AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED LAUNDRY TREATMENT MACHINE HAVING A DETERGENT FLUSHING DEVICE

Abstract

An automatically controlled laundry treatment machine includes a detergent flushing device arranged in a machine interior and having a receiving chamber configured for receiving a transportable storage container for a supply containing a plurality of doses of liquid or gel-form treatment agent. The receiving chamber is accessible from outside. A device for automatic dosing of the treatment agent forms a component of the storage container and operates purely in a fluid-mechanical manner. The device is equipped with a hydraulic siphon system, said device.

Description

The invention relates to an automatically controlled laundry treatment machine having a detergent flushing device which is arranged in the machine interior and comprises a receiving chamber for a storage container for liquid or gel-form treatment agents, said receiving chamber being accessible from the outside, and a device for automatic dosing of every stored treatment agent.

In the automatically controlled washing machine according to the previously unpublished DE 10 2007 022 098 A1 originating from the applicant, a transportable container is disclosed which can be inserted as a storage container into the dosing device of a washing machine. The storage container is automatically coupled to a fluid line which contains a conveying device for portion-wise drawing of the treatment agent out of the storage container. Regarding the type of transport device, it is only described that said container can be configured as in DE 34 03 622 A1, that is, such that for dosing, an active or passive mechanical device is provided which opens a valve for a particular time or to a particular width, such that the portion flows out into a dosing chamber. Furthermore, reference is made to active devices for conveying treatment agent portions, for example, pumps, solenoid valves or shut-off sliders.

Mechanical devices as described in DE 34 03 622 A1 are susceptible to faults and are subject to wear and blockages during use. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a form for storage containers and for the dosing device which is practicable for the user and has very low susceptibility to faults.

According to the invention, this aim is achieved with the characterizing part of claim 1 in such a way that the receiving chamber is configured for receiving a transportable container for a supply containing a plurality of doses of liquid or gel-form treatment agent and the dosing device operates purely in a fluid-mechanical manner and is equipped with a hydraulic siphon system. The container has a capacity that is large enough so as to require changing only seldom and the dosing device operates without any external energy input and entirely without movable parts which, during operation would otherwise gradually become scaled and blocked from the more or less lime-laden water. Reliable dosing would then no longer be possible. However, use of the features according to the invention would overcome such obstacles so that the dosing would not be subject to blockages caused by deposits, even after long operation, and is therefore assured in the long term. The dosing can take place simultaneously with water inflow and is therefore not subject to any risk of dehydration. Acceleration of the treatment agent supply is also possible through the arrangement and parallel operation of a plurality of storage containers and dosing devices.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the hydraulic siphon system comprises three vertical channels which are connected to one another in series by a lower bend and an upper bend, the last channel in the series comprising an outlet opening to a flushing channel of the laundry treatment machine, and the first channel in the series being upwardly open and corresponding with a switchable water inlet of the laundry treatment machine and having an input opening directly above the lower bend for the treatment agent from the storage container. In this way, a fluid-mechanical dosing device is realized, with which adhesions and encrustation on moving parts can be prevented. Since the hydraulic siphon system is flushed with a supply of water on every dispensation of a dose of treatment agent, blockage of the individual channels by dried-up residues of the treatment agent is no longer to be feared.

According to another development of the invention, the receiving chamber and the dosing device can be components of the laundry treatment machine and the storage container can be coupled to the dosing device. The storage container can then be restricted to the minimum of the components thereof required for transportation.

In a development configured in this way, it is particularly advantageous if a coupling device for connecting the interior space of the container to an input opening of the dosing device is arranged within the form of the receiving chamber. This coupling device must be configured to be particularly simple and functionally certain in order for a reliable sealing connection to be made between the storage container and the dosing device in every case.

In another advantageous development of the invention, the receiving chamber is a component of the laundry treatment machine and the dosing device is a component of the container. This means that the configuration of the coupling to the washing agent dispensing system (flushing channel) is very much simpler. However, this proposal requires the integration of the dosing unit into the storage container. This can also be realized on a technical scale in mass production and ensures enduring functional reliability. Ease of use is advantageous for the operating person.

In any event, the storage container must be sealed while able to be transported. For this purpose, according to an advantageous embodiment, the container has an outlet opening which is blocked for transport of the container and, for use of the container in the laundry treatment machine, can be unblocked.

The invention will now be described in greater detail based on exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a washing machine in a transparent view from the front,

FIG. 2 is a storage container which is connected via a coupling to a dosing device arranged in the washing machine,

FIG. 3 is another storage container with integrated dosing device.

The washing machine shown in FIG. 1 has a cabinet-shaped housing 1 into which a washing solution container is installed, which can be fed from above with a washing agent-water mixture via a flushing channel 3. This mixture is made in the dosing devices 4 in that a dose of liquid treatment agent is taken from the associated storage container 5 and is mixed with fresh water from the fresh water inlet 6. The fresh water inlets 6 are controlled from a mains power connection 7 via a distribution device 9 switchable by a control device 8. The containers 5 and dosing devices 4 shown here are only schematically indicated and are not intended to disclose any features that would indicate the dimensions, position or function thereof. The storage containers 5 are accommodated in receiving chambers 10 which are accessible from outside the washing machine.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a transportable container 11, which has a form which is suitable as a storage container 5 and is insertable into a receiving chamber 10 which is accessible from outside the washing machine. The dot-dashed frames 12, 13 and 14 indicate the limits within which the respective assemblies of transportable container 11, coupling 15 and dosing device 4 are arranged in the washing machine. The transportable container 11 comprises nothing more than the sleeve 16 thereof and, as the only opening, a closing device in front of the outlet opening 29 (for the duration of the transport and storage outside the washing machine and is therefore no longer shown here) and a filling 17 of treatment agent. The coupling 15 is delimited by the two vertical dashed lines.

The dosing device 18 comprises a series of adjacent vertically arranged channels 19 to 22 of which the channel 19 is downwardly open and opens into the flushing channel 3. At the top, the channel 19 is connected via an upper bend 23 to the adjacent channel 20, which in turn is connected below, via a lower bend 24 to the infeed channel 21 arranged therebefore in the outflow direction 25. The infeed channel 21 serves to feed in fresh water which can be fed according to the arrow 26 into the upper funnel 27 in controlled manner. Finally, the air inlet channel 22 serves to feed in air 28, the function of which will be described below.

During transportation and storage of the transportable container 11 outside the area of use thereof in the washing machine, the outlet opening 29 of said container is closed at the height of the right-hand dashed line of the coupling 15 by a cover or membrane (see, for example, FIG. 4). In order to join the transportable container 11 to the dosing device 18, said cover or membrane is firstly removed and the outlet opening 29 is connected to the coupling 15. Depending on whether the coupling was previously connected to the dosing device 18 or not, said connection is now made or has already been made.

Thereafter, according to the principle of communicating vessels, the treatment agent runs into all the channels of the lower region of the dosing device 18 until the upper edge of the outlet opening 29 is reached. The treatment agent passes into the lower regions of the air inlet channel 22, the infeed channel 21 and the channel 20 and into the lower bend 24. Due to the narrower opening 30 which acts as a throttle, the inflow of treatment agent into the lower bend 24 and the adjacent channels 20 and 21 is delayed. On reaching the upper edge of the outlet opening 29, the internal and external pressures are equal. The quantity of treatment agent now situated in the lower region of the dosing device 18 corresponds to a standard quantity. Due to the dimensions of the geometrical proportions of the dosing device 18, the standard quantity is adjustable within particular limits which also take account of the viscosity of the treatment agent. The lower region of the dosing device 18 in the direction of flow of the treatment agent can also be enlarged behind the throttling opening to the required amount. This standard quantity of treatment agent is replaced by air flowing in through the air inlet channel 22 and the outlet opening 29 in the storage container 11 until the dosed standard quantity reaches the upper edge of the outlet opening 29. The air rises as bubbles through the treatment agent in the storage container 11.

As soon as fresh water flows into the funnel 27 via the associated fresh water inlet 6 in the direction of the arrow 26, the liquid level within the dosing device rises to the level of the upper bend 23 and flows as a water-treatment agent mixture in the direction of the arrow 25 through the channel 19 and the flushing channel 3 into the washing solution container 2. During the time in which the fill level in the dosing device 18 is above the upper edge of the outlet opening 29, no further treatment agent can flow out of the transportable container 11 (which is now a storage container 5). Only when the inflow of fresh water into the infeed channel 21 predominates does the level fall below the upper edge of the outlet opening 29. Then treatment agent runs in again from the transportable container 11, as during the first time. Treatment agent also flows to a small extent out of the transportable container 11 into the lower region of the dosing device 18. However, this quantity is negligibly small due to the throttling opening 30.

If the standard quantity of the dosed treatment agent is not sufficient for the continuing treatment process in the washing machine, then the quantity can be multiplied by one or more influxes of fresh water until the total quantity is sufficient. A small quantity of fresh water is sufficient each time for feeding in the dose, for example, 300 ml in each case. As soon as the fresh water influx predominates and the mixture runs out of the channel 19, the level of the mixture in the lower region of the dosing device 18 falls. From the time point at which said level has fallen below the upper edge of the opening 30 between the infeed channel 21 and the air inlet channel 22, air 28 flows through the air inlet channel 22 into the lower region of the dosing device 18 and interrupts the flow of mixture. The small residue of the mixture which has not flowed out runs from the upper bend 23 back again and now treatment agent flows out of the transportable container 11 again until the dosing level is reached once again. Now a further influx of fresh water can feed in another dose.

The functions of the transportable container and the dosing device 18 shown in FIG. 3 are identical to those in FIG. 2. Said functions will therefore not be described here again. However, the dosing device 18 with all the details thereof belong to the transportable container 31 of FIG. 3. Therefore the coupling 15 is unnecessary because the dosing device 18 is a component of the transportable container 31 and for this reason, is rigidly connected to the shell 16 of the transportable container. Therefore, in FIG. 3, it is only the flushing channel 3 and the infeed and air inlet functions indicated by the arrows 26 and 28 which belong to the washing machine, as indicated by the frame 14. As soon as the transportable container 31 has been brought into the correct position thereof within the receiving chamber 10 (FIG. 1), the opening of the funnel 27 corresponds to the fresh water inlet 26, and the opening of the air inlet channel 22 corresponds to the respective ambient air inlet and the opening of the channel 19 corresponds to the flushing channel 3.

Mounted in front of the outlet opening 29 is a closing device (not shown here). Said closing device essentially comprises a cover which is guided and removable vertically and becomes immersed with the lower edge thereof into a flat groove of the transportable container sleeve 16. At the upper edge, the cover has a hinge which is connected to a traction means. With said traction means, an operator can pull the cover away upwardly and thereby free the inlet opening 29 in order to allow the treatment agent to flow into the lower region of the dosing device 18. In place of said cover, a membrane which is removed by comparable means can be attached and fastened so as to seal the outlet opening 29 with a peripheral welded or glued seam until the removal of said membrane.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. An automatically controlled laundry treatment machine, comprising:

a detergent flushing device arranged in a machine interior and comprising a receiving chamber configured for receiving a transportable storage container for a supply containing a plurality of doses of liquid or gel-form treatment agent, said receiving chamber being accessible from outside; and

a dosing device for automatic dosing of the treatment agent, said dosing device operating purely in a fluid-mechanical manner and being equipped with a hydraulic siphon system, said dosing device forming a component of the storage container.

8. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic siphon system comprises three vertical channels which are connected to one another in series by a lower bend and an upper bend and thereby define a first channel and a last channel, with the last channel comprising an outlet opening to a flushing channel of the laundry treatment machine, and with the first channel being upwardly open and corresponding with a switchable water inlet of the laundry treatment machine, said first channel having an input opening directly above the lower bend for the treatment agent from the storage container.

9. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the storage container has an outlet opening, and further comprising a closing device for blocking the outlet opening during a transport of the container and unblocked the outlet opening for use of the storage container in the laundry treatment machine.

10. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the dosing device is rigidly connected to a shell of the storage container.