Patents by Inventor Ingo Hardacker

Ingo Hardacker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12188168
    Abstract: A device for use in a household appliance is disclosed. The device includes at least one casing configured to be placed in a treatment chamber of a household appliance. The casing includes at least one output module configured to dispense at least one preparation into the treatment chamber of the household appliance and/or to trigger an output and at least one sensor module configured to determine sensor data characteristic of the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance (300) and/or of the device. The sensor module includes at least one acceleration sensor, wherein the sensor data at least partially represents data determined by the at least one acceleration sensor. The dispensing and/or triggering of the output of the preparation by the at least one output module is based at least partially on the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Lars Zuechner, Robert Ruiz Hernandez, Ingo Hardacker
  • Publication number: 20240410102
    Abstract: A metering system for dispensing at least one flowable preparation into an interior of a washing machine, the system having at least one metering device and at least one container which can be coupled to the metering device and is intended for storing the at least one flowable preparation, wherein the metering device includes: at least one electrical power source for operating the metering device; at least one metering unit for dispensing a predefined amount of the at least one flowable preparation; at least one sensor unit for monitoring the metering unit; and at least one control unit coupled to the metering unit and to the sensor unit, wherein the metering unit has a pump for dispensing the at least one flowable preparation and wherein the metering system is suitable for being freely positioned within the interior of the washing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Ingo Hardacker, Robert Ruiz Hernandez, Sergio Linz, Dirck Seynaeve, Jan De Paepe
  • Publication number: 20240410101
    Abstract: A container for at least two free-flowing preparations, having at least a first cavity for storing a first free-flowing preparation, a second cavity for storing a second free-flowing preparation, and a coupling plane for detachable interlocking connection to a metering device, wherein the second cavity is at least partially enclosed by the first cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity are substantially collapsible, and the first cavity and the second cavity are fluidically separated from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Robert Ruiz Hernandez, Sergio Linz, Ingo Hardacker, Dirck Seynaeve
  • Patent number: 12089792
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning robot having a cleaning cloth and a cleaning agent and also to the use of a concentrated cleaning agent in such a cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Slavoljub Barackov, Ingo Hardacker
  • Publication number: 20240279861
    Abstract: In a method for operating a washing machine, a defined degree of wetting of items of laundry in the drum is required. This degree is brought about in determinable manner by alternately wetting the items of laundry in the drum from below and from above. At intervals, the items of laundry can be tumbled together or loosened up by rotation of the drum. The volume of water absorbed by the items of laundry can be determined by determining the total volume of water admitted into the washing machine and making a comparison with the volume of water not absorbed by the items of laundry. This absorbed water is assumed to be uniformly distributed within the items of laundry and a level of drenching or degree of wetting of the items of laundry can accordingly be determined. In this way, subsequent washing processes can be carried out in a more defined and overall better way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Antonio Di Maggio, Uwe Schaumann, Arnd Kessler, Ingo Hardacker
  • Publication number: 20240279865
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing apparatus (1) with a main line (3), in which a liquid (F) flows along a direction of flow (FR), and a secondary line (9). The main line (3) has an inlet (4), an outlet (5) for discharging the liquid (F) conducted through the main line (3), and a three-way valve (8) at a beginning (6) and at an end (7). The secondary line (9) is connected via the three-way valves (8) to the main line (3) and, together with the main line (3), forms a mixing circuit (MKL). The liquid (F) can be pumped with a pump (11) through the main line (3) and through the secondary line (9) in the mixing circuit (MKL). In addition, at least one additive inlet opening (26) is provided on the main line (3) for adding an additive into a mixing zone (M) of the main line (3). The mixing apparatus (1) furthermore has at least one swirling means (13) in the main line (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Antonio Di Maggio, Uwe Schaumann, Arnd Kessler, Ingo Hardacker
  • Patent number: 12031261
    Abstract: A method and device for dispensing a fragrance composition in a household appliance during a cleaning cycle. The device is disposed inside the appliance and includes a first compartment with a detergent, and a second compartment with a fragrance composition. A change in a position of the device in the appliance triggers dispensing of a portion of the fragrance into the appliance. The device can contain computer instructions for carrying out the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Ingo Hardacker, Slavoljub Barackov, Andreas Bauer, Frank Pessel
  • Patent number: 12006609
    Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising inter alia a method comprising: acquiring at least one set of sensor data, wherein the at least one set of sensor data is acquired from at least one sensor; determining evaluation data indicative of a condition of a treatment chamber of a household appliance, wherein the evaluation data is determined based at least in part on the acquired set of sensor data; and outputting or causing the output of the determined evaluation data. Furthermore, a device for executing and/or controlling this method, a system with several devices for controlling and/or executing this method and a computer program for executing and/or controlling this method are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Lars Zuechner, Robert Ruiz Hernandez, Ingo Hardacker
  • Publication number: 20240026592
    Abstract: A washing machine has a drum-receiving container with a round drum therein, wherein the inner shape of the drum-receiving container is not round cylindrical. The drum accordingly has a radial distance along the circumferential direction thereof from the drum-receiving container, wherein the latter is configured such that this distance continuously varies in places and/or has no discontinuity. The distance is smaller in the uppermost region of the drum than at the mid-vertical height of the drum, and the distance is at its greatest in a lower region of the drum between a lowermost point of drum and one third of the vertical height of the drum. At the lowermost region, a breakaway edge may be formed below the drum to enable removal of externally adhering water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Antonio Di Maggio, Arnd Kessler, Ingo Hardacker, Uwe Schaumann
  • Patent number: 11814772
    Abstract: A device for use in a household appliance is disclosed, the device comprising: at least one casing, wherein the casing is configured to be placed in a treatment chamber of a household appliance; wherein the casing comprises at least one output module, which is configured to dispense at least one preparation into the treatment chamber of the household appliance and/or to trigger an output; and at least one sensor module, which is configured to determine sensor data characteristic of the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance and/or of the device; wherein the sensor module comprises at least one sensor, wherein the sensor data at least partially represents information determined by employing the at least one sensor; wherein the data determined by sensor is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Lars Zuechner, Robert Ruiz Hernandez, Ingo Hardacker
  • Patent number: 11540694
    Abstract: A method for setting a time of a release of a cleaning agent during a cleaning cycle in a household appliance includes obtaining an evolution over time of a local parameter inside the appliance, the local parameter comprising an acceleration induced by the cycle or a temperature inside the appliance; obtaining reference patterns of evolutions of the local parameter during a cycle comprising different cleaning steps including a step adapted for releasing the cleaning agent at a predetermined adapted time; comparing the evolution of the local parameter to the reference patterns and identifying a cleaning step within the cycle when a similarity between a reference pattern and the evolution is above a predetermined threshold, and setting the release of the agent at the predetermined adapted time within the identified cleaning step when the identified step corresponds to a step adapted for releasing the agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Thomas Juckel, Rayko Enz, Volker Hoppe, Lars Zuechner, Robert Ruiz Hernandez, Wolfgang Wick, Ingo Hardacker
  • Publication number: 20220183527
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning robot having a cleaning cloth and a cleaning agent and also to the use of a concentrated cleaning agent in such a cleaning robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Slavoljub Barackov, Ingo Hardacker
  • Publication number: 20050043209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fragrance- or odorant-laden polymer capsules and processes for producing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Peter Schmiedel, Axel Becker, Ingo Hardacker, Andreas Ferencz
  • Patent number: 6482876
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agglomerate containing at least one of the following water-soluble or water-dispersible materials as a bonding base polymer: carboxylized and/or alkoxylized starch, cellulose ether and fully synthetic vinyl polymers and/or polyacrylates. The agglomerate is characterized in that it contains a blasting agent which produces a high swelling pressure, but, advantageously, does not gel. The agglomerate can have a regular geometric form or not. Its weight should be between 0.5 and 500 g. The agglomerate is used in particular in the production of lump-free paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Sandra Witt-Nuesslein, Werner Haller, Bernhard Schoettmer, Monika Boecker, Wolfgang Seiter, Ingo Hardacker, Heinz-Peter Hoffmann