Washing agents dispenser, in particular for diswashing machines

Abstract: A dispensing device of detergents and/or additives for washing machines is described, of the type comprising at least a space for containing a liquid matter, such as a rinse aid, the body of said device (6') comprising at least a first part (6A') and a second part (6B'), said parts being made integral with each other by means of welding (7'), wherein a portion of said body (6A',6B') is intended to be inserted through an opening (5) of a wall (3), a surface of said wall (3) facing on a washing tank while the opposite surface of said wall (3) faces on a space which has to be tight-proof isolated in respect of said tank. According to the invention, insulation means are provided, in order to prevent likely leakage of said liquid matter from said welding (7') to flow inside said space (4).

Description: The present invention refers to a dispenser of washing agents, in particular for dishwashing machines. It is known that washing machines usually provide for a dispenser of washing agents, such as detergents and additives; the latter are typically represented, in the case of laundry washing machines, by softening aids, and in the case of dishwashers by rinse aids. In the case of dishwashers, the dispensers usually comprise a plastic body, made of two separate pieces welded together; in its front part, said body defines a space for containing a washing agent, usually a detergent, said space being provided with a small closing door, be it of the pivoted or sliding type. Within said body of the dispenser there is then provided a reservoir for a second liquid washing agent, typically a rinse aid; a suitable metering mechanism provides for the supply of the necessary rinse aid amount from said reservoir towards the washing tank of the machine; it has to be noted that, usually, the rinse aid amount contained in said reservoir is enough for carrying out several washing cycles. To the rear part of the body, outside it, there are associated one or more electric actuators and one or more kinematic devices, in order that the activation of the actuator(s) causes the opening of said small door of the detergent container and, at a following moment of a washing cycle, the supply of a predetermined amount of rinse aid. The dispensers of the cited type are usually fastened in correspondence of an opening defined on the internal surface of the washing machine door, so that a substantial part of the dispenser body, comprising the said electrical and mechanical parts, is embedded inside the door itself; the front part of the dispenser, namely the one having the small door of the detergent containing space and the supplying outlet for the rinse aid, lays outside the said opening and the machine's door, directly facing on the inside of the washing tank. Of course, a tight-proof gasket is provided between the door opening's edge and the external side of the dispenser body, in order to avoid the danger of water leakage within the door itself, wherein components supplied with electrical voltage are located. Dispensers for washing agents of the above said type can be used also in laundry washing machines, particularly of the top loading type (see for example EP-A-0 628 651). As already said, the main body of the dispenser is realized in two separate pieces, each one of them obtained usually by means of thermoplastic molding, the two pieces being then welded together in a second time; this in order to allow the arrangement, inside the said body, of functional parts, such as some components of the rinse aid measuring system and/or an electric sensor of the level of the rinse aid in the relevant reservoir. According to the prior art, the connecting point, or welding line, between the two pieces which constitute the dispenser body, is located in the part of the body intended to be inserted inside the opening of the door, and is enclosed in the latter. The present invention is based on the acknowledgement of the technical problem that the welding points located on the dispenser body represent potentially critical areas of the known dispensers. In fact it may happen that, as time passes, along the welding between the plastic parts, micro-openings arise, due for instance to the vibration during the machine operation, and/or the mechanical stresses acting on the dispenser during the movements of closing the machine door, and/or the internal pressure of the dispenser due to the expansion in temperature of the rinse aid, and/or other mechanical stresses acting on the device during the transportation or the manufacturing (as for instance fortuitous falls of the device in the manufacturing line). It may therefore happen that the said micro-openings arise in correspondence of the rinse aid reservoir, causing leakage of the liquid towards the inside of the machine door; such a fact can originate malfunction or failure of the machine, if the leaking rinse aid, which is electrically conductive, comes into contact with electrical parts inside the door, such as the supply terminals of an actuator of the dispenser, or its electric sensor, or the programming device itself of the machine, which usually is also located inside the machine door. Furthermore, the rinse aid usually used in the dishwashing machines is capable of corroding or anyway deteriorate some plastic materials, such as the covering of electrical cables and wires; taking account of this fact, a rinse aid leakage inside the door can cause short circuits and originate potentially dangerous situations also for the machine user. On the basis of the acknowledgement of said technical problem, the present invention has the aim of avoiding the above said risks mentioned in connection with washing agents dispensing devices of the known type. Such aim is obtained, according to the present invention, by means of a washing agents dispensing device having the characteristics of the attached claims, which are an integral part of the present description. Further aims, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the following detailed description and the attached drawings, which are given as an explanatory and non limiting example only, and wherein: Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross-section of a part of the door of a dishwashing machine, wherein a known type of washing agents dispensing device is inserted; Fig. 2 schematically shows a partial cross-section of a known type of washing agents dispensing device, inserted in a dishwashing machine door; Figures 3-11 schematically show partial cross-sections of a few possible embodiments of a washing agents dispensing device according to the invention, inserted in a dishwashing machine door. In Fig. 1, with 1 there is indicated the door of a dishwashing machine; as for the prior art, the door comprises a wall 2 facing towards the outside of the machine, and a wall 3 (or inner door), facing towards the inside of the washing machine tank; between the walls 2 and 3 an interspace 4 is defined in this way, wherein components of the machine can be located, like a programming device, with the relevant electrical connections, a drying fan, etc. In the inner door 3, usually made of stainless steel, an opening is defined, the edges of which, indicated with 5 in Fig. 1, are usually folded towards the inside of the interspace 4; in correspondence of said opening an electrically controlled washing agents dispenser is fastened, which is indicated with 6 as a whole. The dispenser 6 is realized according to the known technique and therefore it will not be described in further detail. It will be sufficient to add that the body of the dispenser 6 is substantially made of two distinct parts, namely a first part, indicated with 6A, intended to be inserted into the opening defined by the edges 5, and a second part, indicated with 6B, a portion of which is intended to stay outside of the said opening, namely facing towards the washing machine tank. The part 6A shows on the rear, and therefore towards the interspace 4, a generic electric actuator AT and a lever system SL for activating, following the activation of the actuator AT, the delivering devices of the dispenser 6, which are of known type. Inside the part 6B, and therefore not visible in the figure, there are defined at least a portion of a reservoir for a liquid rinse aid and, if necessary, a portion of a small cup for a powdered detergent; inside part 6A there are also located the delivery device of the rinse aid and, if necessary, an electronic sensor for detecting the presence thereof; such a sensor may be provided with means for controlling a signaling element, located on the command board of the machine, and apt to inform the user whether the rinse aid inside the dispenser 6 is all gone. The part 6B of the dispenser 6, which shows a front portion being greater than the part 6A, has on its surface a small door, not visible in the figure, for closing the said cup of the detergent, and an outlet, not visible too, for delivering the rinse aid when the relevant delivering device is actuated. Part 6A has also an opening/closing device of the said small door, which is actuated by means of the actuator AT and the lever system SL, in a known way. As said also in the opening part of the present description, the main body of the known dispenser 6 is obtained welding together the two parts 6A and 6B; the welding or junction line between the two parts is indicated in Fig. 1 with 7. As it can be seen, such a welding 7 is found in an intermediate position of the body 6, and results in laying in the interspace 4; as already said such a positioning may be the cause of some problems. Again in Fig. 1, with 8 there is indicated a tight-proof gasket, operating between the part 6B and the surface 3A of the inner door 3 facing the washing tank; the function of said gasket 8 is that of preventing liquid or moisture of the washing tank from entering the opening defined by the edges 5, so arriving into the interspace 4; for this purpose, the gasket 8 completely surrounds the body of the dispenser 6. With 9 there are indicated a number of projections which protrude from part 6B towards the interior of the interspace 4, and are used, together with one or more brackets, not shown in Fig. 1, for mechanically fastening the dispenser 6 to the inner door 3. In fig. 2, where the same reference numbers of Fig. 1 are used, the fastening system of the dispenser 6 is shown in better detail. In said figure, with 10 there are indicated the cited fastening brackets, which are secured to the projections 9 by means of screws 11, so pressing onto the surface 3B of the inner door facing the interspace 4. With 12 there is indicated one of a number of spaced ribs, which extend on the lateral surface of the dispenser body, from part 6B towards part 6A (one of said ribs 12 can also be seen in Fig. 1). According to the prior art, the opening of the inner door defined by edges 5 must have a greater size than the portion of the body of the dispenser 6 where the welding 7 is located; said greater size are just provided for making easier the insertion of the dispenser body into the opening, so avoiding possible interference between the edges 5 and the external portion of the welding 7, which may also produce a deterioration of the welding itself. In view of this fact, therefore, the ribs 12 have the function of compensating the above said difference in size between the dispenser 6 body and the opening trough which the said body is inserted. The said ribs 12, which show a suitably inclined end, are of course also apt to make easier the centering of the part 6B in the opening of the inner door 3, as well as a slight elastic bending of the edges 5. As can be seen, the perimetrical portion of the external surface of part 6B comprises a wall, indicated with 6C in Figs. 1 and 2, apt to rest on the surface 3A of the inner door 3; between said wall 6C and the surface of the dispenser 6 onto which the ribs 12 are defined, there is defined a continuous rib or support 13 (Fig. 2); such a rib 13 has a shorter length than the wall 6C and constitutes a rest for the gasket 8. For the assembly, the gasket 8 is laid down on the rib or support 13, while the part 6A and a portion of part 6B are inserted into the opening defined by the edges 5; as already said the shape of the ribs 12 makes easier the insertion of part 6B into the cited opening, producing also a slight bending of the edges 5. The dispenser 6 body is inserted into the opening until the end of the wall 6C comes to rest on the surface 3A of the inner door, on the washing tank side; in this situation the gasket 8 is elastically pressed by the rib 13 on the surface 3A. At this point, the operator provides for fastening, by means of the screws 11, the brackets 10 on the projections 9, which press on the surface 3B of the inner door; once the electrical connections for the dispenser 6 have been completed, the inner door 3 can be fastened to the remainder of the door 1, after having provided, if necessary, the interspace 4 with other components (programmer, fan, wiring, etc.). As can be seen from Fig. 2, according to the described assembling technique, the welding 7, which fasten together the two parts of the body of the dispenser 6, is located inside the interspace 4; this fact, as already said, may be a source of serious problems, in the case of leakage of rinse aid out of the welding 7. In Fig. 3 there is shown a dispenser obtained according to the present invention; it has to be noticed that in said figure the same reference numbers are used, as in the previous figures, for indicating technically equivalent elements, with the addition of the index'. In Fig. 3, unlike in the previous figures, a sensor can be seen of the rinse aid level, known per se, having the previously cited functions, indicated with SB; with C1 and C2 there are indicated the electrical supply and control wires of the actuator AT' and the sensor SB, respectively. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the welding 7', made for fastening together the two parts 6A' and 6B' of the main body of the dispenser 6', is located in the portion of the said body which is destined to remain outside the door interspace, and facing the washing machine tank. To this purpose a suitable sizing of the parts 6A' and 6B' is provided; in particular, in the shown example, the part 6A' has a greater volume than the part 6B' and the latter is completely arranged in the washing tank. The dispenser 6' may, as in the shown example of Fig. 3, not having the ribs 12 previously described being typical of the prior art. This fact is possible because, due to the new arrangement of the welding 7', there is no more possibility of interference between the external part of the same welding and the edges 5 of the inner door 3, during the insertion of the part 6A' into the latter. In view of this fact, therefore, according to the invention, the opening made in the inner door can be of a smaller size than that according to the prior art, or, with an equal opening, the body of the dispenser 6' according to the invention can have a greater size than the known dispensers, so increasing the capacity of containing washing agents. As it can be seen in Fig. 3, therefore, with the dispenser 6', the edges 5 can directly rest on the flat surface of the part 6A', with a greater contact area between the relevant elements (in the case according to the prior art, the edges 5 had a contact only with ribs 12, i.e. with a very limited area of the dispenser body). Furthermore, in the example of Fig. 3, the sealing gasket, substantially of the O-ring type, now indicated with 8A, results in being located in a zone outside the door interspace, said zone laying between the welding 7' and the surface 3A of the inner door facing the washing tank, and particularly on the part 6A' near the welding 7'. The perimetrical wall 6C' of the part 6B', unlike in the prior art, does not result in continuous rest or contact with the inner door surface, so that between the two elements a gap is defined, indicated in Fig. 3 with LP. The rest of the dispenser 6' body on the surface 3A of the inner door 3 is now effected by means of a wall 6D, being internal with respect to the wall 6C', and which is a part of 6A'; as it can be seen, the wall 6D extends substantially parallel to the wall 6C' and the external surface of the part 6A'; wall 6D is practically an extension of the internal wall 6F of the part 6B'. According to the given example, therefore, a housing for the gasket 8A is defined, which is delimited: by a portion of the wall 6D; by the extension, towards the washing tank, of the external surface of the part 6A'; by a further connecting wall, indicated with 6E, which extends between the wall 6D and the cited extension of the external surface of the part 6A' in a perpendicular direction in respect of them (practically, the wall 6E too is an extension, perpendicular to the surface of the part 6A', extending externally of the door interspace on the washing tank side). It should be pointed out that, in this way, the gasket 8A is completely in contact with at least one of the sides defining its housing, and therefore, besides the inner door 3, also with the external surface of part 6A', and/or the wall 6D, and/or the wall 6E, with evident advantages as the sealing is concerned. The arrangement according to the embodiment of Fig. 3 allows to solve the above said problems of the prior art. In fact, according to the invention, a possible leakage of rinse aid, due to micro-breakings of the welding 7', can only be directed outside the interspace of the machine door. It is clear, in fact, that the leaking rinse aid can only flow into the interstice IN defined between the wall 6C' and the walls 6D-6F; furthermore, due to the presence of the gap LP, the leak will be directed to fall downwards, outside the interstice IN and directly into the washing tank, along the external surface 3A of the inner door 3; in this way an accumulation of rinse aid in the ambit of the dispenser 6' is avoided. The removal of said rinse aid leakage from the ambit of the dispenser 6' will also be favored by the liquid present within the washing tank which, during the operating phases of the machine, can enter through the gap LP so washing away the rinse aid from the interstice IN; said interstice can, if necessary, be conveniently shaped in order to facilitate said washing, or also be eliminated in order to avoid any possible accumulation of water and rinse aid. The presence of wall 6D also reduces the possibilities of contact between the rinse aid spilling from the welding 7' and the gasket 8A; it is in fact clear that, due to the presence of said continuous wall, shielding the gasket 8A in respect of the welding 7', the leaking rinse aid can unlikely come into contact with the gasket; this because the gaps, due to manufacturing tolerances, which exist between the end of the wall 6D and the surface 3A of the inner door 3, are of very small size, and the leaking rinse aid, usually very dense, will have a great difficulty in entering through said gaps. In any case, the said possibility is practically avoided thanks to the above said continuous washing of the interstice IN. Finally, as already said, any possible interference between the welding 7' and the edges 5 of the opening in the inner door 3 is avoided. It should be mentioned that, in place of the continuous gap LP along all the length of the end of the wall 6C', a kind of crenellation could be provided, namely a number of scattered openings, in order to allow the passage of the likely rinse aid of leakage and of the washing liquid for taking it away. In Figs. 4-11 there are shown further possible variant embodiments of the present invention; also in said figures the same reference numbers will be used as in the previous figures, for indicating technically equivalent elements, with the possible addition of the index '. For instance, Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention which is substantially similar to that of Fig. 3, wherein the welding 7' between the parts 6A' and 6B' is located externally of the interspace of the machine door. In this example, a gasket 8B is provided, having a generally elongated shape, so to obtain a first sealing between the end of the wall 6D and the surface 3A of the inner door 3, and a second sealing between the end of the wall 6C' and the surface 3A of the inner door 3; in other words, therefore, the gasket 8B realizes a double tightness, both for the part 6A' and the part 6B' with respect to the washing tank. Such an arrangement and embodiment of the gasket 8A can be useful in order to obtain, besides an improved sealing against the penetration of liquid towards the door interspace, also a compensation of possible excessive stresses on the welding 7', during the tightening of the brackets 10'. It should be noticed that, in this variant, the interstice IN between the walls 6C' and 6D-6F shall not necessarily be watertight; to this purpose, in fact, the wall 6C' could comprise passages apt to perform the function of the gap LP of Fig. 3. Also in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 5, the welding 7' between the parts 6A' and 6B' is located externally of the interspace 4 of the machine door. Unlike the previous figures, in this case there is not an enclosed housing for the sealing element, and the wall 6F' of the part 6B' is now an extension of the external surface of part 6A'; as it can be seen, furthermore, between wall 6F' and wall 6C' there is a continuous rib 13'; such a rib 13' shows suitable passages, indicated with LP1. In this case, a gasket 8C is provided, having substantially an "L" shape, apt to realize either a sealing between the external surface of part 6A' and the edges 5, and a compensation rest between the end of rib 13' and the inner door 3; also in this case the sealing element represented by the gasket 8C is in contact with both the inner door 3 and the parts 6A' and 6B' of the body of the dispenser 6'. The rinse aid eventually leaking from the welding 7' can reach the washing tank through the passages LP1 and the gap LP; a part of the water circulating in the washing tank can cover the inverse path, through the gap LP and the passage LP1, so taking away the likely residues of rinse aid from the ambit of the dispenser 6'. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show embodiments of the invention wherein the welding 7' is located substantially in an intermediate point between the washing tank and the interspace of the machine door. For instance, in Fig. 6 the welding 7' extends near the plane where there is defined the opening in the inner door 3, for receiving the dispenser 6'. In this case, a gasket 8D is provided, of the O-ring type, realizing the sealing between the surface of the folded edges 5 of the inner door 3 and the external surface of part 6A' of the body of the dispenser 6'; as it can be seen, therefore, there are provided sealing means 8D, apt to prevent that the possible rinse aid leakage from the welding 7' enters in the interspace 4. As it can be seen, also in embodiment of Fig. 6, the wall 6C' and the rib 13' are provided with suitable passages LP and LP1, in order to avoid both the accumulation of rinse aid in the ambit of the dispenser 6' and allow the elimination of the residues thereof by means of the washing water circulating in the tank. Notice should be given to the fact that, preferably, on the external surface of part 6A' there can be defined a suitable seat, not shown in the figure for the sake of simplicity, for obtaining the precise allocation of gasket 8D. The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is substantially similar to that of Fig. 6, with the difference that, in addition to the gasket 8D, there is provided a further gasket 8E, in order to obtain a sealing action and/or an action of compensation of possible excessive stresses on the welding 7' at the moment of the fastening of the brackets 10'. In this case, there are consequently provided two distinct sealing elements, 8D and 8E, of the O-ring type, which realize respectively a sealing between the surface 3A' of the inner door 3 and the part 6A', and a sealing between the surface 3A' of the inner door 3 and the part 6B'. It should be noticed, however, that the gasket 8E could be interrupted in one or more points, in order to allow the flowing away of the leaking rinse aid and its washing by water circulating in the tank. The embodiment of the following Fig. 8 is substantially similar to that of Fig. 7, with the difference that, in this case, there is provided a single sealing element 8F, made up of two sealing rings 8F1 and 8F2, substantially of the O-ring type, which perform respectively the functions of the separate gaskets 8D and 8E of Fig. 7, and are connected together by means of an elastic continuous membrane, indicated with 8F3; during the operation, said membrane is stretched between the rings 8F1 and 8F2 and can direct towards the passages LP and LP1 the leaking rinse aid, so that it can reach the washing tank. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show embodiments of the dispenser according to the invention, wherein the welding between parts 6A' and 6B', now indicated with 7", results in being located inside the interspace 4 of the door 1, but there are provided suitable means apt to prevent the passage of likely leaking rinse aid from said welding 7" towards the interspace itself; it should be noticed that in said figures the brackets 10' are not shown, for the sake of simplicity. In the case of Fig. 9, the dispenser according to the invention is provided with a sealing element 8G, made up of two elastic rings, substantially of the O-ring type, indicated with 8G1 and 8G2, connected together by means of an elastic membrane 8G3. As it can be seen, the ring 8G1 is located inside the interspace 4, on the surface of part 6A', which for this reason is provided with a suitable positioning seat; it has to be noticed that the ring 8G1 keeps the position thanks to its elasticity; this can be obtained realizing the ring 8G1 with a length which is shorter than the perimeter of part 6A' whereon the same ring operates. The ring 8G2 on the contrary is located outside of the interspace 4 and is kept on the surface 3A of the inner door 3 by a rib 13'; in this case both the rib 13' and the wall 6C' are provided with suitable gaps or passages LP and LP1. Said ring 8G2 perform the function of realizing a sealing action on surface 3A, in order to avoid penetrations of water from the tank towards the interspace 4, and a likely compensation action of excessive stresses on the welding 7" at the moment of fastening of the brackets of the dispenser. The function of preventing that possible rinse aid leakage from the welding can reach into the interspace is performed by the membrane 8G3, which is stretched between the rings 8G1 and 8G2. The leakage of rinse aid from the welding 7", in fact, is conveyed by the membrane 8G3 towards the outside of the door interspace 4, and is free to go out towards the washing tank through the passages LP and LP1; thanks to said passages, moreover, a part of the water circulating in the washing tank can remove possible residues of rinse aid from the ambit of the dispenser 6'. Of course, the membrane 8G3 and the rings 8G1 and 8G2 also prevent the water circulating in the tank from reaching the interspace 4. The embodiment shown in Fig. 10 is similar to that of Fig. 9; in this case there is provided a sealing element 8G whose membrane 8G3, instead of being stretched between the rings 8G1 and 8G2, operates a sealing onto the surface of the dispenser 6'. As it can be seen, the ring 8G1 is located inside the interspace 4, on the surface of part 6A', which may be provided of a suitable positioning seat, not shown in the figure; the ring 8G2, which performs the sealing function against water penetration from the washing tank of the machine, operates on the surface 3A being located outside of the interspace 4, and is kept in pressure on the surface 3A of the inner door by a rib 13'. The ring 8G2 in this embodiment, performs also a compensation action of possible excessive stresses on the welding 7", at the moment of the fastening of the brackets of the dispenser. In this case, the function of keeping the likely leakage of rinse aid from the welding 7" is performed by the membrane 8G3, which connects the two rings 8G1 and 8G2, and provides for covering and sealing the welding itself and the adjacent areas of the dispenser body. Also in this case, the ring 8G1 and at least a substantial part of the membrane 8G3 can be maintained in their respective operating positions thanks to the elasticity typical of their material, as already said; as an alternative, the membrane 8G3 may be made integral with the surface of dispenser body at least in two points, respectively located on the parts 6A' and 6B', e.g. by means of gluing or thermal-welding. In this way, therefore, the rinse aid leaking out of the welding 7" is kept by the membrane 8G3 and cannot reach into the door interspace 4. In the case of the embodiments of Figs. 9 and 10, the dispenser according to the invention can be provided with ribs, not shown, having the function of those indicated with 12 in Figs. 1 and 2; it should be noticed, anyway, that the membrane 8G3, which connects the two gaskets or perimetrical rings 8G1 and 8G2, could have suitable thickness and shape apt to replace said ribs, while still allowing the liquid to flow into the tank (e.g. through suitable passages) and/or apt to ensure a radial sealing on the dispenser surface. In view of this fact, for instance, the elastic element connecting the rings 8G1 and 8G2 could have a substantially cuneiform shape. Finally, in the embodiment of Fig. 11 there is shown the case of a sealing element 8H, comprising two rings 8H1 and 8H2 of the O-ring type, being respectively in contact with the surfaces of part 6A' and 6B' of the body of the dispenser 6'; said rings 8H1 and 8H2 are located on the sides of the welding 7" and connected together by an elastic membrane 8H3, which performs the function of holding likely leakage of rinse aid out of said welding. As it can be seen, the ring 8H2 is in this case interposed between the surface of part 6B' and the edges 5, in order to avoid penetrations of water from the washing tank towards the inside of interspace 4; the ring 8H1 remains in sealing on the surface of part 6A', by virtue of its elasticity. Also in this case, therefore, the rinse aid leaking out of the welding 7" is kept by the membrane 8H3 and cannot consequently reach the door interspace 4. It should be noticed that, in the case of solutions employing two tightness elements (either separate, as in the case of Fig. 7, or connected together by a membrane, as in the case of Fig. 11), the sealing element which operates on the part 6A' shall be designed or sized in order to obtain a sealing of stronger pressure or intensity with respect to the sealing element which cooperates with part 6B'. For instance, referring to Fig. 7, this can be obtained realizing the ring 8E with a softer or more elastic material than the ring 8F. Analogously, for instance in the case of Fig. 10 or 11, the rings 8G1 or 8H1 and the membranes 8G3 or 8H3 can have a high radial strength and/or be made at least in part directly integral with the surface of part 6A' (by means of gluing, thermal welding or molding), while the rings 8G2 or 8H2 shall be simply interposed between the surface of part 6B' and the edges 5. Such a provision can be made in order to avoid that the possible expansion in temperature of the leaking rinse aid being collected between the two rings may cause problems or damages to the sealing system according to the invention, or penetrations of the rinse aid itself towards the inside of the interspace 4. In particular, referring to the just cited figures and according to the proposed solution, the likely expansion of the spilled rinse aid will be able to overcome the sealing capacity of the ring 8E or 8G2 or 8H2 and/or of the membrane 8G3 or 8H3, so finding an outlet only towards the washing tank, and not towards the interspace 4. From the given description, the characteristics are clear of the washing agent dispenser according to the present invention, particularly for dishwashing machines, as well as the relevant advantages. In particular a dispensing device has been described, of detergents and/or additives for washing machines, comprising at least a container of a liquid matter, such as a rinse aid, wherein the body of the device comprises at least a first part 6A' and a second part 6B', made integral to each other by means of a welding 7 or 7"; a portion of the body made up of the two parts 6A' and 6B' is intended for being inserted through an opening 5 realized in a wall 3, a surface of which faces a washing tank, the opposite wall facing towards a space 4, which shall be tightly insulated in respect of the tank. According to the invention, insulating means are provided, for preventing likely leakage of said liquid matter from said welding 7 and 7" to reach the inside of said space 4 and/or for conveying said leakage towards said washing tank. In some embodiments of the invention, said insulating means are realized by means of a suitable sizing and positioning of use of the two parts 6A' and 6B'. It is clear the several variations are possible for the man skilled in the art to the washing agent dispenser according to the invention described by way of example, without exiting from the novelty scope of the inventive idea. For instance, it is evident that the washing agent dispensers according to the present invention can be used also in laundry washing machines, in particular of the top loading type. Equally, the dispenser according to the invention, instead of being fastened to the inner door of a dishwasher, could be generally fastened to any of the walls or surfaces defining the washing tank. The shape of the various sealing elements could be different from the one described above; for instance, the various rings, instead of being of the O-ring type, could also show a rectangular cross section (Square-ring). Previously, reference has been made to the possibility of obtaining the necessary sealing of the rings 8G1 and/or 8H1 by exploiting the elasticity of the relevant material, and choosing the length of the rings to be smaller than the length of the perimeter of part 6A'. In alternative implementation versions, said rings could be made integral to part 6A' by means of gluing, thermal welding, molding, etc. The sealing means apt to prevent the passage of leaking rinse aid towards the inside of the interspace 4 could be of conception and realization other than the one shown. For instance, on the external surface of the dispenser body, in particular in adjacent areas to the welding between the two parts, suitable seats could be provided, wherein, during the manufacturing, a material in the liquid state could be poured, which, due to its subsequent hardening, will represent then the said sealing means.

Claims: Dispensing device for dispensing detergents and/or additives in a washing machine, said dispensing device comprising at least a container of a liquid matter, such as a rinse aid, the body of said device (6') comprising at least a first part (6A') and a second part (6B'), said parts (6A', 6B') being integrally connected together by at least a welding (7'; 7"), wherein a first portion of said body (6A', 6B') is destined to be inserted through an opening (5) in a wall (3) facing on a washing tank through a its first surface (3A), a second portion thereof remaining outside said opening (5), thereby causing the first portion to be located in use in a confined space (4) and the second portion to be located in use in a washing tank, the boundary between the first portion and the second portion so as to surround said dispensing device and in use to seal said opening (5), thus preventing communication between the washing tank and the confined space (4); characterized in that insulation means are further configured so as to cooperate in use with said first surface (3A) of said wall (3) such that any liquid leaking through said at least a welding (7';7") is prevented from entering said confined space (4) and/or is directed towards said washing tank. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said insulation means comprise sealing means (8A,8B,8C,8D,8F1,8G1,8H1) which operate on at least a surface of said first part (6A'). Device, according to claim 2, characterized in that said sealing means (8A,8B,8C,8D,8F1,8G1,8H1) operate at least on a surface of said second portion of said first part (6A'). Device, according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that said insulation means comprise sealing means (8A,8B,8C,8D,8E,8F1,8F2,8G2,8H2) which operate at least on said wall (3). Device, according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that said insulation means comprise sealing means (8A,8B,8C,8E,8F2,8G2,8H2) which operate at least on a surface of said second part (6B'). Device, according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that said sealing means (8A,8B,8C,8D,8F,8G,8H2) operate both on a surface of said first part (6A') and said wall (3). Device, according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that said sealing means (8B,8C,8D,8E,8F2,8G2,8H2) operate both on a surface of said first part (6A') and on a surface of said second part (6B'). Device, according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that said insulation means comprise the arrangement of said welding (7') in an area of said body (6A', 6B') which is not destined to be inserted in said opening (5), said area being intended to be located outside of said confined space (4). Device, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said insulation means comprise the sizing of said first (6A') and second part (6B'), said first part (6A') being of greater volume in respect of said second part (6B') and/or the positioning of said second part (6B') completely outside of said confined space (4), in said washing tank. Device, according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that at least one edge (5) of said opening (5) is directly in contact with, or near to, a flat surface of said first part (6A'). Device, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said insulation means comprise sealing means (8A,8B,8C) where at least a portion of said sealing means (8A,8B,8C) is located on a plane which results in an intermediate position in respect of the planes whereon said welding (7') and said wall (3) lie. Device, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said second part (6B') comprises an external perimetric wall (6C'), which is in particular provided with one or more passage gaps (LP). Device, according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that said first part (6A') defines a wall or area (6D) of rest on the surface (3A) of said wall (3) facing the washing tank. Device, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said second part (6B') comprises a support or rib (13') apt to keep said sealing means (8C) in contact with said wall (3), said rib or the like (13') comprising in particular one or more passage gaps (LP,LP1). Device, according to claim 13 and/or 14, characterized in that said passage gaps (LP,LP1) are apt to allow the rinse aid leaking out of said welding (7';7") to flow towards said washing tank, and/or to allow a part of the liquid circulating in said washing tank to remove residues of said rinse aid. Device, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said insulation means comprise sealing means (8B,8C) being in contact with said first part (6A'), said second part (6B') and said wall (3), where in particular said sealing means (8B) are apt to realize a first sealing between said second part (6B') and said wall (3), and a second sealing between said first part (6A') and said wall (3). Device, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said insulation means comprise sealing means (8B,8C,8F,8G) being apt to realize a compensation action of likely excessive stresses on said welding (7',7") during the fastening of said dispenser (6'). Device, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said insulation means comprise sealing means (8C,8D,8F,8H) being apt to realize: a first sealing, between a surface of said first part (6A') and the edges (5) of said opening defined in said wall (3), which are folded towards the inside of said confined space (4); a second sealing, between said wall (3) and a surface of said second part (6B'). Device, according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that said welding (7') is located in a substantially intermediate area between said washing tank and said confined space (4), in particular in correspondence of, or substantially aligned with, the plane whereon said opening (5) is defined. Device, according to the previous claim, characterized in that said sealing means (8D) operate between a surface of said first part (6A') and the edges (5) of said opening defined in said wall (3), which are folded towards the inside of said confined space (4). Device, according to the previous claim, characterized in that said sealing means comprise two distinct elements, among which at least a first sealing element (8D), operating between said first part (6A') and said wall (3), and a second elastic element (8E), acting between said second part (6B') and said wall (3). Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said welding (7') is located within said confined space (4). Device, according to at least claim 1, characterized in that said insulation means comprise (8F,8G,8H) comprise two peripheral sealing or elastic elements (8F1-8F2,8G1-8G2,8H1-8H2) connected to each other by an intermediate sealing element (8F3,8G3,8H3). Device, according to the previous claim, characterized in that said peripheral sealing or elastic elements (8F1-8F2,8G1-8G2,8H1-8H2) are rings, substantially of the O-ring or the Square-ring type, and/or said intermediate sealing element (8F3,8G3,8H3) is an elastic membrane. Device, according to claim 23, characterized in that said intermediate sealing element (8F3,8G3,8H3) is apt for compensating the size difference between said first part (6A') and said opening, and/or to produce a slight elastic flexion of the edges (5) of said opening. Device, according to claim 23, characterized in that one of said peripheral sealing elements (8F1,8G1,8H1) is located within said confined space (4) and the other of said peripheral sealing elements (8F2,8G2,8H2) is located outside said confined space (4), in particular in said washing tank. Device, according to the previous claim, characterized in that said intermediate sealing element (8F3,8G3) is arranged between said two peripheral sealing elements (8F1-8F2,8G1-8G2) for conveying the rinse aid leaking out of said welding (7") towards the outside of said confined space (4), into said washing tank, and/or for covering said welding (7") and areas of said first part (6A') and/or said second part (6B') being adjacent to said welding (7"), in order to collect the rinse aid leaking out of said welding (7"). Device, according to at least one of the previous claims from 23 to 27, characterized in that on the surface of the body of said device (6') at least a positioning seat is defined, for at least one of said peripheral sealing elements (8F1-8F2,8G1-8G2,8H1-8H2). Device, according to at least one of the previous claims form 23 to 28, characterized in that the sealing of at least one of said peripheral sealing elements (8F1-8F2,8G1-8G2,8H1-8H2) on the surface of the body of said device (6') is obtained by virtue of the elasticity of the material realizing the peripheral sealing element itself. Device, according to at least one of the previous claims from 23 to 29, characterized in that at least one of said peripheral sealing elements (8F1-8F2,8G1-8G2,8H1-8H2) is located between said wall (3) and a surface of said second part (6B').

Inventors: CERRUTI DANIELE, GADINI COSTANZO, NEBBIA FABIO, CERRUTI, DANIELE, GADINI, COSTANZO, NEBBIA, FABIO
Applicants: ELTEK SPA, ELTEK S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47L15
IPC codes: A47L15