DOSING UNIT AND WATER-BEARING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

Abstract

A dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance for automatically dosing detergent tablets, the dosing unit comprising a storage cartridge for storing a plurality of the detergent tablets and a dosing device for releasing a respective one of the detergent tablets, wherein the storage cartridge includes a tubular section for storing the plurality of detergent tablets ordered in a line one behind the other.

Claims

1. A dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance for automatically dosing detergent tablets, the dosing unit comprising: a storage cartridge for storing a plurality of the detergent tablets; and a dosing device for releasing a respective one of the detergent tablets, wherein the storage cartridge includes a tubular section for storing the plurality of detergent tablets ordered in a line one behind another.

2. The dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein the dosing device is arranged at one end of the tubular section of the storage cartridge, such that only a first detergent tablet in the line is arranged at the dosing device at a given time.

3. The dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein the tubular section has a cross section in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the tubular section which is selected as a function of the size and form of the detergent tablets, such that the detergent tablets are movable along the tubular section without tilting.

4. The dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein a central axis of the tubular section forms a curved path.

5. The dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein a central axis of the tubular section forms a spiral path.

6. The dosing unit according to claim 5, wherein the dosing device is arranged at the an end of the tubular section at a maximum radius of the spiral path.

7. The dosing unit according to claim 5, wherein the dosing device is arranged at an end of the tubular section in a center of the spiral path.

8. The dosing unit according to claim 5, wherein the dosing unit or the storage cartridge is configured to be turned about an axis (X) through a center of the spiral path perpendicular to the spiral path for transporting the detergent tablets along the tubular section.

9. The dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the detergent tablets of the plurality of the detergent tablets has a shape of a cylinder and is arranged in the tubular section of the storage cartridge such that each of the detergent tablets can roll along the tubular section).

10. The dosing unit according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of storage cartridges.

11. The dosing unit according to claim 10, wherein a central axis of each tubular section of each of the plurality of storage cartridges forms a spiral path and the storage cartridges are stacked on each other.

12. The dosing unit according to claim 2, wherein a sensor unit for sensing a presence of a detergent tablet is arranged at a position along the tubular section such that a distance between the sensor unit and the end of the tubular section at which the dosing device is arranged along a central axis of the tubular section corresponds to a predetermined number of detergent tablets.

13. The dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage cartridge comprises plastic, metal, foil, ceramic, fiber and/or a composite material.

14. A water-bearing household appliance with an automatic dosing system and a dosing unit according to claim 1, wherein the automatic dosing system is configured for automatically dosing at least one detergent tablet from the dosing unit.

15. The water-bearing household appliance according to claim 14, wherein the automatic dosing system is configured for removably receiving the dosing unit.

Description

[0046] Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and dependent claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first example of a dosing unit;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second example of a dosing unit;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a perspective schematic view of a third example of a dosing unit;

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an example of a dosing unit employed in a water-bearing household appliance; and

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of a water-bearing household appliance.

[0052] In the Figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent elements, unless otherwise indicated.

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first example of a dosing unit 100. The dosing unit 100 has a storage cartridge 110 and a dosing device 120. The storage cartridge 110 has a tubular section 112, a central axis of which forms a spiral path. The tubular section 112 is configured for storing and guiding detergent tablets 102 along the spiral path. For example, the detergent tablets 102 have a form of a cylinder and can roll along the tubular section 112.

[0054] The dosing unit 100 is configured to be employed in an automatic dosing system 20 (see FIG. 4 or 5) of a water-bearing household appliance 1 (see FIG. 4 or 5). The dosing unit 100 and the automatic dosing system 20 are designed to match each other such that the dosing unit 100 is arranged in the automatic dosing system 20 rotatable about a central axis X. When the dosing unit 100 is rotated in direction R about the axis X, detergent tablets 102 will effectively roll towards the dosing device 120, which is attached to an end of the tubular section 112 away from the center of the spiral path.

[0055] The dosing device 120 is configured for releasing the respective detergent tablet 102 that is currently arranged at the end of the tubular section 112. For example, the dosing device 120 is configured for switching between a closed state and a release or open state by being rotated or slid. In embodiments, the dosing device 120 includes a push rod for pushing the respective detergent tablet 102 out through a flexible lock or the like.

[0056] Next to the dosing device 120, a sensor unit 130 is arranged. The sensor unit 130 is configured for detecting or sensing a presence of a detergent tablet 102 next to it. When the sensor unit 130 detects a detergent tablet 102, at least two more dosing operations are possible, before the storage cartridge 110 or the whole dosing unit 100 needs to be rotated. In other embodiments, the sensor unit 130 may be arranged at a different position along the tubular section 112 than shown in FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 1, seven detergent tablets 102 are arranged in the storage cartridge 110 in a position such that they move or roll automatically towards the dosing device 120 after one detergent tablet 102 was released, driven by gravity G. Therefore, seven dosing operations can be performed, before the storage cartridge 110 or the whole dosing unit 100 needs to be rotated. Therefore, the pile of detergent tablets 102 arranged in the upward arch starting from the dosing device 120 can be considered a buffer of detergent tablets 102.

[0057] Due to the arrangement of the detergent tablets 102 in a line one behind the other, an exposure to humidity, which may enter the storage cartridge 110 during a dosing operation, is essentially limited to the detergent tablet 102 that is next in the line, because it will absorb most of the humidity. Thus, the other detergent tablets 102 are protected from humidity. It is not a problem that the first detergent tablet 102 is exposed to a little bit of humidity, because it is already arranged in the dosing device 120 and does not have to roll along the tubular section 112, but will be released in the next dosing operation.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second example of a dosing unit 100. The dosing unit 100 of this example has a storage cartridge 110 with a tubular section 112 with a central axis that forms a spiral path. In contrast to the first example, the dosing device 120 is arranged at the end of the tubular section 112 in the center of the spiral path. The storage cartridge 110 or the whole dosing unit 100 is intended to be arranged rotatably about a central axis (not shown in FIG. 2 for better overview), as described with reference to the first example. However, in contrast to the first example, the rotation direction R is opposite in order to transport the detergent tablets 102 towards the dosing device 120. The dosing device 120 is preferably configured as a sliding mechanism, for sliding the detergent tablet 102 out of the plane of the storage cartridge 110 for releasing the detergent tablet 102.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a perspective schematic view of a third example of a dosing unit 100. The dosing unit 100 of this example comprises three storage cartridges 110A, 110B, 110C. Each of the storage cartridges 110A, 110B, 110C is implemented similar to the storage cartridge 100 described with reference to FIG. 1. The three storage cartridges 110A, 110B, 110C are arranged stacked next to each other with a common central axis X. Below the stack of the storage cartridges 110A, 110B, 110C, a single dosing device 120 is arranged.

[0060] For example, storage cartridge 110A is configured for storing detergent tablets 102 (see FIG. 1 or 2) with dishwasher detergent, storage cartridge 110B is configured for storing detergent tablets 102 with enzyme, and storage cartridge 110C is configured for storing detergent tablets 102 with a rinse aid. Therefore, when used in a dishwasher, a respective detergent tablet 102 from the storage cartridge 110A, 110B or 110C is dosed at different timings during a treatment cycle. In particular, the dosing device 120 is configured for selectively releasing one respective detergent tablet 102 from one of the storage cartridges 110A, 110B, 110C at one time. Advantageously, only one driving unit 22 (see FIG. 4) is needed for rotating the three storage cartridges 110A, 110B, 110C.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an example of a dosing unit 100 employed in a water-bearing household appliance 1, which is implemented as a dishwasher. The dishwasher 1 has an automatic dosing system 20 arranged on a door. The automatic dosing system 20 is configured for removably receiving a dosing unit 100, for example one of the dosing units 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. The automatic dosing system 20 has a driving unit 22, which is configured for driving the dosing unit 100. For example, the driving unit 22 is configured for rotating the storage cartridge 110 or the whole dosing unit 100 in order to transport detergent tablets 102 (see FIG. 1 or 2) to a dosing device 120 (see FIG. 1-3) of the dosing unit 100. Further, the driving unit 22 is preferably implemented to operate the dosing device 120 of the dosing unit 100. The automatic dosing system 20 is configured for automatically dosing one detergent tablet 102 at a time into the dishwasher 1.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of a water-bearing household appliance 1, which is implemented as a domestic dishwasher. The domestic dishwasher 1 comprises a tub 2, which can be closed by a door 3. Preferably, the door 3 seals the tub 2 so that it is waterproof, for example by using a door seal between door 3 and the tub 2. Preferably, the tub 2 has a cuboid shape. Tub 2 and door 3 can form a washing chamber 4 for washing dishes.

[0063] In FIG. 5, door 3 is shown in the open position. By swiveling about an axis 5 at a lower edge of door 3, the door 3 can be opened or closed. With the door 3, an opening 6 of the tub 2 for inserting dishes into the washing chamber 4 can be opened or closed. Tub 2 comprises a lower cover 7, an upper cover 8 facing the lower cover 7, a rear cover 9 facing the closed door 3 and two side covers 10, 11 which face each other. For example, the lower cover 7, the upper cover 8, the rear cover 9 and the two side covers 10, 11 can be made from stainless steel sheets. Alternatively, at least one of the covers, for example the lower cover 7, can be made from a polymeric material, such as plastic.

[0064] The domestic dishwasher 1 further has at least one rack 12, 13, 14 on which dishes to be washed can be placed. Preferably, more than one rack 12, 13, 14 is used, wherein rack 12 can be lower rack, rack 13 can be an upper rack and rack 14 can be a rack specific for cutlery. As is shown in FIG. 5, the racks 12 to 14 are arranged vertically above each other in the tub 2. Each rack 12, 13, 14 can be pulled out from the tub 2 in a first, outward direction O or pushed into the tub 2 in a second, inward direction I.

[0065] FIG. 5 further shows an automatic dosing system 20 that is arranged in or at the door 3 of the domestic dishwasher 1. The automatic dosing system 20 comprises a dosing unit 100 that is removably fixed in the automatic dosing system 20. The automatic dosing system 20 has a driving unit 22 (see FIG. 4) configured to actuate the dosing unit 100 for automatically dosing a detergent tablet 102 (see FIG. 1 or 2) provided by a storage cartridge 110 (see FIG. 1-3) of the dosing unit 100. Preferably, the automatic dosing system 20 is controlled by a control unit (not shown), which is implemented for operating the domestic dishwasher 1 according to a treatment program selected from a plurality of treatment programs. Further, in preferred embodiments, the automatic dosing system 20 may include a case for removably receiving the dosing unit 100 for protecting the dosing unit 100 from the surrounding conditions, in particular heat and humidity. Additionally, the automatic dosing system 20 may comprise a dosing channel, wherein the dosing unit 100 releases the detergent tablet 102 into the dosing channel, which is implemented for guiding the released detergent tablet 102 into the washing chamber 4.

[0066] Although the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred embodiments, it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that modifications are possible in all embodiments.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0067] 1 water-bearing household appliance

[0068] 2 tub

[0069] 3 door

[0070] 4 washing chamber

[0071] 5 axis

[0072] 6 opening

[0073] 7 lower cover

[0074] 8 top cover

[0075] 9 rear cover

[0076] 10 side cover

[0077] 11 side cover

[0078] 12 rack

[0079] 13 rack

[0080] 14 rack

[0081] 20 automatic dosing system

[0082] 22 driving unit

[0083] 100 dosing unit

[0084] 102 detergent tablet

[0085] 110 storage cartridge

[0086] 110A storage cartridge

[0087] 110B storage cartridge

[0088] 110C storage cartridge

[0089] 112 tubular section

[0090] 120 dosing device

[0091] 130 sensor unit

[0092] G gravity

[0093] I direction

[0094] R rotation

[0095] O direction

[0096] X axis