FR2785302A1 - Washing machine automatic feed system has reservoir of detergent inside casing connected by dosing pump to mixing chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

The feed system consists of a reservoir of a detergent inside the machine casing, connected by a positive displacement pump and suction and pressure pipes to a mixing chamber. The pump is controlled by push buttons on the outside of the machine for selecting the required quantity of the detergent for mixing with the intake water in the chamber. The feed system consists of a reservoir (5) of a detergent inside the machine casing (2), connected by a positive displacement pump (8) and suction and pressure pipes (7, 9) to a mixing chamber (10). The pump is controlled by push buttons on the outside of the machine (1) for selecting the required quantity of the detergent for mixing with the intake water in the chamber (10). The container (5) has a level sensor linked to a display screen and cutting off the power supply to the machine if the detergent falls below a set level.

Description

 The present invention relates to washing machines and, more particularly, the supply of detergent to such machines.

 The washing machines for laundry currently available on the market require time-consuming handling before each washing operation since it is not only necessary to place the washing laundry (after having previously sorted it) in the drum of the machine. still have in the machine's receiving box the necessary dose of detergent suitable for the weight of the laundry to be washed.

 Not only is this last operation tedious, but it risks over time to cause deterioration of the machine because it is inevitable, by filling each time the container, to spill in the machine detergent which ends up attacking unprotected parts of the machine.

 In addition, when the washing machine is used by an unaccustomed person, there is a risk that this person will not put the dose of detergent which can have unfavorable results on the laundry, or by deteriorating it. in case of using too high doses of detergent, or by giving a bad wash in case of using an insufficient quantity of detergent.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above of the washing machines for laundry currently available on the market, and for this purpose it offers a simple and inexpensive system which, integrated into the washing machine, allows avoid the repetitive nature of the operations of supplying the washing machine with detergent, by having to perform this operation only from time to time.

 According to the invention, the automatic system for supplying a washing machine with washing product is characterized in that it comprises a tank of washing product disposed inside the casing of the machine, a pump volumetric dosing machine placed inside the washing machine is connected to said tank by a suction pipe and to a mixing vessel by a discharge pipe, said tank being integrated into the washing machine, and a means of pump control to take a predetermined quantity of detergent from the tank and send it to the vase where it is mixed with the wash water.

 It is understood that with the system according to the invention, the user can carry out a certain number of detergents without each time having to supply the machine with detergents, this supply being made only once, when the tank is almost empty. .

 Advantageously, a means of controlling the level of detergent is associated. at the tank, the level thus measured being displayed on a screen carried by the front of the machine. A switch device can be associated with said level control means, for cutting off the electrical supply to the washing machine when the level of the washing product reaches a determined lower limit.

An audible and / or luminous signaling device can then be automatically triggered to warn the user.

 The invention also covers the production of a washing machine comprising an automatic washing product supply system as mentioned above.

To clearly understand the invention which will be described below, by way of example without limitation, a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which:
Figure 1 is an external perspective view of a washing machine equipped with the detergent supply system according to the invention; and
Figure 2 is a perspective view with cutaway of the washing machine of Figure 1, showing in particular the inner detergent tank and the dispensing pump.

 Referring to the drawings, there is generally represented at 1 a washing machine, which has, on its front face 2, a circular pivoting door 3, the opening of which gives access to a drum 4 with a horizontal axis. The drum 4 is intended to receive the laundry to be washed, then to be driven in rotation about its axis to ensure the washing of the laundry (by bathing in a mixture of water and detergent), then its rinsing (by turning in pure water), and finally its spinning (by turning at higher speed without bathing in water).

 Inside the machine 1, between the casing thereof and the drum 4, is disposed a reservoir 5 of liquid detergent shown by way of example in cylindrical form. The reservoir 5 is closed at its upper end by a removable cover 6, the removal of which allows the reservoir 5 to be filled with detergent.

User access to the reservoir 5, for this filling operation, is effected by prior pivoting of the upper wall or of the side wall of the machine 1.

 A suction duct 7, plunging into the reservoir 5 and leaving it by an opening of the cover 6, is tightly connected to the inlet of a volumetric metering pump 8, a type known per se for applications viscous non-food products. The pump 8 is intended to take from the reservoir 5, on command, determined quantities of detergent product.

 A discharge conduit 9 connects the outlet of the pump 8 to a vessel 10, also supplied with water (not shown) and in which the water and the dose of detergent product delivered from the pump are mixed 8. The water-detergent mixture contained in the vase 10 then feeds the drum 4 to carry out the washing operation.

 The pump 8 is actuated in a conventional manner by means of impulse push buttons 11 and 12 which respectively supply the vessel 10 with different predetermined quantities of detergent, the button 11 ensuring for example the supply of more larger quantity of detergent than button 12, for washing larger quantities of laundry, or particularly dirty laundry.

 Advantageously, the pump 8 benefits from the energy system specific to the washing machine 1, and the control buttons 11 and 12 also control the complete washing cycle of the machine 1.

 A means for continuously monitoring the level of detergent (not shown in the drawing) is associated with the reservoir 5, and is connected to a display screen 13 on the front of the machine, which permanently indicates the level of detergent available in the reservoir 5. When the quantity of detergent in the reservoir 5 reaches a minimum level, an interruption system temporarily cuts off the electrical supply to the machine by blocking it. An audible and / or visual signal is then triggered.

 It will be understood that the above description has been given as a simple example, without limitation, and that additions or constructive modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be understood in particular that the device according to the The invention could also be applied to the automatic dispensing, inside the washing machine, of additives such as bleach or softener.

Claims (9)

Claims  1. Automatic system for supplying a washing machine (1) with washing product, characterized in that it comprises a tank for washing product (5) disposed inside the casing of the machine ( 1), a volumetric dosing pump (8) placed inside the machine (1) and connected to the tank (5) by a suction pipe (7) and to a mixing vessel (10) by a delivery (9), said vessel (10) being integrated into the machine (1), and control means (11,12) of the pump (8) for withdrawing a predetermined quantity of detergent from the tank (5 ) and send it to the vessel (10) where it is mixed with the washing water.  2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump control means (8) comprises at least one push button selectively ensuring the sending of different quantities of washing product into the vase (10), according to the conditions of washing.  3. System according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a means for controlling the level of detergent is associated with the reservoir (5), the level thus measured being displayed on a screen (13) carried by the front of the machine (1).  4. System according to claim 3, characterized by a switch device associated with said means for controlling the level of detergent in the tank (5), said switch device cutting off the electrical supply to the machine (1) when the level detergent reaches a certain lower limit.  5. System according to claim 4, characterized by a sound and / or light signaling device which is automatically actuated when the said switch device is triggered.  6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reservoir (5) comprises a removable cover (6) allowing the filling of the reservoir (5) with washing product.  7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said washing product is a detergent product  8. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said washing product is an additive such as a softener or water Bleach.  9. Washing machine, characterized in that it comprises an automatic system for supplying washing product according to any one of claims 1 to 8.