Abstract:
A dispensing device ( 1 ) for a door of a dishwasher, includes a support body ( 2 ) having first and second, longitudinally adjacent, dispensers ( 5 - 7; 9, 10 ), for a washing agent and a rinse agent, respectively; and an electrically controlled actuator device ( 13 ), having a stationary structure ( 15 ) and a mobile member ( 18 ), coupled to the first dispenser ( 5 - 7 ) such that when the door is closed a first energisation of the actuator device ( 13 ) causes the dispensing of the washing agent, and coupled to the second dispenser ( 9, 10 ) through a transmission mechanism including an interconnecting member ( 30 ) which makes the mechanism operative after a first energisation of the actuator device ( 13 ) after the door is closed, to allow dispensing of the rinse agent by a subsequent energisation of the actuator device ( 13 ). The interconnecting member ( 30 ) has an inactive position in which the mechanism is inoperative when the door is opened.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/075667 filed Nov. 26, 2014, claiming priority based on Polish Patent Application No. 406269 filed Nov. 26, 2013, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an integrated dispenser for washing and rising agents, in particular for a pivotable door of a dishwasher. 
         [0003]    More specifically, the present invention concerns an integrated dispensing device comprising a support body having an elongate shape, wherein there are provided first and second longitudinally adjacent dispensers, for a washing agent and a rinsing agent, respectively, and
       an electrical controlled actuator device, comprising a stationary structure and an actuation member movable with respect thereto, the actuator device being coupled to the first dispenser such that when the door is closed a first energisation of the actuator device causes the dispensing of the washing agent, and coupled to the second dispenser through a transmission mechanism including a pivotable interconnecting member adapted to make said mechanism operative after a first energisation of the actuator device once the door is closed, to allow the dispensing of the rinsing agent by a subsequent energisation of the actuator device; said interconnecting member being adapted to assume, under gravity, an inactive position in which it makes said mechanism inoperative once the door is opened.       
 
         [0005]    An integrated dispensing device of that type is disclosed for instance in EP 1 740 082 B1. In said known device the electrically controlled actuator is of the kind comprising a solenoid and an associated movable core. The actuator is disposed within the support body of the dispensing device, such that the movable core thereof is translatable along a direction which, in the operation, is vertical and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said support body. The movable core of said solenoid actuator interacts with an arm of a rocker lever which controls the dispensing of the washing agent. After a first energisation of the actuator device after the door of the dishwasher has been closed, said arm of the rocker lever couples mechanically with an interconnecting member which is pivotably connected directly onto a movable control member of the second dispenser, such that the subsequent energisation of the actuator device causes the dispensing of the rinsing agent. 
         [0006]    Said integrated dispensing device according to the prior art is inherently expensive, because of the use of a solenoid actuator. Furthermore, the arrangement of such an actuator device and the mechanism coupling it with the first and second dispensers requires a lot of space, reducing in particular the space available for containing the rinsing agent. 
         [0007]    From WO 2013/092813 A2 an integrated dispensing device is known, which includes an actuator including a wire of a shape-memory material which follows an essentially M-shaped path, with three changes of direction between the ends thereof, and therefore with considerable frictions. 
         [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide an improved washing and rinsing agent dispensing device which allows to overcome the above-outlined inconveniences of the prior art devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by an integrated dispensing device of the initially defined kind, characterised in that said movable member of the actuator device is a slider movable with respect to said stationary structure along the longitudinal direction of said body, between a rest position and a working position, and in that
       said actuator device further comprises a wire made of a shape-memory material, having its ends connected to said stationary structure and extending along a U-shaped path which passes around a portion of the slider opposite said structure;   the arrangement being such that when said wire is energised by an electric current, it shortens and causes a displacement of the slider from the rest position to the working position, against the action of resilient contrast means, and when it is de-energised said wire re-elongates allowing a displacement of the slider toward the rest position;   said interconnecting member being carried by and connected pivotably to said slider.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, provided merely by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to annexed drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an integrated dispensing device according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the integrated dispensing device according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section taken along line III-III of  FIG. 1  and shows the dispensing device in a condition wherein a cover of the washing agent dispenser is in the closed position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 3  and shows the cover of the washing agent dispenser in the open position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the dispensing device according to the preceding figures; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view which shows an electrically controlled actuator device comprised in the integrated dispensing device according to the preceding figures; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are partial perspective views showing said actuator device; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are plan bottom views of the actuator device according to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , showing two different operating conditions; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a rear, partial perspective view showing the coupling of the actuator device with the rinsing agent dispenser; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a partial, rear perspective view showing the integrated dispensing device in a condition immediately following the closing of the dishwasher door; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in  FIG. 13  and shows the condition of the integrated dispensing device after the first energisation of the actuator device following closure of the dishwasher door; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 15  and shows the integrated dispensing device in a condition wherein a pivotable interconnecting member makes a transmission mechanism operative between the actuator device and the rising agent dispenser; 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of  FIG. 17 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a diagrammatical representation which illustrates different positions taken, in the operation, by said pivotable interconnecting member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    In the drawings an integrated dispensing device according to the invention is generally indicated 1. Such a device is intended to be fitted to the inside surface of the front door of a dishwasher. 
         [0032]    The door of a dishwasher is usually hinged to the body of the machine along its bottom edge and can be opened into a substantially horizontal position (loading position) in order to place dishes and utensils needing washing in the washing chamber, or to remove them after washing. The door, in its closed condition, lies in an essentially vertical position (working position) in which it closes the washing chamber in a liquid-tight manner. 
         [0033]    The integrated dispensing device  1  mounted in the door of a dishwasher is therefore also displaced, in use, between an essentially horizontal loading position, wherein it can be loaded with a detergent and a rinsing agent, and a vertical working position wherein the dispensing device faces the washing chamber and can be operated to dispense the detergent and a dose of rinsing agent during an operating cycle of the machine. 
         [0034]    In the present description and in the appended claims the term detergent or washing agent should be understood to mean any type of detergent or soap used in a dishwashing cycle. The term rinse agent should be understood to mean any product that can be used to improve the shine on clean items. 
         [0035]    The integrated dispensing device  1  includes an elongate body  2 , for instance of plastics material, to be fitted into a corresponding aperture predisposed in the door of a dishwasher. 
         [0036]    The body  2  can be made in two parts, for example a main or front portion and an auxiliary or rear portion, both produced by injection moulding and then connected together and heat-welded using a hot blade device. 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a tub-like receptacle  5  for containing a quantity of a detergent is formed in the front surface of the body  2  which in use will face towards the washing chamber of the dishwasher. 
         [0038]    The receptacle  5  has an associated cover  6 , which is movable, in a per se known manner, from a closed position, shown in  FIG. 3 , to an open position, shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0039]    In the closed position the cover  6  is retained by an arm  7   a  ( FIG. 7 ) of a shaft  7  which extends transversely through the body  2  of the integrated dispense and device  1 . 
         [0040]    During a washing cycle, as it will be disclosed later in greater detail, an actuator device  13  causes a rotation of the shaft  7  whose arm  7   a  causes the cover  6  to pass from the closed position ( FIG. 3 ) to the open position ( FIG. 4 ) allowing the detergent contained in the receptacle  5  to be dispensed to the washing chamber of the machine. 
         [0041]    In the support body  2  of the integrated dispensing device  1  there is provided a further dispenser, generally indicated  8 , for dispensing doses of a rinsing or shining agent. The dispenser  8  is longitudinally adjacent the dispenser  5 ,  6  for the washing agent and comprises a dispensing control member indicated  9  in  FIGS. 2, 7 and 13-19 . 
         [0042]    The dispenser  8  for the rinse agent comprises a shaped reservoir provided in the body  2  and indicated  10  in  FIGS. 2 to 6 . The reservoir  10  has a capacity corresponding to a plurality of doses of rinse agent, to be dispensed in a number of operating cycles of the machine. 
         [0043]    With reference for instance to  FIG. 5 , the control member  9  for dispensing the rinse agent is mounted translatable along the longitudinal direction of body  2 , within a recess  11  provided in the rear of said body. 
         [0044]    In the illustrated embodiment, the member  9  comprises at one end a plate-like formation  9   a,  having on one main face a longitudinal projection  9   b  (see for instance  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0045]    Opposite said projection, the plate-like portion  9   a  joins with a rod portion  9   c,  which extends in part also on the same main face of the plate-like portion  9   a  which is provided with the projection  9   b.    
         [0046]    Between the projection  9   b  and the opposite end of the rod portion  9   c,  in the plate-like portion  9   a  of the member  9  there is defined a recessed interspace indicated  9   d.    
         [0047]    At the end opposite the plate-like portion  9   a,  the movable control member  9  has one end  9   e  ( FIG. 7 ) acting as an obturator for a rinse agent dispensing valve, in a solution similar to that described and illustrated in EP 1 740 082 B1. 
         [0048]    A helical spring  12  is interposed between the plate-like portion  9   a  of the member  9  and the opposite wall of the recess  11 , and tends to urge said member  9 , toward the right for the observer of for instance  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
         [0049]    The integrated dispensing device  1  comprising an electrically controlled actuator, generally indicated  13  in the drawings. 
         [0050]    In the illustrated embodiment the actuator device  13  essentially comprises a support structure  14 , having an elongate shape and made for instance of a plastics material, to which there is fixed a circuit board  15  (see in particular  FIGS. 7-11 ). 
         [0051]    The board  15  carries at one end a multipolar connector  16 , whose terminals or pins  17  are accessible at one end of the body  2  of the integrated dispensing device  1 , as it can be seen for instance in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0052]    The board  15  also carries a plurality of electric/electronic components, some of which will be later described in greater detail. 
         [0053]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the board  15  extends approximately over one third of the longitudinal extension of the support body  2  of the integrated dispensing device  1 . 
         [0054]    As it can be seen for instance in  FIG. 7 , inside the support structure  14 , in proximity to the board  15 , there is provided a slider generally indicated  18 . 
         [0055]    With reference in particular to  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the actuator device  13  comprises further a wire  20  of a shape-memory material, for instance a material based on a titanium alloy. 
         [0056]    The wire  20  has its ends connected to two terminals  19  of the board  15 , and extends along an essentially U-shaped path, which passes around a convex rounded end portion  18   a  of the slider  18 , opposite board  15 . 
         [0057]    As it can be better seen in  FIG. 6 , a helical spring  21  extends between an end projection  18   b  of the slider  18  and a projection  14   a  of the support structure  14 . Said spring  21  tends to urge the slider  18  away from the board  15 , toward a rest position shown in  FIGS. 5 to 8, 10 and 13 . 
         [0058]    The end of the slider  18  close to the board  15  is provided with an indentation  22  ( FIGS. 6 to 8 ) in which the end of a second transverse arm  7   a  of the shaft  7  extends ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). 
         [0059]    The above-described arrangement is such that when, once the dishwasher door has been closed, the control unit of said machine causes a first energisation of the actuator device  13 , causing an electric current to flow in the shape-memory wire  20 . The latter shortens and causes a translation of the slider  18  from the rest position shown in  FIGS. 5 to 8 and 10  to the working position shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0060]    This translation of the slider  18  causes a rotation of the shaft  7 , in the counter-clockwise direction for the observer of  FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 , and the passage of the cover  6  from the closed position of  FIG. 3  to the open position of  FIG. 4 , allowing the dispensing of the detergent contained in the receptacle  5 . 
         [0061]    Conveniently, as it can be seen in  FIGS. 7, 8, 10 and 11 , to the end of the slider  18  close to the board  15  there is fastened an activating member  23  which, when said slider  18  is in the working position of  FIG. 11 , causes the switching of a micro-switch  24  carried by the circuit board  15 . 
         [0062]    Said micro-switch  24  acts as a position sensor and communicates, in use, to the electronic control unit of the dishwasher that the cover  6  has been driven open and the detergent contained in the receptacle  5  has been dispensed to the washing chamber of the machine. 
         [0063]    The slider  18  is also coupled with the control member  9 , in the manner which will be better disclosed in the following, for controlling the dispensing of the rinse agent by the dispenser  8 . 
         [0064]    In the embodiment illustrated, from the intermediate portion of the slider  18  there extends a formation  25 , having two side walls  25   a,    25   b,  facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the body  2  of the integrated dispenser  1 , as well as a front wall  25   c  and a rear wall  25   d  (see in particular  FIGS. 7, 8 and 14 ). 
         [0065]    Inside the formation  25  there is defined a wide passage, which is essentially vertical, indicated  26  in  FIGS. 6, 14 and 16 . 
         [0066]    Inside the region or passage  26  there is pivotably mounted a rod  30 , made for instance of a metal material. 
         [0067]    As it can be better seen in  FIG. 6 , the rod  30  as a whole has a shape essentially like a capsized L, and its upper end  30   a  is transversely bent and is pivotably engaged in an opening  25   e  of the wall  25   b  of the formation  25 . 
         [0068]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , within the passage  26  defined inside the formation  25 , a projection  27  limits the oscillations of the rod  30  in the plane of said figure. 
         [0069]    The lower end of the rod  30  protrudes downwardly beyond the lower end of the formation  25 , as it can be seen for instance in  FIGS. 7 and 13-18 . Said lower end of the rod  30  extends within the recess  11 , in particular between the spring  12  and the portion  9   c  of the control member  9 . 
         [0070]    Inside said recess  11 , in the region longitudinally comprised between the projection  9   b  and the portion  9   c  of the control member  9  the body  2 ,  10  is provided with an integral, protruding, engagement formation  31  which extends in a plane substantially parallel with the slider  18 , and which has an essentially triangular profile (see  FIGS. 5 and 12-18 ). 
         [0071]    The formation  31  has a longitudinal side or cathetus  31   a  ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ) which is essentially parallel with the projection  9   b  of the plate-like portion  9   a  of the control member  9 , and an oblique side or hypotenuse  31   b  (see for instance  FIGS. 13 and 15 ) which is inclined toward the front of the integrated dispenser  1  and toward portion  9   c  of the control member  9 . 
         [0072]    The above-described arrangement is such that the dispensing of the rinse agent by the dispenser  8  is caused by (at least) one second energisation of the actuator device  13  after the dishwasher door has been closed. 
         [0073]    When the dishwasher door has been closed, the slider  18  is in the rest position shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7, 10, 13 and 14 . In that condition, the rod  30  extends inclined with respect to the vertical direction (see  FIG. 14 ) and the lower end thereof insists, under gravity, against the side  31   a  of the engagement formation  31 , as it can be seen for instance in  FIG. 13 . In that condition the rod  30  extends transversely outside the interspace  9   d  defined between the projection  9   b  and the portion  9   c  of the control member  9 . 
         [0074]    As already described above, once the dishwasher door has been closed the first energisation of the shape-memory wire  20  causes a translation of the slider  18  toward the circuit board  15  and the consequent rotation of the shaft  7  which, by means of its arm  7   a,  causes the cover  6  to open. The latter uncovers the receptacle  5 , and the detergent contained there-in is dispensed toward the washing chamber. Said translation of the slider  18  causes a corresponding translation of the rod  30 , which leaves the side  31   a  of the engagement formation  31  and comes to rest against the projection  9   b  of the plate-like portion  9   a  of the control member  9  (see  FIGS. 15 and 16 ). Also in that condition the rod  30  is inclined, with respect to the vertical direction, such that gravity urges it against the projection  9   b.    
         [0075]    Said translation of the slider  18  causes, through its member  23 , the switching of the micro-switch  24  and the communication to the control unit of the dishwasher that the detergent contained in the receptacle  5  has been dispensed. 
         [0076]    The control unit of the dishwasher causes thereafter the de-energisation of the shape-memory wire  20 , which re-elongates. The slider  18  can thus translate toward the rest position under the action of the associated contrast spring  21 . During this translation of the slider  18  the rod  30  slides initially on the projection  9   b  of the control member  9 , and then falls by gravity into the interspace  9   d  defined between said projection  9   b  and the end of the portion  9   c  of the member  9 , assuming the position shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The translation of the slider  18  toward the rest position also determines a new switching of the micro-switch  24 . 
         [0077]    Subsequently, in the course of the operating cycle, the control unit of the dishwasher causes a new energisation of the shape-memory wire  20 , which shortens again, causing a new translation of the slider  18  toward the circuit board  15 . This translation of the slider  18  causes a corresponding translation of the rod  30 , which now engages the facing end of the projection  9   b  of the control member  9 . Also in this condition the rod  30  is preferably inclined with respect to the vertical direction. 
         [0078]    The further translation of the slider  18  causes the control member  9  to be dragged because of the engagement of the rod  30  with the projection  9   b.  The control member  9  passes thus to the position in which the rinse agent dispensing valve is opened. 
         [0079]    The dispensing of the rinse agent can be controlled, by the electronic unit of the dishwasher, in different manners. 
         [0080]    In a first a manner, the dispensing of the rinse agent is simply based on the energisation time of the shape-memory wire  20 , which can be a continuous energisation interval for said wire  20 , or, and preferably, divided into a number of energisations/de-energizations controlled by the electronic unit of the dish-washer on the basis of the signals correspondingly provided by the microswitch  24 . 
         [0081]    Once the dispensing of the rinse agent is completed the shape-memory wire  20  is definitely de-energised. It re-elongates, and the slider  18  returns to the rest position. Once that position has been reached, the rod  30  is engaged between the hypotenuse  3  lb of formation  31  and the plate-like portion  9   a  of the control member  9 , as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0082]    Once the washing cycle is over, when the door of the dishwasher is opened the formation  31  passes from the horizontal attitude to an essentially vertical attitude and the rod  30 , pivoting under gravity, descends along the hypotenuse  31   b  of said formation  31 , reaching again a position where in it insists against the cathetus  31   a  of said formation. 
         [0083]    When the door is subsequently closed, the rod  30  is again in the start-of-cycle position shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 19  diagrammatically illustrates the main operating positions of the rod  30  during a washing cycle. In that figure, parts and element equal or corresponding to parts and elements which have already been described have been attributed again the same references used previously. 
         [0085]    For a correct operation, the distance d which longitudinally separates the projection  9   b  of the control member  9  from the distal vertex of the formation  31  is conveniently shorter than the width D of the rod  30 . 
         [0086]    This ensures that, in each operating cycle, the first energisation of the shape-memory wire  20  causes the passage of the rod  30  from the position indicated A in  FIG. 19  to the position therein indicated B, avoiding that during said transition the rod  30  may fall into the interspace  9   d  comprised between said projection  9   b  and the portion  9   c  of the control member  9 . 
         [0087]    During the first energisation of the shape-memory wire  20 , the rod  30  can further translate, to the left for the observer of  FIG. 19 , until when the slider  18  reaches its working position. 
         [0088]    During the subsequent de-energisation and cooling of the wire  20 , the slider  18  returns towards its rest position and the rod  30  slides, toward the right for the observer of  FIG. 19 , on the projection  9   b,  passing through position B and reaching thereafter a position indicated C when the slider  18  reaches the rest position. In position C the rod  30  insists against the plate-like formation  9   a  of the control member  9 , in the interspace  9   d.    
         [0089]    The subsequent energisation of the shape-memory wire  20  causes a translation of the slider  18  towards the working position. The rod  30  correspondingly translates, sliding against the plate-like portion  9   a  of the member  9 , within the interspace  9   d,  until it engages and then drags, toward the left for the observer of  FIG. 19 , the projection  9   b  and thus the control member  9  as a whole, to start the dispensing of the rinse agent. 
         [0090]    Once the dispensing of the rinse agent is completed, the shape-memory wire  20  is finally de-energised and the slider  18  returns towards the rest position. The rod  30  correspondingly reaches the position indicated C in  FIG. 19 . 
         [0091]    When, later, the dishwasher door is opened, the lower end of the rod  30  falls toward the hypotenuse  31   b  of the formation  31  and descends sliding on said hypotenuse by the effect of gravity, reaching again the position indicated A. 
         [0092]    The circuit board  15  conveniently also carries an emitter-receiver pair (for instance a photodiode-phototransistor pair), generally indicated  34  in  FIGS. 6 to 11 , disposed facing a prism formation  35  ( FIG. 6 ), integrally provided in one wall of the reservoir  10  for the rinse agent. The prism formation  35  is of an at least partially transparent material. 
         [0093]    In the reservoir  10  for the rinse agent, close to the prism formation  35 , there is provided a shaped wall  10   a  which delimits a chamber  10   b  having a by far smaller capacity than the rest of the reservoir  10 . The chamber  10   b  is adapted to be put in hydraulic communication with the rest of the internal region of the reservoir  10  through a passage indicated  10   c  in  FIG. 6 , when the door is opened. 
         [0094]    The arrangement is such that when the door of the dishwasher is open, in an at least approximately horizontal attitude, the liquid rinse agent contained in the reservoir  10 , through the passage  10   c  partially fills the chamber  10   b.    
         [0095]    When the door is subsequently brought to the vertical closed position, an amount of rinse agent remains trapped in the chamber  10   b,  on the shaped wall  10   a.    
         [0096]    The emitter-receiver pair  34  allows, through the prism formation  35 , to detect the presence of an amount of rinse agent in chamber  10   b  above a predetermined level. 
         [0097]    When the level of the rinse agent remaining inside the reservoir  10  becomes lower than a predetermined threshold, the amount of rinse agent which is trapped in the chamber  10   b  by opening and closing the door of the dishwasher becomes also negligible and no longer detectable by the emitter-photodetector pair  34 , with which therefore provides the control unit of the dishwasher with a signal indicating that the rinse agent in the reservoir  10  has reached a “reserve” level. 
         [0098]    The integrated dispensing device according to the present invention has a plurality of advantages. 
         [0099]    First of all, the shape-memory wire has a limited number of changes of direction (only one change) and therefore operates in optimum conditions and with reduced friction with respect to the previously known solutions, for instance with respect to the solution disclosed in WO 2013/092813 A2, wherein the shape-memory wire follows an essentially M-shaped path, with three changes of direction between the ends thereof. 
         [0100]    The actuator device  13 , considered as a whole, has an elongate and relatively thin shape, and can be advantageously disposed in the uppermost longitudinal portion of the volume of the integrated dispensing device, subtracting a really minimum space, to the benefit of the capacity in particular of the rinse agent reservoir. 
         [0101]    With an equal capacity of said reservoir, the integrated dispensing device according to the invention is as a whole less bulky than those according to the prior art. 
         [0102]    The presence of the micro-switch  24  on the circuit board  15  and the use thereof in the above-described manners are extremely advantageous, since they allow to control the operation of the shape-memory wire  20 , making it exempt of problems of overheating, and allowing a more precise determination of the working position of the slider  18 . 
         [0103]    The arrangement of the emitter-receiver pair  34  on the same circuit board  15 , allows to adopt a single connector  16  for coupling with the control unit of the dishwasher, reducing the complexity of harnesses and the operations for setting up the connections. 
         [0104]    The use of a shape-memory wire allows to displace the slider and the other members coupled therewith, in a relatively slow manner, which makes the operation of the rod  30  under gravity more reliable. 
         [0105]    With respect to other integrated dispensing devices according to the prior art, which already adopted only one actuator for controlling the dispensing of both the washing agent and the rinse agent, the solution according to the present invention avoids that an even small quantity of rinse agent be dispensed when dispensing the washing agent. 
         [0106]    Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the form of embodiments and the details of manufacture may be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated merely by way of a non-limiting example, without departing thereby from the scope of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.