Washing machine comprising a unit for adding detergent active ingredients in portions

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing machine which operates using a method for adding solid or liquid detergent active ingredients in portions and comprises an electronic programme control unit ( 12 ) in addition to devices ( 13 ) for entering and/or determining information concerning the desired or required composition of a treatment programme, for determining and/or entering washing-related parameters, i.e. the type of washing introduced into the washing machine ( 15 ), the degree of soiling and/or the weight of said washing. Information concerning the detergent active ingredients and the washing is read in from automatically readable information carriers ( 20 ) by means of a read device ( 10, 18 ) and the programme control unit ( 12 ) calculates and issues recommendations for the addition of a particular type of a detergent active ingredient and the amount of said ingredient in conjunction with this information, the chosen treatment programme and the washing-related parameters.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A washing machine comprising:
 a receiving area for receiving items to be subjected to a treatment program;   an operating panel;   an arrangement for adding detergent active ingredients into the receiving area in connection with a treatment program, the arrangement including an electronic program control unit, a device for providing information concerning a treatment program, a device for providing information concerning washing-related parameters, a device for the automatic input of information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program, the program control unit being operable to process information received from the device for providing information concerning a treatment program, the device for providing information concerning washing-related parameters, and the device for the automatic input of information concerning a detergent active ingredient and to generate one of a recommendation and a non-recommendation with regard to at least one of an addition of a selected detergent active ingredient and an amount of a selected detergent active ingredient as a function of the received information, and the device for the automatic input of information concerning a detergent active ingredient being located inwardly of the operating panel; and   a display unit, the display unit being operable to display information concerning a recommendation or a non-recommendation generated by the program control unit.   
   
   
       16 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 15  and further comprising a device for automatically adding a measured active detergent ingredient portion and the arrangement for adding detergent active ingredients is operable to convert a recommendation to a function processable by the device for automatically adding a measured active detergent ingredient portion for automatic adding a portion of a selected detergent active ingredient selected according to the recommendation and measured by the device for automatically adding a measured active detergent ingredient portion. 
   
   
       17 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the device for the automatic input of information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program is a read device and the read device recognizes transponders (RFID tags). 
   
   
       18 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the read device is operable to read in information from information carriers relating to both detergent active ingredients and a treatment program. 
   
   
       19 . A method for adding detergent active ingredients in a washing machine, the method comprising:
 obtaining information concerning a treatment program relating to treatment of an item received in a receiving area of a washing machine;   gathering information concerning washing-related parameters;   receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program;   processing via an electronic program control unit the information obtained information concerning a treatment program, the information gathered concerning washing-related parameters, and the information received via automatic input concerning a detergent active ingredient; and   generating one of a recommendation and a non-recommendation with regard to at least one of an addition of a selected detergent active ingredient and an amount of a selected detergent active ingredient as a function of the received information.   
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that is present in solid or liquid form. 
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input information from information carriers carrying information relating to the detergent active ingredients. 
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input information from information carriers in the form of bar code identifiers carrying information relating to the detergent active ingredients. 
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input information from information carriers in transponders carrying information relating to the detergent active ingredients and the information is present in the form of codings of electrical or electronic characteristics that can be transmitted back. 
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input data concerning the type of detergent active ingredient. 
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input data relating to the washing. 
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input information relating to dosing recommendations, which vary as a function of the selected wash program, the amount of washing, the degree of soiling and the water hardness. 
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input information that is in the form of a file, which is output as a displayable manufacturer ID. 
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein receiving as an automatic input information concerning a detergent active ingredient that can be added in connection with a treatment program includes receiving as an automatic input information that is in the form of files, which are output as displayable product information relating to further products by the manufacturer of the detergent active ingredient or the washing.