The present invention relates to a washing agent dispenser for a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher.

More specifically, the invention relates to a dispenser including

a dispenser body configured to be mounted to a wall delimiting a washing chamber of the washing machine, said dispenser body having a receptacle adapted to contain a washing agent,

a cover mounted in a guided manner to the dispenser body in such a way to be movable relative to the dispenser body along a sliding direction, between a closed position in which the receptacle is closed by the cover and an open position in which the receptacle is open, and

sliding guides interposed between the cover and the dispenser body, and comprising first guide elements arranged on the dispenser body and second guide elements arranged on the cover and coupled to the first guide elements.

It is known that the dispensers of washing agents comprise a coupling system interposed between the cover and the dispenser body and configured to hold the cover in the closed position. This coupling system can be activated to release the cover allowing the movement thereof from the closed position to the open position. The coupling systems used in the dispensers generally comprise a latching member elastically stressed and arranged on the cover and a release member controlled in an automated manner and arranged on the dispenser body. The release member is configured to be engaged by the coupling member when the cover is in the closed position, and is operable to release the coupling member and allow the cover to pass from the closed position to the open position.

In conventional dispensers with sliding covers it has been observed that the cover gasket can stick to the edge of the receptacle of the washing agent on the dispenser body due to a partial reaction of the washing agent (detergent) with water, whereby the washing agent sticks the gasket and thus the cover against the edge of the receptacle. When the release member is operated to release the cover latching member, it may therefore happen that the cover does not move from the closed position. Once it is de-energized, the release member can return to its original position, thus locking again and for the remainder of the wash cycle the cover, which has remained in the closed position. An undesired situation occurs in which the cover has not opened, although the release member has been operated.

Other drawbacks may be related to manufacturing tolerances which must necessarily be taken into account if an effective tightening of the cover gasket on the receptacle is to be carried out when the cover is brought to the closed position.

Another problem linked to conventional dispensers is that related to the noise caused by the impact of the cover against the body of the dispenser when the cover reaches one of its extreme operating positions. In some known solutions it has been proposed to overcome this noise by providing elements of deformable material interposed between the cover and the dispenser body and provided to cushion the impact. These solutions are affected by the drawback that it is not possible to obtain a precise positioning of the cover (and of the gasket) with respect to the receptacle in one of the extreme operating positions.

Another drawback encountered in the art consists in the fact that, due to an excessively high friction value between the cover and the dispenser body, it may happen that the cover is not fully opened following the opening command.

These and other drawbacks can be at least partially overcome with a dispenser of the type defined at the beginning, in which the cover comprises a frame carrying the second guide elements and a shell assembled or joined to the frame.

Preferably, the cover is configured in such a way that the shell is movable in a limited manner relative to the frame along the sliding direction.

Preferably, the arrangement of the frame and the shell of the cover is such that, when the cover is released, the shell starts to move before the frame. Moreover, this arrangement is such that, when the cover is brought to the closed position, the frame stops before the shell due to the fact that the gasket integral with the frame abuts on the edge of the receptacle and the shell moves further to engage the release member, further compressing the gasket.

According to one embodiment, the arrangement which allows the shell to be movable in a limited manner with respect to the frame along the sliding direction is obtainable if the frame is connected to the shell through at least one deformable connection element of material having a stiffness lower than that of the material(s) of the shell and frame.

The possibility of having a relative movement between the shell and the frame thanks to a deformable connection element allows achieving several advantages.

First of all, the present invention allows preventing the drawback described above and linked to the adhesion of the gasket to the edge of the receptacle for washing agents, thanks to the fact that, when the release member is operated to release the latching member of the cover, the cover shell is able to perform a limited movement, even if the frame remains stationary on the receptacle due to the sticking of the detergent. This prevents the release member from engaging again on the cover when it returns to its original position when it is de-energized, and therefore prevents an undesired locking of the cover, since the cover in any case moves from the engagement position of the release member. Moreover, it is possible to achieve an effective and precise tightening of the gasket on the edge of the receptacle for washing agents when the cover is brought to the closed position, thanks to the fact that the possibility of movement of the shell with respect to the frame of the cover allows compensating for any constructive tolerances. In fact, the frame stops when the gasket abuts against the edge of the detergent receptacle, while the shell still has a limited possibility of movement to carry out the coupling with the latching system. It is further possible to provide the cover also with the possibility of a limited relative movement of the shell with respect to the frame in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction. In this case it is possible to ensure that, during the closing of the cover, during the movement of the shell with respect to the frame along the sliding direction, a movement of lowering the frame towards the dispenser body is also obtained, thus increasing the compression of the gasket on the edge of the receptacle for washing agents. Another advantage is linked to the fact that it is possible to have a reduction in the operating noise without compromising the positioning accuracy of the cover when it reaches one of its extreme operating positions. To determine the opening position it is possible to use stops of the same rigid material as the dispenser body. The impact noise can however be damped thanks to the fact that the impact occurs directly between the dispenser body and the frame only, which has a lower mass than the entire cover, while the deformable connection element between the frame and the shell of the cover acts as a damper for the shell.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the deformable connection element may be formed as a sleeve fixed to the frame, and in which there is fitted a rod or projection formed in the shell and projecting from the shell in a direction substantially orthogonal sliding direction of the cover.

In particular, the deformable connection element may be formed as a single piece with a gasket arranged on the frame and adapted to engage an edge of the receptacle of the dispenser body.

Alternatively, the deformable connection element may be made as a rod or projection integral with the frame which is inserted into a seat formed in the shell and protruding from the shell in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of sliding of the cover.

According to a preferred embodiment, the frame and the shell may be made of different plastic material. In particular, the frame may be made of plastic material having a friction coefficient with the material of the dispenser body lower than the friction coefficient of the plastic material of the shell with the material of the dispenser body. This allows the operation of the device to be optimized by reducing the friction between the frame (which carries the second guide elements) and the dispenser body (which carries the first guide elements engaged by the second guide elements) during the movement of the cover.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, provided purely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures la and lb are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively, of a dispenser for washing agents according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of a cover of the dispenser in figure 1 ;

figure 3 is a perspective view of a dispenser body of the dispenser in figure 1 ;

figure 4 is a plan view of a frame of the cover in figure 3;

figure 5 is a plan view of a shell of the cover in figure 3;

figure 6 is an exploded view of the cover in figure 3;

figures 7a and 7b are sectional views of the dispenser in figure 1, which illustrate two different movement steps when the cover is released from the closed position;

figures 8a and 8b are sectional views of the dispenser in figure 1 , which illustrate two different movement steps when the cover is brought to the closed position;

figures 9a-9c are plan views of the dispenser in figure 1 , with the shell of the cover shown in transparency, which illustrate three different movement steps when the cover reaches the open position;

figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, an exploded view of the cover and a perspective view of the dispenser body showing a sliding guide associated with one side of the cover; figures 12 and 13 are an exploded view of the cover and a perspective view of the dispenser body showing a sliding guide associated with a second side of the cover; and figure 14 is a sectional view showing the operation of the sliding guide in figures 12 and 13, and

figures 15 and 16 are respectively a perspective view of the cover and a perspective view of the dispenser body showing a sliding guide according to an alternative embodiment.

Figures la and lb show a dispenser of washing agents, indicated as a whole with reference numeral 1. Such a dispenser 1 is adapted to be mounted to a wall F, schematically shown in figures 7a-7b and 8a-8b, which delimits a washing chamber of a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, in further detail to the movable door of the dishwasher that allows access to the washing chamber (as known in the art).

The example shows a combined dispenser configured to supply two different washing agents, for example a detergent and a rinse aid agent. This configuration is in no way essential for the purposes of the invention, it being sufficient for the dispenser to comprise at least one receptacle for washing agents configured to be closed by a sliding cover. The following description will therefore refer to a single receptacle and to the associated cover.

In the embodiment shown, the dispenser 1 comprises a dispenser body 2 of molded plastic material.

In the dispenser body 2 a receptacle 3 is formed for a washing agent essentially in the form of a tray, to which a cover 10 of the sliding type is associated, mounted to the dispenser body 2, which will be described in more detail below.

The cover 10 is movable in a guided manner with respect to the dispenser body 2 between a closed position (shown in figure 7a) and an open position (shown in figures 1 and 9c), in which the cover 10 closes and opens the receptacle 3. In particular, the cover 10 is slidable in the direction of the arrows Al and A2 represented in particular in figures 7a-7b, 8a-8b and 9a-9c. To this end, sliding guides interposed between the cover 10 and the dispenser body 2 are associated to the lateral sides of the cover 10, which will be described in more detail below.

An elastic return member, such as for example a spring 4, is associated with the cover 10. This elastic return member 4 is arranged _' so as to urge the cover 10 towards the open position. In the illustrated example, the elastic return member 4, which for convenience is shown only in figure lb, is a torsion spring.

When the cover 10 is in the closed position (figure 7a), a latching system holds the cover 10 in this position against the action of the elastic return element 4 which would tend to bring the cover 10 to the open position.

With reference to figures 7a-7b and 8a-8b, the latching system comprises an engagement member 5 elastically stressed and arranged on the cover 10, and a release member 6 arranged on the dispenser body 2. In the example shown in the drawings, the release member 6 is designed as an oscillating lever associated with a shaft 6a mounted rotatably to the dispenser body 2. The axis of rotation of the lever 6 is indicated with z in the figures, and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of sliding of the cover 10.

In a per se known manner, the release member 6 is operatively connected to an electrically actuated actuator (not shown), such as a solenoid actuator or the like. Thanks to this connection, the release member 6 is able to move between a deactivated or. de-energized configuration (shown in the figures), in which a free end 6b is configured to be engaged by the latching member 5 when the cover is in the closed position, and a temporary activated or excited configuration (not visible in the figures), in which the free end 6b of the release member 6 releases the latching member 1 1 allowing the cover to pass from the closed position to the open position, due to the associated return spring 4.

In the example shown, the latching member 5 is made in one piece with an opening member 5a manually operated disposed on the cover 10, such as a push-button operated with a lifting thereof (pull button) ln a manner known per se, the latching member 5 and the relative opening member are urged towards a rest position (represented in general in the figures) by an elastic return member (not shown) interposed between the latching member 5 and the cover 10. Therefore, the opening member 5a is operable manually, against the action of this elastic return element, to disengage the latching member 5 from the free end 6b of the release member 6 when the release member 6 is in the deactivated condition, allowing the cover 5 to pass from the closed position to the open position under the effect of the elastic return member 4. The arrangement described above with respect to the latching member 5 and the release member 6 may be different from the one described above, according to the multiple configurations of the latching systems known to the man skilled in the art. With reference to figures 2 and 4-6, the cover 10 comprises a frame 1 1 and a shell 13 assembled to the frame 1 1 and covering the frame 1 1. As will be clarified below, the cover 10 is configured in such a way that the shell 13 is movable in a limited manner with respect to the frame 11 along the sliding direction, and preferably also along a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction. For the purposes of the present invention, by movable "in a limited manner" it is meant that the shell is able to move with respect to the frame by an extent, for example around one m, much smaller than that of the stroke between the open position and the closed position of the cover, which is generally a few centimeters.

The frame 1 1 and the shell 13 may be made of different plastic material. In particular, the frame 1 1 may be made of plastic material having a friction coefficient with the material of the dispenser body 2 lower than the friction coefficient of the plastic material of the shell 13 with the material of the dispenser body 2. For example, the dispenser body and the shell may be made of polypropylene (PP), and the frame of polyoxymethylene (POM). ln the illustrated example, the frame 1 1 comprises a pair of lateral elements l l a along which guide elements for the sliding guides are formed (which will be described in more detail below), and a central part l lb which interconnects the lateral elements l l a of the frame 1 1. In a seat formed in the central part 1 lb of the frame 1 1 a gasket 12 is mounted, which is configured to be engaged by a protruding edge 3a of the receptacle 3 of the dispenser body 2 when the cover is in the closed position.

The central part 1 lb of the frame 1 1 has an extension in the sliding direction smaller than that of the lateral elements 1 1 a of the frame 1 1. In particular, the lateral elements 1 1 a extend beyond the central part 1 lb of the frame 1 1 towards the open position of the cover

10.

The shell 13 of the cover 10 has an extension in the sliding direction approximately equal to that of the lateral elements of the frame 1 1. The frame 1 1 essentially performs the functions of sealing and guiding the cover 10, cooperating with the dispenser body 2. On the other hand, the shell 13 performs, in addition to a function of aesthetic coverage, also that of supporting the latching member 5 and the relative manually operated opening member 5a, as shown in figures 7a-7b and 8a-8b. The latching of the cover 10 to the dispenser body 2 therefore takes place through the shell 13. Moreover, the elastic return element 4 which urges the cover 10 is arranged so as to act between the dispenser body 1 b and the shell 13. For example, as shown in figure l b, the elastic return element 4 has an end fixed to a seat 4a formed on the dispenser body 2, and an opposite end fixed to a seat 4b formed on the shell (visible for example in the figure 2).

In the illustrated example, the possibility of relative movement between the shell 13 and the frame 1 1 is obtained thanks to the fact that at the opposite ends of each of the lateral elements 11 there are formed coupling projections 1 lc inserted in relative seats or coupling slits l 3a formed on the shell. The arrangement of the projections and the relative slits is such as to allow the frame 1 1 and the shell 13 to remain joined, while leaving the possibility of having a relative motion between the two components.

Moreover, the frame 1 1 is connected to the shell through at least one deformable connection element l ld of material having a lower stiffness than the material(s) of the shell 13 and of the frame 1 1. In the example shown, the deformable connection element l ld is made as a pair of sleeves integral with the frame 11 , and in which respective rods l3a formed in the shell 13 and projecting from the shell 13 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sliding direction of the cover 10 are inserted. The deformable sleeves l l d are made in one piece with the gasket 12 arranged on the frame 1 1 , being connected thereto it by bridges 1 le which pass through slits formed in a wall of the seat of the gasket 12. According to an alternative embodiment, the deformable sleeves may be made as elements separated from the gasket 12. The deformable sleeves l l d are arranged on one side of the central part 1 lb of the frame 1 1 facing the open position of the cover 10.

By virtue of the arrangement described above, when the release member 6 is operated with the cover 10 in the closed position (figure 7a) to free the cover 10, the shell 13 starts to move before the frame 1 1 , that is when the frame 1 1 is still stationary (the relative motion of the shell 13 with respect to the frame 11 is highlighted by the arrow XI in figure 7b). This means that, if the gasket 12 has remained attached to the edge of the receptacle 3 of the dispenser body 2, for example due to the presence of dirt or detergent placed inside the receptacle 3 which has reacted at least partially with water, forming an adhesive substance between the seal 12 and the edge of the receptacle 3 a, there is still a displacement of the receptacle and therefore of the relative latching member 5. This prevents the release member 6 from engaging again with the latching member 5, when the actuator which actuates the release member is de-energized. In this way it is possible that the cover becomes free some time later when the undesired adhesion between the gasket and the edge of the receptacle ends its effect, for example due to the washing water which washes away the dirt or detergent present between the gasket and the edges of the receptacle, or simply because at a certain moment the force of adhesion is no longer able to overcome the continuous action of the elastic force of the return member 4.

Moreover, when the cover 10 is brought back to the closed position (figures 8a and 8b) manually by a user, the final position which is reached by the frame 1 1 (figure 8a), and therefore the position of the gasket 12 with respect to the receptacle 3, is determined by a stop (23a, 33; shown in figure 14 and discussed below) provided on the sliding guides. Beyond this position, the shell 13 continues to move (arrow X2 in figure 8b) towards the closed position until engagement between the latching member 5 arranged on the shell 13 and the release member 6 arranged on the dispenser body 2 is achieved. Moreover, in this closed condition the sleeve l ld is compressed radially (as indicated in figure 8b) and realizes a further preloading of the shell with respect to the frame which helps to generate the relative motion between these two elements in addition to the spring 4 in the moment of release by the release member 6. During this step of relative closing movement along the sliding direction it may be provided that there is also a relative movement of lowering of the frame 1 1 towards the dispenser body 2 (arrow Zl in figure 8b), with the consequent achievement of an increase in the tightening on the gasket 12. This further movement can be obtained for example by coupling the shell with the frame by means of an inclined plane.

When the cover 10 is brought from the closed position to the open position due to the elastic force of the return spring 4 (figures 9a-9c), initially the frame 1 1 and the shell 13 of the cover move together (figure 9a). On the dispenser body 2 there is a stop 2a (in the illustrated example, two stops) adapted to be engaged by a corresponding engagement surface l lf (in the example, two engagement surfaces) formed on the frame 1 1 , which determines the opening position of the cover 10. As a matter of graphic simplicity, the stop 2a is not shown in all figures. When the engagement surface 1 lf strikes the corresponding stop 2a, the frame 1 1 stops (figure 9b), while the shell continues by inertia by its own forward movement causing a radial crushing at the front and at the rear an elongation of the deformable sleeves l ld, as well as an elongation of the bridges l le which connect them to the gasket 12 (figure 9c). The combined effect of the fact that only a part of the cover (the frame) "rigidly" impacts the stop and that the deformable connection between the shell and the frame acts as a damper, allows obtaining a damping of the noise linked to the impact between stop and frame without compromising the precise positioning of the cover with respect to the dispenser body.

With reference to figures 10-14, the dispenser sliding guides described above are now described. As will be appreciated below, the conformation of the sliding guides does not depend on the two-part structure of the cover described above. Such sliding guides could therefore also be applied in a dispenser comprising a conventional one-piece cover or other types of cover.

Figures 10 and 1 1 show a side of the cover 10 and a corresponding wall 2b of the dispenser body 2 facing towards that side of the cover 10. On this side, the sliding guide comprises first guide elements 21, 22 arranged on the wall 2b of the dispenser body 2, and second guide elements 31, 32 arranged on the corresponding side of the cover 10, in particular on the corresponding lateral element 1 la of the frame 1 1. The first guide elements comprise, according to the direction that goes from the open position to the closed position of the cover 10, a guiding pin 21 and a guiding groove 22 having an end 22a facing the closed position of the cover 10 which is inclined towards the dispenser body 2. The second guide elements comprise, according to the direction from the open position to the closed position of the cover 10, a guided groove 31 and a guided pin 32. During the movement of the cover 10 between the open position and the closed position, the guiding pin 21 is engaged in the guided groove 31 and the guided pin 32 is engaged in the guiding groove 22.

Figures 12 and 13 show the side of the cover 10 and a corresponding wall 2c of the dispenser body 2 facing towards that side of the cover 10. On this side, the sliding guide comprises first guide elements 23, 24, 25 arranged on the wall 2c of the dispenser body 2, and second guide elements 33, 34 arranged on the corresponding side of the cover 10, in particular on the corresponding lateral element l la of the frame 1 1. The first guide elements comprise, according to the direction that goes from the open position to the closed position of the cover 10, a guiding projection 23, an interruption gap 24 and a guiding rib 25 having an end 25a facing the closed position of the cover 10 which is inclined towards the dispenser body 2. The second guide elements comprise, according to the direction from the open position to the closed position of the cover 10, a stop projection 33, a guided groove 34 and a guided projection 35. During the movement of the cover 10 between the open position and the closed position, one or the other of said guiding projections 23 and guiding rib 25 is engaged between the guided rib 34 and the guided projection 35, as shown in figure 14. The stop projection 33 is adapted to cooperate with a stop surface 23a of the guiding projection 23 at the closing position of the cover 10.

Although the example described above concerns a cover with a frame assembled together and provided with movement relative to one another, the invention also contemplates a cover in which the frame and the shell are more generally joined to one another by shape, strength or material coupling, or a cover in which the frame and shell are integral, i.e. rigidly constrained to one another.

For example, in an alternative embodiment the cover 10 can also be made in a single component in which the frame 1 1 and the shell 13 are made of two different materials co molded or made of plastic of two different types and bi-injected in the same mold. In this way, although it does not solve the drawback of facilitating the opening of the cover, it is possible to vary the coefficient of friction of the frame 1 1 (or of the guides made thereon) with respect to the friction coefficient of the shell 13, so as to obtain a reduction of the friction for the guides.

In a further alternative embodiment the cover 10 can be made with frame 1 1 and shell 13 produced separately in two different materials and then fixed with a fixed connection to each other, for example by welding or gluing, so that the cover 10 is a single monolithic element made of 2 components. Also in this case, even if the problem of failure to open due to adhesion of the detergent to the gasket is not solved, a cover is made with sliding guides made on the frame which can be of a material with a friction coefficient lower than the friction coefficient of the shell.

Figures 15 and 16 show an embodiment of the alternative sliding guide with respect to that illustrated in figures 10 and 1 1. The same reference numbers have been assigned to elements corresponding to the above embodiment. In this embodiment, the sliding guide comprises first guide elements 2G, 22’, 23’ arranged on the wall 2b of the dispenser body 2, and second guide elements 3 , 32’ arranged on the corresponding side of the cover 10, in particular on the corresponding lateral element 1 1 a of the frame 1 1. The first guide elements comprise, according to the direction that goes from the open position to the closed position of the cover 10, a pair of guiding projections 2G, 22' arranged at different distances from a bottom surface of the dispenser body 2 and a guiding groove 23’ having an end 23a' facing the closed position of the cover 10 which is inclined towards the dispenser body 2. The second guide elements comprise, according to the direction from the open position to the closed position of the cover 10, a guided rib 3 and a guided pin 32’. During the movement of the cover 10 between the open position and the closed position, the guided rib 3 G is engaged between the pair of guiding projections 2G, 22’ and the guided pin 32' is engaged in the guiding groove 23'.

Of course, without altering the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the construction details may vary widely with respect to those described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.