EP4023136A1 - Dosing device having a lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dosing device for the metered introduction of a pourable cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a housing (27) and a storage container (9) which is accommodated in an exchangeable manner in the housing (27) and serves to accommodate cleaning agent (39) and a has a base body (10) providing a volume (18), a lighting device (34) for introducing light (32, 36) into the volume space (18) provided by the base body (10), the base body (10) having a lighting device (34) has cooperating light entry opening (30).

Description

The invention relates to a dosing device for the metered introduction of a cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a housing and a reservoir accommodated in an exchangeable manner by the housing, which serves to accommodate cleaning agent and has a base body providing a volume space.

A dispenser of the generic type is from EP 3 305 159 B1 known.

Cleaning devices, in particular dishwashers or other water-carrying household appliances, such as washing machines, dryers or the like, typically have a rinsing container that provides a treatment space, also known as a rinsing space. This treatment room is accessible to the user via a loading opening which can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a pivotably mounted washing room door. When used as intended, the washing compartment serves to accommodate items to be cleaned, which in the case of a dishwasher can be, for example, crockery, cutlery and/or the like.

To achieve an optimized cleaning result, process chemicals are used that are fed into the washing chamber during a cleaning process, typically as an addition to the washing liquid used. Such process chemicals are, for example, detergents that are put into the washing chamber of the cleaning device under program control at a specific point in time during the program sequence.

The generic dispenser after EP 3 305 159 B1 has a storage tank for accommodation, ie storage of pourable cleaning agent. When used as intended, the reservoir is exchangeably accommodated by a housing of the dosing device and has a base body that provides a volume space. This volume space is divided into a storage chamber on the one hand and a compartment separated therefrom on the other hand, the compartment provides a dosing element which in turn has a dosing chamber providing a dosing space.

A dosing device of this type has proven itself in everyday practical use. However, there is nevertheless an effort to improve, in particular with a view to even more simplified handling by a user.

It is therefore the object of the invention to propose a dosing device of the generic type that structurally allows a simplification on the part of the user during operation.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a dosing device of the generic type which is characterized by a lighting device for introducing light into the volume space provided by the base body, the base body having a light entry opening which interacts with the lighting device.

The lighting device provided according to the invention makes it possible to illuminate the reservoir accommodated by the housing on the dosing device side in the intended use case. This allows simplified handling by the user.

During an intended loading process, the appliance door of a cleaning appliance, such as a dishwasher, is typically in its open position. Even if the washroom is illuminated, the inside of the appliance door can be in the dark, especially when the room light is switched off, which makes it difficult for the user, for example, to be able to check the level of cleaning agent in the dosing device. The configuration according to the invention provides a remedy here, since it enables the reservoir to be illuminated or illuminated. As a result, the user can be allowed, for example, to be able to immediately recognize and read the level of cleaning agent inside the reservoir.

Alternatively or additionally, the lighting device according to the invention can allow the user, for example, to display operating states of the cleaning device, in particular the dishwasher, visually. For example, the filling level of the reservoir can be displayed directly. The lighting device can do it For example, allow a user to perceive a filling level thanks to the illumination by the lighting device, in addition, a direct filling level display can also take place, for example, in that the lighting device emits light in pulsed and/or colored form. A completely filled reservoir can, for example, be illuminated continuously and a completely empty reservoir can be illuminated with a fast flashing light. Alternatively, color changes can also be provided, for example from white to orange to red, which also visualises the filling level of the reservoir.

Furthermore, any errors that may occur in the dosing device itself can be visualized, for example by rapidly flashing red. It is also conceivable to indicate maintenance or cleaning of the dosing device depending on a flashing and/or a color change.

The lighting device provided according to the invention therefore provides essentially two advantages. On the one hand, the dosing device, in particular the reservoir, can be illuminated, which is particularly advantageous in darkened room conditions, because it enables a user to inspect the dosing device, for example to check the fill level. On the other hand, the lighting device can provide a direct indication of the status of both the dosing device itself and the reservoir or other components of the cleaning device, for example through color changes and/or pulsating light frequencies.

According to a further aspect of the invention, it is provided that the main body of the storage container has a light entry opening which interacts with the lighting device. This light entry opening serves to allow light emitted by the lighting device to enter the interior of the storage container, ie into the volume space provided by the base body, when used as intended. This configuration according to the invention is particularly advantageous because it does not require a base body made of a translucent material. Rather, the configuration of a light entry opening according to the invention allows the base body to also be formed from a non-translucent material, in particular a plastic material. This opens up the possibility of the main body of the reservoir made of a recycled plastic material, ie a to form post-consumer recyclate. Such recyclates typically consist of a non-translucent material, but bring with them the advantage of being able to be put into the recycling loop in the sense of improved sustainability, and at the same time minimizing costs. The use of such a material within the scope of the invention is realized in that a light entry opening is provided which interacts with the lighting device.

The configuration according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that light can be introduced into the storage container when used as intended, for which purpose the main body of the storage container has at least one light entry opening. This allows the volumetric space provided by the storage container or the base body to be illuminated, and this with the simultaneous possibility of forming the base body from a non-transparent or non-translucent, recycled plastic material.

In addition, the invention proposes a reservoir which is used to house cleaning agent and has a base body which provides a volume space. This reservoir is set up to be accommodated in an exchangeable manner by the housing of a dosing device, as described above. The reservoir has a light entry opening which interacts with the lighting device of the dosing device, so that light can be introduced into the volumetric space provided by the base body.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the volume space provided by the base body of the storage container is divided into a storage chamber and a compartment separated from it by a partition, the compartment providing the light entry opening.

According to this alternative embodiment of the invention, the volume space provided by the main body of the storage container is divided into two sections, specifically a first section serving as a storage chamber on the one hand and a second section serving as a compartment on the other. The pantry and the compartment are separated from each other by a partition.

The pantry is used for the actual accommodation, ie storage of in particular pourable cleaning agent, such as powdered or granular cleaning agent. The compartment serves to accommodate a dosing element which, when used as intended, serves to discharge cleaning agent in a dosed manner from the storage chamber into the treatment space of the cleaning device. According to this embodiment variant, the light entry opening provided according to the invention is provided by the compartment of the storage container. When used as intended, light is therefore introduced into the compartment of the reservoir through the light entry opening.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided in this context that the light entry opening is designed to be unclosed. This is possible because the cleaning agent is not stored in the compartment but in the pantry. In this respect, there is no risk of cleaning agent stored in the storage container escaping through the light entry opening in an undesired manner. This makes it possible for a reservoir whose construction is essentially unchanged to also be used within the scope of the embodiment according to the invention, as is known from the generic EP 3 305 970 B1 is known.

For the purpose of metered ejection of pourable, particularly powdered or granular cleaning agent, another feature of the invention provides that the compartment has a metering element, which, according to another feature of the invention, is formed from a translucent plastic material. It is thus ensured that light introduced through the light entry opening provided by the compartment is not shielded by the dosing element. In this way, the compartment, the dosing element and/or a cover closing the compartment on the upper side can be illuminated. According to this embodiment, the dosing element is made of a translucent material, whereas the main body of the storage container can be made of an opaque material because the light emitted by the lighting device can enter the compartment through the light entry opening formed in the area of the compartment.

According to an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the volume space provides a storage chamber, with the storage chamber having the light entry opening. In the intended use case therefore finds a light entry into the pantry instead and not in a pantry juxtaposed compartment.

According to a further feature, it is provided in this connection that the light entry opening is designed to be closed by means of a light-transmissive closure part. It is thus ensured that the cleaning agent stored in the storage chamber cannot escape unintentionally through the light entry opening.

The light-permeable closure element is preferably a film. This is preferably embedded in the production of the base body, for example by injection molding, and this during the production process itself, so that no additional production or processing step is required to seal the light entry opening by means of the film so that it is impervious to cleaning agents.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the storage container has a dome which is arranged within the volume space and provides the light entry opening.

In this context, it is preferred that the dome has the light entry opening in the height direction in an upper area. It is thus permitted for light to be introduced into the storage chamber in an area above a detergent level. This allows the user to have an unobstructed view of the cleaning agent still stored in the reservoir. In addition, backlighting of the cover closing the storage container on the top side can be achieved in this way.

According to a first embodiment, the dome provided by the reservoir is arranged centrally within the base body. When used as intended, the reservoir is placed with its dome on an axis extension forming an axis of rotation and can rotate about it. This dome provided by the reservoir anyway has the light entry opening in its upper area. A plurality of light entry openings can also be provided, in which case there is preferably an equidistant alignment in the circumferential direction of the dome.

According to an alternative embodiment, the dome is formed off-center of the base body. In this case in particular, there can also be more than just one dome is provided, for example, two or three domes. Light can be introduced into the storage container via each of these domes. For this purpose, each dome has at least one light entry opening. This configuration has the advantage that certain areas of the storage container and/or a cover closing the storage container on the top side can be illuminated in a targeted manner. In addition, coordinated color effects and/or pulse effects are possible.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the base body is designed as a shell open on one side, with the open side being closed by means of a film, with the film being able to be backlit by means of the lighting device, in particular also when the storage container is filled or partially filled with cleaning agent. According to this embodiment variant, the cover closing the storage container on the upper side is designed as a film. This is preferably at least partially transparent, so that a user can look through it into the volume space provided by the storage container or the base body. Backlighting of the film is possible by means of the lighting device provided according to the invention, in particular also when the storage container is filled with cleaning agent, which leads to special visual effects. In particular, it is possible to generate visual cues and/or information for a user through appropriate coloring. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the dosing device according to the invention is provided for arrangement in the device door of the cleaning device, in particular the dishwasher, that can be pivoted about a horizontal axis. When the appliance door is pivoted into the open position, light can be introduced by means of the lighting device via the light entry opening into the volume space provided by the base body, in particular into the free area of the appliance door between the supply of cleaning agent and the film closing at the top, especially when the storage container is full or partially full reservoir above the cleaning agent level. This provides the backlighting of the film.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the lighting device has an LED that interacts with the light entry opening. One LED is preferably provided for each light entry opening, so that the light emitted by this LED can be introduced directly through the light entry opening into the volume space provided by the reservoir. It can supplement optical Elements such as lenses can be provided which enable light deflection, light scattering and/or other light influencing. In particular, a targeted illumination of the volume space provided by the reservoir and/or backlighting of the cover closing the reservoir on the top side can be achieved.

Not only LEDs are suitable as light sources. The advantage of an LED, however, is the low power consumption and the small size, which only requires a small installation space.

The light source, in particular the LED, is preferably provided by a printed circuit board. This is preferably formed on the housing side. For example, it can be provided that the housing accommodating the reservoir provides a housing base which has a groove on the outside into which the printed circuit board is inserted. A space-saving accommodation is achieved in this way, while at the same time ensuring that the lighting means provided by the printed circuit board are directly assigned to the respective light entry openings in the exact position.

The invention is characterized overall in that light is introduced into the reservoir via areas that have light entry openings specially provided for this purpose. These light entry openings or windows are structurally provided by the base body of the reservoir in such a way that either no cleaning agent can escape from them in an uncontrolled manner or alternatively the light entry openings are covered by a translucent film. This film can, for example, be automatically fed into the plastic injection mold and back-injected like a frame, which means that parts of the base body remain transparent. Otherwise, the base body can be formed from a non-transparent, preferably recycled plastic material.

According to a first variant, light is introduced into the dosing area of the storage container provided by the compartment via a printed circuit board equipped with two LEDs. The compartment displaceably accommodates a dosing element, which is formed from light-transmitting material and serves as an additional guide or light distributor. Alternatively or in addition to this, light is introduced into the region of the storage chamber of the storage container, for which purpose light entry openings sealed tightly for cleaning agents are provided. These are preferably from a cathedral of the reservoir provided, which allows light to be introduced into an area above a cleaning agent level.

In addition, the invention proposes a program-controlled cleaning device, in particular a dishwasher, which is equipped with a dosing device according to one of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments. The cleaning device can have a control device which is connected in terms of control technology to the dosing device, in particular to a lighting device. The control device can be set up in particular to send control signals to the dosing device, in particular to the lighting device, so that the lighting device can be switched on or off. In particular, the lighting device can be switched on or off, controlled by the control device depending on the operating state of the cleaning device and/or the fill level of the reservoir of the dosing device, or it can light up with different frequencies and/or colors.

Fig. 1

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät;

Fig. 2

in schematisch perspektivischer Ansicht von unten einen Vorratsbehälter;

Fig. 3

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung einen Vorratsbehälter;

Fig. 4

in schematischer Perspektivdarstellung den Vorratsbehälter nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

in einer schematischen rückwärtigen Ansicht ein den Vorratsbehälter im bestimmungsgemäßen Verwendungsfall aufnehmendes Gehäuse;

Fig. 6

in schematischer Schnittdarstellung einen Vorratsbehälter mit einem sich in Verschlussstellung befindlichen Dosierelement;

Fig. 7

in geschnittener Seitenansicht ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät;

Fig. 8

in schematischer Draufsicht von oben ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät;

Fig. 9

in schematischer Schnittdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät mit einem sich in Offenstellung befindlichen Dosierelement;

Fig. 10

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung einen Vorratsbehälter mit einer teilhinterleuchteten Abdeckung;

Fig. 11

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 12

in schematischer Schnittdarstellung das Dosiergerät nach Fig. 11;

Fig. 13

in schematischer Perspektivdarstellung einen Vorratsbehälter mit teilhinterleuchteter Abdeckung;

Fig. 14

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung einen Vorratsbehälter gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 15

in teilgeschnittener Seitenansicht ein erfindungsgemäßes Dosiergerät gemäß der weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 16

in schematisch perspektivischer Explosionsdarstellung das Dosiergerät nach Fig. 15 und

Fig. 17

in rückwärtiger Ansicht das Dosiergerät nach Fig. 16.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description based on the figures. show it

1

a dosing device according to the invention in a schematic perspective exploded view;

2

a reservoir in a schematic perspective view from below;

3

a reservoir in a schematic perspective exploded view;

4

in a schematic perspective view of the reservoir 3 ;

figure 5

in a schematic rear view, a housing accommodating the reservoir in the intended use case;

6

a schematic sectional view of a reservoir with a dosing element located in the closed position;

7

a dosing device according to the invention in a sectional side view;

8

a dosing device according to the invention in a schematic plan view from above;

9

a schematic sectional view of a dosing device according to the invention with a dosing element located in the open position;

10

a schematic perspective view of a reservoir with a partially backlit cover;

11

in a schematic perspective exploded view of a dosing device according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

12

the dosing device in a schematic sectional view 11 ;

13

a schematic perspective view of a reservoir with a partially backlit cover;

14

in a schematic perspective view a reservoir according to a further embodiment;

15

in a partially sectioned side view of a dosing device according to the invention according to the further embodiment;

16

the dosing device in a schematic perspective exploded view 15 and

17

rear view of the dosing device 16 .

1 shows the inside 2 of a washing compartment door 1 of a cleaning device, not shown in detail below, such as a dishwasher, in a schematic perspective exploded view.

The rinsing chamber door 1 accommodates a dosing device 3 of the type according to the invention.

The housing 27 is used to accommodate a support unit 6 in a rotatable manner.

The support unit 6 in turn provides a bearing sleeve 12 which is designed to correspond to the axial extension 8 . In the final assembled state, the support unit 6 is fitted with its bearing sleeve 12 onto the axle extension 8 . In the intended operating case, a twisting movement of the support unit 6 takes place about an axis of rotation defined by the axial extension 8 .

The carrying unit 6 is used to accommodate a storage container 9 in an exchangeable manner. This storage container 9, also known as a cartridge, has a base body 10 which is closed at the top by means of a sealing film serving as a cover.

In the intended use case, the reservoir 9 is accommodated by the carrying unit 6 and the carrying unit 6 together with the reservoir 9 by the housing 27, with the closure flap 4 being removed from its in 1 shown open position is converted into a closed position in which the housing 27 is fluid-tightly closed.

the Figures 1 to 10 relate to a first embodiment. As can be seen from a synopsis of these figures, the dosing device 3 has a drive device 7 (cf. figure 5 ). This provides a motor-transmission arrangement that is not shown in detail. By means of this, the support unit 6 can be rotated by a motor, specifically about the axis of rotation defined by the axial extension 8 . When used as intended, a reservoir 9 held by the support unit 6 rotates together with the support unit 6.

The reservoir 9 is used to accommodate detergent in an amount that is sufficient for several washing programs. A portioned amount of cleaning agent is taken from the reservoir for each washing program.

The reservoir 9 can be inserted into the carrying unit 6 in an exchangeable manner by the user. The carrying unit 6 receives the reservoir 9 in a torsion-proof manner, so that when the carrying unit 6 rotates by a motor, the container held by it also does so Reservoir 9 with twisted.

How in particular a synopsis of Figures 2 to 4 results, the reservoir 9 has a base body 10. This base body 10 is equipped with a dome 11 which, when the reservoir 9 is inserted into the support unit 6, accommodates the bearing sleeve provided by the support unit 6, which enables the reservoir 9 to be precisely positioned relative to the Carrying unit 6 guaranteed.

The base body 10 also provides a peripheral edge 24 which carries the sealing film 26 for sealing the storage container 9 at the top. The film 26 is preferably welded onto the edge 24 at the edge.

The base body 10 of the storage container 9 provides a volume space 18 which is divided into a storage chamber 13 on the one hand and a compartment 25 separated therefrom by means of a partition 15 on the other hand. The storage chamber 13 is used for the actual storage of the cleaning agent. The compartment 25, however, serves to accommodate a dosing element 22, which in turn provides a dosing chamber 14, which dosing chamber 14 serves to dispense cleaning agent in portions in the intended operating case.

In terms of flow, a metering channel 17 provided by the storage container 9 in the exemplary embodiment shown is connected to the metering chamber 14 (cf. 2 ), which opens into a dosing opening 23. Cleaning agent dispensed from the storage chamber 13 can be dispensed through the dispensing channel 17 via the dispensing opening 13 in the direction of a treatment space of the cleaning device, in particular the dishwasher.

As can be seen in particular from a synopsis of the Figures 6, 7 and 9 results, the metering element 22 accommodated by the compartment 25 and providing the metering chamber 14 can assume two positions in relation to the base body 10 of the reservoir. It is possible to move the dosing element 22 in the vertical direction.

6 shows the metering element 22 in its non-metering position. 9 however, shows a dosing element 22 that has been moved upwards in the vertical direction and is in its dosing position in this position.

For the purpose of transferring cleaning agent from the storage chamber 13 into the dosing chamber 14, the base body 10 has an outlet opening 19 (cf. 3 ). This is surrounded by funnel-shaped ribs for the purpose of improved transfer of cleaning agent into the dosing chamber 14 .

Corresponding to the outlet opening 19, the dosing element 22 is equipped with an inlet opening 20 in the exemplary embodiment shown. The inlet opening 20 overlaps with the outlet opening 19 when the dosing element 22 is in its dosing position.

Adjusting means 21 (cf. Figs. 7 and 9 ). In the exemplary embodiment shown, these adjusting means 21 are designed as mandrels, as is also the case here 1 reveals. When used as intended, these adjusting means 21 engage in openings 28 formed on the bottom side of the base body 10 of the reservoir 9, as is most clearly shown in 2 can be seen.

The sectional view 7 shows the dosing device with the storage container 9 not yet inserted. In this position, the metering element 22 provided by the reservoir 9 is still in a non-metering position, as in FIG 6 shown. As soon as the reservoir 9 is inserted as intended in the vertical direction downwards into the support unit 6 of the dosing device 3, the adjusting means 21, designed as spikes, of the dosing device 3 reach through the openings 28 on the reservoir side, as a result of which they come into physical contact with the dosing element 22. If the reservoir 9 is now moved further down in the vertical direction and inserted into the support unit 6 as intended, the dosing element 22 housed in the compartment 25 is driven upwards in the vertical direction, i.e. moved so that the dosing element 22 is properly inserted in the reservoir in the dosing device 3 9 is brought into its dosing position, as is most clearly the case 9 reveals.

A dosing device 3 of the type described above is from the generic EP 3 305 970 B1 known.

The dosing device according to the invention has a lighting device 34. This serves to introduce light in accordance with the arrows 32 into the volumetric space 18 provided by the base body 10 of the storage container 9 (cf. 9 ) and/or backlighting of the film 26 that closes the base body 10 on the top side in a partial section 33 (cf. 10 ) to effect.

For this purpose, the light device 34 has an LED printed circuit board 29 which is inserted into a correspondingly designed groove on the back of the bottom of the housing 27 (cf. figure 5 ). In the exemplary embodiment shown, this LED printed circuit board 29 provides two LEDs 31, as is shown in particular 9 reveals.

According to the invention, a light entry opening 30 which interacts with the lighting device 34 is provided on the base body side for introducing light into the storage container 10 .

According to the in the Figures 1 to 10 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the openings 28 that are already provided on the compartment side of the base body 10 serve as light entry openings 30. Light emitted by the LEDs 31 can enter the compartment 25 provided by the base body 10 through these openings 28, which serve as light entry openings 30, in accordance with the arrows 32. The dosing element 22 itself is formed from a transparent, ie translucent material, so that the dosing element 22 itself serves as a light distribution means. In addition, due to the transparent design of metering element 22, the light introduced into compartment 25 can also be used for backlighting film 26 sealing base body 10, specifically in section 33 that overlaps compartment 25, as is shown schematically in 10 is shown.

In order to enable the light 32 to pass through the actuating means 21 interacting with the openings 28 in the intended use, the actuating means 21 have an opening 38 on the upper side, i.e. in their end section assigned to the respective opening 28.

As can be seen in particular from the representation 9 results, in the intended use of an LED 31 emitted light 32 through a hollow actuator 21 is guided up to its opening 38, whereby it is also passed through the opening 28 serving as the light entry opening 30, because the actuator 21 protrudes through this opening when the reservoir 9 is properly inserted into the dosing device 3. As a result, the light emitted by an LED is guided through the light entry opening 30 into the reservoir 9 .

The exemplary embodiment described above has the advantage that the main body 10 of the storage container 9 can be formed from a non-translucent material, for example from a recycled plastic material. Another advantage of this embodiment is that there is no need for a cleaning agent-tight closure of a light entry opening 30 , since this is formed in the region of the compartment 25 . The actual storage of the cleaning agent takes place by means of the storage chamber 13 so that due to the light entry openings 30 formed in the area of the compartment 25 there is no risk of an unwanted discharge of the cleaning agent through the light entry openings 30 .

A second embodiment show the Figures 11 to 13 . According to this embodiment, light entry openings 30 are formed in the region of the storage chamber 13 . When used as intended, this leads to illumination of the storage container 9 in accordance with the arrows 36 (cf. 12 ) and/or backlighting of the film 26 closing the base body 10 in section 33, as is shown schematically in 13 is shown.

For light to enter the reservoir 9, the dome 11 provided by the reservoir 9 has a plurality of light entry openings 30 in an upper section in the vertical direction, such as in particular the figures 11 and 12 reveal. The bearing sleeve 12 of the support unit 6, which interacts with the dome 11 when used as intended, has a translucent cap 35 on the dome side that serves as an optical element 12 is shown, light emitted by the lighting device 34 passes through the axial extension 8 either directly or by means of a light guide to the cap 35, which serves as an optical element can reach the storage container 9 through the light entry openings 30 provided by the dome 11 of the storage container 9 . For a detergent-tight closure, the Light entry openings 30 are closed, preferably by means of a transparent film embedded in the plastic material of the base body 10 .

A particular advantage of this configuration is that a large-area backlighting of the film 26 closing the base body 10 can take place.

Another embodiment show the Figures 14 to 16 . According to this embodiment variant, light domes 37 that are designed separately from the dome 11 are used. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two such light domes 37 are provided. These each provide a light entry opening 30 in an upper section in the height direction, preferably on the front side, so that no special optical elements are required for light deflection. The light domes 37 each interact with an LED that is provided by a correspondingly arranged LED printed circuit board 29, as is the case in particular 16 reveals. In the exemplary embodiment shown, light is introduced into the reservoir 9 via both light domes 37 .

Reference sign

1

scullery door

2

inside

3

dosing device

4

locking flap

5

dosing outlet

6

carrying unit

7

drive device

8th

axial extension

9

reservoir

10

body

11

Dom

12

bearing sleeve

13

pantry

14

dosing chamber

15

partition wall

16

dosing room

17

dosing channel

18

volume space

19

exhaust port

20

intake port

21

setting means

22

dosing element

23

dosing opening

24

edge area

25

compartment

26

foil

27

Housing

28

opening

29

LED circuit board

30

light entry opening

31

LEDs

32

arrow (light)

33

slide section

34

lighting device

35

cap

36

arrow (light)

37

light dome

38

opening

39

cleaning supplies

Claims (11)

Dosing device for the metered introduction of a cleaning agent into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, with a housing (27) and a reservoir (9) accommodated in an exchangeable manner by the housing (27), which is used to house cleaning agent (39) and a one-volume space (18) providing the basic body (10), characterized by a lighting device (34) for introducing light (32, 36) into the volumetric space (18) provided by the basic body (10), the basic body (10) having a light-emitting device (34) that interacts with it Has light entry opening (30). Dosing device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the volume space (18) is divided into a storage chamber (13) and a compartment (25) separated therefrom by a partition (15), the compartment (25) providing the light entry opening (30). Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the light entry opening (30) is not closed. Dosing device according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the compartment (25) accommodates a dosing element (22) made of a translucent plastic material. Dosing device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the volume space (18) provides a storage chamber (13) which has the light entry opening (30). Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims 1, 2, 4 or 5,
characterized in that
the light entry opening (30) by means of a translucent closure element is closed. Dosing device according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the closure element is a film. Dosing device according to one of claims 5 to 7,
characterized in that
the storage container (9) has a dome (11) which is arranged within the volume space (18) and provides the light entry opening (30). Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the base body (10) of the storage container (9) is designed as a shell open on one side, the open side being closed by means of a film (26) which can be backlit by means of the lighting device (34). Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the lighting device (34) has an LED (29, 31) which interacts with the light entry opening (30). Storage container (9) which is used to accommodate cleaning agent (39) and has a base body (10) providing a volume space (18) and which is set up to be exchangeable from the housing (27) of a dosing device (3) according to one of the preceding claims to be admitted
wherein the storage container (9) has a light entry opening (30) which interacts with the lighting device (34) of the dosing device (3), so that light (32, 36) can be introduced into the volumetric space (18) provided by the base body (10).

Images