EP1593336A1

EP1593336A1 - Automatic detergent dispenser for washing machine

Info

Publication number: EP1593336A1
Application number: EP04381010A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fernando Cortes Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-05
Filing date: 2004-05-05
Publication date: 2005-11-09

Abstract

Dispenser that allows the automatic dispensing of detergent without the intervention of auxiliary electromagnetic equipment, due to the fact that in its interior, detergent of a density of about 1.6 gr/ml is placed, that dissolves when in contact with water, and that as the drum water is renewed, its release is produced, creating a circulation of the product from the interior to outside of the container. When the activity of the dishwasher stops, the saturation created in the dissolving surface prevents the product from being able to exit. The container has an upper main aperture and with four additional apertures that will be opened depending on the need for supply of detergent.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is an automatic detergent dispenser for machine washing, especially for washing in a dishwasher, which, assisted by a high density detergent, allows the latter to be dissolved independently of any additional electrical supply apparatus.
The present invention of a detergent dispenser for machine washing is characterised by its structural characteristics that make automatic dispensing of the necessary detergent possible without any intervention by any electrical apparatus connected to the dishwasher.
Therefore, the present invention is encompassed within the field of apparatus or equipment used for the dispensing of detergents in machines, and in particular in dishwasher machines, where the dispensing of the detergent is carried out without any intervention by electrical appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Up until the present there are normally two ways of carrying out the dispensing of detergents in washing machines.
One of these is manually where user provides detergent in tablet, liquid or powder form, directly in the water drum, the amount of detergent dissolving in the water, with a limited and uncertain efficiency, said provision having to be performed whenever the dishwasher is started.
Another of the ways of dispensing the detergents is automatically, by means of specific dispensers that supply the amount of detergent necessary to the water drum. These apparatus are usually external, needing an electrical supply, whether received from the actual dishwasher or from an independent outlet.
In the first of the cases the amount of detergent provided is not adjusted to requirements, whereas in the second case the added provision of this electrical outlet is necessary, with the consequent drawback of depending on its proper operation.
The object of the present invention is that of overcoming the previous drawbacks, developing for this purpose a dispenser that allows the supply of detergent from a dispenser automatically positioned in a drum without the need of carrying out manual dispensing or the provision of any electrical supply for its proper operation, since dispensing is independently carried out based on the physical-chemical properties of the detergent.
Up until now none of the detergents used in dishwashers allows dispensing or dissolving of the detergent in accordance with the needs of the wash. In the case that said supply is adapted to the needs of the wash the employment of an additional electromechanical device is necessary.
This physical impossibility of existing detergents to be able to dissolve in accordance with the needs of the wash or to need an additional electromechanical device is due to the concentration or density of the detergent.
On the other hand even though there are numerous detergent products in the form of liquid, powder and flakes, the existence of detergents based on a diethylenetriamine-pentamethylen phosphonic acid salt, hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid salt, diethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and a nitrilotriacetic acid salt, another α-glucoheptonic salt, potash and soda, is unknown.
This detergent that allows a set concentration of 1.6 gr/ml to be achieved has been the object of description in the patent application number ES9600164.
Therefore the aim of the present invention is that of obtaining a dispenser that facilitates and assists in automatic dispensing in accordance with the needs of the wash, without the intervention of additional electromechanical equipment, for a detergent that has a high concentration of about 1.6 gr/ml or more.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The machine-washing detergent dispenser invention essentially consists of a holder in which the detergent, that is described further on, is placed. The holder has a main aperture in its main part, as well as four additional other apertures that will be optionally opened, depending on needs.
The additional apertures will be opened depending on factors such as the hardness of the water, the quantity of detergent that we want to supply, the hardness of the water, the dirtiness of the objects to be washed. The principal aperture will always be open, the container remaining fully placed in the water of the drum.
The detergent has a density of 1.6 gr/ml, on the other hand the drum water has a known density of 1 gr/ml. The product, on being completely submerged in the water of the drum, supported on the effective bottom of the dishwasher drum, with the principal entry open and the optional apertures opened according to need, fills with water, because of which the detergent begins dissolving, reaching a density of 1.2 gr/ml.
The internal concentration tends to equalise with the external concentration, occurring at a variable rate depending on the additional number of apertures open, since it enlarges the transmission surface.
With the water being in contact with the detergent, circulation is produced within the container, that produces the dissolving and outflow of the detergent to outside of the container.
Therefore, on the ceasing of activity by the dishwasher, said dissolving of detergent in the water becomes interrupted, detergent ceasing to pass out since circulation within the container does not take place, and the actual density of the product prevents it from exiting.
On reaching the level of detergent necessary in the water, saturation is created in the dissolving surface that prevents the product from dissolving.
The dissolving of the detergent in the water, that is its passing from the interior to the outside of the container into the drum water, is carried out according to the needs of the dishwasher, a fact that in turn depends on the number of washes, the drum capacity of the different models, and on the impurities that the water might have.
This capability of dissolving the detergent without the intervention of any electrical dispenser element is possible thanks to the characteristics of high density or concentration of the detergent, that are in the region of 1.6 gr/ml.
The composition of the detergent tablet described in the patent application number ES9600164 consists of a percentage, in a volume (1000cl approx = 1500 grams) of:

A calcium sequestering agent and dispersent, specifically a 10 % sodium salt of diethylene triamine-pentamethylen phosphonic acid (DIPMP) ± 0.5 %
A second calcium sequestering agent, specifically a 10 % trisodium salt of hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HETA) ± 0.5 %
A third calcium sequestering agent, specifically 25 % diethylendiamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) ± 10 %
A fourth calcium sequestering agent, specifically a 15 % trisodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) ± 10 %A detergent, specifically a 15% trisodium salt of α-glucoheptonic acid (AGH) ± 4 %
A base consisting of 15 % potash flakes ± 1 %
Another base, this consisting of 10 % soda beads ± 1 %

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To supplement the description to be carried out below and with the aim of leading to a better understanding of its characteristics, this descriptive report is accompanied by a set of drawings in whose figures, in an illustrative and nonlimiting way, the most significant details of the invention have been represented:
Figure 1. Shows a perspective representation of the detergent dispenser for machine washing that is subject of the invention.
Figure 2, shows an elevation representation of the same dispenser.

PREFERABLE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures a preferable embodiment of the proposed invention is described below.
In figures 1 and 2 we see the detergent dispenser that is subject of the invention, that acting with the detergent tablet placed in its interior allows the automatic release of the latter, without the need of additional equipment for its dispensing.
The dispenser (1) is a container that can adopt the shape that is desired preferably being parallelepiped, and it has a main aperture (2) in its upper part. In addition it has four other apertures (3) that will be opened depending on need, as for example a greater quantity of detergent is needed, the hardness of the water, the dirtiness to be washed. The principal entry (2) will be always open, whereas the other apertures (3) will open depending on need.
The physical-chemical principle that is the base of the automatic dispensing of detergent is based on the different density of the detergent and the water, that, on being in contact, bring about dissolving of the detergent, making the water of the drum reach a particular density. As the water of the drum is renewed, the product continues exiting without any difficulty.
When the dishwasher stops its activity, detergent stops exiting because the internal concentration nears the external and the actual density of the product prevents it from passing, bringing about saturation in the dissolving surface that prevents the product from dissolving, detergent in the drum water not being needed.
The egress of the detergent tablet from the interior of the container to the outside to the drum washing water is carried out automatically, in accordance with the needs of the dishwasher, whether it is for more or less washes, due to the impurities of the water or due to the drum capacity of the different models.
Variations in materials, shape, size and layout of component elements do not alter the essential nature of this invention, described in a not limitative way, this being sufficient for its reproduction by an expert.

Claims

Automatic detergent dispenser for machine washing, characterised in that it allows dispensing of a detergent of high concentration of about 1.6 gr/cm, that placed in its interior automatically dispenses according to the needs of the wash without the need of electrical dispensing equipment, having for this purpose a main upper aperture, that is always open (2), and with a series of apertures added (3) that will be opened depending on the quantity of detergent that it is required to dispense.