Water-conducting domestic appliance comprising a detergent dosing system that has a dosing device

• US 8,764,909 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Classen, Egbert, Jerg, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Markoff, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/311,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20090235963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,498 Days
• Field of Search: 134/57.D, 134/56.D, 134/58.D, 134/99.2, 134/56.R, 134/94.1, 68/17.R, 682/07.R, 68/3, 68/120.2, 68/121.9, 682/07, 68/121.9 R
• US Class Current: 134/56.D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/006 Cabinets or cupboards specially adapted for cleaning articles by hand
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays

Abstract

A water-conducting appliance, including a compartment for receiving items therein for washing; and a cleaning agent dosing system having a dosing device for dosing at least one cleaning agent, in particular a liquid cleaning agent, into the washing compartment, the dosing device including a dosing chamber for holding a cleaning agent, an outlet, a gate for opening and closing the dosing chamber, and an actuator system for actuating the gate to move between an opening position and a closing position, the actuator system including transfer means operably connected to the gate such that a predetermined movement of the transfer means moves the gate, opening means for moving the transfer means in a first direction operable to open the gate, and return means for moving the transfer means in a second direction to close the gate.

Claims

1. A water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a domestic dishwasher, the water-conducting domestic appliance comprising:

a washing compartment for receiving items therein that are to be subjected to a handling process by the water-conducting domestic appliance; and

a cleaning agent dosing system, the cleaning agent dosing system having a dosing device for dosing at least one cleaning agent, in particular a liquid cleaning agent, into the washing compartment of the water-conducting domestic appliance, the dosing device including a dosing chamber for holding a cleaning agent, an outlet, a gate for opening and closing the dosing chamber, and an actuator system for actuating the gate to move between a dosing chamber opening position and a dosing chamber closing position, the actuator system including (a) transfer means including a cam having at least one of a wedge-shaped projection and a ridge-shaped projection disposed thereon for selective operational contact with a portion of the gate such that a predetermined rotational movement of the cam causes linear movement of the gate, (b) opening means for effecting a movement of the cam in a first direction with the movement of the cam in the first direction being operable to effect opening of the gate, and (c) return means for effecting a movement of the cam in a second direction with the movement of the cam in the second direction being operable to effect closing of the gate.

2. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the actuator system is disposed on a support member which forms a wall section of the dosing chamber.

3. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the actuator system is disposed on a support member and the support member is configured for operation as a circuit board.

4. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 2 wherein the support member is configured with conductor paths on at least one of a side thereof and internally.

5. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the gate includes a valve lifter with a valve stem and a valve head.

6. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the opening means includes a first shape-memory alloy.

7. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the return means includes a second shape-memory alloy.

8. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 6 and further comprising means for applying a force including an active connection to a shape-memory alloy.

9. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 7 wherein the return means includes a section having at least one catch, wherein said section having at least one catch is configured for longitudinal movement by the second shape-memory alloy is further configured for engagement with the transfer means.

10. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 and further comprising a PTC resistor connected in series with at least one of a first shape-memory alloy operatively associated with the opening means and a second shape-memory alloy operatively associated with the return means.

11. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the gate includes a membrane connected to the support member.

12. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 5 wherein the valve stem is pretensioned using a spring.

13. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the dosing system includes an adding device and at least one of the dosing device and the adding device is designed for releasing a fluid by gravity.

14. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the dosing system includes an adding device and at least one of the dosing device and the adding device is configured for dosing during a predetermined outflow time.

15. A cleaning-agent dosing system for a dishwasher comprising a dosing device for dosing at least one cleaning agent, in particular a liquid cleaning agent, into the washing compartment of the water-conducting domestic appliance, the dosing device including a dosing chamber for holding a cleaning agent, an outlet, a gate for opening and closing the dosing chamber, and an actuator system for actuating the gate to move between a dosing chamber opening position and a dosing chamber closing position, the actuator system including (a) transfer means including a cam having at least one of a wedge-shaped projection and a ridge-shaped projection disposed thereon for selective operational contact with a portion of the gate such that a predetermined rotational movement of the cam a causes linear movement of the gate, (b) opening means for effecting a movement of the cam in a first direction with the movement of the cam in the first direction being operable to effect opening of the gate, and (c) return means for effecting a movement of the cam in a second direction with the movement of the cam in the second direction being operable to effect closing of the gate.