Washing machine drawer insert dispenser

Abstract

A laundry product dispensing device ( 10 ) for placing in a washing machine drawer ( 19, 20 ) housing a detergent and a fabric treatment composition, the device having dispensing mechanisms ( 22, 23 ) for dispensing unit doses into the respective channels of the washing machine drawer when a sensor ( 16, 17 ) detects water in the channel.

1 . A laundry product dispensing device for placing in a washing machine drawer, the device comprising:
 first and second chambers for housing laundry product;   first and second dispensing mechanisms for dispensing a unit dose of laundry product from the respective first or second chamber;   first and second water sensors configured to detect the presence of water in a respective first and second channel of the washing machine drawer;   wherein the device is configured such that when the first water sensor detects water in the first channel, the first dispensing mechanism is actuated to dispense a unit dose of laundry product from the first chamber in to the first channel;   and when the second water sensor detects water in the second channel, the second dispensing mechanism is actuated to dispense a unit dose of laundry product from the second chamber into the second channel characterised in that said first and second water sensors are located on said respective chambers; and   wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to apply pressure to the contents of the chamber when actuated.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each chamber is sized to house more than one unit dose of laundry product and wherein each dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense a unit dose of laundry product each time the dispensing mechanism is actuated. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least one of a detergent composition housed in the first chamber or a fabric conditioning composition housed in the second chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each sensor is a conductivity sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the laundry product is a liquid composition and wherein each chamber is sealed by a valve. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of laundering articles in a washing machine, the method comprising:
 (i) placing a device according to  claim 1  into the drawer of a washing machine such that a first chamber of the device sits in a first channel of the washing machine drawer and a second chamber of the device sits in a second channel of the washing machine, and then (ii) running a wash program, whereby   (iii) first and second water sensors detect water in respective first and second channels, and then (iv) first and second dispensing mechanisms are actuated to dispense a unit dose of laundry product from the second chamber into the second channel characterised in that said first and second water sensors are located on said respective chambers