Household Applicance

• US 20110180118A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Henkel AG & Co KGaA
• Original Assignee: Henkel AG & Co KGaA
• Inventors: Schrott, Harald
• Application Number:
  US13/017,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20110180118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/56.D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4445 Detachable devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/04 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/02 Consumable products information, e.g. information on detergent, rinsing aid or salt; Dispensing device information, e.g. information on the type, e.g. detachable, or status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/03 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/20 Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/26 Imbalance; Noise level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/42 related to filters or pumps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/64 Radiation, e.g. microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/024 mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Abstract

Household appliance (1), (17) comprising a program control for controlling program sequences for at least one operational parameter, such as temperature, pH value or the like, and/or the operation of at least one machine component, such as spray arms, pumps or the like, wherein the program control comprises a program mode for use of a metering device (6) that is not permanently integrated into the household appliance (1), (17), wherein the program sequence thereof is adapted for at least one operational parameter and/or at least one operation of at least one machine component to the ability of the sensor of a metering device (6) that is not permanently integrated to control the metering on the basis of operational parameters and/or operations detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. Household appliance comprising:

a program control system for controlling program sequences for at least one operating parameter and/or the operating sequence of at least one appliance component,

the program control system further comprising a program mode for the utilization of a dispensing apparatus not permanently installed in the household appliance,

wherein the program mode has a program sequence for at least one operating parameter and/or at least one operating sequence of at least one appliance component that is coordinated with the ability of a sensor suite of a non-permanently installed dispensing apparatus to control dispensing based on sensorially sensed operating parameters and/or operating sequences.

2. Household appliance according to claim 1, wherein the program mode coordinated with the sensor suite of a non-permanently installed dispensing apparatus is manually activatable.

3. Household appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a control button for manual activation of the program mode.

4. Household appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor for automatic recognition of a dispensing apparatus not permanently installed in the household appliance.

5. Household appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a receiving apparatus for receiving a non-permanently installed dispensing apparatus in a defined operating position.

6. Household appliance according to claim 5, wherein the receiving apparatus is provided in a door of the household appliance.

7. Household appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a transfer system for transferring information between a monitoring unit of the household appliance and a dispensing apparatus not permanently installed in the household appliance.

8. Household appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter unit for transmitting at least one signal to a dispensing unit, the transmitting unit configured to transmit optical signals.

9. Household appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless receiver for receiving at least one signal from the dispensing apparatus, the receiver configured to receive optical signals.

10. Household appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a dispensing apparatus, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

at least one cartridge for flowable washing or cleaning agents, the at least one cartridge having a plurality of chambers for physically separated reception of mutually differing preparations of a washing or cleaning agent, and

a dispensing device couplable to the cartridge comprising;

at least one energy source,

a control unit,

a sensor unit,

at least one actuator connected to the energy source and to the control unit in such a way that a control signal of the control unit produces a motion of the actuator,

a closure element coupled to the actuator in such a way that a motion of the actuator shifts the closure element into a closure position or a delivery position,

at least one dispensing chamber which, when the cartridge and dispensing device are assembled together, is communicatively connected to at least one of the cartridge chambers,

the dispensing chamber having an inlet for the inflow of washing or cleaning agent out of a cartridge chamber, and an outlet for the outflow of washing or cleaning agent out of the dispensing chamber into the environment,

wherein at least the outlet of the dispensing chamber is able to be closed off or uncovered by the closure element,

wherein the dispensing device has at least one first interface that interacts with a corresponding interface in or on a dishwasher whereby a transfer of signals and/or of electrical energy from the dishwasher to the dispensing device is produced.

11. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the interfaces are configured for the emission and/or reception of optical signals.

12. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an optical signal is in the form of a signal pulse or a sequence of signal pulses having a pulse duration from 1 ms to 10 seconds.

13. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one interface is in the form of an optical transmitting unit having a light-emitting device that radiates light in the visible and/or IR region.

14. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a cartridge, wherein the cartridge is able to store flowable washing or cleaning agents and comprises:

a plurality of chambers for physically separated reception of mutually differing preparations of a flowable washing or cleaning agent,

a cartridge base that, in the use position, is directed downward in the direction of gravity, and

at least two chambers, each having at least one outlet opening arranged on the cartridge base,

the cartridge having an asymmetrical three-dimensional shape so that coupling to the dispensing device occurs only in a mutual position of cartridge and dispensing device provided therefor.

15. Delivery apparatus for use in a household appliance suitable for applying control to a dispensing device according to claim 10, the delivery apparatus able to deliver at least one preparation into the interior of a dishwasher, the delivery apparatus being connected nondetachably to the household appliance, the delivery apparatus having at least one transmitting unit and/or at least one receiving unit for wireless transmission of signals into the interior of the dishwasher and for wireless reception of signals from the interior of the dishwasher, the transmitting unit and/or receiving unit being configured respectively for the emission and reception of optical signals.