FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a dispensing system to be used for solid detergent products
for institutional washing machines. The invention also relates to a detergent supply
pack and a dispensing device, which are adapted for use in a dispensing system according
to the invention.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of dispensing a solid
detergent product into the wash liquor to be fed to a washing machine.
PRIOR ART AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Hitherto, various products and packs have been developed to provide institutional
washing machines, especially dish-washing machines, with a supply of detergent material
from which measured amounts of detergent product are dispensed to the wash liquor
in the washing machine. These products include detergent products in powder-form,
in liquid-form and in paste-form, which are generally packed in supply packs or containers.
More recently, solid detergent blocks for institutional washing machines have been
developed, which have the advantage of being discretely shaped. Furthermore, solid
detergent blocks can contain more concentrated product than the other above-mentioned
product types. These block-form detergent products are generally dissolved by simply
spraying with water in a dispensing device, and then are delivered to the wash liquor.
Since detergent products which are suitable for use in institutional washing machines,
often have a high alkali content, contact with the skin should be avoided. Block-form
detergent products appear to be very suitable for avoiding skin contact.
[0003] US-A-4,569,781 (Ecolab) describes a detergent container for a cast detergent solid
suitable for use in dishwashing machines. The container contains a detergent product
produced from a melt and allowed to solidify. The detergent product is subsequently
dissolved from the container on contact with a stream of aqueous liquid from a spray
means when placed in a dispensing device. The advantage of a block form detergent
product and dispensing device of this type is that, with proper handling, contact
with the skin is virtually eliminated. Owing to the shape thereof, however, the container
described in this patent has shown to leave residues of detergent after emptying by
spraying. This situation is unacceptable for economic, safety and environmental reasons.
Detergent residues in the container are a potential danger source to the user when
a supposedly empty container is being replaced by a completely full container. Moreover,
from an environmental point of view such a rigid container is less attractive because
of its impact to the environment and non-collapsibility.
[0004] US-A-4,426,362 (Ecolab) describes a dishwasher distributor for a solid block form
moulded detergent product. The block form detergent product of this reference is positioned
with its casting mould in the receiving means of the distributor so that the casting
mould surrounds the detergent block during the flushing out process and touches it
on all sides except for one free face. Once again, contactless handling of the detergent
product is provided, but once again, complete emptying is not guaranteed.
[0005] US-A-4,774,014 (Henkel) discloses a detergent supply pack for a cast detergent block
which pack is suitable for ready dissolution of the block in the dispensing device
associated with an institutional dishwashing machine, such that water consumption
is not appreciably higher than in the case of powder-form detergents, even towards
the end of the block. However, the detergent supply pack has to be opened
before positioning the pack in the dispensing device and therefore skin contact with the
alkaline detergent is possible.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a detergent dispensing system
comprising a detergent supply pack for a detergent powder or, preferably, a block
form detergent product and a dispensing device associated with an institutional washing
machine, preferably a dishwashing machine, whereby an economic and effective use of
the detergent in the dispensing device is ensured.
It is an other object of the invention to provide a detergent dispensing system whereby
the detergent supply pack is adapted to the dispensing device such that the detergent
can be introduced into the device without the need to open the pack before positioning
the pack in the dispensing device and loading the device. This eliminates the risk
of any skin contact and thus contributes to safety.
It is a further object of the invention that no residue is left inside the supply
pack after emptying and that a minimal amount of packaging material is to be disposed
of after introducing the detergent product into the dispensing device.
It was found that these and other objects can be accomplished by a detergent dispensing
system according to the present invention.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a dispensing system comprising a detergent supply
pack (4) for supplying solid state detergent material to a dispensing device (6) associated
with a washing machine and said dispensing device, which supply pack comprises packaging
material for said solid state detergent material, said solid state detergent material
and a closing/release device for promoting release of the detergent solid from the
supply pack into the dispensing device, whereby the closing/release device essentially
consists of two parts (1,2) in between which the packaging material is fixed and is
adapted to the dispensing device such that the closing/release device can be easily
removed in conjunction with the dispensing device for introducing the detergent solid
into the dispensing device. The invention also provides a detergent supply pack and
a dispensing device which are adapted for use in a dispensing system according to
the present invention. Furthermore, the invention provides a method of dispensing
a solid detergent product into the wash liquor to be fed to a washing machine, whereby
a dispensing system according to the invention is applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention provides a dispensing system comprising a supply pack for a solid state
detergent product, which may contain detergent powder, detergent briquettes and/or
detergent tablets. However, the supply pack preferably contains a compacted detergent
block, which is readily dissolvable on contact with flushing water.
The supply pack includes flexible packaging material which functions as a protective
means against moisture uptake and also as a handling aid for the introduction of the
naked detergent block into the detergent dispensing device of a washing machine, preferably
a dishwashing machine, without contact with the skin. The packaging material is generally
also collapsible in order to minimize the volume of packaging material to be disposed
of after emptying the supply pack. As packaging material, any material which can perform
the above mentioned functions, may be used, such as cardboard, coated paper, and laminated
material, but plastic material such as polyethylene and polypropylene is preferred.
The most preferred type of packaging material is polyethylene.
[0009] If a solid detergent block is applied, the supply pack of the invention thus comprises
flexible packaging material which conforms to the shape of the detergent solid, a
solid detergent block which is usually produced by compaction of dry mixed powder,
and release means for releasing the solid detergent product from the supply pack into
the distributing device.
[0010] Generally, solid detergent blocks constitute a non-dusty and therefore attractive
product form in view of the often aggressive chemicals used. Furthermore, they are
economical in use because they can be manufactured and transported as very concentrated
products. In EP-A-375,022 (Unilever) information can be found with respect to the
type of solid detergent block which is preferably used with the supply pack according
to the present invention.
[0011] In order to eliminate skin contact, the supply pack of the invention comprises a
closing/release device essentially consisting of two parts in between which the flexible
packaging material of the pack is fixed. In other words, these parts act as a sort
of closing clamp for the detergent supply pack.
Preferably, these parts have an oblong shape, whereby their dimensions are such that
one of these parts can be placed inside the other part while leaving just enough room
to fully close the supply pack. Generally, these parts could have any cross-sectional
shapes, but preferably the cross-section of the inner part is shaped as a triangle
and that of the outer part as a hollow tube open to one side. The inner part is preferably
connected to the outer part in order to ensure simultaneous removal of both parts
when opening the pack. For reasons of easy handling, inner and outer part are preferably
connected by way of a plastic hinge.
[0012] Furthermore, the dispensing system according to the invention comprises a dispensing
device of which the dimensions are such that solid detergent material, preferably
a solid detergent block, can be effectively and safely introduced into it from out
of a detergent supply pack according to the present invention. If a solid detergent
block is to be applied, the supply pack containing the detergent block is placed on
a support to facilitate the introduction of the detergent block into the dispensing
device when opening the supply pack by removal of the closing device. Thereafter,
the naked detergent block is allowed to fall down onto a grid-type support provided
with a flexible sealing in the bottom part of the detergent dispenser, such that only
the bottom side of the block is contacted with water originating from a spray nozzle
situated underneath this support. By contacting only the bottom part of the detergent
block, excessive degradation of moisture-sensitive components present in the block
is avoided.
This configuration is advantageous as the distance between the bottom side of detergent
block and the spray nozzle will not vary during the washing operation resulting in
a constant dissolution rate of detergent material and consequently a constant concentration
of detergent product in the wash liquor fed into the washing machine.
In order to ensure that the dispensing device cannot be opened just after adding fresh
solid detergent material, it is desirable that the device can only be opened after
the detergent solid inside the device has decreased to below a certain level. For
ensuring a continuous operation of the dispensing device, an indicator or alarm is
preferably provided signalling that the device can be opened and a new detergent solid
introduced.
[0013] The invention is further illustrated by Figures 1-7, of which:
Fig. 1 gives a perspective view of a closing device according to the invention;
Fig. 2 gives an illustration of a detergent supply pack according to the invention;
Fig. 3 shows the supply pack inside the distributing device;
Fig. 4-7 give schematic views of the distributing device of the invention at consecutive
stages when operating the device.
[0014] Referring more in detail to these drawings, in Figure 1 (1) indicates the tube-shaped
outer part of the closing/release device, in which the triangle-shaped inner part
(2) is situated. Also means (3a) is shown by which the inner part is connected to
the outer part. As a result, using handle (3) the entire closing device can be removed
from the supply pack (4), which is depicted in Fig. 2.
[0015] As shown in Figure 3, this supply pack can be introduced into the dispensing device
(6) by way of handle (5). The dimensions of this dispensing device which is schematically
shown in Figure 4-7, are such that the contents of the detergent supply pack can be
safely and effectively introduced into it. Before introducing the contents of supply
pack (4), a top lid (12) of the device (6) is turned from a horizontal into a fixed
vertical position (see Figure 5).
Thereafter the supply pack is placed on top of a spring-loaded support lid (7) and
the handle (5) of the supply pack is positioned onto hook (11) which is connected
to the top lid (12) (see Figure 6).
By pulling handle (3) in order to remove the entire closing device and pushing a spring-loaded
lever (10) backward, the detergent material is made to fall into the dispensing device
and to push the support lid (7) into a vertical position. Thereafter, the lever (10)
is pushed back into its position of preference by action of spring (13).
After the empty supply pack is removed, the top lid (12) can be closed and the inner
part of the hook (11) automatically fixed by the action of the spring loaded lever
(10). As a result, the dispensing device is completely closed and cannot be opened
by unauthorised people (see Figure 7). During operation, the detergent material (14)
is positioned on a grid-type support (9) provided with a flexible sealing and being
sprayed on by way of spray-nozzle (8). The fexible sealing connected to th grid-type
support is located such that only the bottom part of the detergent material is contacted
with water.
[0016] When the detergent material inside the dispensing device (14) has been dissolved
so far that the spring loaded support lid (7) has turned back into a horizontal position
(see Figure 4), lever (10) turns such that the fixation of the top lid hook (11) is
released. Support lid (7) thus acts as an indicator telling the operator that the
contents of a new supply pack can be introduced into the dispensing device.
For this purpose, support lid (7) may be connected to an alarm system which is activated
when the fixation of the top lid hook (11) is released.
1. A dispensing system comprising a detergent supply pack (4) for supplying solid state
detergent material to a dispensing device (6) associated with a washing machine and
said dispensing device, which supply pack comprises packaging material for said solid
state detergent material, said solid state detergent material and a closing/release
device for promoting release of the detergent solid from the supply pack into the
dispensing device, whereby the closing/release device essentially consists of two
parts (1,2) in between which the packaging material is fixed and is adapted to the
dispensing device such that the closing/release device can be easily removed in conjunction
with the dispensing device for introducing the detergent solid into the dispensing
device.
2. Dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the closing/release device essentially
consists of two oblong parts, the dimensions of which are such that one of these parts
can be placed inside the other part while leaving room to fix the packaging material
of the detergent supply pack.
3. Dispensing system according to claim 2, wherein the cross-section of the inner oblong
part (2) is shaped as a triangle and the outer oblong part (1) is shaped as a hollow
tube open to one side.
4. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the closing/release device
has means (3a) to fix the inner part with the outer part, whereby one of these parts
is provided with a handle (3) enabling removal of the total device from the supply
pack.
5. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1-4, whereby the supply pack contains
a compacted detergent block and comprises packaging material which conforms to the
shape of the detergent block.
6. A dispensing system according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the dispensing device
is provided with a grid-type support (9) with a flexible sealing in the bottom part
of it on which support the detergent solid is located after it is introduced into
the device, whereby a spraying nozzle (8) is situated underneath the support and the
flexible sealing is located such that only the bottom part of the detergent material
is contacted with water.
7. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the dispensing device is
provided with a top lid (12) which can be opened only after the height of the solid
detergent inside the device has decreased to below a certain level so as to ensure
that the device cannot be opened just after adding fresh solid detergent material.
8. Detergent supply pack which is adapted for use in a dispensing system according to
claims 1-7.
9. Dispensing device which is adapted for use in a dispensing system according to claims
1-7.
10. Method of dispensing a solid detergent product into the wash liquor to be fed into
a washing machine, whereby a dispensing system according to claims 1-7 is applied.