Device for supplying detergent

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to devices for supplying detergent in a home appliance and, more specifically, to devices that dose said supply.

PRIOR ART

[0002] There exist known devices for supplying detergent in home appliances, said devices being disposed in a reception chamber disposed in said appliances. Detergent is stored in said devices, and said detergent is supplied to a washing chamber in said appliance, with said supply being dosed.

[0003] US 2004/0000177 A1 discloses a device of this type, which comprises a container in which the detergent is stored, a window through which said detergent is supplied, and a first motor that causes said window to open. Said device also comprises a axis disposed beneath said container and in series with said window, and coiled means in said axis acting as a worm gear. A second motor causes the rotation of said axis, rotating said means connected to said axis so that as said means rotate a certain amount of detergent is supplied through said window. To achieve this it is necessary that the first motor opens said window, both motors having to control.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of this invention to provide a device for supplying detergent in a home appliance, in order to dose the quantity of detergent supplied.

[0005] The inventive device for supplying detergent is used in a home appliance. Said appliance comprises a reception chamber where the device is disposed, and a washing chamber that is connected to said reception chamber and where the detergent is supplied. Said device comprises a container disposed on the washing chamber where the detergent used in said appliance is stored, a window through which said detergent is supplied to said washing chamber, and operating means connected to said container by means of which said supply is made possible.

[0006] The window is disposed in the container, said container comprising a wall in its interior that delimits an area of supply around said window connected to the rest of said container, with the detergent disposed in said area of supply being supplied through said window. The operating means cause the rotation of said container, said container being able to move from a rest position to an active position so that in said position it activates the window when it is facing the washing chamber, thereby supplying detergent to said washing chamber by gravity.

[0007] Thus, by means of the rotation of the container, detergent is supplied to the washing chamber of the home appliance, said supply being dosed by regulating said rotation.

[0008] These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] 

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the inventive device for supplying detergent.

Fig. 2 shows a home appliance where the device of Fig. 1 is disposed.

Fig. 3 shows a container with grooves that extend longitudinally, of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a first configuration of the wall of the container of the device of Fig. 1, said container being in the rest position.

Fig. 5 shows the first configuration of the wall of the container of the device of Fig. 1, said container being in the active position.

Fig. 6 shows a second configuration of the wall of the container of the device of Fig. 1, said container being in the rest position.

Fig. 7 shows the second configuration of the wall of the container of the device of Fig. 1, said container being in the active position.

Fig. 8 is a first embodiment of the axis of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a view in section of a second embodiment of the axis of the device of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In Figure 1 is shown an embodiment of a device 1 for supplying detergent, said detergent being any type of gel or powder detergent, for example. Said device 1 is used in a home appliance 10 that can be, for example, a washing machine or dishwasher, said device 1 being disposed in a reception chamber 2 of said appliance 10, shown in figure 2. Said appliance 10 also comprises a washing chamber (not shown in the figures) connected to said reception chamber 2 by a connecting conduit not shown in the figures, said washing chamber receiving the detergent supplied by said device 1.

[0011] The device 1 comprises a container 4 where the detergent supplied by said device 1 is stored, said container 4 being disposed in the reception chamber 2 of the appliance 10. Said device 1 also comprises a window 5 disposed on the perimeter surface of said container 4, preferably close to the front end 4a of said container 4, with the detergent stored in said container 4 being supplied to the washing chamber through said window 5, when said window 5 is facing said washing chamber.

[0012] The device 1 also comprises operating means 6 and 7 connected to the container 4, by means of which the supply of detergent is made possible, with said operating means 6 and 7 comprising an axis 7 and a motor 6 that causes the rotation of said axis 7. Said axis 7 is connected or can be connected to the container 4, with the rotation of said axis 7 causing the rotation of said container 4, thereby causing the window 5 to face the washing chamber of the home appliance 10.

[0013] As the window 5 is preferably next to the front end 4a of the container 4, in order to facilitate the supply of detergent stored next to the rear end 4b of said container 4, said container 4 can be conical, being disposed horizontally in the reception chamber 2 of the home appliance 10, with the diameter of said front end 4a being greater than the diameter of said rear end 4b. The container 4 can also be cylindrical, being disposed in the reception chamber 2 either at an angle or horizontally, comprising in the latter case a plurality of channels 45 that extend longitudinally as a worm gear in said container 4, as shown in figure 3. When disposed at an angle, said container 4 is inclined in such a way that the detergent disposed next to the rear end 4b can fall towards the front end 4a, and therefore towards the window 5, by gravity.

[0014] The container 4 comprises at least one wall 40 in its interior that delimits an area of supply 50 around the window 5, said area of supply 50 being connected to the rest of said container 4. Initially, said container 4 is in a rest position Pr, passing through an active position Pa when it rotates, with said window 5 facing the washing chamber in said active position Pa. Thus, when the container 4 passes through said active position Pa, the detergent disposed in the area of supply 50 is supplied by gravity to said washing chamber through said window 5. When the detergent used is a type of gel, preferably said window 5 is oval-shaped, with the smaller diameter of said window 5 being longitudinal to said container 4, thereby preventing the accumulation of gel in said window 5 when said container 4 moves to said rest position Pr.

[0015] As shown in figures 4 and 5, the wall 40 can comprise a first configuration in which it comprises a cross section with a substantially L-shaped form facing the window 5 along its entire length. When said container 4 passes through the active position Pa, the detergent disposed in the area of supply 50 is supplied through the window 5. Due to the dimensions of said wall 40 and to the fact that said area of supply 50 is connected to the rest of the container 4, when said container 4 is in said active position Pa, at least part of the detergent stored in said rest of the container 4 moves to said area of supply 50, with the amount of detergent supplied dependent upon the time for which said container 4 remains in said active position Pa, dosing the supply of detergent.

[0016] With reference to figures 6 and 7, the wall 40 can comprise a second configuration in which it also comprises a section 40' next to the cross section with the substantially L-shaped form of the first configuration, said section 40' being substantially parallel to the surface of the container 4. When said container 4 passes through the active position Pa, the detergent disposed in the area of supply 50 is supplied through the window 5, and due to the dimensions of said wall 40, when said container 4 is in said active position Pa no more detergent is disposed in said area of supply 50. When it moves to the rest position Pr and as said area of supply 50 is connected to the rest of said container 4, part of the detergent stored in said rest of the container 4 moves to said area of supply 50, with more detergent being supplied through said window 5 when said container 4 moves to said active position Pa. In this way, every time the container 4 passes through said active position Pa the detergent disposed in the area of supply 50 is supplied, with the total amount of detergent supplied depending on the number of times (number of turns) that said container 4 passes through said active position Pa.

[0017] In the second configuration of the wall 40, depending, for example, on the concentration of detergent used, it is useful that a greater or smaller amount of detergent be disposed in the area of supply 50. To achieve this, the container 4 may comprise a gate 46 that can tilt in relation to an end 41 of said wall 40 and which delimits an opening 47 of connection between said area of supply 50 and the rest of said container 4. The size of said opening 47 can be modified by tilting said gate 46 in relation to said end 41, thereby regulating the amount of detergent that moves to said area of supply 50, and therefore, dosing the supply of detergent. Preferably said gate 46 is accessible from the exterior of the home appliance 10, allowing said gate 46 to be operated manually in a simple way. In place of the gate 46, said container 4 may comprise a movable cover (not shown in the figures) accessible from the exterior in order to cover the window 5, with the regulation of the supply of detergent being dependent upon the opening of said cover. The detergent is supplied through the area of said window 5 that does not cover said cover, the size of said area being open to modification by means of moving said cover.

[0018] In a normal situation, when the home appliance 10 is not running, the container 4 is in the rest position Pr. To ensure that the detergent disposed in said container 4 is not affected by external factors such as dampness, the device 1 comprises a seal 8 connected to said container 4 and which covers the window 5 of said container 4 in said rest position Pr. Said seal 8 can tilt by gravity in relation to an axis of rotation 80 next to said window 5 so that when said container 4 rotates and moves to the active position Pa, said seal 8 tilts to uncover said window 5, thereby enabling the supply of detergent through said window 5.

[0019] With reference to figure 8, the device 1 comprises a semi-circular piece 9 fixed to the axis 7 and which rotates in conjunction with the container 4, with said semi-circular piece 9 comprising a substantially straight perimeter section 9'. Detection means (not shown in the figures) disposed in said dosing device 1 detect whether said perimeter section 9' is in a certain position, thereby determining if said container 4 is in the rest position Pr or in the active position Pa, or not.

[0020] In a first embodiment shown in figure 7, the axis 7 comprises an end 7' with a substantially polygonal form, with said end 7' being housed in the rear end 4b of the container 4, and with the rotation of said axis 7 causing, therefore, the rotation of said container 4. Said container 4 can comprise a cover 42 on the front end 4a, with said container 4 able to be released from said axis 7 by said cover 42, with said container 4 able to be removed from the reception chamber 2, with detergent being introduced in said container 4 by the opening of said cover 42, although it can also comprise a closed body with detergent in its interior, being replaced by a new container 4 that comprises a closed body with detergent in its interior, after being released from said axis 7 and removed from said reception chamber 2.

[0021] In a second embodiment shown in figure 9, the axis 7 passes through the container 4 and is fixed to said container 4 all the way along the length of said container 4, with the rotation of said axis 7 causing the rotation of said container 4, and preventing the possible rolling movement of said container 4 when it rotates. Said container 4 cannot be released from said axis 7, detergent being introduced in said container through an access hatch not shown in the figures.

Claims

1. Detergent supplying device for a household appliance, said appliance comprising a reception chamber (2) where the device is disposed (1) and a washing chamber that is connected to said reception chamber (2), detergent being supplied to said washing chamber, said device (1) comprising a container (4) disposed on the washing chamber, a window (5) through which said detergent is supplied to said washing chamber, and operating means (6,7) that can be connected to said container (4) by means of which said supply is made possible, characterised in that the window (5) is disposed in the container (4), said container (4) comprising a wall (40) in its interior that delimits an area of supply (50) around said window (5) connected to the rest of said container (4), being supplied through said window (5) the detergent disposed in said area of supply (50), said operating means (6,7) causing the rotation of said container (4), said container (4) being able to move from a rest position (Pr) to an active position (Pa) where said detergent is supplied, so that in said active position (Pa), the window (5) is facing the washing chamber, the detergent being supplied to said washing chamber by gravity.

2. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the container (4) is cylindrical and is disposed horizontally in the reception chamber (2), the window (5) extending on the perimeter surface of said container (4).

3. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the container (4) comprises a surface with a plurality of channels (45) that extend longitudinally as a worm gear.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the container (4) is conical and is disposed horizontally in the reception chamber (2), the window (5) extending on the perimeter surface of said container (4).

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the container (4) is cylindrical and is disposed at an angle in the reception chamber (2), the window (5) extending on the perimeter surface of said container (4).

6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (40) comprises a substantially L-shaped cross section facing the window (5) along its entire length.

7. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the wall (40) comprises a section (40') after the substantially L-shaped cross section, said section (40') being substantially parallel to the surface of the container (4).

8. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the container (4) comprises a gate (46) that can tilt in relation to an end (41) of the wall (40) and which delimits an opening (47) of connection between the area of supply (50) and the rest of said container (4), the size of said opening (47) being able to be modified by tilting said gate (46) in relation to said end (41).

9. Device according to claim 7, wherein the container (4) comprises a movable cover to cover the window (5), detergent being supplied through the uncovered area of said window (5), with the size of said area being modified by moving said cover.

10. Device according to any of the preceding claims, that comprises a semi-circular piece (9) with a straight perimeter section (9') and which rotates in conjunction with the container (4), and detection means to detect wether said perimeter section (9') is or is not in at least one certain position, thereby determining if said container is in any of the rest positions (Pr) or active positions (Pa).

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, that comprises a seal (8) connected to the container (4) and which tilts in relation to an axis of rotation (80) fired to said container (4) and next to the window (5), in order to cover said window (5) by gravity when said container (4) is in the rest position (Pr), and in order to uncover said window (5) by gravity when said container (4) is in the active position (spa).

12. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the window (5) is oval-shaped.

13. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operating means (6,7) comprise an axis (7) with an end with a polygonal form, said end being housed in an end of the container (4), and the rotation of said axis (7) causing the rotation of said container (4).

14. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the container (4) comprises a cover (42) on the end opposite where the axis is housed (7), with said container (4) being able to be released from said axis (7) by means of said cover (42), said container (4) being able to be removed from said deception chamber (2), and detergent being introduced in said container (4) when said cover (42) is opened.

15. Device according to claim 13, wherein the container (4) comprises a closed body with detergent in its interior, with said container (4) being released from the axis (7) so that it can be removed from the deception chamber (2), said container (4) being able to be replaced by a new container (4) that comprises a closed body with detergent in its anterior.

16. Device according to many of claims 1 to 13, wherein the operating means (6,7) comprise an axis (7) that passes through the container (4), said axis (7) being fixed to said container (4) all the way along the length, of said container (4), with the rotation of said axis (7) causing the rotation of said container (4).

17. Washing machine characterised in that it comprises a device for supplying detergent according to many of the preceding claims.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zur Waschmitteleinführung für ein Haushaltsgerät, wobei das Gerät eine Aufnahmekammer (2) umfasst, in der die Vorrichtung (1) eingesetzt wird und eine Waschkammer, die mit der Aufnahmekammer (2) verbunden ist, wobei das Waschmittel in die Waschkammer befördert wird und die Vorrichtung (1) einen Behälter (4) umfasst, der in der Waschkammer untergebracht ist, sowie ein Fenster (5), über welches das Waschmittel in die Waschkammer eingebracht wird, und eine Bedienvorrichtung (6,7), die mit dem Behälter (4) verbunden werden kann, über die die Einbringung möglich gemacht wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Fenster (5) so im Behälter (4) untergebracht ist, wobei der Behälter (4) im Inneren eine Wand (40) umfasst, welche einen Einbringungsbereich (50) um das Fenster (5) abteilt, der mit dem Rest des Behälters (4) verbunden ist, wobei die Einbringung des Waschmittels, das in dem Einbringungsbereich (50) angeordnet ist, über das Fenster (5) erfolgt, wobei die Bedienvorrichtung (6,7) die Drehung des Behälters (4) verursacht und der Behälter (4) in der Lage ist, sich von einer Ruhestellung (Pr) in eine aktive Stellung (Pa) zu bewegen, in der das Waschmittel eingebracht wird, so dass in der aktiven Stellung (Pa) das Fenster (5) zur Waschkammer zeigt und das Waschmittel auf Grund der Schwerkraft in die Waschkammer eingebracht wird.

2. Vorrichtung gemäß dem vorausgehenden Anspruch, wobei der Behälter (4) zylinderförmig und horizontal in der Aufnahmekammer (2) angebracht ist, und sich das Fenster (5) auf die umgebende Fläche des Behälters (4) erstreckt.

3. Vorrichtung gemäß dem vorausgehenden Anspruch, wobei der Behälter (4) eine Fläche mit einer Vielzahl von Kanälen (45) umfasst, die sich längs als Schnecke erstrecken.

4. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der Behälter (4) kegelförmig ist, horizontal in der Aufnahmekammer (2) angeordnet ist und sich das Fenster (5) auf die Umgebungsfläche des Behälters (4) erstreckt.

5. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der Behälter (4) zylinderförmig ist, und in einem Winkel in der Aufnahmekammer (2) angebracht ist und sich das Fenster (5) auf die Umgebungsfläche des Behälters (4) erstreckt.

6. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Wand (40) einen im Wesentlichen L-förmigen Querschnitt aufweist und über die gesamte Länge zum Fenster (5) zeigt.

7. Vorrichtung gemäß dem vorausgehenden Anspruch, wobei die Wand (40) nach dem im Wesentlichen L-förmigen Querschnitt einen Abschnitt (40') umfasst, der im Wesentlichen parallel zur Oberfläche des Behälters (4) ist.

8. Vorrichtung gemäß dem vorausgehenden Anspruch, wobei der Behälter (4) eine Tür (46) umfasst, die zu einem Ende (41) der Wand (40) gekippt werden kann und die eine Öffnung (47) zur Verbindung zwischen dem Einbringungsbereich (50) und dem Rest des Behälters (4) einfasst, wobei die Öffnung (47) durch das Kippen des Tür (46) zu diesem Ende (41) verändert werden kann.

9. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 7, wobei der Behälter (4) eine abnehmbare Abdeckung zum Abdecken des Fensters (5) umfasst und das Waschmittel über den nicht abgedeckten Bereich des Fensters (5) eingebracht wird, wobei die Größe dieses Bereichs durch die Verschiebung der Abdeckung verändert wird.

10. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, umfassend ein halbkreisförmiges Teil (9) mit einem geraden Umfangsabschnitt (9'), das sich zusammen mit dem Behälter (4) dreht und eine Vorrichtung zur Erkennung beinhaltet, ob sich der Umfangsabschnitt (9') zumindest in einer bestimmten Position befindet oder nicht und somit feststellt, ob sich der Behälter in einer der Ruhestellungen (Pr) oder aktiven Positionen (Pa) befindet.

11. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, umfassend eine mit dem Behälter (4) verbundene Dichtung (8), die um eine am Behälter (4) in der Nähe des Fensters (5) angebrachten Drehachse (80) dreht, um das Fenster (5) infolge der Schwerkraft zu verdecken, wenn sich der Behälter (4) in einer Ruhestellung (Pr) befindet, und um das Fenster (5) infolge der Schwerkraft freizugeben, wenn sich der Behälter (4) in der aktiven Stellung (Pa) befindet.

12. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Fenster (5) eine ovale Form besitzt.

13. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bedienvorrichtung (6,7) eine Achse (7) mit einem Ende in einer vieleckigen Form umfasst, wobei das Ende in einem Bereich des Behälters (4) untergebracht ist und die Drehung der Achse (7) die Drehung des Behälters (4) verursacht.

14. Vorrichtung gemäß dem vorausgehenden Anspruch, wobei der Behälter (4) an dem zur Unterbringung (7) der Achse gegenüber liegenden Ende eine Abdeckung (42) umfasst, so dass der Behälter (4) über diese Achse (7) mittels der Abdeckung (42) freigegeben werden kann und der Behälter (4) aus der Aufnahmekammer (2) herausgenommen werden kann, wobei das Waschmittel in den Behälter (4) eingeführt wird, wenn die Abdeckung (42) geöffnet ist.

15. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei der Behälter (4) einen geschlossenen Körper mit Waschmittel darin umfasst und der Behälter (4) von der Achse (7) freigegeben wird, so dass er aus der Aufnahmekammer (2) herausgenommen werden kann, wobei der Behälter (4) durch einen neuen Behälter (4) ausgetauscht werden kann, der einen geschlossenen Körper mit Waschmittel darin umfasst.

16. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, wobei die Bedienvorrichtung (6,7) eine Achse (7) umfasst, die durch den Behälter (4) verläuft, wobei die Achse (7) am Behälter (4) über die gesamte Länge des Behälters (4) befestigt ist und die Drehung der Achse (7) die Drehung des Behälters (4) verursacht.

17. Waschmaschine, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie eine Vorrichtung zum Einbringen von Waschmittel gemäß einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche umfasst.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de distribution de produits détergents pour un appareil électroménager, ledit appareil comprenant une chambre de réception (2) dans laquelle le dispositif est placé (1) et une chambre de lavage qui est connectée à ladite chambre de réception (2), les produits détergents étant dispensés à ladite chambre de lavage, ledit dispositif (1) comprenant un récipient (4) disposé sur la chambre de lavage, une fenêtre (5) à travers laquelle lesdits produits détergents sont dispensés à ladite chambre de lavage et un dispositif de fonctionnement (6, 7) qui peut être connecté audit récipient (4) au moyen duquel ladite dispense est rendue possible, caractérisée en ce que la fenêtre (5) est disposée dans le récipient (4), ledit récipient (4) comprenant une paroi (40) dans son intérieur qui délimite une zone de distribution (50) autour de cette fenêtre (5) connectée au reste dudit récipient (4), lesdits produits détergents disposés dans ladite zone de distribution (50) étant dispensés à travers ladite fenêtre (5), ledit dispositif de fonctionnement (6,7) entraînant la rotation dudit récipient (4), ledit récipient (4) étant capable de passer d'une position de repos (Pr) à une position active (Pa) où lesdits produits détergents sont dispensés, de telle manière que lorsque le récipient occupe ladite position active (Pa), la fenêtre (5) est orientée vers la chambre de lavage, les produits détergents étant dispensés à ladite chambre de lavage par effet de gravité.

2. Appareil selon la revendication précédente où le récipient (4) est cylindrique et est disposé horizontalement dans la chambre de réception (2), la fenêtre (5) s'étendant sur tout le périmètre dudit récipient (4).

3. Appareil selon la revendication précédente où le récipient (4) comprend une surface dotée d'une pluralité de canaux (45) qui s'étendent de manière longitudinale comme une roue à vis sans fin.

4. Appareil selon la revendication 1 où le récipient (4) est de forme conique et est disposé horizontalement dans la chambre de réception (2), la fenêtre (5) s'étendant sur tout le périmètre dudit récipient (4).

5. Appareil selon la revendication 1 où le récipient (4) est cylindrique et est disposé dans un angle de la chambre de réception (2), la fenêtre (5) occupant tout le périmètre dudit récipient (4).

6. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes où la paroi (40) comprend une coupe transversale de forme sensiblement en L placée face à la fenêtre (5) sur toute sa longueur.

7. Appareil selon la revendication précédente où la paroi (40) comprend une section (40') située après une coupe transversale de forme sensiblement en L, ladite section (40') étant sensiblement parallèle à la surface du récipient (4).

8. Appareil selon la revendication précédente où le récipient (4) comprend un secteur (46) qui peut s'incliner par rapport à une extrémité (41) de la paroi (40) et qui délimite une ouverture (47) de la connexion entre la zone de distribution (50) et le reste dudit récipient (4), la taille de ladite ouverture (47) pouvant être modifiée en inclinant ledit secteur (46) par rapport à ladite extrémité (41).

9. Appareil selon la revendication 7 où le récipient (4) comprend un couvercle mobile pour recouvrir la fenêtre (5), les produits détergents étant distribués via la zone non couverte de ladite fenêtre (5), la taille de ladite zone étant modifiée en déplaçant ledit couvercle.

10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes qui comprend une pièce semi-circulaire (9) avec une section droite du périmètre (9') et qui tourne en conjonction avec le récipient (4) et un dispositif de détection pour déterminer si ladite section du périmètre (9') est ou n'est pas dans au moins une certaine position, déterminant ainsi si ledit récipient se trouve dans l'une des positions de repos (Pr) ou l'une des positions actives (Pa).

11. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes comprenant un joint (8) connecté au récipient (4) et qui s'incline par rapport à un axe de rotation (80) fixé sur ledit récipient (4) et à côté de la fenêtre (5) afin de couvrir ladite fenêtre (5) par effet de gravité lorsque ledit récipient (4) est en position de repos (Pr) et afin de découvrir ladite fenêtre (5) par effet de gravité lorsque ledit récipient (4) est en position active (Pa).

12. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes où la fenêtre (5) est de forme ovale.

13. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes où le dispositif de fonctionnement (6,7) comprend un axe (7) dont l'extrémité est de forme polygone, ladite extrémité étant logée dans une extrémité du récipient (4) et la rotation dudit axe (7) entraînant la rotation dudit récipient (4).

14. Appareil selon la revendication précédente où le récipient (4) comprend un couvercle (42) sur l'extrémité opposée où l'axe est logé (7), ledit récipient (4) pouvant être détaché dudit axe (7) au moyen dudit couvercle (42), ledit récipient (4) pouvant être retiré de ladite chambre de réception (2) et les produits détergents étant introduits dans ledit récipient (4) lorsque ledit couvercle (42) est ouvert.

15. Appareil selon la revendication 13 où le récipient (4) comprend un corps fermé contenant les produits détergents, ledit récipient (4) étant détaché de l'axe (7) de manière à pouvoir être retiré de la chambre de réception (2), ledit récipient pouvant être remplacé par un nouveau récipient (4) qui comprend un corps fermé contenant des produits détergents.

16. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13 où le dispositif de fonctionnement (6, 7) comprend un axe (7) qui traverse le récipient (4), ledit axe (7) étant fixé sur ledit récipient (4) sur toute la longueur dudit récipient (4), la rotation dudit axe (7) entraînant la rotation dudit récipient (4).

17. Machine à laver caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un dispositif de distribution des produits détergents selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.

Drawing