RECYCLABLE AUTO-DOSING CONTAINER

Abstract

A recyclable container containing a substrate treatment liquid, configured for fluid connection to a fluid communication system of a substrate treatment machine e.g. washing machine, the storage container comprising: (i) a reservoir containing a multi-dose stock of the substrate treatment liquid; (ii) a container connector which is designed to be removably and fluidly connectable with a machine connector of the substrate treatment machine, said connectors together forming a container-machine connection, such that the substrate treatment liquid can controllably flow from the reservoir via the container-machine connection to said fluid communication system; and (iii) a valve which is movable between an open and a closed position to control the flow of substrate treatment liquid from the storage container, said valve comprising a biasing member such that the valve is biased toward an open or closed position within the housing; and wherein the reservoir, container connector and valve comprise a recyclable plastic and that the biasing member comprises a recyclable plastic having a shore A hardness of 30-95 degrees, preferably 40-90 degrees, more preferably 45-85 degrees.

Claims

1. A recyclable container containing a substrate treatment liquid, configured for fluid connection to a fluid communication system of a substrate treatment machine, the storage container comprising: (i) a reservoir containing a multi-dose stock of the substrate treatment liquid; (ii) a container connector which is designed to be removably and fluidly connectable with a machine connector of the substrate treatment machine, said connectors together forming a container-machine connection, such that the substrate treatment liquid can controllably flow from the reservoir via the container-machine connection to said fluid communication system; and (iii) a valve which is movable between an open and a closed position to control the flow of substrate treatment liquid from the storage container, said valve comprising a biasing member such that the valve is biased toward an open or closed position within the housing; wherein the reservoir, container connector and valve comprise a recyclable plastic and that the biasing member comprises a recyclable plastic having a shore A hardness of 30-95 degrees.

2. The recyclable container according to claim 1 wherein the recyclable plastic comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

3. The recyclable container according to claim 2 wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyolefin, preferably polypolypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) or a mixture thereof.

4. The recyclable container according to claim 1 wherein the reservoir, container connector and valve comprise a common recyclable plastic being a polypolypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).

5. The recyclable container according to claim 1 wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

6. The recyclable container according to claim 1 wherein the spring comprises a hollow body with a solid circumferential wall comprising one or more radial bulges or recesses.

7. The recyclable container according to claim 6 wherein the number of bulges or recesses is in range from 1-20.

8. The recyclable container containing a substrate treatment liquid according to claim 1 wherein the plastic comprises a bio-plastic.

9. The recyclable container containing a substrate treatment liquid according to claim 1 wherein the recyclable plastic comprises recycled plastic.

10. The recyclable container containing a substrate treatment liquid according to claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a piston and tube, the piston being movable within the tube.

11. The recyclable container containing a substrate treatment liquid according to claim 2 wherein the biasing member is under load whilst the valve is open and the substrate treatment product dispensed, and then it is unloaded (relaxed to its free length) when the valve is shut.

12. (canceled)

13. The recyclable container according to claim 1 wherein the substrate treatment machine is a washing machine.

14. The recyclable container according to claim 1 wherein the biasing member comprises a recyclable plastic having a shore A hardness of 40-90 degrees.

Description

[0084] An non-limiting example of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

[0085] FIG. 1: is a schematic of a recyclable cartridge installed in a washing machine;

[0086] FIGS. 2a-2c are magnified schematics of the machine-cartridge connection of the recyclable cartridge of FIG. 1, in varying positions;

[0087] FIGS. 3a-3c: are magnified schematics of another example of a machine-cartridge connection that would work with the machine of FIG. 1, comprising an alternative cartridge connector, again in varying positions;

[0088] FIGS. 4a,4b: are magnified schematics of an alternative biasing member for use in the recyclable container of FIG. 1 and any container of the invention

[0089] In FIG. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of an auto-dosing washing machine 1. The machine comprises the conventional arrangement of a perforated drum 3 rotatably mounted in a suds container 2 within an outer housing 4. Drum 3 is driven by an electric motor (motor, electronics not shown but is well known to those skilled in the art) to rotate and agitate laundry items therein. Laundry is loaded into the drum 3 via opening, closable by door 5. Machine 1 further comprises, a heater not shown, operative to heat the washing liquid in the suds container 2.

[0090] The machine 1 comprises a water feed pipe 14 fluidly connected to the dispensing drawer 11 such that water can be fed from a water supply, into the machine to flow along the pipe via drawer 11 and then into the suds container 2 and thence into the drum 3. Manual dosing can be effected by loading treatment composition/s into the drawer 11. This is then flushed into the suds container 2 and drum 3. Below tub 2 is drain device 12, for draining spent laundry liquids/rinse water 19 to a drain line, connected to a main drain/sewer. A control device 18 controls the washing machine processes including inlet valve (not shown), drain device 12, drive motors, electronics and heater etc as with conventional washing machines with which the skilled person will be aware.

[0091] The washing machine 1 further comprises an automatically controlled metering device 8 comprising a bay 15 and fluid connection attachments for one or more recyclable substrate treatment containers 21 (only one shown, installed). In the embodiments shown, a recyclable treatment container 21 is loaded. The recyclable container 21 contains liquid substrate treatment composition 22 (such as liquid detergents, washing additives or flushing additives, such as fabric softeners as described herein).

[0092] The metering device 8 comprises a pump 17, which under control of device 18, pumps the substrate treatment composition 22 to the suds container 2 via a flexible fluid connecting line 20. Containers 21 can be pushed into/pulled out of the bay via an opening in a front wall or side wall of the housing 4. There may be one or more containers, and these may be moved individually or in groups or all together.

[0093] FIGS. 2a-2c show magnified views of the container-machine connection 16 which comprises a container connector 50, being fluidly connectable with a machine connector 52 of the washing machine 1. This connection 16 allows the substrate treatment liquid 22 to controllably flow from the reservoir via the container-machine connection to the fluid communication line 20.

[0094] The container connector comprises a valve comprising a spring-loaded piston 24 which is movable between an open and a closed position to control the flow (F) of substrate treatment liquid from the storage container 21 into line 20. The spring comprises a plastic compression spring 35 which is axially aligned with the piston 24. Preferably the spring has a spring rate in the range 0.4-5.25 N/mm, more preferably 1-4 N/mm most preferably 2-3 N/mm. Spring rate is a measure of the stiffness of a spring and is defined as the force (N) needed to compress the spring 1 mm. It is preferred that the spring rate is linear. Preferably the free length of the spring is between 10-100 mm, more preferably 20-60 mm.

[0095] In FIG. 2a the reservoir 21 is shown separated from the connection line 20. The machine connector 52 comprises a hollow shaft 25 attached, in-line and in fluid communication with connecting line 20. The opposite side 25b of the shaft 25 has openings 27 on the side of the shaft and carries a sleeve 26, which in the position shown, overlies to close the openings 27. Ring seals 28, 29 are mounted on the hollow shaft 25 in front and behind openings 25 to prevent leakage once the piston is in the open position (see FIG. 2c and also 3c).

[0096] The storage container 21 comprises, a container connection 50. This comprises a cylindrical tube section 23 which is inside the reservoir and in fluid communication therewith via apertures in the side of the tube 23. The tube 23 encloses the spring loaded piston 24. The piston 24 is shown in the closed position so that the apertures 56 in the tube are blocked by the piston. The spring loading of the piston is by means of a plastic compression spring 35 and the piston is located centrally and axially of the spring 35. The spring 35 is held captive in the tube 23.

[0097] The tube section 23 opens into port 30 on the outside. The edge 31 of the port 30 is shaped e.g. tapered or chamfered to mirror the edges of the port, so that the free end 26a of the sleeve 26 can when inserted, be centred on the port to ensure a good connection.

[0098] FIG. 2b shows the container-machine connection 16, in which the reservoir is inserted so far into the bay of device housing 4, that the edge 26a of the sleeve 26 abuts the edge 31 of the port 30. The valve 25 is in this position is still closed, since the openings 27 remain covered by sleeve 26. Also, the valve in the container 21, which is formed by the cylindrical tube section 23 and the piston 24 is still closed because the piston 24 remains in a position blocking (closing) apertures.

[0099] FIG. 2c shows the container-machine connection 16 with the valve open. The shaft 25 has been moved sufficiently far into the tube section 23 of the container that the openings 27 are in fluid connection with the reservoir via apertures 56 of tube 23 to allow the flow of the treatment composition from the reservoir 21 to the connection line 20. The seal 29 prevents leakage to the outside. Preferably the seals are plastic.

[0100] At this position, the sleeve 26 is pushed back so that the end of shaft 25 can be inserted into the tube section 23. When separating the connection, so when pulling out of the reservoir 21a, the port edge 31 is the last component separated from the sleeve 26.

[0101] As outlined in FIG. 1, a pump 17 may be used to convey the substrate. substrate treatment composition. The amount and the timing of the dosage are controlled by the control device 18 of the washing machine 1. The separation of a container 21 from the mandrel 25 and the connecting line 20 takes place in the reverse order. For machines where multiple containers can be installed, the principle of the machine-container connection as explained herein applies to the other containers.

[0102] FIGS. 3a-3c show an identical embodiment, but in this case the piston 24 extends axially into the tube 23 and exits the distal end of the tube through an aperture. With this arrangement, as the piston moves in the direction of the reservoir, its distal end actually enters the reservoir via the aperture in the tube section 23.

[0103] The recyclable container including the container connector and all components including the spring 35 comprises a recyclable plastic, preferably it comprises all polypropylene (PP,), or all polyethylene (PE) preferably high density polyethylene (HDPE), or any combination thereof.

[0104] In both embodiments described above, the spring 35 comprises a helical compression spring 35 and is arranged so that the compression spring 35 is compressed to open the valve and decompresses as the valve closes. The spring 35 has two ends, one end is seated against the piston and the opposite (distal) end of the spring 35 is seated against the periphery of the base of the tube section 23. The spring 35 comprises an end coil at each of the two opposing ends of the spring. Preferably the spring 35 comprises an end coil at each end of the spring 35. The end coils are substantially or completely closed having a pitch angle of zero where, wherein pitch is defined as the axial distance between coils.

[0105] The end coils lie against the load bearing (end) surfaces of the tube portion even before compression. The end coils are sized to abut against the load bearing (inner end) surfaces of the tube portion 23 even before compression with the piston in the closed position. With the design in FIGS. 3a-3c, the aperture in the base of the tube 23 and the end coil are relatively sized so that each end coil is completely supported by the inner end surface and does not overhang the aperture.

[0106] Each end coil is be followed by a respective active transmission coil of varying pitch. There are 2 or more transition coils of constant pitch. References herein and in the claims to “coils” refer to either “full coils” or segments” of full coils. The end coils may be squared, closed and gradually tapered in thickness from the point at which the end coil is connected to the transition coil towards the free end of the end coil. The end coils are squared and tapered towards their ends to minimize side thrust and maximize flat load bearing surfaces without creating stress points or increasing the solid height of the spring. Preferably the cross-section of the coils of the spring is substantially rectangular and preferably trapezoidal, decreasing in height from the inside out. In between the transition coils are 1 to 5, preferably 1-3 full pitch coils of constant pitch. References herein and in the claims to “coils” refer to either “full coils” or segments” of full coils. In between the transition coils are 1 to 20, preferably 2 to 14 more preferably 3-10 full pitch active coils of constant pitch. The end coils are each squared, closed and gradually tapered in thickness from the point at which the end coil is connected to the transition coil towards the free end of the end coil. The end coils are squared and tapered towards their ends to minimize side thrust and maximize flat load bearing surfaces without creating stress points or increasing the solid height of the spring 35, again accounting for manufacturability. In between the transition coils are 10 full pitch coils of constant pitch. The cross-section of the coils of the spring 35 is substantially rectangular and preferably trapezoidal. The spring coils decrease in height from the inside out (radially) to provide a slight outward tapering of the rectangular cross-section facilitates manufacturability.

[0107] Also in both embodiments, the container connector is detachable from the reservoir by means of screw threaded attachment 60. This is achieved by mutually engaging screw threads on the reservoir and container connector. Also included are one or more seals, which are housed on the container connector to ensure a leak-proof connection.

[0108] FIGS. 4a and 4b shows an alternative to the above spring comprising a solid walled biasing member 100, comprising an elongate hollow body 101 and co-axially aligned forming a sleeve around the piston (not shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b). The hollow body 100 comprises a circumferential, 103 comprising a thermoplastic polymer either polypropylene or polyethylene and is elastic by virtue of one or more, preferably 1-20, more preferably 2-10 longitudinal radial bulges. The spring circumferential wall preferably has thickness of 1-8 mm, preferably 1.1 mm to 4 mm, more preferably 1.1-1.65 mm.

[0109] The hollow body of the spring comprises polypropylene or polyethylene having a Shore A hardness of 30-95 degrees, preferably 40-90 degrees, more preferably 45-85 degrees. Testing may be conducted using a shore hardness meter. The hardness is measured by the depth of indentation caused by a rigid ball under a spring the indentation being converted to hardness degrees on a scale ranging from 0 to 100. The spring-loaded meter gives Shore A values. The hardness scale from 0 to 100 is chosen such that ‘0’ represents a rubber having an elastic modulus of zero and ‘100’ represents a rubber having infinite elastic modulus.

[0110] The hollow body may be formed by any suitable process, for example injection molding of sections (which may be of a single or different materials) to form an integral piece. The hollow body may comprise end portions shaped as a circular truncated cones.

[0111] Preferably the wall comprises depressions (visible when the hollow body is viewed from the side) having an angle A in the range from 95° to 165°.

[0112] Advantageous elasticity for biasing a reservoir closure member (piston) in a substrate container in a washing machine is determined by [0113] (i) the pressure angle in range from 95° to 165°; [0114] (ii) the number of bulges/recesses being in the range from 1-20, preferably 2-10, more preferably 3-7; and [0115] (iii) the thickness in the range from 1-8 mm, preferably 1.1 mm to 4 mm, more preferably 1.1-1.65 mm.

[0116] Preferably the hollow body comprises a thermoplastic polymer, preferably a polyolefin selected from polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0117] Preferably any seals which are not recyclable plastic e.g. rubber, are located on the container connector and not on the reservoir. This means that the reservoir can be recycled as a plastic, without including contaminating non-plastic material such as rubber.

[0118] The container is designed to be fluidly connectable with a machine connector of the substrate treatment machine and comprises a valve which is movable between an open and a closed position to control the flow of substrate treatment liquid from the storage container.

[0119] With regard to the container, if rigid, it preferably comprises an air inlet valve, so that as liquid is removed, during dosing when the container is installed, air can be drawn into the reservoir to replace the lost liquid. The air inlet preferable comprises the same material as the reservoir. The air inlet valve preferably allows the passage of air therethrough, but prevents, by appropriate aperture size, substrate treatment liquid to pass through.

[0120] Once the recyclable container is empty, it may be placed in its entirety into the plastic recycling.