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EP 2 003 237 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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04.05.2016 Bulletin 2016/18 |
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Date of filing: 12.06.2007 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Laundry washing machine dispenser for detergent products
Waschmaschinenspender für Reinigungsmittel
Distributeur de produits détergents pour un lave-linge
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO
SE SI SK TR |
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Date of publication of application: |
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17.12.2008 Bulletin 2008/51 |
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Divisional application: |
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11171038.0 / 2381027 |
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Proprietor: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. |
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1130 Brussels (BE) |
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Inventor: |
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- Valent, Lucio
33170 Pordenone (IT)
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Representative: Nardoni, Andrea et al |
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Electrolux Italia S.p.A.
Corso Lino Zanussi, 30 33080 Porcia (PN) 33080 Porcia (PN) (IT) |
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References cited: :
EP-A- 1 403 415 EP-B1- 2 152 950 DE-A1- 3 403 622 US-A- 5 870 906
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EP-A- 1 731 654 WO-A-88/06199 GB-A- 2 386 130
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine dispenser for detergent
products or similar.
[0002] The detergent dispenser of front-loading laundry washing machines normally comprises
a drawer housed in the front wall of the machine and divided internally into compartments,
at least one of which is filled manually with a given amount of a respective product
before each wash.
[0003] To avoid filling the detergent compartments manually before each wash, and at the
same time dispense the detergent more accurately, laundry washing machines have been
designed in which the conventional drawer dispenser is replaced with compartments
for one or more cartridges, each of which contains a number of measures of a respective
detergent, and is connected to a hydraulic circuit of the machine to release a measured
quantity of detergent at each wash according to the selected wash program.
[0004] Laundry washing machines of the type described,
[0005] WO-A-8806199 discloses a loading apparatus for holding and dispensing a washing additive such
as a cleansing agent. The loading apparatus includes a receptacle in which there is
a plurality of compartments each for receiving a discrete portion of washing additive
in the form of blocks consisting of, or containing, a given amount of cleansing agent.
The compartments are at least partially defined by partitions forming part of a body
which is movable to bring each portion adjacent to an opening provided in the receptacle.
The portions then pass through the opening to be dispensed, preferably under force
of gravity. The blocks could be replaced by refillable cassettes which are adapted
to remain in the loader, even when over the above mentioned opening, while allowing
their contents to pour out through the opening in the base when required.
[0006] Document
EP-A1-2152950, which is prior art according to Art. 54(3) EPC, discloses an automatically controlled
washing machine with a drawer, which is accessible from the front, with at least one
chamber for a hand-metered addition of a washing powder dose or washing liquid dose,
said drawer further comprises at least one storage container, which is mounted in
the upper machine space behind the chambers of the drawer, for storing liquid or gel-like
washing agent and with a respective device for automatic metering of each stored washing
agent, and with at least one device for receiving a transportable container, which
comprises several doses, of liquid or gel-like washing agent.
[0007] Laundry washing machines of the type described, however, have met with little success
on the home market, on account of various drawbacks, which make them awkward to use
and not very versatile. Foremost of these are the impossibility of loading products
manually in the usual way, and the difficulty encountered in changing or filling the
cartridges, on account of the cartridge compartments normally being located in poorly
accessible parts of the machine, e.g. in the base or at the back of the machine, or,
in some cases, in devices actually outside the machine itself.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry washing machine dispenser
for detergent products, softeners or fresheners, designed to permit both manual loading
of detergents at each wash, and automatic loading using long-term-release cartridges,
and which at the same time is easy to use and cheap to produce.
[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a laundry washing machine dispenser
for detergent products, softneners or fresheners as claimed in Claim 1 and, preferably,
in any one of the Claims depending directly or indirectly on Claim 1.
[0010] A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by
way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a laundry washing machine featuring a preferred embodiment of the dispenser
according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows the Figure 1 dispenser in a different operating configuration;
Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity;
Figures 4 and 5 show respective variations of the Figure 1 dispenser;
Figure 6 shows a detail of containers, for detergent products, softeners or fresheners
that can be used in the dispenser according to the present invention.
[0011] Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a laundry washing machine comprising a
parallelepiped-shaped outer body 2; a laundry loading opening 3 formed in a front
wall 4 of body 2; and a control panel 5 located on front wall 4, above opening 3.
[0012] Machine 1 also comprises a dispenser 6 for detergent products or e.g. softeners,
fresheners, etc., and which comprises a drawer 7 located in front wall 4, alongside
control panel 5.
[0013] More specifically, as shown in Figures 1-3, drawer 7 comprises an outer handle 8,
which is flush with front wall 4 when drawer 7 is in the closed position (not shown);
and a slide-in body 9 divided into two sections 10, 11. Section 10 is located at the
front, in the opening direction of drawer 7 substantially perpendicular to front wall
4, and is in turn divided into two compartments 10a, 10b, normally for powdered or
liquid detergent, and a compartment 10c located inside compartment 10b and normally
used for liquid softener.
[0014] As shown in Figure 2, section 11 is located behind section 10 in the opening direction
of drawer 7, and houses one or more containers 12, at least one of which contains
a sufficient quantity of detergent for a given number of washes.
[0015] In the Figure 2 example, section 11 houses one container 12, which may be a refillable
container integral with section 11, or a standard cartridge that can be removed from
section 11 and changed manually when used up.
[0016] In the Figure 4 example, section 11 houses two side by side containers 12.
[0017] In the Figure 5 variation, section 11 is divided into a number of compartments 13
of given sizes, each housing a respective container 12. In this case, too, all or
at least some of containers 12 may be integral with respective compartments 13, or
defined by known removable cartridges.
[0018] As shown in Figure 6, the rear end of each removable container 12 has a connector
14 for connecting container 12 to a known hydraulic circuit (not shown) for feeding
the detergent to the laundry during the wash cycle.
[0019] Each container 12 also has a known electronic level identification device 15, which,
in use, interfaces with an electronic device (not shown) on machine 1 to automatically
meter the product during the wash cycle in known manner.
[0020] Drawer 7 is mounted inside a compartment 16 in body 2 to slide along two grooves
(not shown) extending along respective lateral walls 18 of compartment 16 and engaged
in sliding manner by respective longitudinal edges 19 of drawer 7.
[0021] As shown in Figure 3, dispenser 6 comprises a stop device 20, which, when drawer
7 is opened by the user, retains drawer 7 in a first extracted position (Figure 1),
in which section 10 projects from front wall 4, while section 11 remains inside body
2.
[0022] Stop device 20 comprises two elastic levers 21 (only one shown in Figure 3), each
of which is integral with a respective lateral wall 18 of compartment 16, extends
parallel to the opening direction of drawer 7, and has a respective triangular tooth
22 projecting towards drawer 7 and movable elastically, in a direction crosswise to
the opening direction of drawer 7, between an idle position (not shown), in which
tooth 22 presses against relative edge 19, and a work position (Figure 3), in which
tooth 22 engages a V-shaped recess 23 formed in a portion of relative edge 19 at the
end of section 11 next to section 10.
[0023] In a variation, stop device 20 may comprise only one tooth 22 and, therefore, only
one recess 23.
[0024] In actual use, when drawer 7 is in the closed position and the user pulls handle
8, drawer 7 slides out until it is stopped in the first extracted position by teeth
22 engaging respective recesses 23. This configuration allows free access by the user
to all the compartments 10a, 10b, 10c in section 10 to load detergents or similar
manually.
[0025] Conversely, to operate machine 1 in automatic dispensing mode, and to insert or change
or refill one or more of containers 12, the user simply pulls further on handle 8
to exert sufficient force initially on drawer 7 to overcome the resistance of teeth
22 and flex levers 21, so that teeth 22, sliding along respective sloping surfaces
of respective recesses 23, slide out of recesses 23 into the idle position, and drawer
7 can be pulled open into a final second extracted position, in which section 11 projects
completely from front wall 4 and is fully accessible to the user.
[0026] The advantages of dispenser 6 in terms of easy, versatile use of machine 1 will be
clear from the foregoing description.
[0027] Machine 1, in fact, can be used in the same way as a conventional manually loaded
dispenser machine, as well as in automatic dispensing mode; and section 11 in drawer
7 for housing container/s 12 enables container/s 12 to be changed or refilled as easily
as in conventional manual loading mode.
[0028] Finally, it should be pointed out that the above, relative to dispenser 6, also applies
in the event dispenser 6 is used in a drying machine, as opposed to laundry washing
machine 1.
1. Laundry washing machine comprising a dispenser (6) for dispensing detergent products,
softeners or fresheners, wherein the dispenser (6) comprises a drawer (7) housed in
a front wall (4) of the machine (1) and comprising a first section (10) adapted to
be loaded with at least a first detergent product sufficient for one wash, so as to
allow using said laundry washing machine as a conventional manually loaded dispenser
machine, wherein said drawer (7) comprises an outer handle, as well as a distinct
second section (11) adapted for housing at least a second detergent product sufficient
for a given number of washes, so as to allow using said laundry washing machine also
in an automatic dispensing mode.
2. Laundry washing machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second detergent product
is housed in a relative container, in turn housed in the second section.
3. Laundry washing machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the container (12) is
removable.
4. Laundry washing machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the container (12) is
refillable and formed integrally with the second section (11).
5. Laundry washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the
first section (10) is divided into a number of compartments (10a, 10b, 10c), each
for housing a respective first product.
6. Laundry washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the
second section (11) is divided into a number of compartments (13), each for housing
a respective container (12) for a relative second product.
7. Laundry washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the
second section (11) is located behind the first section (10) in an opening direction
of the drawer (7) substantially perpendicular to the front wall (4).
8. Laundry washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the
drawer (7) is movable between a closed position, a first extracted position, in which
only the first section (10) projects from the front wall (4), and a second extracted
position, in which both the first and second section (11) project from the front wall
(4).
9. Laundry washing machine as claimed in Claim 8, comprising a stop device (20) for arresting
the drawer (7) in the first extracted position when opening the drawer (7).
10. A laundry washing machine as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the stop device (20) comprises
at least one tooth (22) located in a fixed position on a body (2) of the machine (1),
and which clicks inside, and is released flexibly from, a respective recess (23) formed
on the drawer (7).
1. Waschmaschine, umfassend einen Spender (6) zum Abgeben von Waschmittelprodukten, Weichspülern
oder Wäscheauffrischern, wobei der Spender (6) ein in einer Vorderwand (4) der Maschine
(1) aufgenommenes Schubfach (7) umfasst, das einen ersten Abschnitt (10) umfasst,
der geeignet ist, mit mindestens einem ersten, für eine Wäsche ausreichenden Waschmittelprodukt
gefüllt zu werden, so dass die Waschmaschine als eine herkömmliche Maschine mit manuell
gefülltem Spender verwendet werden kann, wobei das Schubfach (7) einen äußeren Griff
sowie einen getrennten zweiten Abschnitt (11) umfasst, der geeignet ist, mindestens
ein zweites Waschmittelprodukt aufzunehmen, das für eine gegebene Zahl von Wäschen
ausreicht, so dass die Waschmaschine auch in einem automatischen Abgabemodus verwendet
werden kann.
2. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 1, wobei das zweite Waschmittelprodukt in einem jeweiligen
Behältnis aufgenommen ist, das seinerseits im zweiten Abschnitt aufgenommen ist.
3. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Behältnis (12) entfernbar ist.
4. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Behältnis (12) aufgefüllt werden kann
und integral mit dem zweiten Abschnitt (11) ausgebildet ist.
5. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der erste Abschnitt (10)
in mehrere Fächer (10a, 10b, 10c) jeweils zur Aufnahme eines jeweiligen ersten Produkts
unterteilt ist.
6. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der zweite Abschnitt
(11) in mehrere Fächer (13) jeweils zur Aufnahme eines jeweiligen Behältnisses (12)
für ein jeweiliges zweites Produkt unterteilt ist.
7. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der zweite Abschnitt
(11) in einer im Wesentlichen senkrecht zur Vorderwand (4) verlaufenden Öffnungsrichtung
des Schubfachs (7) hinter dem ersten Abschnitt (10) angeordnet ist.
8. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Schubfach (7) zwischen
einer geschlossenen Position, einer ersten herausgezogenen Position, in der nur der
erste Abschnitt (10) von der Vorderwand (4) vorragt, und einer zweiten herausgezogenen
Position, in der sowohl der erste als auch der zweite Abschnitt (11) von der Vorderwand
(4) vorragen, beweglich ist.
9. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 8, umfassend eine Festhaltevorrichtung (20) zum Arretieren
des Schubfachs (7) in der ersten herausgezogenen Position beim Öffnen des Schubfachs
(7).
10. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 9, wobei die Festhaltevorrichtung (20) mindestens einen
Zahn (22) umfasst, der in einer fixierten Position an einem Körper (2) der Maschine
(1) angeordnet ist und der in eine jeweilige am Schubfach (7) ausgebildete Aussparung
(23) einschnappt und flexibel daraus freigegeben wird.
1. Lave-linge comprenant un distributeur (6) pour distribuer des produits détergents,
des assouplissants ou des désodorisants,
le distributeur (6) comprenant un tiroir (7) disposé dans une paroi avant (4) de la
machine (1) et comprenant une première section (10) prévue pour recevoir au moins
un premier produit détergent suffisant pour un lavage de manière à permettre l'utilisation
dudit lave-linge en tant que machine à distributeur conventionnel à chargement manuel,
ledit tiroir (7) comprenant une poignée extérieure ainsi qu'une deuxième section distincte
(11) prévue pour recevoir au moins un deuxième produit détergent suffisant pour un
certain nombre de lavages, de manière à permettre l'utilisation dudit lave-linge également
en mode de distribution automatique.
2. Lave-linge selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le deuxième produit détergent est
reçu dans un récipient associé qui est à son tour disposé dans la deuxième section.
3. Lave-linge selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le récipient (12) est amovible.
4. Lave-linge selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le récipient (12) peut être
rempli à nouveau et est formé intégralement avec la deuxième section (11).
5. Lave-linge selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la première
section (10) est divisée en un certain nombre de compartiments (10a, 10b, 10c), chacun
étant destiné à recevoir un premier produit respectif.
6. Lave-linge selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la deuxième
section (11) est divisée en un certain nombre de compartiments (13), chacun étant
destiné à recevoir un récipient respectif (12) pour un deuxième produit associé.
7. Lave-linge selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la deuxième
section (11) est située derrière la première section (10) dans une direction d'ouverture
du tiroir (7) substantiellement perpendiculaire à la paroi avant (4).
8. Lave-linge selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le tiroir
(7) peut être déplacé entre une position fermée, une première position sortie dans
laquelle seule la première section (10) dépasse de la paroi avant (4), et une deuxième
position sortie dans laquelle à la fois la première et la deuxième sections (11) dépassent
de la paroi avant (4).
9. Lave-linge selon la revendication 8, comprenant un dispositif d'arrêt (20) pour arrêter
le tiroir (7) dans la première position sortie lors de l'ouverture du tiroir (7).
10. Lave-linge selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le dispositif d'arrêt (20) comprend
au moins une dent (22) située dans une position fixe sur un corps (2) de la machine
(1) et qui s'encliquette à l'intérieur et est libérée élastiquement d'un retrait respectif
(23) formé sur le tiroir (7).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description