Detergent dispenser system

• US 6,701,944 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Roberts, Kevin, Oldenburg, Willem, McNabb, Richard Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/055,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20020117511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 134/57.D, 134/56.D, 134/58.D, 134/94.1, 134/115.R, 134/93, 134/201, 222/23, 222/56, 222/64, 222/651, 222/251, 222/328, 222/372, 222/410, 137/268
• US Class Current: 134/93
• 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: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

A removable cartridge for a detergent dispensing system for a dishwasher comprising:

a storage unit containing a plurality of cylindrical or spherical detergent tablets arranged in two or more rows with curved surfaces of adjacent tablets touching such that when the cartridge is upright the tablets will move under gravity towards a transfer station,

a transfer station comprising ejection means to eject a tablet from the transfer station through a transfer port out of the cartridge,

a transfer seal associated with the transfer port to prevent ingress of moisture into the cartridge.

Claims

1. A removable cartridge for a detergent dispensing system for a dishwasher, comprising:

a storage unit containing a plurality of cylindrical or spherical detergent tablets arranged in two or more rows with curved surfaces of adjacent tablets touching such that when said cartridge is upright said tablets will move under gravity towards a transfer station,

a transfer station comprising ejection means to eject a tablet from said transfer station through a transfer port out of the cartridge and

a transfer seal associated with said transfer port to prevent ingress of moisture into the cartridge.

2. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge is in its upright position said tablets are arranged in substantially vertical rows and said storage unit comprises a sloping floor to direct tablets towards said transfer station.

3. A removable cartridge according to claim 2 wherein adjacent rows of said tablets are separated by guides to prevent lateral displacement of tablets from a row.

4. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said tablets are substantially cylindrical having a diameter in the range 10 to 20 mm and a length which is at least 10% different from the diameter.

5. A removable cartridge according to claim 4 wherein said tablets have a length greater than the diameter.

6. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 which comprises two sets of said tablets each set being arranged in rows and each set of tablets having its own ejection means.

7. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said ejection means comprises a wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis when said cartridge is in its upright position, said wheel having means to define a plurality of circumferential chambers dimensioned to accommodate a tablet.

8. A removable cartridge according to claim 7 wherein said wheel is constructed and arranged such that a tablet in the transfer station moves under gravity into a chamber in said wheel and rotation of said wheel transports said tablet in said chamber to the transfer port where it falls out of said chamber through said transfer port.

9. A removable cartridge according to claim 7 wherein said wheel is constructed and arranged such that a tablet in said transfer station moves under gravity into a chamber in said wheel, rotation of said wheel transports said tablet in said chamber to said transfer port where it partially falls out of said chamber and further rotation of the wheel causes a cam surface on the wheel to contact said tablet and push said tablet through said transfer port.

10. A removable cartridge according to claim 7 wherein said wheel is constructed and arranged such that a tablet in the transfer station moves under gravity in to a chamber in said wheel, rotation of said wheel transports said tablet in said chamber towards the transfer port and further rotation of said wheel causes said chamber to partially collapse expelling said tablet from said chamber through said transfer port.

11. A removable cartridge according to claim 7 comprising two sets of said tablets, each set being arranged in rows and said ejection means comprises two wheels rotatable about a common axis.

12. A removable cartridge according to claim 11 wherein said two wheels are fixed relative to each other with chambers off-set such that rotation of the wheels causes alternate transport of tablet from each set of tablets.

13. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said transfer port is covered by a transfer seal which is moved aside when a tablet is ejected from said cartridge.

14. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said transfer port is covered by a transfer seal in the form of an elastomeric film having one or more slits therein and the tablet is pushed through the elastomeric as it is ejected from the cartridge.

15. A cartridge according to claim 1 additionally comprising means to manually operate said ejection means.

16. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said ejection means comprises means to engage with drive means mounted on a dishwasher.

17. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge is sealed to prevent ready access to detergent tablets therein.

18. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge comprises a housing comprising transparent material so that said tablets therein are visible.

19. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 which additionally comprises one or more physical recognition features engageable with a detection system to identify the contents of the cartridge.

20. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 which additionally comprises a code pattern applied to its surface which may be detected by a detection system to identify the contents of the cartridge.

21. A removable cartridge according to claim 1 which additionally comprises a microchip containing information of the contents of the cartridge.

22. A detergent dispensing system for a dishwasher comprising a removable cartridge comprising:

a storage unit containing a plurality of cylindrical or spherical detergent tablets arranged in two or more rows with curved surfaces of adjacent tablets touching such that when said cartridge is upright said tablets will move under gravity towards a transfer station,

a transfer station comprising ejection means to eject a tablet from said transfer station through a transfer port out of the cartridge

a transfer seal associated with said transfer port to prevent ingress of moisture into the cartridge and

a dispensing device having an inlet in communication with said transfer port of said cartridge and an outlet for dispensing tablets and a door which in a closed position seals.

23. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 22 wherein said dispensing device comprises means to maintain said door in its closed position sealing the outlet except when dispensing tablets.

24. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 23 wherein said door of said dispensing chamber is spring biased to its closed position sealing said outlet.

25. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 22 wherein said transfer port of the cartridge communicates directly with said dispensing chamber of said dispensing device.

26. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 25 wherein said cartridge is positioned directly above said dispensing chamber.

27. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 22 which additionally comprises an intermediate passage and/or a holding chamber between said transfer port of said cartridge and said dispensing device.

28. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 27 which additionally comprises conveyor means to move tablets in said intermediate passage or holding chamber into said dispensing chamber.

29. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 28 wherein said conveyor means comprises a plunger to push tablets from said intermediate passage or holding chamber into said dispensing chamber.

30. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 22 additionally comprising control means to control ejection of tablets from said cartridge and/or release of tablet(s) from said dispensing chamber.

31. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 30 wherein said control means releases tablet(s) from said dispensing chamber at a predetermined time in the wash cycle.

32. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 30 wherein said control means closes the door of the dispensing chamber immediately after releasing tablet(s).

33. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 30 wherein said control means releases tablets from said dispensing chamber after water has entered the dishwasher but before water is circulated.

34. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 30 wherein said control means operates to eject a requisite number of tablets from said cartridge in accordance with the wash programme selected on the dishwasher.

35. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 34 wherein said control means dispenser tablets based on information detected about the contents of the cartridge.

36. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 30 wherein said control means causes dispensing of tablets at different stages in a wash cycle.

37. A detergent dispensing system according to claim 22 wherein said door of said dispensing device is pivoted about a horizontal axis at its upper or lower edge.

38. A dishwasher comprising a detergent dispensing system comprising:

a storage unit containing a plurality of cylindrical or spherical detergent tablets arranged in two or more rows with curved surfaces of adjacent tablets touching such that when said cartridge is upright said tablets will move under gravity towards a transfer station,

a transfer station comprising ejection means to eject a tablet from said transfer station through a transfer port out of the cartridge

a transfer seal associated with said transfer port to prevent ingress of moisture into the cartridge and

a dispensing device having an inlet in communication with said transfer port of said cartridge and an outlet for dispensing tablets and a door which in a closed position seals.

39. A dishwasher according to claim 38 additionally comprising a door wherein such detergent dispensing system is mounted in said door.

40. A dishwasher according to claim 38 which additionally comprises means to signal when the cartridge is substantially empty.