Treating agent dispensing system for a washing machine, and washing machine

• US 8,220,293 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miele & CIE KG (The Miele Group)
• Original Assignee: Miele & CIE KG (The Miele Group)
• Inventors: Deppermann, Thomas, Finke, Michael, Witte, Olaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coleman, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/243,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/026 the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid

Abstract

A treating agent dispensing system for a washing machine including a base unit and at least two supply containers removably and securably disposed on the base unit. The at least two supply containers are respectively configured to receive a treating agent. The treating agent is a powdered treating agent or a liquid treating agent. A delivery device is disposed in the base unit and is operable to deliver the treating agent to the washing machine through a hose.

Claims

1. A treating agent dispensing system for a washing machine, comprising:

a base unit;

at least two supply containers removably and securably disposed on the base unit, the at least two supply containers being respectively configured to receive a treating agent, each of the supply containers being either of a powder supply container including an agitator and configured to hold a powder treating agent or a liquid supply container configured to operate with an associated pump and to hold a liquid treating agent; and

a delivery device disposed in the base unit, the delivery device being operable to deliver the treating agent to the washing machine through a hose and including;

a respective electric motor corresponding to each of the at least two supply containers;

a coupling member associated with each electric motor, each coupling member being coupleable to the respective agitator when the powder supply container is disposed on the base unit and being coupleable to the respective pump when the liquid supply container is disposed on the base unit;

a mixing chamber configured to receive the treating agent from at least one of the at least two supply containers; and

a detergent solution pump configured to deliver the treating agent and water that flushes out the mixing chamber to the washing machine.

2. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the treating agent includes at least one of a detergent, a washing additive and a rinse additive.

3. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two supply containers is the powder supply container, and the treating agent is the powdered treating agent, the agitator of the powder supply container being drivable by the respective electric motor, and the powder supply container including an opening through which the powdered treating agent is admitted to the mixing chamber.

4. The dispensing system as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least two supply containers is the liquid supply container, the treating agent is the liquid treating agent, and the dispensing system is configured to drive the pump using the respective electric motor so as to deliver the liquid treating agent into the mixing chamber.

5. The dispensing system as recited in claim 4, wherein the pump is disposed on the liquid supply container and removable from the base with the liquid supply container.

6. The dispensing system as recited in claim 3, wherein the electric motor driving the agitator has a gear mechanism attached thereto so as to form a gear motor.

7. The dispensing system as recited in claim 6, wherein the gear motor driving the agitator is disposed in the base unit and a gear output of the gear motor is connected to the agitator by the respective coupling member.

8. The dispensing system as recited in claim 5, wherein the electric motor driving the pump associated with the liquid supply container has a gear mechanism attached thereto so as to form a gear motor.

9. The dispensing system as recited in claim 8, wherein the gear motor driving the pump associated with the liquid supply container is disposed in the base unit and a gear output of the gear motor is connected to the pump by the respective coupling member.

10. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least two supply containers include a first and a second supply container and wherein the base is configured to receive the first and second supply containers, the first and second supply containers being, respectively:

a powder supply container and a liquid supply container,

a first and a second powder supply container, or

a first and a second liquid supply container.

11. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least two supply containers and base unit include respective portions of a bayonet connection for securing the supply containers and base unit together.

12. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least two supply containers and base unit include respective portions of a thread connection for securing the supply containers and base unit together.

13. A washing machine comprising:

a suds container configured to receive wash liquid;

a controller;

a first dispensing device including a dispensing system connected to at least one portion of the washing machine by first and second hose lines and operatively connected to the controller, the dispensing system including;

a base unit;

at least two supply containers individually removably and securably disposed on the base unit, each of the supply containers being at least one of a powder supply container including an agitator and configured to hold a powder treating agent or a liquid supply container configured to operate with an associated pump and to hold a liquid treating agent; and

a delivery device disposed in the base unit, the delivery device being operable to deliver the treating agent to the washing machine through a hose and including;

a respective electric motor corresponding to each of the at least two supply containers, and

a coupling member associated with each electric motor, each coupling member being coupleable to the respective agitator when the powder supply container is disposed on the base unit and being coupleable to the respective pump when the liquid supply container is disposed on the base unit,

a first connection connected to the dispensing system and controllable by at least one of an inlet valve and water distributor, the first connection being configured to deliver water to the dispensing system; and

a second connection configured to deliver a solution of the treating agent from the dispensing system.

14. The washing machine as recited in claim 13, wherein the second connection is connected to the suds container by a flexible conduit.

16. The washing machine as recited in claim 13 further comprising a housing with a rear wall including a third connection configured to supply water to the at least one of an inlet valve and water distributor, and wherein the first and second connections are disposed at the rear wall.

17. The washing machine as recited in claim 14 further comprising a housing with a rear wall including a third connection configured to supply water to the at least one of an inlet valve and water distributor, and wherein the first and second connections are disposed at the rear wall.

19. The washing machine as recited in claim 13 wherein the dispensing system is disposed remotely from the at least one other portion of the washing machine.

20. The washing machine as recited in claim 13 wherein at least one of the at least two supply containers is a powder supply container, and the treating agent is the powdered treating agent, the powder supply container including an agitator drivable by an electric motor and an opening through which the powdered treating agent is admitted to a mixing chamber.

15. A washing machine comprising:

a suds container configured to receive wash liquid;

a controller;

a first dispensing device including a dispensing system connected to at least one portion of the washing machine by first and second hose lines and operatively connected to the controller, the dispensing system including;

a base unit;

at least two supply containers individually removably and securably disposed on the base unit, the at least two supply containers being respectively configured to receive a treating agent, the treating agent being a powdered treating agent or a liquid treating agent; and

a delivery device disposed in the base unit, the delivery device being operable to deliver the treating agent to the washing machine through a hose,

a first connection connected to the dispensing system and controllable by at least one of an inlet valve and water distributor, the first connection being configured to deliver water to the dispensing system;

a second connection configured to deliver a solution of the treating agent from the dispensing system, wherein the second connection is connected to the suds container by a flexible conduit;

a second dispensing device including a detergent dispensing drawer disposed in an upper portion of the washing machine;

a water feed line in communication with the dispensing drawer and configured to flush at least one of detergents and additives from the dispensing drawer; and

a flexible connecting tube connecting an outlet of the detergent dispensing drawer to the suds container,

wherein the flexible conduit opens into the flexible connecting tube.

18. The washing machine as recited in claim 15 further comprising a housing with a rear wall including a third connection configured to supply water to the at least one of an inlet valve and water distributor, and wherein the first and second connections are disposed at the rear wall.