Automatic dosing device with a dosing screw and the use of such an automatic dosing device

• US 7,097,079 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Menrik, Linda, Miefalk, Hakan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTAGENA, MELVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/481,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20040159683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 222/75, 222/239, 222/241, 222/404, 222/413
• US Class Current: 222/431
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/026 the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/005 comprising a screw conveyor

Abstract

The present invention refers to a dosing screw unit for an automatic dosing device The purpose of the automatic dosing device is to control the dosing of stored material, kept inside (29) a container (27), out of the storage. The object of the dosing screw unit according to the invention is to achieve a dosing, closing and cleaning arrangement for the automatic dosing device. The screw unit therefore comprises parts that interact with the thread of the dosing screw (1), which parts constitutes an attacher (14) that interacts with the thread and scratches of material clogged on the screw, closer that closes the outlet of the dosing unit and a director that prevents the parts from rotating around the dosing screw (1).

Claims

1. An automatic dosing device for a machine comprising:

a container (27) for dosing material;

a dosing screw (1) that feeds material out from the container, wherein the screw (1) is rotatably attached to the container (27) and interacts with a channel (26) that connects an inside (29) of the container (27) with an outside of the container (27); and

a sealing member (13,14), which by a force transmitted to the sealing member from the thread (4) of the screw (1), seals or opens an outlet (30) of the channel (26), the outlet (30) facing the container outside;

wherein at least a part of the sealing member (13,14) seals and opens the outlet by moving in a first or a second direction parallel to the direction of the screw (1).

2. An automatic dosing device according to claim 1 characterized in that the sealing member (13,14) comprises a closer (10) that is attached to the screw (1), whereby when this closer (10) interacts with the member (13,14) and the screw (1) rotates clockwise the member (13,14) moves in a first direction parallel to the direction of the screw (1) and when the screw (1) rotates anti-clockwise the member (13,14) essentially does not move.

3. An automatic dosing device according to claim 2 characterized in that the closer comprises a flange (12) which extends at most half a turn around the screw (1) in a direction essentially parallel to the direction of the thread (4) on the screw (1) and which flange (12) first end, closest to the thread (4), is oriented essentially at the same angle on the turn as the end of the thread (4) closest to the flange (12).

4. An automatic dosing device according to claim 3 characterized in that the sealing member (13,14) comprises a ramper (13), which is attached to the member (13,14) and stretches in a direction essentially parallel to the direction of the flange (12) and the thread (4) on the screw (1) and which ramper (13) is made as to make it possible for the flange (12) to interact with the ramper (13) as to move the member (13,14) in the first direction.

5. An automatic dosing device according to claim 2 characterized in that the closer comprises means (11) by which a rotating motion is transferred from an electric motor to the screw, which means when transferring is in turning engagement to the motor axis.

6. An automatic dosing device according to claim 1 characterized by that the sealing member (13,14) comprises a director (25) which is attached to the member (13,14) and detachably attached to the container (27) so as to allow the member (13,14) only to move in a direction parallel to the direction of the screw (1).

7. 12 An automatic dosing device according to claim 1 characterized by that the sealing member (13,14) comprises a switch (31) arranged on the container (27) which activates when the member (13,14) seals the outlet (30), whereby this switch (31) when activated turns of the force.

8. An automatic dosing device according to claim 1 characterized by that the screw (1) comprises a notch (5) by which the screw (1) is removably attached to the container (27).

9. An automatic dosing device according to claim 1 characterized by that a channel module (6) attached or detachably attached to the channel so as to connect the inside (27) with the outside, whereby the channel module (6) is designed to interact with the screw (1).

10. Use of an automatic dosing device according to claim 1 in a washing machine, a coffee machine or any other type of machine that may require automatic dosing.

11. An automatic dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member (13,14) seals and opens the outlet via translation of at least a part of the sealing member in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the screw the direction of the screw (1).

12. An automatic dosing device for a machine comprising:

a container (27) for dosing material;

a dosing screw (1) that feeds material out from the container, wherein the screw (1) is rotatably attached to the container (27) and interacts with a channel (26) that connects an inside (29) of the container (27) with an outside of the container (27); and

a sealing member (13,14), which by a force transmitted to the sealing member from the thread (4) of the screw (1), seals or opens an outlet (30) of the channel (26), the outlet (30) facing the container outside, wherein the sealing member (13,14) comprises an attacher (14) which is attached to the member and rotatably attached to the screw, whereby when this attacher interacts with the thread (4) on the screw (1) and the screw (1) rotates a part of the sealing member moves in as first or a second direction parallel to the direction of the screw.

13. An automatic dosing device according to claim 12 characterized in that the a part of the attacher (14) is twisted at least in part a turn around the screw (1) and has a pitch similar to the thread (4) of the screw (1), whereby the part is shaped to interact with the space between the turns of the thread (4) of the screw (1).

14. An automatic dosing device according to claim 12 characterized in that the attacher (14) does not interact with the thread (4) of the screw (1) when the channel outlet (30) is completely opened.

15. An automatic dosing device according to claim 12 characterized in that the attacher (14) is shaped as to scratch off material stuck between the thread (4) on the screw (1) when the attacher (14) interacts with the thread (4).