EP2680736B1

EP2680736B1 - An integrated device for dispensing washing agents for a washing machine, in particular for a dishwashing machine

Info

Publication number: EP2680736B1
Application number: EP12707742.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Marone; Karol Balys; Artur SIUDAK
Original assignee: Bitron Poland Sp zoo
Current assignee: Bitron Poland Sp zoo
Priority date: 2011-03-02
Filing date: 2012-03-02
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-02
Also published as: PL223690B1; WO2012117090A1; EP2680736A1; PL394087A1

Description

The present invention relates to an integrated device for dispensing washing agents for a washing machine, and in particular for a dishwashing machine.
More specifically, the invention concerns a dispensing device of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 1.
A dispensing device of the above-defined kind is disclosed in DE 195 45 773 A1 . That prior device comprises a single electrically controlled actuator, coupled to the closing cover of the device for releasing the detergent, as well as to a valve of the device for releasing the rinsing agent, through a quite complicate transmission mechanism which includes two separate levers, which are coupled with each other such that they rotate together in certain conditions, and independently of each other in other conditions. One of said levers has a rather long transverse arm, whose distal end carries a feeler which in the operation follows an operating path defined in an oscillatable cam member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device of the above-defined kind, having a simplified structure and adapted to be manufactured in a very cheap manner.
This and other objects are achieved according to the invention with an integrated device for dispensing washing agents of the initially defined kind, having the features defined in claim 1.
Thanks to said features, the transmission mechanism as a matter of fact comprises only the control lever and the translatable cam member.
Further features and advantages of the device according to the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, made purely by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein

figure 1 is a front perspective view of an integrated dispensing device according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a rear front view of the integrated dispensing device of figure 1, and shows the transmission mechanism thereof;
figures 3 and 4 are partial perspective views which show, at an enlarged scale, part of said transmission mechanism in two different operating conditions; and
figure 5 is a partial perspective view of a detail of the dispensing device.

In figures 1 and 2 reference number 1 indicates, as a whole, an integrated device for dispensing washing agents for a dishwasher, according to the present invention.
The integrated dispensing device 1 comprises a body 1, made for instance of a moulded plastic material, in which in a per se known manner there are formed a releasing device 2, for dispensing a detergent, in particular a deterging powder, and an adjacent second releasing device 3, for dispensing a liquid rinsing agent or so-called "brightener".
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated the releasing device 2 for the detergent in a per se known manner comprises a receptacle 4 (figure 2) essentially shaped like a tub, having an associated cover 5 (figure 1). Said cover is for instance mounted rotatable about an horizontal axis indicated A-A in figure 1. The cover 5, however, might be coupled with the body 1 in a translatable, or rotatable-translatable manner.
In a per se known manner, to the cover 5 there is associated a resilient member, such as a torsion spring, which tends to make it pass from the closing position shown in figure 1 to an opening position, by oscillation about the axis A-A in the direction of the arrow B of figure 1.
The releasing device 2 for the rinsing agent is equally of a per se known kind. It comprises a receptacle 6 (figure 2) adapted for containing an amount of rinsing agent corresponding to a plurality of doses.
The dispensing of the rinsing agent towards the washing chamber of the dishwashing machine is controlled by means of a shut-off valve, indicated 7 as a whole in figure 2. In a per se known manner said valve 7, which is normally closed, is interposed in a conduit capable of putting the receptacle 6 in communication with the washing chamber of the machine.
With reference to figure 2, the valve 7 comprises a valve seat 8 and an obturator 9 carried by a control rod 10, the position of which can be controlled, as it will be described in details in the following, by means of an actuator device indicated 11 as a whole (figure 2).
The actuator 11 is of a kind adapted to be electrically controlled and, as it will become apparent in the following, also controls the activation of the releasing device 2 for the detergent.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated the actuator device 11 is of the solenoid type, and comprises a winding or solenoid 12 (figure 2), an associated armature 13 of a material adapted to convey a magnetic flux, and a core 14 movable inside said solenoid.
The armature 13 and the winding 12 are mounted in a fixed position in the body 1a of the integrated dispensing device 1. The core 14 is axially movable with respect thereto, inside the solenoid 12.
In the illustrated embodiment the armature 13 has an upper branch 13a in which there is provided an opening 13b. A portion 13c or the armature 13, extending around the opening 13b, has an essentially frusto-conical shape, and protrudes towards the outside (figure 2). Correspondingly, the end portion 14a of the core 14, which faces the formation 13c of the armature 13, has also an essentially frusto-conical shape.
Through the opening 13b of the magnetic armature 13 an intermediate pointed arm 15a of a control lever 15 extends, said lever protruding from the periphery of a shaft 16 mounted rotatable in the body 1a of the dispensing device 1 about a fixed axis indicated C.
With reference to figure 2, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, from the shaft 16 a radial arm 17 extends, which at its distal end has a retaining formation 17a which, in a per se known manner, is capable of maintaining the cover 5 in the position in which it closes the receptacle 4.
The arrangement is such that an energization of the solenoid 12 causes an upward displacement of the core 14 which, by interacting with the pointed arm 15a of the lever 15, causes an oscillation of the latter about the axis C, in a counter-clockwise direction for those who look at figure 2. That oscillation causes a corresponding oscillation of the arm 17, and the disengagement of the retaining formation 17a from the cover 5, which may then pass to the opening position under the action of an associated spring.
With reference to figures 2 to 4, the control lever 15 is further coupled with a second control member, indicated 22 as a whole.
Said member 22 is mounted vertically translatable, in a guided manner, in a cavity 23 predisposed in the body 1a.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated the control member 22 essentially comprises a body 18, from the lower portion of which the control rod 10 extends, the latter being associated with the valve 7 for dispensing the rinsing agent. The control member 22, through the rod 10, is therefore directly coupled with the obturator 9 of said valve 7.
A torsion spring 19, carried by the body 1a, acts upon the body 18, tending to push it downwards, such as to maintain the obturator 9 of the valve 7 in a normal condition in which it closes of the associated valve seat 8.
With reference in particular to figures 3 and 4, the distal end of the control lever 15 has a shape essentially like a capsized V, with two branches indicated 15b and 15c. In the illustrated embodiment the branch 15c has a portion 15d with a reduced thickness, adapted to define a sort of hinge, capable of rendering the distal portion of the control lever 15 flexible in its plane of oscillation, namely in a plane which is in general orthogonal to the axis C.
The distal end of the branch 15c forms a transverse protuberance 15e essentially like a feeler finger, facing the body 18 of control member 22.
A spring 20 has one end connected to the branch 15c of the control lever 15 and the other end anchored to the body 1a of the integrated dispensing device 1. Conveniently, the spring 20 is adapted to apply, to the branch 15c of the control lever 15, a force having a component directed downwardly and towards the right for those who look at figures 3 and 4, and also directed towards the body 1a, such as to maintain the feeler member 15e of the lever 15 in contact with the body 18.
With reference in particular to figures 3 and 4, the body 18 in its surface or face turned toward those who look at said figures has grooves and raised formations capable to define, as a whole, a closed operating path for the feeler member 15e of the control lever 15, and in particular a path shaped essentially as a capsized cardioid.
With reference to figure 4, the body 18 has in particular a recessed zone 18a from which, through a ramp 18b a raised zone 18c can be reached. Above the raised portion 18c there is provided a slanted groove 18d, which on the left joints with a vertical groove 18e. A raised formation 18h, essentially shaped like a capsized U, separates the ramp formation 18b and the grooves 18d and 18e, which extend outside thereto, from a region 18f which is equally recessed, and which extends inside it.
The groove 18e communicates with the recessed region 18f through a horizontal passage 18g, which in turn is separated from the region 18a by a wall portion 18i facing toward the cavity of the formation 18h.
Thanks to the above-described configuration, the body 18 defines, for the feeler member 15e of the control lever 15, a path which, starts from the recessed zone 18a, and goes up the ramp 18b, and thereafter on the raised zone 18c, and subsequently in the grooves 18d, 18e, 18g, then in the region 18f and finally again in the recessed zone 18a, defining an operating path essentially shaped like a capsized cardioid, of a kind which is per se known. The integrated dispensing device 1 described above operates essentially as follows.
At the beginning of the washing cycle of the dishwashing machine the cover 5 is closed and the actuator 11 is deenergized. In such a condition, the above-described devices are in their respective positions illustrated in figures 2 and 3. In particular, the feeler member 15e of the control lever 15 is in the recessed zone 18a, at the foot of the ramp 18b.
In the course of the washing cycle, at a certain moment a control unit which controls the operation of the dishwashing machine determines a first energization of the actuator 11, by making a current flow in the solenoid 12. The core 14 is then "sucked" upwardly, against the action of gravity. The displacement of the core 14 causes a rotation of the control lever 15 (in the counter-clockwise direction for those who observe figures 2 and 3) and a corresponding rotation of the shaft 16 as well as of the arm 17 and of the associated retaining formation 17a. Said formation 17a disengages then from the cover 5 which, urged by a spring, passes to the opened condition, oscillating about the axis A-A in the direction indicated by arrow B in figure 1. The detergent contained in the receptacle 4 is then dispensed by gravity into the washing chamber of the dishwashing machine.
The above-mentioned rotation of the control lever 15 causes the passage of the feeler member 15e from the recessed zone 18a to the uppermost portion of the groove 18d, having gone up on the ramp 18b and on the raised zone 18c, under the action of the return spring 20.
In a successive moment, the control unit of the dishwashing machine causes the deenergization of the solenoid 12. The core 14 returns then to the condition of figure 2, by gravity, whereas the shaft 16 and the associated arm 17 rotate, in the direction opposite the preceding one, under the effect of the action of the return spring 20. This rotation of the control lever 15 causes the displacement of the feeler member 15e in the groove 18d and then in the groove 18e, and thereafter in the passage 18g, until said feeler member 15e abuts against the wall 18i in a position facing the formation 18h. The displacement of the feeler member 15e along said path is permitted by the flexibility of the distal portion of the control lever 15, thanks to the hinge 15d, which allows the feeler member 15e to come closer, to a certain extent, to the axis of rotation C of the lever 15.
During the first energization and the following deenergization of the solenoid 12, the control member 22 and the associated rod 10 remain in their positions illustrated in figures 2 and 3, and consequently the valve 7 which controls the dispensing of the rinsing agent remains in its normal closing position.
At a successive moment the control unit of the dishwashing machine causes a second energization of the solenoid 12: the core 14 is "sucked" again upwardly and causes a new rotation of the control lever 15, the shaft 16 and the arm 17. This rotation of the arm 17 has no influence on the device 2 for releasing the detergent, since the cover 5 thereof is already open, but causes instead the engagement of the feeler member 15e with the upper portion of the formation 18h of the body 18, and the following dragging upwards of the entire control member 22 to which said body belongs, and the consequent lifting of the obturator 9 from the seat valve 8.
The valve 7 is thus opened for dispensing a dose of rinsing agent.
The dispensing of the rinsing agent goes on up to a successive moment in which the control unit of the machine causes a second energization of the solenoid 12 of the actuator 11 and the return of the core 14 and the lever 15 to their initial positions. Following the deenergization of solenoid 12, the control lever 15, under the action of spring 20, is rotated again towards its rest position, and the feeler member 15e thereof slides along the branch of the formation 18h which separates zone 18f from ramp 18a. The feeler member 15e thus reaches again the position it assumed at the beginning of the cycle.
It is noted that in performing the cardioid path the feeler member 15e causes the control lever 15 to perform also a slight displacement in a direction which is essentially parallel to the axis of rotation C of said lever. Those displacements are possible thanks to the relative flexibility of the shaft 16 of said lever and, possibly, of the lever itself.
In the integrated dispensing device 1 described above, at rest the feeler member 15e must be in the area 18a at the basis of the ramp 18b.
Due to positioning errors in the assembly or to incorrect manipulations, it may happen that at rest the feeler member 15e is instead in the passage 18g, against the wall 18i. In case of such an incorrect positioning, the operation of the dispensing device 1 would result "out of phase", since at the first energization of the solenoid 12 the rinsing agent would be dispensed, instead of the detergent, and at the second energization the detergent would be dispensed, rather than the rinsing agent.
Such an "out-of-phase" behaviour of the integrated dispensing device 1 could be due not only to an incorrect initial positioning of the feeler member, but also as a consequence of an interruption and a restart of a washing cycle after the first energization of the solenoid 12. The above-described functional inconvenience can be brilliantly overcome if, when the cover 5 is closed, the coupling of a hook member 5a thereof (figure 5) with the retaining formation 17a of the arm 17 is such, as in figure 5, to cause an oscillation of said arm 17 about the axis C (downwardly in figure 5) and a corresponding oscillation of the lever 15 (upwardly in figure 5), such as to permit that the feeler member 15e "passes over" the abutment wall 18i reaching the correct position of beginning of the cycle.
Obviously, said oscillation of levers 17 and 15 has no practical consequence when, at the beginning of the cycle, the feeler member 15e is already in the correct starting position.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the embodiments and their details may be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated merely as a non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Claims

An integrated device (1) for dispensing washing agents, for a washing machine, in particular a dishwashing machine, comprising a body (1) in which there are provided a first releasing device (2) for a detergent, and a second releasing device (3) for a rinsing agent; said releasing devices (2, 3) being intended to be activated in subsequent moments of a washing cycle by successive activations of a single electrically-controlled actuator (11); said actuator (11) being coupled with said releasing devices (2, 3) through a transmission mechanism (15-22) comprising a first and a second control member (15, 22) associated with the first and the second releasing devices (2, 3), respectively, and interacting with each other; the first control member (15) comprising a lever (15) which is mounted rotatable in said body (1a) about an axis (C) and having a movable member (15e) displaceable in a closed operating path (18a-18i) defined in a cam device (18) associated with the second control member (22); wherein
the second control member (22) is mounted translatable in said body (1a) in a direction essentially orthogonal to said axis (C) and said control lever (15) is flexible; the integrated dispensing device (1) being characterized in that said operating path (18a-18i) of the cam member (18) is defined essentially in a plane orthogonal to the axis (C) of rotation of said lever (15), and in that said lever (15) has a shape essentially like a capsized V with two branches, wherein the distal branch (15c) has a portion (15d) with a reduced thickness, adapted to define a hinge, capable of rendering the distal portion of said lever (15) oscillatable in a plane which is essentially parallel to the operating path (18a-18i) defined by said cam device (18), said movable member (15e) being formed in the hinged, oscillatable portion (15c) of said lever (15).
An integrated dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the second releasing device (3) comprises a normally closed valve (17) having an obturator, and wherein said second control member (22) is coupled directly with said valve (7).
An integrated dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end (15b, 15c) of said control lever (15) is shaped essentially like a V, and includes a flexible hinge formation (15d).
An integrated dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first releasing device (2) is coupled with said transmission mechanism (15-22) such that each closing of said releasing device (2) is capable of causing the passage of said movable member (15e) to a predetermined position in said operating path (18a-18i).