EP1698263A1

EP1698263A1 - Detergent dispenser for a dishwasher

Info

Publication number: EP1698263A1
Application number: EP05445010A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stellan Wrangberth
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2005-03-01
Filing date: 2005-03-01
Publication date: 2006-09-06
Also published as: CN101132727B; PL1855578T3; EP1855578B1; CN101132727A; WO2006092232A1; EP1855578A1

Abstract

A detergent dispenser (10) for a dishwasher comprises a box-like compartment (14) for detergent in powder-form or in the shape of tablets. The compartment (14) is closable by a lid (16) adapted to be opened at a selectable time during a washing process. The volume of the compartment (14) is adapted to allow for a powder dose which is reduced compared to a standard dose and at the same time allowing for a standard dose tablet when the lid (16) is closed.

Description

The present invention relates to a detergent dispenser for a dishwasher comprising a box-like compartment for detergent in powder-form or in the shape of tablets, said compartment being closable by a lid adapted to be opened at a selectable time during a washing process.
Detergent dispensers for full-size dishwashers normally have a volume allowing for a dose of powder detergent of about 40 ml. Alternatively, the detergent dispenser can be used with detergent tablets of a standard dose shape. The full-size dishwasher normally allows for treating of dishware for about 12-14 persons.
There are also compact dishwashers on the market which allows for about half of the amount of dishware as compared to the amount allowed in a full-size dishwasher. Up to now detergent dispensers for use in compact dishwashers allow for an amount of detergent powder of about 10 ml and does not allow for the use of detergent tablets.
It has been found that when dosing more than about 10 ml of powder detergent of certain brands in a compact dishwasher there is a risk for damage to sealings provided in the liquid circulation pump and, in addition, unpleasant noise may occur. Overdosing may also result in waste of detergent. No such damage have been observed in connection with the use of detergent tablets even if such use involves overdosing to some extent.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to modify a detergent dispenser normally used in a full-size dishwasher so that it could be used also in compact dishwashers, wherein a much smaller volume of detergent powder is allowed and at the same time also use of standard dose detergent tablets.
The object has been achieved in a detergent dispenser which has obtained the characterizing features indicated in claim 1. Preferred embodiments have been included in the associated sub-claims.
The invention will now be described more in detail in connection with a preferred embodiment and with reference to the enclosed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser according to the invention, and
Fig. 2 shows a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1.

In the drawings a detergent dispenser 10 is shown comprising a main body 12 in which a compartment 14 for detergent is formed. A lid 16 is pivotably supported on the main body 12 by a hinge 18. The lid 16 can be moved between an open position and a closed position and in the latter position the lid 16 covers the compartment 14 to prevent detergent from escaping until allowed to at a selectable time during a wash process. A spring, not shown, biases the lid 16 to take its open position. A gasket 20 in the lid 16 acts to prevent water from entering the compartment 14. A turnably mounted locking member 21 cooperates with an edge on the lid 16 for keeping the lid in its closed position. The locking member 21 is released by electric means in a way known in the art and not described more in detail.
The detergent dispenser 10 is intended to be used with either powder detergent or detergent tablets comprising pressed detergent powder. In a full-size dishwasher the compartment 14 is designed for allowing for powder detergent of about 40 ml even if a recommended dose is about 20 ml. If this detergent dispenser should be used in a compact dishwasher of a size corresponding to 4-6 sets of table ware, for powder detergent of certain brands the detergent liquid concentration would be too high causing damage to sealings provided in the circulation pump used to circulate wash liquid in a dishwasher treatment chamber. Accordingly, the volume of the compartment 14 has been made smaller so as to allow for a reduced amount of about 10 ml of powder detergent. This reduced amount normally gives the correct liquid concentration in a compact dishwasher in which reduced amounts of water is used. With this reduced dose no damage to sealings in the pump have been observed.
The compartment 14 has an upper rim 22 acting as a measure of the reduced dose (about 10 ml). In addition, in facilitating flush of detergent into said treatment chamber when the lid 16 has opened, a bottom wall 24 of said compartment 14 is slanting. Normally the detergent dispenser is mounted on the inside of a door closing the treatment chamber of a dishwasher. The mounting is such that when the door is closed the lid 16 opens upwards. The bottom wall 24 of the compartment 14 is slanting in a direction into the treatment chamber. This is achieved by the bottom wall 24 having a greater depth at the side close to the lid hinge 18 than at the opposite side. This is shown in Fig. 2.
The length and width of the compartment 14 is designed to allow for use of standard dose detergent tablets. This tablet is to big to be contained in the compartment 14 as designed for a reduced dose (about 10 ml) of powder detergent and accordingly a corresponding cavity 26 is provided in the lid 16 to take up the part of the tablet protruding above the rim 22.

Claims

Detergent dispenser (10) for a dishwasher comprising a box-like compartment (14) for detergent in powder-form or in the shape of tablets, said compartment (14) being closable by a lid (16) adapted to be opened at a selectable time during a washing process, characterized in that the volume of the compartment (14) is adapted to allow for a powder dose which is reduced compared to a standard dose and at the same time allowing for a standard dose tablet when the lid (16) is closed.
Detergent dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the compartment (14) has an upper rim (22) indicating the volume of the reduced standard powder dose and that a cavity (26) is provided in the lid (16) for taking up a part of a standard dose tablet projecting above said rim (22).
Detergent dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a bottom wall (24) of the compartment (14) is slanting.
Detergent dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the lid (16) is pivotably mounted by means of a hinge (18) and that the bottom wall (24) has a greater depth at the side close to the hinge (18) than at the opposite side of the compartment (14).
Detergent dispenser according to any of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the detergent dispenser (10) is mounted on the inside of a door closing a treatment chamber of a dishwasher, wherein with the door closed the lid (16) opens upwards and the bottom wall (24) is slanting in a direction into said chamber.