Automatically controlled washing machine

• US 8,312,745 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Hasse, Torsten, Jänicke, Sven, Mette, Uwe, Schulze, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLING, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US12/600,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20100147340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 68/121.8, 68/17.R
• US Class Current: 68/12.18
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatically controlled washing machine having a detergent dispensing unit that is arranged in an upper machine space of the washing machine. A drawer is arranged in the detergent dispensing unit and accessible from the front panel of the washing machine. The drawer has at least one chamber for hand-metered addition of washing powder or washing liquid. At least one storage unit in the upper machine space stores liquid or gel-like washing aid. A receptacle unit of the storage unit receives a transportable storage container that contains the liquid or gel-like washing aid and a metering unit automatically meters the liquid or gel-like washing aid. The metering unit is connected to the receptacle unit by a fluid connection and has an outlet opening that opens into a stationary chamber of the detergent dispensing unit.

Claims

1. An automatically controlled washing machine, comprising:

a front panel;

an upper machine space;

a detergent dispensing unit arranged in the upper machine space and having a stationary chamber;

a drawer arranged in the detergent dispensing unit and accessible from the front panel of the washing machine, the drawer having at least one chamber for hand-metered addition of one of a washing powder portion and a washing liquid portion;

at least one storage unit arranged in the upper machine space to store one of liquid washing aid and gel-like washing aid, the storage unit having a receptacle unit to receive a transportable storage container containing the one of the liquid washing aid and the gel-like washing aid; and

a metering unit to automatically meter the stored one of the liquid washing aid and the gel-like washing aid, the metering unit connected to the receptacle unit by a fluid connection and having an outlet opening that opens into the stationary chamber of the detergent dispensing unit.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the metering unit is integrated into the receptacle unit.

3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the metering unit has a coupling part on an intake side of the metering unit, wherein the transportable storage container has a congruent coupling part, and wherein the coupling part of the metering unit is connected to the congruent coupling part of the transportable storage container when the transportable storage container is inserted into the metering unit.

4. The washing machine of claim 3, further comprising a connection line to fixedly connect a pressure side of the metering unit with the stationary chamber of the detergent dispensing unit.

5. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the detergent dispensing unit includes a housing and an outlet shaft;

wherein the stationary chamber is integrated into the housing of the detergent dispensing unit and behind the at least one chamber of the drawer;

wherein an input side of the stationary chamber communicates with the connection line; and

wherein an output side of the stationary chamber freely opens into the outlet shaft of the detergent dispensing unit.

6. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the housing of the detergent dispensing unit has a cover side, and wherein the stationary chamber of the detergent dispensing unit and the at least one chamber of the drawer are supplied with fresh water from the cover side.

7. The washing machine of claim 6, further comprising a control device to switch on the metering unit and the fresh water supply to the stationary chamber at predetermined points in time.

8. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a cover plate that is lifted to replenish the stored one of the liquid washing aid and the gel-like washing aid, wherein the storage unit is arranged below the cover plate.

9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a filling line that ends at the front panel of the washing machine to replenish the one of the liquid washing aid and gel-like washing aid.

10. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the front panel includes a control panel, and wherein the filling line ends in a predetermined area of the control panel.

11. The washing machine of 1, wherein the front panel includes one of a door and a flap;

wherein the storage unit is arranged behind the one of the door and the flap; and

wherein the one of the door and the flap is opened to exchange the transportable storage container.