Detergent dispenser with agitator current determining fill level

• US 8,671,960 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Original Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Inventors: Kan, Ugur, Askin, Ufuk
• Primary Examiner(s): CORMIER, DAVID G
• Application Number:
  US12/513,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20100212704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,330 Days
• Field of Search: 68/3.SS, 68/17.R, 134/93, 134/184
• US Class Current: 134/93
• 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 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/34 Other automatic detections
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/36 Other output
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washer (1) comprising a dosing unit (4). In the said washer (1), the current supplied to the agitator motor (8) actuating the agitator (6) disposed inside the receptacle (5) of the dosing unit (4), preferably at the base embedded in the cleaning agent, is monitored, in order to determine a fill level of the dosing unit (4) by comparing the supplied current to stored current levels for known fill levels.

Claims

1. A washer (1) used for cleaning items by washing, comprising a tub (3) wherein the items to be washed are emplaced, and a dosing unit (4) for dispensing a required amount of a cleaning agent into the tub (3) for washing, having a receptacle (5) wherein the cleaning agent required for more than one washing is emplaced, an agitator (6) disposed in this receptacle (5) that prevents flaking of the cleaning agent (T) present in the receptacle (5) by moving and an agitator motor (8) that drives the motion of the agitator (6), and a control unit (2) configured to record agitator motor (8) current magnitudes corresponding to certain amounts of the cleaning agent, to determine an amount of the cleaning agent (T) present in the receptacle (5) at a certain moment by monitoring a current supplied to the agitator motor (8) and comparing the magnitude of the supplied current with the recorded agitator motor current magnitudes, and wherein the agitator is a hollow cylinder having the agitator motor disposed therein.

2. The washer (1) as in claim 1, wherein the agitator is secured from one end to a wall of the receptacle (5) with another end being free, extending in a horizontal direction and moved by vibrating.

3. The washer (1) as in claim 2, wherein the agitator motor (8) has electrical connections passed through the end of the agitator (6) secured on the wall of the receptacle (5).

4. The washer (1) as in claim 3, wherein the dosing unit (4) comprises a protrusion (7) fastened axially offset to an outlet of the agitator motor (8) inside the agitator (6).

5. The washer as in claim 4, wherein the control unit (2) informs a user that the cleaning agent is finished with an audio and/or visual alert when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.

6. The washer (1) as in claim 5, wherein the control unit (2) cuts off the current supplied to the agitator motor (8) when the supplied current goes below the determined threshold.

7. The washer (1) as in claim 4, wherein the control unit (2) cuts off the current supplied to the agitator motor (8) when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.

8. The washer (1) as in claim 3, wherein the control unit (2) cuts off the current supplied to the agitator motor (8) when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.

9. The washer (1) as in claim 3, wherein the control unit (2) informs a user that the cleaning agent is finished with an audio and/or visual alert when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.

10. The washer (1) as in claim 2, wherein the control unit (2) cuts off the current supplied to the agitator motor (8) when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.

11. The washer (1) as in claim 2, wherein the control unit (2) informs a user that the cleaning agent is finished with an audio and/or visual alert when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.

12. The washer (1) as in claim 2, wherein the dosing unit (4) comprises a protrusion (7) fastened axially offset to an outlet of the agitator motor (8) inside the agitator (6).

13. The washer (1) as in claim 1, wherein the control unit (2) cuts off the current supplied to the agitator motor (8) when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.

14. The washer (1) as in claim 1, wherein the control unit (2) informs a user that the cleaning agent is finished with an audio and/or visual alert when the supplied current goes below a determined threshold.