Automatic dispensing system

Abstract

The invention provides a non-intrusive automatic dosing system for use with existing fabric- and dishwashing machines. The system contains a container house with one ore more containers which can contain a fabric- or dishwashing product or ingredient, said container(s) being connected with a pump, said pump being connected with the water inlet conduit of the machine. The container house also contains means for receiving and transmitting signals. Signals are received from at least one sensor, capable of reading at least one parameter of the washing process or machine when in operation, and cause the transmission of a signal to activate the pump to cause the delivery of the product or ingredient to the water inlet conduit of the machine. The system enables the user to adapt the dosing of the product or ingredient to the machine according to his wishes without having to invade the machine to change or adapt programmes of the machine.

1 . A non-intrusive automatic dosing system, capable of being used with an existing fabric- or dishwashing machine, said system comprising a container house which can contain at least one container for a product or ingredient suitable for use in a fabric washing or dishwashing process or stage thereof in the fabric- or dishwashing machine, said container being connected with a pump, said pump being connected with the water inlet conduit of the machine, said container house also contaning means for receiving and transmitting signals, said means for receiving signals being capable of receiving signals from at least one sensor which is capable of reading at least one parameter of the washing process or machine when in operation, said means for transmitting signals being capable of activating the pump to cause the delivery to the water inlet conduit of the product or ingredient from the container.  
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , containing a combination of two or more sensors, each reading a different parameter of the washing process or machine.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a computer system with a database for storing the readings of the sensors.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a timer device for resetting the system after completion of the washing or cleaning operation.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said system is used for automatically and sequentially dosing different washing- or cleaning compositions or ingredients thereof in a fabric- or dishwashing machine, said system being adapted to contain at least two containers for said different products or ingredients, each container having an encoded set of information about its contents and its use instructions affixed to it, said system further comprising means for retrieving and, optionally, storing said information, and means for executing instructions either received directly from the retrieved information or from the stored information and dosing the compositions or ingredients thereof into the machine at the start of or during the operation of the washing or cleaning process according to the received instructions in the proper sequential order.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , in which the encoded set of information is in the form of a bar code, or a magnetic strip, or a microchip.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , in which at least one of the containers is a multi-compartment container.  
     
     
         8 . A system according of  claim 1 , in which the means for retrieving the information from the encoded set of information is a scanning device.  
     
     
         9 . A process for automatically dosing a washing or cleaning product or ingredient to an existing fabric washing or dishwashing machine, comprising the steps of measuring, by means of one or more sensors which are non intrusively connected with the washing machine, at least one parameter of the washing process or machine when in operation, feeding the signal from the sensor or sensors to a signal-receiving and transmitting device which is connected with a device for activating a pump connected with one or more containers for the washing or cleaning product or ingredients, activating through said device said pump to cause the delivery of said product or ingredient to the water inlet conduit of the machine.