Cartridge and water-conducting domestic appliance comprising a detergent dosing system for a cartridge

• US 20100012161A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Classen, Egbert, Jerg, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 8,980,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/56.D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• 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 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4445 Detachable devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4454 with automatic identification means, e.g. barcodes, RFID tags or magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4472 Blister packaging or refill cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence

Abstract

A cartridge for use in a detergent-dosing system of a water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular, a cartridge for use in a domestic dishwasher of the type having a detergent dispenser configured with a holding space for holding the cartridge, the cartridge including at least a pair of chambers, each chamber for holding a detergent separate from any detergent held by another chamber; and a pair of seals, each seal being associated with a respective one of the chambers for substantially precluding discharge of a detergent retained by the respective chamber and each seal being configured to be opened at least once for a discharge of detergent from the respective chamber and to be closed again at least once.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A cartridge for use in a detergent-dosing system of a water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular, a cartridge for use in a domestic dishwasher of the type having a detergent dispenser configured with a holding space for holding the cartridge, the cartridge comprising:

at least a pair of chambers, each chamber for holding a detergent separate from any detergent held by another chamber; and

a pair of seals, each seal being associated with a respective one of the chambers for substantially precluding discharge of a detergent retained by the respective chamber and each seal being configured to be opened at least once for a discharge of detergent from the respective chamber and to be closed again at least once.

34. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein each seal is configured for being opened once only and closed once only.

35. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein each seal is configured for respectively opening automatically and closing automatically when the cartridge is inserted into and removed from a detergent dispenser.

36. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein each seal will be located at a place corresponding to an opening means of the detergent dispenser when the cartridge inserted into the detergent dispenser, wherein the openable seal will have been put into an opened position in which the detergent can be added during a washing cycle, in particular by the detergent-dosing system.

37. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein the openable seal is formed by at least one of a membrane, a film and an elastomer.

38. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein when the cartridge is inserted into a detergent dispenser the openable seal will be located at a place corresponding to a hollow needle of the detergent dispenser so that the openable seal will be pierced by said needle.

39. The cartridge according to claim 38 wherein the detergent-dosing system has at least one dosing chamber that is arranged such that a link to the at least one dosing chamber can be established by a hollow needle.

40. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein the number of openable seals corresponds to the number of dosing chambers.

41. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein at least one detergent is held in store in each case in one chamber of the cartridge.

42. The cartridge according to claim 41 and further comprising a ventilating chamber functionally linked to the chambers via ventilating channels.

43. The cartridge according to claim 33 and further comprising at least one conveying device for conveying at least one detergent into the washing compartment of the dishwasher.

44. The cartridge according to claim 43 wherein a number of conveying devices corresponding to the number of chambers is provided.

45. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein the cartridge housing has a mechanical coding configured for interaction with a counter-coding on the receptacle side for defining an installed position in a water-conducting domestic appliance.

46. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein the cartridge housing has a longitudinal extent along a main axis.

47. The cartridge according to claim 46 wherein the main axis is longer than secondary axes of the housing of the cartridge.

48. The cartridge according to claim 46 wherein the chambers of the cartridge are arranged adjacent one another along the main axis.

49. The cartridge according to claim 33 wherein at least one of the chambers has its contents selected from the group consisting of enzymes, bleaching agents, bleach activators, dispersing and complexing agents, tensides, alkali-bearing substances and biocides.

50. A water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a domestic dishwasher, comprising a detergent-dosing system, the detergent-dosing system having a detergent dispenser that has at least one holding space for holding at least one cartridge wherein the cartridge has at least one openable seal, the detergent-dosing system having an opening assembly configured such that the at least one seal will have been put into an opened position when at least one cartridge has been inserted.

51. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 50 wherein the opening assembly is formed by at least one hollow needle configured to pierce the seal when a cartridge is inserted into the holding space.

52. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 50 wherein a retention device for securing the cartridge and fixing it in position is provided on the detergent dispenser.

53. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 52 wherein the retention device is formed a receptacle formed on a cover of the detergent dispenser, configured for movement, in particular swiveling movement, between an open position and a closed position for placing the holding space in a closed position.

54. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 50 and further comprising a positioning device for positioning an insertable cartridge in the detergent dispenser.

55. The water-conducting domestic appliance according claim 50 wherein the detergent-dosing system has at least one outlet that is functionally linked to a washing compartment and through which a specified amount of detergent can be ducted to the washing fluid during a washing cycle, with the at least one outlet being provided on the detergent dispenser.

56. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 55 and further comprising at least one outlet disposed on a housing section of the detergent dispenser, wherein the housing section is located in the direction of gravity below the holding space.

57. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 55 wherein the at least one outlet of the detergent-dosing system feeds into a dosing chamber that is functionally linked to the detergent.

58. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 57 wherein the dosing chamber is assigned a conveying device by which the detergent can be ducted to the washing compartment from a cartridge.

59. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to one of claim 50 wherein the detergent-dosing system has a chamber for a solid detergent.

60. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 50 wherein the detergent-dosing system is located in a side wall of the washing compartment between a top basket and a bottom basket.

61. The water-conducting domestic appliance according claim 50 wherein the detergent-dosing system is located on a door and configured to swivel with respect to the washing compartment of the dishwasher.

62. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 61 wherein the detergent-dosing system is embodied on the door such that the detergent dispenser will be fitted with the cartridge from an edge surface, in particular from the front side, of the door.

63. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 62 wherein the detergent dispenser is fitted with the cartridge in at least one of the region of the inner door and the region of a cover panel on the door.

64. A detergent-dosing system comprising a detergent dispenser that has at least one holding space for holding at least one cartridge wherein the cartridge has at least one openable seal, the detergent-dosing system having an opening assembly configured such that the at least one seal will have been put into an opened position when at least one cartridge has been inserted.