RU2467108C2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal use articles.

SUBSTANCE: washing machine comprises a tank for washing and an automatic device for distribution and dispensing at least one detergent discharged from a suitable container, containing a sufficient amount of detergent for multiple washing cycles. The device for distribution and dispensing comprises at least one input for detergent, water circuit closed on the tank, and a means of dispensing the detergent located between the input and the circuit and designed for supplying metered amount of detergent into the circuit when water circulates in it. The circuit comprises a mixer which communicates with the output of the device for dispensing the detergent, and also a pressure and return pipelines which are communicated with each other at one end through the tank, and at the other end through the mixer.

EFFECT: simplified and more efficient automated distribution and dispensing of detergent is provided.

25 cl, 4 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a washing machine, in particular, comprising a device for automatically distributing and dispensing at least one washing agent.

State of the art

Currently, such washing machines are actually used only in specialized enterprises (in laundries) due to the high complexity of the design of the device for the automated distribution and dispensing of washing products, which makes such machines expensive and difficult to use.

For example, document EP 0196398 describes a device for delivering a predetermined quantity of liquid products to a consuming device comprising a plunger pump and pump control means having a programmable memory, such as a memory card, by which it is possible to determine the number of strokes of the plunger and, accordingly, the amount of liquid supplied to it . On its suction side, the pump is connected to several liquid containers through tubes, each of which has a controlled valve, the opening and closing of which can be controlled by the pump controls based on a program stored in programmable memory. A typical consuming device is an industrial washing machine into which a predetermined amount of liquid detergents and other additives can be supplied instead of commonly used powders.

DE 4000 378 describes a metering device configured to supply an additive to a washing or dishwasher using an electric valve system, wherein the metering device protects the metering chamber by automatically rinsing with rinsing liquid.

DE describes a fluid metering device comprising a first valve located between a fluid reservoir and a pump connected to a supply pipe and a second valve located between the water inlet and the pump. Between the pump and the tank there is a transparent section of the supply pipe, on which a light source and an optoelectronic switch are installed. The metering device is in particular intended for use in washing machines, dishwashers or the like.

WO2006043118 describes an injection system for supplying liquid detergent to a washing machine, which system can be connected to the exhaust system of the washing machine in such a way that the user can choose to wash at any time between washing with a powder or washing with liquid detergents. The injection system consists of a jet pump, a solenoid valve, a bypass valve and a container.

Disclosure of invention

The objective of the invention is to provide a washing machine containing a device for the automated distribution and dispensing of detergents, which is quite simple, economical and, in particular, suitable for use in everyday life.

This problem is solved in the washing machine according to independent claim 1 of the claims and, preferably, according to any one of claims, dependent on paragraph 1.

The technical result of the claimed invention is to simplify and increase the efficiency of the automated distribution and dispensing of detergents.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows a functional block diagram in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

figure 2 - part of the machine depicted in figure 1;

figure 3 is a functional block diagram of a washing machine, modified in comparison with the machine shown in figure 1;

figure 4 - part of the machine depicted in figure 3.

The implementation of the invention

Figures 1 and 3 show a washing machine 1 comprising a washing tub 2 with a perforated rotating washing drum (not shown) located therein and an automatic dispensing and dispensing device 3 for supplying metered amounts of detergents, for example, detergent to the tub 2, water softener, freshener, etc.

The device 3 of the automatic distribution and dispensing contains a water circuit 4, closed to the tank 2; two inputs 5 for the corresponding washing means; dispensing means 6, which are located between the inlets 5 and circuit 4 and provide the described below for the introduction of metered quantities of washing means into the circuit 4 in which water circulates, for subsequent supply of a mixture of water and washing means to the tank 2. Circuit 4 contains a discharge pipe 7, passing from the tank 2 to the dispensing means 6 and designed to supply the dispensing means 6 with water from the tank 2, and a return pipe 8 passing from the dispensing means 6 to the tank 2 and designed to supply the mixture of water and washed means to the tank 2. The circuit 4 also includes a pump 9 located on the discharge pipe 7 and designed to supply water from the tank 2 to the circuit 4 through an electromagnetic valve 10 mounted on the discharge pipe 7 downstream of the pump 9 and driven by external signal depending on the programmed wash cycle.

Each inlet 5 is connected via a quick coupling to a corresponding container 11, which can be easily replaced, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or replenished, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In both cases, the containers 11 are installed in the drawer 12, located at the base of 13 cars.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drawer 12 holds two containers located side by side (only one container is shown in FIG. 2), which are interchangeable cans with a sufficient amount of washing means for performing numerous washing cycles. Each inlet 5 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) is formed by the neck of the corresponding reservoir 14 connected to the corresponding reservoir 11 via an outlet valve 15, the inlet of which is hermetically connected to the opening of the reservoir 11 when it is placed inside the drawer 12, and the outlet is hermetically connected to the neck of the tank 14 for connecting the tank 11 to the tank 14.

The outlet valve 15 contains a spring-loaded valve, closed in the normal position (not shown) and opened (Fig. 2) by the user manually using an external lever 16 when connecting the outlet valve 15 to the reservoir 14. Moreover, the container 11 can be easily connected and disconnected without leakage , and washing means can gravity enter the tank 14 only after the input of the exhaust valve 15 into the inlet 5.

As shown in figure 2, the dispensing means 6 are located together with the tank 11 and the reservoir 14 inside the drawer 12 and contain a pump 17 for each inlet 5 (in figure 2 the pumps 17 are shown for both containers 11). In this case, the inlet pipe 18 connects the inlet of the pump 17 with the corresponding tank 14, and the supply pipe 19 through the check valve 20 connects the pump 17 to the mixer 21.

The mixer 21, to which both supply pipelines 19 are connected, leaving the corresponding pump 17, forms a part of the circuit 4 connecting the outlet of the discharge pipe 7 to the inlet of the return pipe 8. During operation of the machine, one side of the mixer 21 is connected via a check valve 22 to the discharge pipe 7 for water intake from the tank 2, and the other side through the check valve 23 is in communication with the return pipe 8 for feeding into the tank 2 a mixture of water and washing means.

The pumps 17 can be regulated, which will be described below, using the central control unit 25 located inside the main body of the machine 1 above the base 13 and connected to the pumps 17 via a multicore cable 24, which, together with the discharge pipe 7 and return pipe 8, passes from the main body machines 1 to the base 13 through the outer tube, and then through a tensile element located inside the base 13 outside the drawer 12 and allowing the cable 24 and the piping 7 and 8 to be pulled out box 12 from the base.

The device 3 for automatic distribution and dosing contains on each tank 14 two optical level sensors 26 connected to the central control unit 25 using a multi-core cable 24.

Next, the operation of the washing machine 1 will be described for a stage in which, based on a programmed cycle, a metered amount of a washing agent, for example a detergent, must be added to the laundry. At this stage, while a known external hydraulic circuit (not shown) supplies washing water to the tank 2, by means of an electrical signal from the timer of the machine 1, the valve 10 opens and the pump 9 is turned on, which pumps water from the tank 2 into the circuit 4 at high enough pressure to open valves 22 and 23, so that water flows through mixer 21. When water flows through mixer 21, valves 20 of the respective supply pipes 19 prevent water from entering the supply pipes 19 to the respective pumps 17.

As soon as water circulates inside the circuit 4, the central control unit 25 drives the pump 17 connected to the tank 11 (hereinafter, for clarity, indicated by 17a). When the pump 17a is turned on, the washing agent is withdrawn from the reservoir 14 through the corresponding inlet pipe 18 and introduced through the corresponding supply pipe 19 into the mixer 21 at a sufficiently high pressure to open the valve 20.

Inside the mixer 21, the washing means is mixed with the circulating water, forming a mixture of water and washing means, which is fed through the return line 8 to the washing tub 2.

The washing means is dosed automatically by the central control unit 25, which controls the duration of the pump 17a determined by the central control unit 25 based on the programmed operating cycle parameters, for example, the type and amount of washing agent, the type of the selected washing cycle, and the like.

After a predetermined period of time, corresponding to the amount of detergent used during washing, the central control unit 25 stops the pump 17a, thereby interrupting the supply of detergent to the mixer 21.

After an additional period of time, during which the pump 9 continues to pump water along the circuit 4 to remove all residual detergent from the mixer 21 and to flush the circuit 4, the pump 9 also stops, the valve 10 closes, and the water on the circuit 4 no longer flows.

When the container 11 is empty and the level of the washing means in the tank 14 drops, the sensors 26 provide the appropriate signals to the central control unit 25, which turns off the corresponding pump 17, which remains off until the container 11 is replaced. In addition, preferably, a warning light “no washing means” is lit on the display of machine 1.

For clarity, the above example describes the supply to the tank 2 of a metered amount of only one washing substance, i.e. one detergent.

If the washing program requires the simultaneous use of two washing means, the central control unit 25 can be configured to simultaneously or sequentially control the pumps 17 connected to the respective tanks 14 and maintain the operation of each pump 17 for a period of time necessary to distribute the required amount of the corresponding washing means.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two containers 11 located in the drawer 12 are two refillable tanks (only one is shown in FIG. 4), each of which contains a sufficient amount of washing means for performing multiple cycles washing. These tanks are located in the support 27, made in one piece with the base 13 and have a hinged lid 28, allowing the user to refill the washing means.

In the lower part, each container 11 has a cylindrical pipe 29, which, when the container 11 is located in the support 27 (Fig. 4), is partially inserted into the channel 30 made in the support 27 and forms an input 5 for the washing means inside the container 11 in the support.

Each nozzle 29 is equipped with a ball valve, which, when the container is located in the support 27, is held open by a needle-shaped element made integrally with the support 27. When the container is removed from the support 27 (not shown), for example, for cleaning, the ball valve closes a nozzle 29 to prevent leakage of the washing substance from the container.

As shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing means 6 at each inlet 5 comprises a hydropneumatic dispensing device 31 comprising a cylinder 32 and a piston 33 slidably mounted under the action of compressed air inside the cylinder 32. In particular, one end of the cylinder 32 is closed, and through its opposite end with the possibility of sliding hermetically passes the piston rod 33, the end part of which, made in one piece with the rod, is hermetically connected to the side wall of the cylinder 32 and divides the internal volume of the cylinder 32 into the first chamber in communication with the discharge side of the compressor 34, and the closed second chamber containing the spring 35 located between the closed end of the cylinder 32 and the end part of the piston 33.

At the opposite end, the piston 33 has a part that is hermetically and slidably connected to the side wall of the cylindrical element, forming a variable volume chamber 36 inside the cylindrical element, in which, as will be explained in detail below, a dosed amount of laundry detergent removed from the container 11 sec using hydropneumatic dosing device 31, up to its submission to the circuit 4.

More specifically, one side of the chamber 36 is in communication with the channel 30 through a check valve 37, allowing the washing medium to flow only into the chamber 36, and the other side is connected to the mixer 21 through the inlet channel 38 and the check valve 39, allowing only the detergent to flow out of the chamber 36.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a compressor 34 is disposed in the main body of machine 1, connected to each of the hydropneumatic metering devices 31 via a corresponding pipe 40 for selectively supplying compressed air to respective cylinders 32 through a three-position solenoid valve 41.

Machine 1 in this embodiment operates in the same manner as machine 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, with the exception of the set dosage regimen. That is, as soon as pump 9 starts to work, and water begins to circulate in circuit 4, an compressor 34 is activated by an external command, which supplies compressed air to the cylinder 32 of the container 11 with dosed washing agent, for example detergent, to overcome the resistance of the spring 35 to ensure the sliding of the piston 33 inside the cylinder 32, and, thus, increase the volume of the chamber 36 and create a sufficiently low pressure inside it, which allows the valve 37 to open and supply detergent to the chamber 36.

Since the amount of detergent withdrawn from the container is proportional to the volume of the chamber 36 and, consequently, to the movement of the piston 33, automatic dosing in this case is a function of the position of the piston 33 inside the cylinder 32.

When the compressor 34 is turned off, the spring 35 pushes the piston out, thereby rapidly reducing the volume of the chamber 36 and forcing the washing means out of the chamber at a pressure high enough to open the valve 39, and feeds the washing means into the mixer 21.

It should be noted that in the above embodiments, the number of inputs 5 is purely illustrative. In fact, as follows from the above description, in both embodiments, each dispensing means 6, whether it is a pump or a hydropneumatic dispensing device 31, is connected to a respective container 11 and operates regardless of the presence or quantity of other dispensing means 6. Essentially, the above-described operation of the machine 1 is also carried out regardless of whether the device 3 has only one input 5 for one tank 11, or has more than two inputs 5 for the corresponding tanks.

Claims (25)

1. A washing machine comprising a washing tub (2) and an automatic device (3) for dispensing and dispensing at least one detergent discharged from an appropriate container (11) containing a sufficient amount of washing detergent for multiple washing cycles, the apparatus ( 3) distribution and dispensing has an input (5) for washing means, a water circuit (4), closed to the tank (2), and means (6) for dispensing washing means, located between the inlet (5) and the circuit (4), intended for dose delivery a quantity of detergent into the circuit (4) during circulation along the water circuit (4), characterized in that the circuit (4) contains a mixer (21) in communication with the outlet of the detergent dosing means (6), as well as discharge and return pipelines ( 7, 8), which are interconnected at one end by a tank (2), and at the other end by a mixer (21). 2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the input (5) is connected to the tank (11) via a quick coupler. 3. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the mixer (21) is in communication with the output of the means (6) for dispensing the washing means through the first valves (20, 39). 4. The machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the first valves are check valves (20, 39), which ensure the supply of washing means to the mixer (21). 5. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the discharge and return pipelines (7, 8) are in communication with the mixer (21) by means of second valves (22, 23). 6. The machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the second valves (22, 23) are a second non-return valve (22), which allows water to flow into the mixer (21), and a third non-return valve (23), which allows water to be removed and detergent from the mixer (21). 7. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the distribution and dispensing device (3) comprises a first pump (9) located on the discharge pipe (7). 8. The machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the distribution and dispensing device (3) comprises a two-position valve (10) located in the discharge pipe (7) downstream of the first pump (9). 9. A machine according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the dosing means (6) comprises a second pump (17), the input of which is in communication with the tank (11), and the output is with a circuit (4). 10. The machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the first valves (20) are located between the mixer (21) and the outlet of the second pump (17) for supplying washing means to the mixer (21). 11. The machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the container (11) is removable, and the dispensing means (6) comprises a reservoir (14) with a washing means that has a neck forming an inlet (5) and communicated during operation of the machine with the corresponding capacity (11). 12. The machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the outlet valve (15) fits snugly at the inlet (5) and hermetically connects the container (11) to the reservoir (14). 13. The machine according to item 12, wherein the exhaust valve (15) has a valve closed in the normal position and opened manually. 14. The machine according to item 13, characterized in that it contains a manually controlled lever (16), which serves to move the valve to the open position. 15. The machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the second pump (17) is time-adjustable. 16. Machine according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the dosing means (6) comprise a hydropneumatic dosing device (31). 17. The machine according to clause 16, characterized in that the hydropneumatic dosing device (31) comprises a compressor (34), a cylinder (32) and a piston (33) mounted for sliding inside the cylinder (32) and containing a first end portion, which tightly fits tightly to the cylinder (32) and divides its internal volume into a first chamber in communication with the compressor outlet (34) and a second chamber containing a piston return spring (35) (33). 18. The machine according to 17, characterized in that the piston (33) contains a second end portion located inside the cylinder (32) and forming a movable wall of the chamber (36) of variable volume located between the container (11) and the mixer (21). 19. Machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the variable-volume chamber (36) is in communication with the container (11) by means of a calibrated fourth non-return valve (37), which ensures that detergent is introduced into the variable-volume chamber (36) due to suction arising from increasing the volume of the chamber (36) of variable volume when moving the piston (33). 20. The machine according to p. 18, characterized in that the first valves (39) are located between the mixer (21) and the chamber (36) of variable volume and are designed to ensure the removal of washing means from the chamber (36) of variable volume to the mixer (21) when reducing the volume of the chamber (36) of variable volume during the return movement of the piston (33). 21. The machine according to claim 19, characterized in that the first valves (39) are located between the mixer (21) and the chamber (36) of variable volume and are designed to ensure the removal of washing means from the chamber (36) of variable volume to the mixer (21) when reducing the volume of the chamber (36) of variable volume during the return movement of the piston (33). 22. The machine according to any one of claims 3-8, 10-15 and 17-21, characterized in that it has two inputs (5) connected to the corresponding dosing means (6). 23. Machine according to claim 22, characterized in that at least two dispensing means (6) are connected in parallel to the mixer (21). 24. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, 10-15, and 17-21 and 23, characterized in that it comprises a drawer (12) containing a container (11). 25. The machine according to paragraph 24, wherein the drawer (12) accommodates at least a portion of the means (6) dosing.

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