This invention relates to a washing machine which comprises a cleaning agent dispenser.

In the washing machines, the cleaning agent needed for the washing process is placed in a cleaning agent dispenser. The user is informed about the recommended cleaning agent quantities pre-determined by the producer according to variables such as the specifications of the washing machine, the washing program, the type and the weight of the laundry.

However, the consumer may place more or less cleaning agent than needed as a result of such errors in estimating the type and the weight of the laundry, in measuring the quantity of the cleaning agent etc.. But, placing the exact amount of cleaning agent is of utmost importance in washing efficiency. Using less cleaning agent than needed results in poor cleaning of the laundry, while using more than necessary causes poor rinsing and the cleaning agent remainings on the laundry. Furthermore, the excessive use of cleaning agent is one of the factors causing problems such as overfoaming in the tub, degraded drum rotation performance as a result of the excessive foaming and overflowing of the foam through the cleaning agent dispenser.

In the prior art, there are various embodiments realized in order to solve this problem. In the cleaning agent dispenser explicated in the German patent application no. DE3607632, a separator is mentioned, which is slidably located in the dispenser and used to provide variable volumes in the dispenser.

In the German patent application No. DE10355671 of the prior art, a description is given of a detergent dispenser which can adjust the dosage by being moved by means of a motor with respect to the quantity of the laundry loaded. In this embodiment ,the motor and the cleaning agent dispenser are connected to each other. As a result, when there is a few quantity of the laundry, the cleaning agent dispenser is opened less. The user experiences problems, since the cleaning agent is put into the dispenser through a very narrow opening, and the cleaning agent could be dispersed out of the dispenser.

The object of this invention is the realization of a washing machine comprising a cleaning agent dispenser that facilitates the placement of the cleaning agent.

The washing machine realized in order to fulfill the objectives of this invention is explicated in the attached claims. The cleaning agent dispenser used in this washing machine comprises a separator which divides its inner volume into two sections by moving inside the dispenser. The movement provided by a motor which is fixed on the body outside the cleaning agent dispenser is transmitted to the separator by a transmission means and thus the separator is adjusted to the right position in the chamber. When the consumer opens the cleaning agent dispenser, the transmission means and the motor are disconnected and the separator remains at the adjusted position. Thus, the consumer is enabled to open the cleaning agent dispenser as much as needed and to place the cleaning agent easily into the related chamber.

In an embodiment of present invention, the transmission means is a belt which rotates around two pulleys. The separator is attached to the transmission means by means of a recess-extension connector. When the cleaning agent dispenser is pushed into its place, the belt gets caught between the pulley and the motor shaft. By means of friction, the rotational movement generated by the motor is conducted to the belt and then to the separator by means of the recess and the extension. Since the movement transmission between the motor shaft and the belt is provided only by surface contact, the cleaning agent dispenser and the motor are separated from each other with ease.

The washing machine realized in order to fulfill the objectives of this invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

• Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the washing machine when the cleaning agent dispenser is closed.
• Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the washing machine when the cleaning agent dispenser is open.
• Figure 3 - is the front perspective view of the cleaning agent dispenser
• Figure 4 - is the rear perspective view of the cleaning agent dispenser
• Figure 5 - is the front perspective view of the cleaning agent dispenser when the separator is detached
• Figure 6 - is the front view of the separator.

The elements shown in figures are numbered as follows :

1.

Washing machine

2.

Cleaning agent dispenser

3.

Chamber

4.

Separator

5.

.,15. Extention

6.

Belt

7.

Recess

8.

Pulley

9.

Rail

10.

Motor

11.

Body

12.

Transmission means

The washing machine (1) comprises

• a body (11)
• a cleaning agent dispenser (2), located inside the body (11), which can be pulled out of the body (11) like a drawer, and which has at least one chamber (3) into which the cleaning agent is placed (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The washing machine further comprises

• a separator (4) which, moving in the chamber (3), divides its volume into two.
• a motor (10) placed outside the cleaning agent dispenser (2), and fixed to the body (11), and
• a transmission means (12), placed within the cleaning agent dispenser (2), which by contacting the exit-shaft of the motor (10) transmits the movement retained from the motor (10) to the separator (4) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

In this embodiment, the cleaning agent to be used is determined depending on the parameters such as the washing program preferred by the consumer, the quantity and the type of the laundry placed into the drum, the hardness of the tap water. Then, the motor (10) is actuated to move the separator (4) within the chamber (3) to a position suitable for the detected amount of cleaning agent to be placed. The volume between the separator (4) and the front wall of the chamber (3) is equal to the volume of the detected amount of cleaning agent. The consumer opens the cleaning agent dispenser (2) after the separator (4) is moved. The cleaning agent dispenser (2) and the transmission means (12) are separated from the motor (10), and the separator (4) remains in the same adjusted position. The consumer fills the space in front of the separator (4) in the chamber (3) with the cleaning agent and pushes the cleaning agent dispenser into back to its place (2). As the cleaning agent dispenser (2) is closed, the transmission means (12) contacts again to the shaft of the motor (10).

In this embodiment, the separator (4), preferably, comprises at least one opening (not shown in the figures). In a certain step of the washing program, as the cleaning agent dispenser (2) takes the water inside, the cleaning agent on one side of the separator (4) is mixed with the water and flows into the tub by passing through either under, above, besides the separator (4) or through an opening on the separator (4).

In an embodiment of present invention, the transmission means (12) comprises two pulleys (8) within the chamber (3) and a belt (6) connected to the separator (4), rotating around these pulleys (8). The transmission means (12) further comprises a belt (6) and a separator (4), one having a recess (7), and the other an extension (5) which fits into this recess (7) so as to transmit the motion between the two. Thus, the position of the recess (7) on the belt (6) and the position of the separator (4) within the chamber (3) changes as the belt (7) rotates (Figure 3, Figure 5 and Figure 6).

In this embodiment of present invention, the transmission means (12) further comprises teeth (not shown in the figures) located on the belt (6) and the shaft of the motor (10), which fit into each other. By means of these teeth, the motion transmission between the belt (6) and the shaft of the motor (10) is provided more efficiently.

In another embodiment of present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises at least one rail (9) within the chamber (3) and a second extension (15) on the separator (4) which fits into the rail (9). The rail (9), preferably, stands against the belt (6)1 and ies down parallel to the belt (6). A more regular movement of the separator (4) within the chamber (3) is provided by means of the rail (9).

In another embodiment of present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a lock (not shown in the figures) which prevents the consumer from opening the cleaning agent dispenser (2), after the laundry to be washed is loaded into the drum and the program is chosen, until the position of the separator (4) is adjusted. Thus, the consumer is prevented from opening the detergent dispenser before the time.

In this embodiment, the washing machine (1) further comprises an audio and/or visual indicator which shows the user whether the adjustment process of the separator (4) is in progress and/or done. Thus, the consumer is informed about whether the adjustment process is in progress or done.

By way of the washing machine (1) of the present invention, the consumer can easily place the necessary amount of cleaning agent into the cleaning agent dispenser (2).