Dosing unit and water-bearing household appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12239276-B2
Application number	US-202117905768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2021
Priority date	Mar 25, 2020
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

A dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance for automatically dosing detergent tablets, the dosing unit comprising a storage cartridge for storing a plurality of the detergent tablets and a dosing device for releasing a respective one of the detergent tablets, wherein the storage cartridge includes a tubular section for storing the plurality of detergent tablets ordered in a line one behind the other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance for automatically dosing detergent tablets, the dosing unit comprising:
a storage cartridge for storing a plurality of the detergent tablets; and
a dosing device for releasing a respective one of the detergent tablets, wherein the storage cartridge includes a tubular section for storing the plurality of detergent tablets ordered in a line one behind another, wherein a central axis of the tubular section forms a spiral path; and
wherein the dosing unit or the storage cartridge is configured to be turned about an axis (X) through a center of the spiral path perpendicular to the spiral path for transporting the detergent tablets along the tubular section.

2. The dosing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing device is arranged at one end of the tubular section of the storage cartridge, such that only a first detergent tablet in the line is arranged at the dosing device at a given time.

3. The dosing unit according to claim 2 , wherein a sensor unit for sensing a presence of a detergent tablet is arranged at a position along the tubular section such that a distance between the sensor unit and the end of the tubular section at which the dosing device is arranged along a central axis of the tubular section corresponds to a predetermined number of detergent tablets.

4. The dosing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular section has a cross section in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the tubular section which is selected as a function of the size and form of the detergent tablets, such that the detergent tablets are movable along the tubular section without tilting.

5. The dosing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing device is arranged at an end of the tubular section at a maximum radius of the spiral path.

6. The dosing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing device is arranged at an end of the tubular section in a center of the spiral path.

7. The dosing unit according to claim 1 , wherein each of the detergent tablets of the plurality of the detergent tablets has a shape of a cylinder and is arranged in the tubular section of the storage cartridge such that each of the detergent tablets can roll along the tubular section.

8. The dosing unit according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of storage cartridges.

9. The dosing unit according to claim 8 , wherein a central axis of each tubular section of each of the plurality of storage cartridges forms a spiral path and the storage cartridges are stacked on each other.

10. The dosing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the storage cartridge comprises plastic, metal, foil, ceramic, fiber and/or a composite material.

11. A water-bearing household appliance comprising:
an automatic dosing system; and
a dosing unit according to claim 1 ; and
wherein the automatic dosing system is configured for automatically dosing at least one detergent tablet from the dosing unit.

12. The water-bearing household appliance according to claim 11 , wherein the automatic dosing system is configured for removably receiving the dosing unit.

13. A dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance for automatically dosing detergent tablets, the dosing unit comprising:
a storage cartridge for storing a plurality of the detergent tablets; and
a dosing device for releasing a respective one of the detergent tablets, wherein the storage cartridge includes a tubular section for storing the plurality of detergent tablets ordered in a line one behind another; and
wherein each of the detergent tablets of the plurality of the detergent tablets has a shape of a cylinder and is arranged in the tubular section of the storage cartridge such that each of the detergent tablets can roll along the tubular section.

14. The dosing unit according to claim 13 , wherein the dosing device is arranged at one end of the tubular section of the storage cartridge, such that only a first detergent tablet in the line is arranged at the dosing device at a given time.

15. The dosing unit according to claim 14 , wherein a sensor unit for sensing a presence of a detergent tablet is arranged at a position along the tubular section such that a distance between the sensor unit and the end of the tubular section at which the dosing device is arranged along a central axis of the tubular section corresponds to a predetermined number of detergent tablets.

16. The dosing unit according to claim 13 , wherein the tubular section has a cross section in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the tubular section which is selected as a function of the size and form of the detergent tablets, such that the detergent tablets are movable along the tubular section without tilting.

17. The dosing unit according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of:
a central axis of the tubular section forms a curved path;
a central axis of the tubular section forms a spiral path; and/or
the storage cartridge comprises plastic, metal, foil, ceramic, fiber and/or a composite material.

18. The dosing unit according to claim 13 , comprising a plurality of storage cartridges.

19. A water-bearing household appliance comprising:
an automatic dosing system; and
a dosing unit according to claim 13 ; and
wherein the automatic dosing system is configured for automatically dosing at least one detergent tablet from the dosing unit.

20. The water-bearing household appliance according to claim 19 , wherein the automatic dosing system is configured for removably receiving the dosing unit.

Assignees

• Reckitt Benckiser Brands Ltd
• Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Rauch Jürgen
• Schiele Alexander
• Schultz Jakob
• Sing Alexander

Classifications

• D06F39/026 Primary

  the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid · CPC title

• A47L2401/023

  Quantity or concentration of the consumable product · CPC title

• A47L15/4472

  Blister packaging or refill cartridges · CPC title

• A47L15/4445

  Detachable devices · CPC title

• A47L15/4463 Primary

  Multi-dose dispensing arrangements · CPC title