Detergent dispenser

Abstract

The invention relates to a detergent dispenser and a washing machine having a detergent dispenser, wherein the detergent dispenser ( 2 ) comprises a dispenser housing ( 4 ), an extractable drawer ( 6 ) arranged in the dispenser housing ( 4 ), and a guiding arrangement provided between the drawer ( 6 ) and the housing ( 4 ) for slidable guiding the drawer ( 6 ) in the housing ( 4 ) along an inserting/withdrawal direction (A), wherein the guiding arrangement comprises at least one drawer guiding device ( 8 a ) and at least one housing guiding device ( 10 a ) adapted to engage with each other, wherein the at least one housing guiding device ( 10 a ) at least partially surrounds the drawer guiding device ( 8 a ) or wherein the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8 a ) at least partially surrounds the housing guiding device ( 10 a ), wherein the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8 a ) and the at least one housing guiding device ( 10 a ) are engaged such that a surface portion ( 12 a ) of the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8 a - b ) is contacting a surface portion of the at least one housing guiding device ( 10 a ) and both surface portions are adapted to slide along each other, and wherein the cross-section of the at least partially surrounded (drawer or housing) guiding device and the mating cross-section of the at least partially surrounding (housing or drawer) guiding device is selected from a partially circular cross-section or a partially ellipse cross-section.

1 . Detergent dispenser ( 2 ) comprising:
 a dispenser housing ( 4 ),   an extractable drawer ( 6 ) arranged in the dispenser housing ( 4 ), and   a guiding arrangement provided between the drawer ( 6 ) and the housing ( 4 ) for slidable guiding the drawer ( 6 ) in the housing ( 4 ) along an inserting/withdrawal direction (A),   wherein the guiding arrangement comprises at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) and at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) adapted to engage with each other,   wherein the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) at least partially surrounds the drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) or wherein the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) at least partially surrounds the housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ),   wherein the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) and the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) are engaged such that a surface portion ( 12   a - b ) of the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) is contacting a surface portion ( 14   a - b ) of the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) and both surface portions are adapted to slide along each other, and   wherein the cross-section of the at least partially surrounded (drawer or housing) guiding device and the mating cross-section of the at least partially surrounding (housing or drawer) guiding device is selected from a partially circular cross-section or a partially ellipse cross-section.   
     
     
         2 . Detergent dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface portion ( 12   a - b ) of the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ), the surface portion ( 14   a - b ) of the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) or both surface portions are formed by Teflon or a plastic material having a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         3 . Detergent dispenser according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the surface portion ( 12   a - b ) of the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ), the surface portion ( 14   a - b ) of the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) or both surface portions are formed by Teflon using one or more of:
 a Teflon surface coating, 
 a bi-injection forming by providing a plastic material for the bulk of the at least one drawer and/or housing guiding device and a Teflon material for the surface portion, or 
 forming the at least one drawer and/or housing guiding device by Teflon material. 
 
     
     
         4 . Detergent dispenser according to  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein the inserting/withdrawal direction (A) is linear such that the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) is moved along a linear direction with respect to the housing ( 4 ), and
 wherein the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) and the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) are engaged such that they provide a mutual form fit acting in a direction perpendicular to the linear direction (A). 
 
     
     
         5 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the previous claims, wherein the partially circular cross section is at least 300°, 250°, 200°, 190° of a full circle. 
     
     
         6 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the previous claims, wherein the guiding arrangement comprises at least two drawer guiding devices ( 8   a - b ) arranged on opposing sides of the drawer ( 6 ) and at least two corresponding housing guiding devices ( 10   a - b ) arranged at the housing ( 4 ). 
     
     
         7 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the previous claims, wherein the guiding arrangement comprises at least two drawer guiding devices arranged on one side of the drawer and at least two corresponding housing guiding devices. 
     
     
         8 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the previous claims,
 wherein the at least one drawer guiding device ( 8   a - b ) is formed in one-piece with the drawer,   wherein the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) is formed in one piece with the housing, or   wherein the at least one drawer guiding devices ( 8   a - b ) are formed in one-piece with the drawer and the at least one housing guiding device ( 10   a - b ) is formed in one piece with the housing.   
     
     
         9 . Detergent dispenser according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the at least one drawer guiding device is fixed to the drawer,
 wherein the at least one housing guiding device is fixed to the housing, or 
 wherein the at least one drawer guiding device is fixed to the drawer and the at least one housing guiding device is fixed to the housing. 
 
     
     
         10 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the previous claims, wherein a clearance ( 20   a - b ) is provided between the at least partially surrounded guiding device and a front ( 22 ) of the drawer or a front opening ( 16 ) of the housing when the drawer ( 6 ) is fully inserted in the housing ( 4 ). 
     
     
         11 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the previous claims, wherein the guiding arrangement is not biased, in particular not biased in vertical direction. 
     
     
         12 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the  claims 1  to  7  and  9  to  11 , wherein the dispenser housing ( 4 ), the extractable drawer ( 6 ), or the dispenser housing ( 4 ) and the extractable drawer ( 6 ) are formed as a single-piece or monolithic component or are formed as a two-part or two-shell joint component ( 4   a,    4   b;    6   a,    6   b ). 
     
     
         13 . Detergent dispenser according to any of the previous claims, wherein no bearing, ball bearing or roller bearing is arranged between the mating guiding devices or wherein no auxiliary element or additional element is inserted between the mating guiding devices. 
     
     
         14 . Washing machine ( 1 ) having a detergent dispenser ( 2 ) according to any of the previous claims.