Washing machine with a dispenser for a diversified dispensing of washing agents, and a device and method for implementation thereof

• US 20060144424A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Indesit Company SPA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Indesit Company SPA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Marchitto, Giuseppe, Gaudiano, Nicola, Farano, Michele
• Application Number:
  US10/548,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/25.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/50 Racks ; Baskets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, having a washing agents dispenser with an actuator for dispensing washing agents inside a wash tub of the washing machine, and a wash pump for wash water circulation inside a hydraulic circuit of the machine. The actuator is assembled in a direct fluid connection to the wash pump so that dispensing of the washing agents of the dispenser is driven by the wash pump through the change of the delivery pressure generated by its operation. The present invention provides a saving of the inner resources of the washing machine, which no longer requires an actuator for the sole purpose of dispensing the washing agents in the tub.

Claims

1. A washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, comprising:

a washing agents dispenser comprising actuator means for dispensing washing agents inside a wash tub of said washing machine,

a wash pump for wash water circulation inside an hydraulic circuit of said machine,

wherein said actuator means are assembled in a direct fluid connection to said wash pump through interlaying both connection means pertaining to said hydraulic circuit of said washing machine and at least an inlet of said dispenser, so that dispensing of the washing agents of said dispenser is driven by said wash pump through the change of the delivery pressure generated by its operation.

2. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser is housed on a kitchenware tray of said washing machine.

3. A washing machine according to claim 2, wherein said dispenser is housed on an upper tray of said machine, in particular facing an inner door of said machine for a easy access to it.

4. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser comprises diversified dispensing means for a diversified dispensing of said washing agents in said wash tub.

5. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means of said dispenser comprise an actuator device in fluid connection to an inlet of said at least one inlet of said dispenser, for a hydraulic control implementation related to said actuator device.

6. A washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said dispenser comprises:

a main body

containing means for washing agents associated with said main body,

accessing means to said containing means for loading said washing agents in said containing means, said containing means comprising a plurality of compartments for containing calculated doses of washing agents,

said diversified dispensing means having a selective dispensing operation, i.e. actuating the dispensing in the tub of each one of said calculated doses of washing agents contained selectively in a single compartment of said plurality of compartments.

7. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said diversified dispensing means and/or said actuator means of said dispenser comprise an arm movable in said main body at least from an initial position to a final position, said arm comprising a small shower in fluid connection with at least some of said actuator means and/or diversified dispensing means of said dispenser for introducing the water inside each single compartment of said plurality of compartments.

8. A washing machine according to claim 7, wherein said arm of said dispenser comprises constraining means with said main body of said dispenser, being adapted to ensure a rotation inside said main body among a number of positions substantially equal to the number of compartments forming said plurality of compartments, and its subsequent locking in said positions.

9. A washing machine according to claim 8, wherein said arm of said dispenser comprises fluid connecting means between said small shower and a passage of said constraining means of said dispenser, said passage belonging to an upright shaped wall of said main body of said dispenser.

10. A washing machine according to claim 9, wherein said connecting means of said dispenser comprise a mouthpiece of said arm of said dispenser leading to an inner duct delimited in the assembly of a plurality of components of said arm, said inner duct being in fluid connection to said small shower and said passage of said dispenser through said mouthpiece.

11. A washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said actuator device of said dispenser is associated to said arm for a stepping forward of the same from an initial operative position to a final operative position.

12. A washing machine according to claim 11, wherein said actuator means and/or selective dispensing means of said dispenser comprise:

a pushrod associated to said actuator device and movable from a retracted operative position to a extracted operative position,

a first elastic means restrained to said main body of said dispenser and associated to said pushrod,

said actuator device comprising a first element, which is movable with respect to said main body for stepping forward said pushrod from said retracted operative position to said extracted operative position, said pushrod being associated to said arm during the transfer from said retracted operative position to said extracted operative position, so as to actuate its advancement from an initial position to a final position;

said first elastic means permitting a return of said pushrod from its extracted operative position to its retracted operative position as soon as the requested hydraulic actuation has terminated.

13. A washing machine according to claim 12, wherein said arm of said dispenser comprises engaging means inside which an end of said pushrod of said dispenser is engaged when said pushrod goes from said retracted operative position to said extracted operative position.

14. A washing machine according to claim 13, wherein said engaging means of said dispenser comprise the teeth of a circular toothed sector.

15. A washing machine according to claim 14, wherein said engaging means of said dispenser comprise an equalizer hinged around said mouthpiece fitted with a further toothed sector forming a continuity with the circular toothed sector when said further toothed sector is in a disengaged position, i.e. when said pushrod is in said retracted operative position.

16. A washing machine according to claim 15, wherein said equalizer of said dispenser comprises a return mechanism to said disengaged position.

17. A washing machine according to claim 16, wherein said return mechanism of said equalizer comprises an elastic means located between a prong projecting from an end of said equalizer, and a stake projecting sideways said rotary arm.

18. A washing machine according to claim 17, wherein said return mechanism of said equalizer comprises a strike plate on one distal end with respect to said arm, said strike plate positioning said equalizer in such a way to have at least a tooth of said further toothed sector form a continuity with said circular toothed sector.

19. A washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said actuator device of said dispenser comprises ports in fluid connection with said inlet of said dispenser and said inner passage of said upright shaped wall of said main body of said dispenser, through interlaying connection means of said dispenser.

20. A washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said actuator device of said dispenser comprises a membrane support shaped like a chamber with a first port of said ports on its lower side in fluid connection with said connecting means of said dispenser, said support having a grooved guide being adapted to house a further end of said pushrod of said dispensers;

a membrane resting peripherally on said support in fluid connection with said inlet of said dispenser, said membrane having on its lower side a second port of said ports and further delimiting a closed space wherein said first element and a second elastic means are comprised for transmitting to said pushrod the hydraulic pressure due to the wash water operating on said membrane, the action thereof being returned by said second elastic means.

21. A washing machine according to claim 18, wherein said actuator device of said dispenser comprises a closed membrane support shaped like a compartment and having a grooved guide adapted to house a further end of said pushrod of said dispenser, and comprising a membrane with an even surface resting peripherally on said support, which delimits a closed space in which said first element and a second elastic means are comprised, said membrane providing a second port of said ports on its lower side.

22. A washing machine according to claim 19, wherein said first element of said dispenser is movably hinged to said membrane support and has a prong sideways on the opposite side, being adapted to be engaged to a cavity of said further end of said pushrod of said dispenser;

said first element striking on one side against said pushrod and on the other side aginst a rectangular central portion of said membrane, so the membrane has a direct fluid connection to said inlet of said actuator device of said dispenser.

23. A washing machine according to claim 6, wherein said accessing means to said containing means, of said dispenser comprise a door movably restrained to said main body from at least an open position for access to said containing means to a closed position.

24. A washing machine according to claim 23, characterized in said containing means of said dispenser are directly associated to said door of said dispenser.

25. A washing machine according to claim 24, wherein said containing means of said dispenser comprise a compartments body rigidly restrained to said door of said dispenser, said compartments body providing restraining means for a likely removal and replacement of said compartments body with another compartments body.

26. A washing machine according to claim 25, wherein said containing means of said dispenser comprise a main compartment with a hopper recess for dispensing water in said wash tub of said washing machine.

27. A washing machine according to claim 6, wherein said containing means of said dispenser comprise compartments, each one of them with cavities obtained on the upper edge of one of their walls, so that the water introduced in each one of said compartments will overflow in the next one following a path conveying the water towards the outer wall of a first compartment, and flowing out in said main compartment of said dispenser.

28. A washing machine according to claim 6, wherein said containing means of said dispenser comprise a tank for containing a liquid washing agent or brightener.

29. A washing machine according to claim 28, wherein said selective dispensing means and/or said actuator devices of said dispenser comprise a brightener-brightener dispenser device associated to said tank of said dispenser for a diversified dispensing of said brightener in said tub of said washing machine.

30. A washing machine according to claim 7, wherein said restraining means of said arm of said dispenser comprise:

a retainer associated to said arm, being adapted to interact with a further toothed sector of said actuator means and/or said diversified dispensing means of said dispenser,

third elastic means associated to said arm such in a manner to ensure a return movement of said arm when the hydraulic actuation is deactivated, so as to lock said retainer in said further toothed sector of said dispenser.

31. A washing machine according to claim 30, wherein said further toothed sector of said dispenser is associated to said door of said dispenser and so designed that when said door is in a closed position, said retainer presses on said further toothed sector and remains in contact with it during the rotary movement between the second and fifth positions of said arm of said dispenser.

32. A washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said at least one inlet of said dispenser comprises a first inlet in fluid connection to said actuator device of said dispenser and a second inlet in fluid connection to said small shower of said arm of said dispenser.

33. A washing machine according to claim 10, wherein said second inlet of said dispenser is connected to said mouthpiece of said arm of said dispenser.

34. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said hydraulic circuit of said washing machine comprises a first takeoff D1 of said wash pump in fluid connection with a first sprayer, and a second takeoff in fluid connection with a second sprayer located in an upper trays of said machine, said second takeoff conveying said water inside a small dome of said second sprayer through a mouthpiece device being adapted to warrant both the motion and extraction of said upper trays from the tub, said small dome comprising a third takeoff in fluid connection to said at lease one inlet of said dispenser, so that said wash water will wash said compartments of said dispenser and dispense the washing agents contained inside them.

35. A washing machine according to claim 32, wherein said hydraulic circuit of said washing machine comprises a further takeoff being engaged to said wash pump downstream and continuing to be engaged into said mouthpiece following a preferential duct up to the inside of said small dome and then being coincident with said third takeoff up to said at least one inlet of said dispenser.

36. A washing machine according to claim 32, wherein said third takeoff of said hydraulic system of said washing machine comprises a fourth takeoff in fluid connection to said second inlet of said dispenser.

37. A washing machine according to claim 6, wherein said containing means of washing agents are designed for receiving a solid detergent agent, in particular tablets consisting of a plurality of portions connected to each other by means of septa.

38. A dispenser for a dishwashing machine, comprising a main body associated to:

containing means of washing agents,

accessing means to said containing means for loading said washing agents in said containing means,

actuator means for dispensing said washing agents in a wash tub of a dishwashing machine incorporating said dispenser,

diversified dispensing means connected to said actuator means for a diversified dispensing of said washing agents in said tub of said dishwashing machine incorporating said dispenser,

wherein, said diversified dispensing means have a selective dispensing operation, i.e. being adapted to dispense at least a single

dose of said washing agent in the tub, namely a well determined amount contained in each single compartment of said plurality of compartments.

39. A dispenser according to claim 38, wherein said actuator means are hydraulic operating actuator means.

40. A dispenser according to claim 38 further comprising a main body containing means for washing agents associated with said main body,

accessing means to said containing means for loading said washing agents in said containing means, said containing means comprising a plurality of compartments for containing calculated doses of washing agents,

said diversified dispensing means having a selective dispensing operation, i.e. actuating the dispensing in the tub of each one of said calculated doses of washing agents contained selectively in a single compartment of said plurality of compartments.

41. A method for dispensing washing agents in a wash tub of a dishwasher, having a washing agents dispenser comprising actuator means for dispensing washing agents inside a wash tub of said washing machine,

a wash pump for wash water circulation inside an hydraulic circuit of said machine,

wherein said actuator means are assembled in a direct fluid connection to said wash pump through interlaying both connection means pertaining to said hydraulic circuit of said washing machine and at least an inlet of said dispenser, so that dispensing of the washing agents of said dispenser is driven by said wash pump through the change of the delivery pressure generated by its operation, wherein such an operation occurs through a simple start of said pump, properly controlled by a control circuit of said machine adapted to the control and implementation of the wash cycles of the same machine.

42. A method according to claim 41, further comprising actuating a “

Stop and Go”

drive of said wash pump, in order to ensure dispensing of a subsequent dose of said washing agents during operation of the machine, providing a continuous supply of said wash pump.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said “

Stop and Go”

drive is active for about a few seconds.