Dosing device and system
AssigneeReckitt Benckiser Finish B.V.
InventorsHenry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, Joerg Peter Pflug, Kai Werner Heppert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dosing device or system for dispensing tablets, which can include at least one active ingredient for an automatic washing process, into an automatic washing machine, wherein the dosing device or system is for dispensing one or more, but not all, of the tablets at once into the automatic washing machine, and wherein the dosing device or system can be for dispensing only one tablet at once.
Claims13
A dosing device comprising:
- a container for storing tablets and comprising an exit port;
- an outlet configured to deliver tablets from the container into an automatic washing machine;
- a metering mechanism located between the exit port of the container and the outlet;
- and
- a housing which surrounds the metering mechanism, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening for receiving one or more tablets from the exit port of the container, and an output opening for delivering one or more tablets to the outlet;
- wherein the metering mechanism is threadably engageable with the housing,
- wherein the metering mechanism is linearly moveable or rotatable in the housing between a first position in which one or more tablets is receivable in the inlet opening, and a second position in which one or more tablets is deliverable to the outlet;
- and
- wherein the metering mechanism is in a form selected from the group consisting of:
- a cylindrical tube;
- a cylindrical tube comprising a cavity;
- a wheel comprising a recess;
- and a substantially cylindrical portion, and
- wherein the container converges towards the metering mechanism.
A dosing device comprising:
- a container for storing tablets and comprising an exit port;
- an outlet configured to deliver tablets from the container into an automatic washing machine;
- a metering mechanism located between the exit port of the container and the outlet;
- a housing which surrounds the metering mechanism, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening for receiving one or more tablets from the exit port of the container, and an output opening for delivering one or more tablets to the outlet;
- and
- a push member which is operable to push one or more tablets from the metering mechanism to the outlet when the metering mechanism is in a second position, wherein the push member is in the form of a bar,
- wherein the metering mechanism is linearly moveable or rotatable in the housing between a first position in which one or more tablets is receivable in the inlet opening, and a second position in which one or more tablets is deliverable to the outlet;
- and
- wherein the metering mechanism is in a form selected from the group consisting of:
- a cylindrical tube;
- a cylindrical tube comprising a cavity;
- a wheel comprising a recess;
- and a substantially cylindrical portion, and
- wherein the container converges towards the metering mechanism.
An automatic dishwashing machine configured to connect with a container comprising an exit port and tablets comprising at least one active ingredient for an automatic dishwashing process inside the container, the container further comprising:
- an outlet configured to deliver tablets from the container into the automatic dishwashing machine;
- a metering mechanism located between the exit port of the container and the outlet;
- and
- a housing which surrounds the metering mechanism, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening for receiving one or more tablets from the exit port of the container, and an output opening for delivering one or more tablets to the outlet,
- wherein the metering mechanism is threadably engageable with the housing,
- wherein the metering mechanism is linearly moveable or rotatable in the housing between a first position in which one or more tablets is receivable in the inlet opening, and a second position in which one or more tablets is deliverable to the outlet,
- wherein the metering mechanism is in a form selected from the group consisting of:
- a cylindrical tube;
- a cylindrical tube comprising a cavity;
- a wheel comprising a recess;
- and a substantially cylindrical tube, and
- wherein the container converges towards the metering mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.