensor unit (130) for sensing a presence of a detergent tablet (102) is arranged at a position along the tubular section (112) such that a distance between the sensor unit (130) and the end of the tubular section (112) at which the dosing device (120) is arranged along a central axis of the tubular section (112) corresponds to a predetermined number of detergent tablets (102).
  8. The dosing unit according to one of claims 1 - 7, wherein the storage cartridge (110) comprises plastic, metal, foil, ceramic, fiber and/or a composite material.
  9. A water-bearing household appliance (1) with an automatic dosing system (20) and a dosing unit (100) according to one of claims 1 - 8, wherein the automatic dosing system (20) is configured for automatically dosing at least one detergent tablet (102) from the dosing unit (100).
  10. The water-bearing household appliance according to claim 9, wherein the automatic dosing system (20) is configured for removably receiving the dosing unit (20).

Description

The present invention relates to a dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance and a water-bearing household-appliance with such an automatic dosing system. Known water-bearing household appliances, for example dishwashers, typically have a dosing system, which consists of a chamber for storing a single dose of detergent. The user of the dishwasher has to fill the chamber with the detergent each time before starting a washing cycle. This is inconvenient for the user. Furthermore, such systems bear the risk that the user does not fill in the correct amount of detergent or forgets to fill in detergent at all. This can lead to bad or undesirable cleaning results. It is desired that an automatic dosing system is available, which automatically doses the correct amount of detergent at the correct timings during a washing cycle. WO 2017/166980 decribes a dispenser for a washing machine. The dispenser comprises a body, at least one propeller in the body, and a drive device driving the propeller to move. The dispenser is used for automatically dispensing a solidified bead viaa dispensing port. The propeller is driven to move by the drive device so that the propeller pushes the solidified bead to the dispensing port. DE 19636417 describes a metering device for the cleaning medium in the form of tablets which are stored in a special chamber in separate positions. Separators bewteen the tablets are on a conveyor belt-type arrangement. There may be a helical vane or spring device rotating about a vertical axis to feed the tablets out, in which case there is a semi-cylindrical retaining wall located rigidly on the outside. US 2015/0359412 describes a bulk unit-dose dispenser configured to hold multiple unit doses of treating chemistry and dispense the treating chemistry at the appropriate time in a cycle of operation. The bulk unit-dose dispenser can include a multiple compartments moveable along a track, and the compartments can be sequentially moved into registry with a dispensing opening of the appliance. FR 1240171 describes a distributor capable of storing granular or powdered substances under conditions substantially free of humidity, of transporting the granular material to an outlet chute without causing the formation of an agglomerate and to dispense the material in regulated quantities. It is one objective of the invention to improve the dosing of detergent in a water-bearing household appliance. According to the invention, a dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance for automatically dosing detergent tablets is suggested. The dosing unit comprises a storage cartridge for storing a plurality of the detergent tablets and a dosing device for releasing a respective one of the detergent tablets. The storage cartridge includes a tubular section for storing the plurality of detergent tablets ordered in a line one behind the other. The dosing unit may favorably be used in a water-bearing household appliance, in particular a dishwasher or a washing machine, for providing detergent tablets for multiple treatment cycles, without the need to fill in detergent before each cycle. Preferably, the dosing unit can be actuated automatically, for example by a control unit of the water-bearing household appliance. The detergent tablets may be any kind of detergent, that is, a chemical formulation that dissolves, at least partially, in a washing liquor for treating articles and is suitable for enhancing the treatment of the articles by the washing liquor. For example, the detergent includes enzymes, a bleaching agent, a softening agent, a rinse aid, and/or further detergents. The dosing unit may comprise several elements, such as the dosing device and the storage cartridge, even if not mentioned explicitly. The elements of the dosing unit are preferably made from polymeric materials which are suitable for injection molding. Additionally, the elements may be made from metal and/or a composite material and/or the elements may be coated. The storage cartridge stores a plurality of detergent tablets in a line one behind the other. Therefore, it is relatively simple to provide single detergent tablets to the dosing device, as compared to a system where detergent tablets are stored in an unordered way. Further, the suggested dosing unit has the advantage that essentially only the detergent tablet that will be released in the next dosing step is close to an outlet, from where humidity may enter into the storage cartridge. Thus, essentially only this detergent tablet will be affected by the humidity. One can say, that the first detergent tablet in the line absorbs the humidity entering the storage cartridge, thus protecting the other detergent tablets of the plurality. The dosing device includes, for example, a sliding mechanism for releasing the detergent tablet. Preferably, the dosing device has a closed state, in which the storage cartridge is s