Automatic dispensing device for laundry detergent composition with intermediate chamber

Abstract

A non-intrusive device for automatically dispensing at least one liquid laundry care composition to an automatic laundry washing machine. The device employs a Venturi tube mechanism or a pump to dose the laundry detergent care composition. The dosing is either manually controlled or controlled by a machine-generic algorithm capable of determining the actual cycle at any duration of wash for various cycle designs from various washing machines, without the input of precise cycle design; and dose the correct products correctly and is capable of distinguishing between major water addition and a water pulse.

1 . A non-intrusive device for automatically dispensing at least one liquid laundry care composition to an automatic laundry washing machine, the device located along water supply feed to the washing machine with an incoming water supply feed to the device and outgoing water supply feed out of the device, the device comprising: 
 a Venturi tube, the both ends of the tube protruding externally to the housing of the device for connections to the incoming and the outgoing water supply feed,    a dosing container for holding the laundry care composition,    an intermediate dosing chamber connected to the dosing container with an on/off valve, the throat of the Venturi tube connected by a conduit to the intermediate dosing chamber;    a sensor for determining water flow through the incoming water supply feed, the sensor located at the incoming water supply feed and connected to    an electronic circuit containing a clock and a processing unit programmed with a machine-generic algorithm to control    a solenoid valve, coupled to the same circuit and located within the conduit connecting the Venturi tube and the intermediate dosing chamber, the valve opening or closing the flow of the laundry care composition from the intermediate dosing chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  comprising at least two dosing containers, one for holding a laundry detergent and the other for holding a fabric softener.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  connected to two water supply feeds: hot water and cold water.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  comprising two Venturi tubes, one connected to the hot water supply feed; the other connected to the cold water supply feed.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the throats of the two Venturi tubes are connected to each other by a connecting conduit, the connecting conduit being in turn connected to the conduit to the intermediate dosing chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from a pressure transducer and a flow sensor.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the processing unit comprises a clock.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm resets the clock at the end of the total laundry cycle.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm differentiates between various wash cycles based on the number of major water additions.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm differentiates between a water pulse and a major water addition.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm comprises the instructions to open the solenoid valve which is connected to the Venturi tube which has water flow through it on for longer than about 5 to 90 seconds.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm comprises instructions to close the solenoid valve if water flow is off.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device comprises two dosing containers: a dosing container for a laundry detergent and for a laundry softener and wherein the algorithm comprises the instructions to open the solenoid valve to the laundry softener dosing container at the point of the second major water addition.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises a safety check assembly located in the conduit connecting the Venturi tube and the dosing container, to prevent water flow into the dosing container.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate dosing chamber is transparent.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate dosing chamber is independently connected to the main water line.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the algorithm comprises instructions for flushing the intermediate dosing chamber with water.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a control panel comprising a selection for reset and for pre-wash.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the internal diameter of the end of the Venturi tube to the internal diameter of the throat of the Venturi tube is greater than 1.65.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the internal diameter of a water supply feed hose to the internal diameter of the throat of the Venturi tube is greater than 1.65.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the dosing container is removable.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the laundry care composition is a concentrated composition.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the laundry care composition comprises a peracid or chlorine bleach.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm in the electronic circuit is upgradable via switching a new ROM chip containing a new algorithm or via flashing the ROM with a new algorithm.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm doses laundry products, measures and confirms the actual dosed quantity prior to the dosing of the product from the intermediate chamber into the water line.  
   
   
       26 . A non-intrusive device for automatically dispensing at least one liquid laundry care composition to an automatic laundry washing machine, the device located along water supply feed to the washing machine with an incoming water supply feed to the device and outgoing water supply feed out of the device, the device comprising: 
 a water conduit tube, the both ends of the tube protruding externally to the device for connections to the incoming and outgoing water supply feed;    a dosing container for holding the laundry care composition, the container connected by a conduit to an intermediate dosing chamber,    a sensor for determining water flow through the incoming water supply feed, the sensor located at the incoming water supply feed and connected to    an electronic circuit containing a clock and a processing unit programmed with a machine-generic algorithm to control    a pump, coupled to the same circuit, the suction end of the pump connected by a conduit to the intermediate dosing chamber and the discharge end of the pump connected to the water supply feed,