Cartridge for a water-conducting domestic appliance comprising a detergent dosing system

• US 9,610,002 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Classen, Egbert, Jerg, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Markoff, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/746,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20130133700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• 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 15/4454 with automatic identification means, e.g. barcodes, RFID tags or magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4472 Blister packaging or refill cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A cartridge for a water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a domestic dishwasher, which has a detergent dosing system having at least one detergent dispenser for receiving at least one cartridge, wherein the cartridge has separate chambers for storing at least two detergents, the cartridge including a cartridge housing having at least two chambers formed therein, wherein each chamber has a storage capacity for storing detergent which is greater than the quantities required for one washing cycle.

Claims

1. A cartridge for a water-conducting domestic appliance, which has a detergent dosing system having at least one detergent dispenser for receiving the cartridge, wherein the cartridge has at least two chambers for storing at least two detergents, the cartridge consisting of:

a cartridge housing having the at least two chambers formed therein, wherein each of the at least two chambers has a storage capacity for storing detergent which is greater than a quantity required for one washing cycle, and means for level measurement of one detergent volume contained in only a single one of the at least two chambers, wherein a size of each of the at least two chambers is dimensioned according to a volume required during a predefined number of washing cycles, and wherein information about a fill level of the single one of the at least two chambers is sufficient in order to deduce a fill level in all of the at least two chambers.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the means for level measurement is configured to emit a signal when detergent contained in the cartridge is reduced below a predefined remaining quantity.

3. The cartridge according to claim 2 wherein the means for level measurement is configured to emit a signal when the detergent contained in the cartridge is sufficient for performing a predefined number of washing cycles.

4. The cartridge according to claim 3 wherein the number of washing cycles is between about 2 cycles and about 5 cycles.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the means for level measurement is based on at least one of an optical principle of measurement, an acoustic principle of measurement and a capacitive principle of measurement.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two chambers contains at least one ingredient chosen from the group consisting of enzymes, bleaching agents, bleach activators, dispersants and complexing agents, surfactants, alkali carriers and biocides.