Metering system for use in conjunction with a water-conducting household appliance such as a washing machine, dishwasher, clothes dryer or the like

Abstract

A dispensing system includes at least one reservoir for storing a plurality of flowable preparations, at least one dispenser, which is couplable with a reservoir and which does not include any connection to a water-conveying line of the water-conveying domestic appliance, at least one sensor, which at least detects the presence of water in the water-conveying domestic appliance and/or the operation of the water-conveying domestic appliance, at least one pump or vibratory atomizer for delivering or releasing preparation from the reservoir or dispenser, at least one control unit, which cooperates with the sensor and the pump or vibratory atomizer such that, if a defined sensor signal is present, at least one preparation is delivered from the reservoir or dispenser, and at least one fluid line, which connects the reservoir or the dispenser with the treatment compartment of the water-conveying domestic appliance, such that a preparation may be supplied from the dispenser positioned outside the treatment compartment of the water-conveying domestic appliance.

1 . A dispensing system ( 1 ) for use in conjunction with a washing machine, dishwasher, or other water-conveying domestic appliance ( 2 ) having a water conveying line that conveys water into a treatment compartment ( 6 ) in which items are to be washed, the dispensing system comprising:
 at least one reservoir ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c ) for storing a plurality of dispensing portions of at least one flowable preparation ( 4   a,    4   b,    4   c );   at least one dispenser ( 5   a,    5   b,    5   c )
 which is couplable with the at least one reservoir ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c ), 
 which is configured to be positioned outside the treatment compartment ( 6 ), and 
 which does not comprise any connection to the water-conveying line; 
   at least one sensor, which at least detects the presence of water in the water-conveying domestic appliance,   at least one apparatus, selected from the group consisting of a pump and a vibratory atomizer, for delivering or releasing preparation from the reservoir or dispenser,   at least one control unit, which cooperates with the sensor and the pump or vibratory atomizer such that, if a defined sensor signal is present, which represents one or both of the presence of water and the operation of the water-conveying domestic appliance, at least one preparation is delivered from the reservoir or dispenser by means of the pump or vibratory atomizer, and   at least one fluid line ( 7 ,  7   a,    7   b,    7   c ), which connects the reservoir ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c ) or the dispenser ( 5   a,    5   b,    5   c ) with the treatment compartment ( 6 ) of the water-conveying domestic appliance ( 2 ), such that the preparation ( 4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) may be supplied from the dispenser ( 5   a,    5   b,    5   c ) positioned outside the treatment compartment ( 6 ) of the water-conveying domestic appliance ( 2 ) via an orifice ( 8 ,  8   a,    8   b,    8   c,    9 ,  10 ,  10   a,    10   b,    10   c ) of the water-conveying domestic appliance ( 2 ) connected with the treatment compartment ( 6 ) into the treatment compartment ( 6 ) of the water-conveying domestic appliance ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is arranged at a distal end of the fluid line ( 7 ,  7   a,    7   b,    7   c ) protruding into the treatment compartment ( 6 ). 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises at least one additional sensor selected from the group consisting of a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, and an acoustic sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vibratory atomizer and/or pump is arranged at a distal end of the fluid line ( 7 ,  7   a,    7   b,    7   c ) protruding into the treatment compartment ( 6 ). 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of reservoirs ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c ), which each store different preparations ( 4   a,    4   b,    4   c ), are coupled with the dispenser ( 5 ). 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of dispensers ( 5   a,    5   b,    5   c ) are coupled with in each case at least one reservoir ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c ), in each case different preparations ( 4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) being dispensed by the dispensers ( 5   a,    5   b,    5   c ). 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein in each case one fluid line ( 7   a,    7   b,    7   c ) is present for each preparation ( 4   a,    4   b,    4   c ). 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the orifice of the water-conveying domestic appliance connected with the treatment compartment ( 6 ) is a dispensing drawer ( 8 ) of the washing machine. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein an adapter ( 11 ) is provided, by means of which the fluid line ( 7   a,    7   b,    7   c ) is couplable with a dispensing drawer ( 8 ,  8   a,    8   b,    8   c ) of the washing machine ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the orifice of the water-conveying domestic appliance ( 2 ) connected with the treatment compartment ( 6 ) is a washing machine or dishwasher door ( 9 ). 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the orifice connected with the treatment compartment ( 6 ) is an interface ( 10   a,    10   b,    10   c ) between the water-conveying domestic appliance ( 2 ) and the dispensing system ( 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least three reservoirs and/or chambers of a reservoir are provided, which contain different flowable preparations,
 the first reservoir or the first chamber storing at least one enzyme selected from the group of amylases, mannanases, cellulases, lipases and/or pectate lyases and at least one surfactant and/or complexing agent,   the second reservoir or the second chamber storing at least one protease and at least one surfactant and/or complexing agent,   the third reservoir or the third chamber storing at least one scent and/or one optical brightener, and/or one textile-softening compound.   
     
     
         13 . The dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least three reservoirs and/or chambers of a reservoir are provided, which contain different flowable preparations,
 the first reservoir or the first chamber storing at least one enzyme, one enzyme stabilizer and one surfactant,   the second reservoir or the second chamber storing at least one bleach, one complexing agent,   the third reservoir or the third chamber storing at least one scent and/or one optical brightener, and/or one textile-softening compound.   
     
     
         14 . The dispensing system according to  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser is configured such that, in the presence of at least one sensor signal, which represents the presence of water in the interior of the water-conveying domestic appliance and/or operation of the water-conveying domestic appliance, dispensing proceeds from the first reservoir or the first cartridge chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing system according to  claim 13 , wherein the dispenser is configured such that, in the presence of at least one sensor signal, which represents the presence of water in the interior of the water-conveying domestic appliance and/or operation of the water-conveying domestic appliance, dispensing proceeds from the first reservoir or the first cartridge chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing system according to  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser is configured such that dispensing from the second reservoir or the second chamber is triggered after a predefined time of between 0.1 s and 30 min, preferably of between 0.5 min and 15 min, after dispensing from the first reservoir or the first chamber has taken place. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing system according to  claim 13 , wherein the dispenser is configured such that dispensing from the second reservoir or the second chamber is triggered after a predefined time of between 0.1 s and 30 min, preferably of between 0.5 min and 15 min, after dispensing from the first reservoir or the first chamber has taken place. 
     
     
         18 . A method of releasing preparations into the interior of a water-conveying domestic appliance comprising:
 at least one dispenser with at least one sensor, which is suitable for detecting the presence of water in the interior of the washing machine and   at least one reservoir couplable with the dispenser,
 the reservoir comprising at least three chambers and/or at least three reservoirs being provided, which contain different flowable preparations,
 the first chamber storing at least one enzyme, one enzyme stabilizer and one surfactant, 
 the second chamber either storing at least one bleach and/or one complexing agent or the second chamber storing at least one protease and at least one surfactant and/or complexing agent, 
 the third chamber storing at least one scent and/or one optical brightener, the method comprising: 
 
   dispensing flowable preparation from the first chamber in the presence of at least one sensor signal which represents the presence of water in the interior of the washing machine, and   dispensing another flowable preparation from the second chamber, which dispensing is triggered after a predefined time of between 0.1 s and 30 min, after dispensing from the first cartridge chamber has taken place.