A washing agent dispenser for dishwashing machines

Abstract

A washing agent dispenser for washing machines has a dispenser body that comprises a fixed dispenser part ( 200 ), designed for mounting on a wall delimiting a washing machine wash-chamber ( 3 ), and a removable dispenser part, couplable in a removable way to the fixed dispenser part ( 200 ). The removable dispenser part comprises a hollow body defining a tank for a substance in liquid or semi-solid form, with a first wall of the hollow body which is intended to face at least partially a second wall of the fixed dispenser part ( 200 ). The dispenser ( 10 ) also comprises a sensor device ( 270 ), configured to provide an electrical signal representative of at least one of a level and a qualitative characteristic of the substance contained within the at least one tank. The sensor device ( 270 ) is arranged at least partly on the fixed dispenser part ( 200 ).

1 . A washing agent dispenser for washing machines, for dispensing washing agents in a washing machine wash-chamber, the dispenser having a dispenser body having a width dimension, a height dimension and a depth dimension, wherein a front and a back of the dispenser body identify the depth dimension, wherein the dispenser body comprises a fixed dispenser part, designed for mounting on a wall delimiting a washing machine wash-chamber, and a removable dispenser part, couplable in a removable way to the fixed dispenser part,
 wherein the removable dispenser part comprises a hollow body defining at least one tank for a substance in liquid or semi-solid form, at least one first wall of the hollow body being intended to face at least partially at least one second wall of the fixed dispenser part,   wherein the dispenser also comprises at least one sensor device, configured to provide at least one electrical signal representative of at least one of a level or a qualitative characteristic of the substance contained within the at least one tank,   and wherein the at least one sensor device is arranged at least partly on the fixed dispenser part.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tank has an outlet in the at least one first wall, the outlet being couplable in a separable way to a respective inlet in the at least one second wall, the inlet being connected in fluid communication with a corresponding dispensing arrangement configured to dispense dosed amounts of the substance, and wherein the at least one sensor device is arranged substantially at the inlet or else substantially at a corresponding housing in fluid communication with the inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tank has a detection opening in the at least one first wall, the detection opening being couplable in a separable way to a respective inlet opening present in the at least one second wall, the inlet opening being in fluid communication with a detection chamber at which the at least one sensor device is at least partially arranged. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser according to  claim 2  or  claim 3 , wherein:
 the outlet is defined in a lower portion of the hollow body with reference to the height dimension, and/or 
 the at least one first wall is a rear wall of the hollow body and at least one second wall is a front wall of the fixed dispenser part. 
 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor device is entirely mounted on the fixed dispenser part. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor device has a first part mounted on the removable dispenser part and a second part mounted on the fixed dispenser part. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor device is an optical sensor, having a sensing element which comprises at least one emitter and at least one receiver of electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor device is a sensor for detecting at least one electrical quantity, the sensor having at least one sensing element which comprises at least one of a plurality of electrodes and a piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , comprising a circuit arrangement configured to compare a value of the at least one electrical signal with at least one respective reference value and thereby generate information representative of the at least one of a level or a qualitative characteristic of the substance. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein at least two electrodes of the at least one sensor device each have a respective axis designed to extend in a direction generally parallel to a coupling direction between the removable dispenser part and the fixed dispenser part. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein at least two electrodes comprise at least one of the following:
 at least two electrodes at different heights, with reference to the height dimension,   at least two electrodes substantially at one same height, with reference to the height dimension.   
     
     
         12 . The dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least two electrodes comprise at least three electrodes, among which:
 a first electrode and a second electrode, for measurement therebetween of a first value of the at least one electrical quantity which is representative of a qualitative characteristic of the substance, and   a third electrode, for measurement between the third electrode and one of the first electrode or the second electrode of a second value of the at least one electrical quantity which is representative of a level of the substance.   
     
     
         13 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following:
 a signalling arrangement which includes at least one emitting device selected between light-emitting devices and acoustic emitting devices,   a locking/unlocking arrangement comprising a mechanism drivable by an electric actuator for assuming at least one operative condition and at least one inoperative condition, in which the mechanism prevents or enables, respectively, a displacement of an operable part of the dispenser which is configured to be manually displaced by a user at least from a first position to a second position,   wherein the at least one of the signalling arrangement or the locking/unlocking arrangement is configured to be controlled based on an electrical signal provided by the at least one sensor device.   
     
     
         14 . A washing agent dispenser for washing machines, for dispensing washing agents into a washing machine wash-chamber, the dispenser having a dispenser body comprising at least one fixed dispenser part designed for mounting on a wall delimiting a washing machine wash-chamber,
 wherein the dispenser body defines at least one containment volume for at least one washing agent, particularly a washing agent in liquid or semi-solid form,   the dispenser moreover comprising at least one dispensing arrangement that is configured for dispensing dosed amounts of at least one washing agent, and that includes a duct between an outlet of the at least one containment volume and a dispensing outlet of the dosed amounts of the at least one washing agent,   the dispenser also including at least one of the following:
 a peristaltic pump forming part of the at least one dispensing arrangement, 
 at least one removable dispenser part, associated in a removable way to the fixed dispenser part and defining at least one tank, a retention valve being associated to the at least one outlet, 
 at least one exposed housing at a front of the dispenser body, configured to receive a tablet which includes at least one washing agent, 
 at least one signalling arrangement, comprising an emitting device and means to transfer a visible radiation emitted by the emitting device towards an area of the dispenser body designed to face inside the washing machine wash-chamber, 
 at least one locking/unlocking arrangement, drivable by an electric actuator to prevent or enable a displacement of a part of the dispenser which is manually operable by a user, 
 at least one sensor device of at least one of a level and or a qualitative characteristic of the at least one washing agent, 
 means for coupling and/or fixing and/or guiding and/or reciprocal positioning between a fixed dispenser part and at least one removable dispenser part which is associated to the fixed dispenser part in a removable way, 
 hydraulic coupling means between a fixed dispenser part and at least one removable dispenser part which is associated to the fixed dispenser part in a removable way and which defines at least one tank. 
   
     
     
         15 . A household washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, comprising a washing agent dispenser according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the detection opening is defined in a lower portion of the hollow body, with reference to the height dimension, and/or   the at least one first wall is a rear wall of the hollow body and at least one second wall is a front wall of the fixed dispenser part.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser according to  claim 6 , wherein the first part and the second part interact via a magnetic or electromagnetic or inductive field or signal. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the axes of at least two electrodes are between 2 and 20 mm apart, or between 3 and 7 mm apart. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially at one same height, and the at least one third electrode is at a different height than the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         20 . A washing agent dispenser for washing machines, for dispensing washing agents into a washing machine wash-chamber, the dispenser including a dispenser body having a width dimension, a height dimension and a depth dimension, wherein a front and a back of the of the dispenser body identify the depth dimension,
 wherein the dispenser body comprises at least one fixed dispenser part designed for mounting on a wall delimiting a washing machine wash-chamber, and one removable dispenser part, couplable in a removable way to the fixed dispenser part,   wherein the removable dispenser part comprises a hollow body defining at least one tank for at least one washing agent in liquid or semi-solid form, at least one first wall of the hollow body being designed to face at least partially at least one second wall of the fixed dispenser part,   wherein the dispenser also comprises at least one sensor device, configured for supplying an electrical signal representative of at least one of a level or a qualitative characteristic of the substance contained within the at least one tank,   wherein the at least one sensor device:
 is a level sensor which comprises a floating body constrained in the inside of the at least one tank so as to perform displacements which depend on the level of the substance, and an electrical detector, mounted on the fixed dispenser part in a position which is designed to be in front of the floating body when the removable dispenser part is mounted on the fixed dispenser part, the floating body and the electrical detector interacting by means of a magnetic, or inductive, or optical filed or signal, or else 
 is an optical sensor, having a sensitive element which comprises at least one emitter and at least one receiver of an electromagnetic radiation, the optical sensor being configured as a module mounted on the fixed dispenser part or having a sensor body integrated to, or defined at least partly by, the fixed dispenser part.