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Title:
A CLEANING AGENT BOX FOR DISHWASHER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2003/096867
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
The invention is related to a cleaning agent box (4) used in dishwashers (1) where the adjustment of cleaning agent consumption amount by the user is easily provided by means of an adjustment button (18) that has an accessible adjustment wheel (19) when the lid (8) is closed.

Inventors:
ALTUN UEMIT (TR)
KOESE ERTUGRUL (TR)
Application Number:
PCT/TR2003/000044
Publication Date:
November 27, 2003
Filing Date:
May 16, 2003
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ARCELIK AS (TR)
ALTUN UEMIT (TR)
KOESE ERTUGRUL (TR)
International Classes:
A47L15/44; (IPC1-7): A47L15/44
Foreign References:
US5205304A1993-04-27
DE19535153A11997-03-27
DE19757679A11998-07-02
DE3107136A11982-09-09
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ANKARA PATENT BUREAU LIMITED (Bestekar Sokak No. 10, Ankara, TR)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A cleaning agent box (4) for dishwashers (1) having a washing tub (2) and a door (3) providing access to washing drum (2), comprising at least one dosage reservoir (7), a cleaning agent reservoir (25) linked to dosage reservoir (7), a lid (8) closing dosage reservoir (7), a level indicator (9) to detect the quantity of cleaning agent in it, a cleaning agent discharge hole (6) that provides the transfer of cleaning agent to the washing tub (2) and a sealing element (17) located inside the lid (8) and characterized with an adjustment button (18) located inside the dosage reservoir (7), to determine quantity of cleaning agent to be used in the course of washing, comprising an adjustment wheel (19), accessible when the lid (8) is closed and, which enables the user to determine the quantity of cleaning agent to be used at each and every programme, an indicator surface (21) preferably located on the adjustment wheel (19) showing the levels representing the quantity of cleaning agent to be used in a washing cycle and an adjustment cylinder (20) linked to adjustment wheel (19).
2. A cleaning agent box (4) for dishwashers as described in claim 1 characterized with the adjustment cylinder (20) comprising a supply reservoir (22) that supplements cleaning agent reservoir (25) with cleaning agent, an adjustment reservoir (23), having preferably semi circular form inside the dosage reservoir (7) where cleaning agent is not used in the course of washing is collected, and a hole (24) between the supply reservoir (22) and the adjustment reservoir (23) allowing the inlet of cleaning agents and exit of air.
3. A cleaning agent box (4) for dishwashers as described in claim 1 to 2 characterized with the supply reservoir (22) comprising a cleaning agent adding opening (15) covered by a lid (8) through which cleaning agent is added, and a cleaning agent supply hole frame (16) preventing cleaning agent to exit the dosage reservoir (7) by pressing on the sealing element (17) which corresponds to the lid (8) when the lid (8) is closed.
Description:
A CLEANING AGENT BOX FOR DISHWASHER This invention is related to a cleaning agent box used in dishwashers.

Cleaning agent boxes utilized in dishwashers are, in general, located into inner surfaces of such machines and composed of two compartments. Detergents to clean the dishes are put, into one of those compartments, whereas the rinsing agents that avoid water blots to remain on the washed dishes are put into the other compartment. During a washing programme, amount of rinsing agents used, varies according to parameters such as water hardness, preferences selected by the users etc. Regulating amount of rinsing agent to be used in washing van be carried out only by opening the lid of the rinsing agent compartment.

In the state of the art, in the German patent 3107136, description of a cleaning agent box where rinsing agents are added when dishwasher door is in lateral position and where rinsing agents remain in a separate reservoir when the said door is lifted to vertical position, where amount of dosage to be utilized is let fall into washing reservoir by means of a valve, is provided.

European Patent application 430366 describes an adjustment button accessible by opening the lid of the rinsing agent compartment.

The object of this invention is to achieve a cleaning agent box used in dishwashers to ensure easy and ergonomic adjustment of the cleaning agent consumption amount by the user.

A cleaning agent box for dishwashers realised to attain object of this invention is shown in attached drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cleaning agent box where cleaning agent box lid is in closed position Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cleaning agent box in open position, comprising an adjustment button.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cleaning agent box and an adjustment button Figure 5 is a perspective view of inside of a cleaning agent box from rear.

Figure 6a is a perspective view of an adjustment button from front Figure 6b is a perspective view of an adjustment button from rear Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning agent box.

The components shown in the figures are separately given reference numerals as follows: 1. Dishwasher 2. Washing tub 3. Door 4. Cleaning agent box 6. Cleaning agent discharge opening 7. Dosage reservoir 8. Lid 9. Level indicator 10. Level indicator window 11. Spring 12. Claw 13. Latch 14. Latch projection 15. Cleaning agent adding opening 16. Frame for cleaning agent adding opening 17. Sealing element 18. Adjustment button

19. Adjustment wheel 20. Adjustment cylinder 21. Indicator surface 22. Supply reservoir 23. Adjustment reservoir 24. Hole 25. Cleaning agent reservoir Dishwashers (1) comprises a washing drum (2), a door (3) providing access to washing drum (2), and a cleaning agent box (4), located preferably in the inner face of the door (3), to hold cleaning agents.

Cleaning agent box (4) comprises at least one dosage reservoir (7), a cleaning agent reservoir (25) linked to dosage reservoir (7), a lid (8) closing dosage reservoir (7), a level indicator (9) to detect the quantity of the cleaning agent in the cleaning agent reservoir (25), a level indicator window (10) to see the level indicator (9) when the lid (8) is closed, a claw (12) on the lid (8), a cleaning agent discharge opening (6) to provide the transfer the cleaning agent to the washing drum (2), a latch (13) to close the lid (8), a spring (11) to open the lid (8) and leave it open when latch (13) is open, a sealing element (17) located in the inner face of the lid (8) and an adjustment button (18) located inside dosage reservoir (7) to determine quantity of cleaning agent to be used in the course of washing.

The latch (13) comprises a latch projection (14) which fixes the lid (8) by means of the claw (12).

Adjustment button (18) comprises an adjustment wheel (19), accessible even when the lid (8) is closed, to provide the user to determine the quantity of cleaning agent to be used at each and every washing cycle, an indicator surface (21), preferably located on the adjustment wheel (19), with level indications representing quantity of cleaning agent to be used in washing and an adjustment cylinder (20) linked to the adjustment wheel (19).

Adjustment cylinder (20) comprises a supply reservoir (22) that supplements cleaning agent reservoir (25) with cleaning agent, an adjustment reservoir (23), having preferably a semi circular form, located inside the dosage reservoir (7) where cleaning agents not used in the course of washing are collected, and a hole (24) provided between the supply reservoir (22) and the adjustment reservoir (23) to permit the supply of cleaning agent and outlet for air.

Supply reservoir (22) comprises a cleaning agent adding opening (15) covered by lid (8) through which cleaning agent is added and a frame for cleaning agent adding opening (16) preventing cleaning agent to exit form dosage reservoir (7) by pressing on to the sealing element (17) which corresponds to the lid (8) when this latter is closed.

When cleaning agents are added to the cleaning agent box (4) the lid (8) is opened, cleaning agents are put into the supply reservoir (22) from cleaning agent adding opening (15). Cleaning agents, passing to the adjustment reservoir (23) through hole (24) from supply reservoir (22), fill the dosage reservoir (7) and cleaning agent reservoir (25). After the lid (8) is closed, adjustment wheel is turned (19) to determine the quantity of cleaning agent to be used and the cleaning agent box (4) gets ready to use.

When the dishwasher (1) is to be used (1), the door (3) is closed. When door (3) is brought from open position, which is parallel to ground to a closed position, vertical to the ground, part of the cleaning agent under the impact of weight, run from dosage reservoir (7) to cleaning agent reservoir (25) and remains there. The remaining cleaning agent is retained in the dosage reservoir (7). The part of cleaning agent which remained in dosage reservoir (7), except the quantity remaining inside the adjustment reservoir (23), is conveyed from cleaning agent discharge hole (6) to the washing tub (2) at desired programme stage. According to the position selected by turning the adjustment wheel (19), adjustment reservoir

(23) holds a portion of cleaning agent. When the door is re-opened, cleaning agent inside the adjustment reservoir (23) mixes with the cleaning agent in the cleaning agent reservoir (25).

By providing access to the adjustment button (18) and by enabling to select the position of the adjustment cylinder (20) when the lid (8) is closed, easy adjustment of the quantity of cleaning agent by the user is attained.