WO2008019902A1 - Dosing system for the controlled release of active substances - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dosing system for the controlled release of active substances, particularly detergent, cleaner, fragrances, and air fresheners, from dosing devices. Said dosing system comprises at least one control unit (5) that encompasses means for determining the power consumption of at least one electrical household appliance (2, 2a, 2b) in a power system as well as means for determining the operating state of a household appliance (2, 2a, 2b) from the power consumption. The dosing system (1) further comprises at least one dosing device (7, 7a, 7b) for discharging at least one active substance. Said dosing device (7, 7a, 7b) is not coupled to the service controller of an electrical household appliance (2, 2a, 2b). The dosing system (1) also comprises means for transmitting data (6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) between the control device (5) and the dosing device (7, 7a, 7b). At least data on the operating state of an electrical household appliance (2, 2a, 2b) in the power system is transmitted from a control device (5) to a dosing device (7, 7a, 7b) and is used for controlling at least one dosing device (7, 7a, 7b) in such a way that active substance is released in a controlled manner from a dosing device (7, 7a, 7b) when an electrical household appliance (2, 2a, 2b) is in a predefined operating state.

Description

 Dosing system for the controlled release of active substances

The invention relates to a metering system and a method for the controlled release of active substances, in particular detergents, cleaning agents, fragrances, air fresheners and the like, coupled with household appliances metering devices, wherein information about the operating state from the power consumption of a household appliance slides and used for needs-based control of the metering device become.

State of the art

The precise and appropriate dosage of active substances is relevant for a variety of applications. In particular, in the household sector, the dosage of active substances is of increasing importance, which is primarily based on the exact and demand-controlled dosage of the corresponding active ingredients, which on the one hand protects the environment by conserving resources and avoidance of over- and overdoses, on the other hand, the efficiency of the drugs so dosed is optimized.

Dosing of Detergents in Dishwashers Dishwashing detergents are often used today in the form of dishwashing tablets. Although the application and dosage for the user is relatively simple and convenient, the drug release from the tablets is not optimized in terms of rinsing and drying cycles of the respective dishwasher.

Dosing devices for dispensing cleaning agents during the washing cycles of a dishwasher are known, for example, from WO2006 / 021764. The release of cleaning agents is controlled by a bimetal, that upon reaching a predetermined temperature, a spring mechanism triggers the release of detergents in the dishwasher.

A major disadvantage of this metering device is its complex mechanical structure, whereby the cost of their production are high. Furthermore, the release mechanism can only be triggered by exceeding or falling below defined temperatures in the dishwasher. One way to use other parameters to trigger the release of detergent does not exist here.

Furthermore, the device known from WO2006 / 021764 is not suitable for liberating liquid or gelatinous preparations. However, this would be particularly advantageous, since higher concentrations of active compound than in solid dosage forms such as powders or tablets can usually be realized in liquids or gels.

Dosing of Detergents in Washing Machines Today, detergents are usually metered into the laundry-filled drum via a metering drawer of the washing machine. The dosing is done by rinsing the dosing drawer with water, whereby the detergent is dissolved or entrained and fed into the laundry drum. The metering drawer may have three chambers, one for receiving a detergent for the pre-wash, one for receiving a detergent for the main wash and one for receiving a softener.

A problem with these dosing drawers is that the dosage of the detergent from the drawer can only be controlled to a limited extent. Conventionally, immediately at the beginning of a wash cycle by rinsing the dosing drawer with water, the entire amount of detergent present in the corresponding chamber is entered into the washing drum. An exact, temporal variant dosage of detergent within a wash cycle is therefore not possible.

Furthermore, so-called metering balls are known for metering detergents which can be filled with a defined amount of detergent and are added directly into the washing drum with the laundry to be cleaned. Again, there is the disadvantage that a controlled release of detergent does not occur.

Furthermore, it is known that many preparations, in particular washing and cleaning preparations, contain surfactants both anionic and nonionic surfactants and especially surfactant mixtures which tend to form gel phases when redissolved in water. Already at surfactant contents of 15 wt .-% and above, based on the agent, it may come in the re-dissolution of the agent in water to undesirable and dissolution-delaying gelling.

In particular, by a one-time, surge-like dosage, as today largely as. is common by washing or cleaning tablets, it may happen that during the supply of such surfactant preparations, for example, during a cleaning cycle of a dishwasher, the preparations are coated immediately after dosing in the dishwasher interior and the contact with water of gel layers, then a rapid resolution Also prevent the enclosed by the gel layer preparation. This effect is all the more pronounced, the larger the dosing amount is, which is delivered once gushing and the colder the water is in which the preparation is to be dissolved.

This may result in retarded cooking residues remaining in the dishwasher or on the dishes at the end of the wash program, and insufficient surfactant may be released during the wash cycle to provide satisfactory cleaning performance of the formulation. These adverse effects in the dosage of prone to gel - A -

Surfactant preparations are not limited to the field of dishwashing, but are also known in the field of textile cleaning and toilet care.

It is therefore desirable that a dosing device releases the surfactant mixtures which tend to gel in such a way that gelling is largely prevented or at least significantly reduced.

Measuring the consumption of electrical consumers

Devices and methods for measuring the consumption of electrical

Consumers in an electricity grid are known in the art.

For example, DE60104227 discloses a method and apparatus for measuring the consumption of an electrical load in an electricity grid.

Other methods of identifying electrical devices based on the measurement of power consumption are disclosed, for example, in US5483153, US4858141 or FR2680875.

These methods have hitherto been used to determine the energy consumption of individual consumers in an electrical network in order to determine the actual consumption of individual electrical consumers, such as a washing machine or a refrigerator.

The device known from DE60104227 is furthermore able to identify specific operating states, for example a washing machine, from the power consumption. Depending on the operating state, different electrical elements in the washing machine such as motor, pump, solenoid valve, heating systems, etc. are switched on and off, these on and off operations are measured and stored at the following by means of a database in which switching on and off operations are mapped and compared by means of a per se conventional algorithm for signal correlation.

Object of the invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to prevent the disadvantages of the metering devices of the type described above and to provide a metering system which causes a dosage of active substances upon the occurrence of defined electrical states of a household appliance.

The object is achieved on the basis of DE60104227 as the closest prior art by the features of claim 1.

The metering system according to the invention comprises at least one control device, at least one metering device and means for transmitting information between the control device and metering device.

control device

The control device is a device for determining the operating state of at least one household appliance from the power consumption of the respective domestic appliance and for generating a control signal upon the occurrence of a defined operating state of a household appliance, wherein the control signal is used to control the release of active substance from a dosing unit.

The control device is connected via means for transmitting information with at least one metering unit.

The control device comprises at least one transmitting and / or receiving unit for receiving and / or transmitting information to or from a metering device. The operating states of a household appliance can be stored by the control device or forwarded for storage to another device, such as a computer. As a result, operating cycles and operating periods of a household appliance can be determined, which is helpful, for example, for determining maintenance intervals. Thus, it is conceivable, for example, to transmit from the determined operating cycles of a coffee machine, a steam iron or the like to the user information about a necessary descaling of the device after reaching a defined number of operating cycles.

In particular, the computer may have a database and / or software for analyzing the operating states of one or more household electrical appliances.

metering

A metering device in the context of this application is a device for receiving at least one active substance and its controlled release by a control signal in the presence of a predefined operating state of a domestic electrical appliance, which is transmitted via a data line from the control unit to the metering unit.

The metering device can be arranged fixed or detachable directly on or in the household electrical appliance.

In order to ensure the operation at elevated temperatures, as they occur, for example, in individual washing cycles of a dishwasher in an arrangement in a household appliance, the metering device may be formed of materials which are dimensionally stable up to a temperature of 120 ⁰ C. In a preferred embodiment, the energy source necessary for operating the metering device is integrated in the metering device. Preferably, the energy source provides electrical energy. The energy source may be, for example, a battery, a power supply, solar cells or the like. It is particularly advantageous to make the energy source replaceable, for example in the form of a replaceable battery.

Preferably, the dosing device consists of a splash-proof housing that the penetration of spray water, as may occur, for example, when using the dosing device according to the invention in a dishwasher, prevents the interior of the metering device.

It is particularly advantageous to shed the metering device in such a way that it is essentially watertight, ie the metering device is able to function even when fully enclosed with liquid. As potting materials, for example, multicomponent epoxy, and acrylate potting compounds such as methacrylate esters, urethane-metha and cyanoacrylates or two-component materials can be used with polyurethanes, silicones, epoxy resins.

Since the active substances to be dosed may have a pH value between 2 and 12, depending on the intended use, all components of the dosing device which come into contact with the active substances should have a corresponding acid and / or alkali resistance. Furthermore, these components should be largely chemically inert by a suitable choice of material, for example against nonionic surfactants, enzymes and / or fragrances.

However, it is also conceivable to arrange the metering device at a distance from the domestic electrical appliance in order, for example, in the presence of a specific operating state of a domestic appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, for example, to deliver a dose of perfume into a room effect, wherein the metering device is attached, for example, to a wall of this room.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dosing unit has a sensor unit which can determine physical, chemical and / or mechanical parameters from the surroundings of the dosing unit. The sensor unit may comprise one or more active and / or passive sensors for the qualitative and / or quantitative detection of mechanical, electrical, physical and / or chemical variables, which are passed as control signals to the metering device or the control unit.

In particular, the sensors of the sensor unit from the group of timers, infrared sensors, brightness sensors, temperature sensors, motion sensors, strain sensors, speed sensors, proximity sensors, flow sensors, color sensors, gas sensors, vibration sensors, pressure sensors, conductivity sensors, turbidity sensors, sound pressure sensors, "lab-on-a-chip Sensors, force sensors, acceleration sensors, inclination sensors, pH sensors, humidity sensors, magnetic field sensors, RFID sensors, magnetic field sensors, Hall sensors, biochips, odor sensors, hydrogen sulfide sensors and / or MEMS sensors.

The data line between the control unit and dosing device can be realized via an electrically conductive cable or wirelessly.

A wirelessly formed data line is formed in particular by the transmission of electromagnetic waves. It is preferable to form a wireless data line according to standardized standards such as Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802, GSM, UMTS, etc.

In order to realize a konviniente refilling of the dosing unit, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dosing unit a detachable can be coupled to the dosing unit with at least one active substance filled container.

Advantageously, the container has an RFID label on which at least information about the contents of the container is stored.

Informationsübertraqunqsmittel

A means for transmitting information is a device having at least one transmitting and one receiving unit and a data line formed between transmitting and receiving unit.

The data line can be realized via an electrically conductive cable or wirelessly

active Ingredients

An active substance in the context of this application comprises one or more substances from the group of fragrances, bleaching agents, cleaning substances, solvents, surfactants, dyes, enzymes, hygroscopic substances, flame retardants, hardeners, leveling agents, wetting agents, dispersants, foaming agents, defoamers, deaerators, corrosion inhibitors , Biocides, antimicrobials, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, water-softeners, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, vitamins, minerals and the like.

household appliance

A household appliance in the sense of these applications is an electrical

Consumer operating in a household electrical network.

A household appliance may be selected from the group of washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators such as refrigerators or freezers, ovens such as microwave ovens, ovens, cookers, small domestic appliances such as coffee machines, Toasters, blenders or irons, bulbs, consumer electronics such as televisions, audio equipment, computers or the like.

Bezuαszeichen

1 dosing system

2 home appliance

3 power cables

4 user plugs

5 measuring and control unit

6 data line

7 dosing unit

8 transmitting / receiving unit

9 transmitting / receiving unit

10 transceiver unit

11 data line

12 data line

13 computers

14 data line

15 servers

16 sensor unit

17 containers

18 RFID label

1 shows a washing machine or dishwasher equipped with the metering system according to the invention. The washing machine or dishwasher 2 is connected via a power cable 3 and a power plug 4 to the electrical network. On the power cable 3, the control unit 5 is connected, which determines the operating states of the washing machine or dishwasher 2 from the power consumption of the washing machine or dishwasher 2. The control unit 5 is coupled via a data line 6 with the metering device 7. In the dosing unit 7 is at least one active substance which is delivered in the presence of a predefined operating state of a washing machine or dishwasher 2, wherein the operating state is transmitted via the data line 6 from the control unit 5 to the dosing unit 7.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 illustrate the operation of the control unit. The washing machine or dishwasher 2 has one or more electrical consumers such as valves Vi, V ₂ , pumps Pi ₁ P ₂ or heaters Hi ₁ H ₂ .

During the course of a washing or rinsing program, these electrical consumers are switched on or off in accordance with the control of the program at defined times, which leads to an increase or decrease in the power consumption, as shown by way of example in FIG.

The course of the power consumption of the washing machine or dishwasher 2 is recorded by the control unit 5 and analyzed with respect to the operating state of the washing machine or dishwasher 2 by means known from the prior art.

If a predefined operating state of the washing machine or dishwasher 2 is detected, the control unit 5 generates a control signal which is sent via the data line 6 to the dosing unit 7, where the control signal causes the release of active substance from the dosing unit. 4 shows a further embodiment of the metering system according to the invention. The control unit 5 and the dosing unit 7 each have a transmitting / receiving unit 9 which is suitable for wirelessly emitting and receiving electrical and / or electromagnetic signals and thus producing a data line 6 between the control unit 5 and the dosing unit 7.

The control unit 5 can also exchange information via a data line 12 with a computer 13 located in the household.

The computer 13 may in particular have a database for analyzing the operating states of one or more household electrical appliances. Furthermore, the computer 13 may have software which is suitable inter alia for graphing the information transmitted by the control unit 5 to the user.

The computer 13 can be connected to a server 15 via a further data line 14. In particular, software and database updates can be transmitted to the computer 13 via the server 15.

5 shows the FIG. 4 known metering system according to the invention, in which the metering unit 7 is arranged within the household electrical appliance 2.

The dosing unit 7 has a sensor unit 16, which can determine physical, chemical and / or mechanical parameters from the environment of the dosing unit.

A container 17 filled with at least one active substance can be coupled to the dosing unit 17.

Preferably, the volume ratio formed from the overall volume of the metering device 7 and the filling volume of the container 17 is <1, more preferably <0.1, particularly preferably <0.05. This ensures that at a predetermined overall volume of dosing device 7 and container 17, the majority of the construction volume through the container 17 and the preparation contained therein is claimed.

The container 17 usually has a filling volume of <5,000 ml, in particular <1,000 ml, preferably <500 ml, more preferably <250 ml, most preferably <50 ml.

The container 17 is substantially dimensionally stable and can be designed as a cup, can, cartridge, cartridge, bottle, canister, jug, box, drum or tube. However, the container 17 may also be designed to be flexible, such as a bag or sack.

In particular, the container 17 can also comprise a plurality of chambers which can be filled with mutually different compositions. It is also conceivable that a plurality of containers to a unit, for example, a cartridge is arranged.

The container 17 has an RFID label 18 that contains at least information about the contents of the container 17 and that can be read out by the sensor unit 16, control unit 5 or metering device 7. This information can be used to select a dosing program stored in the control unit 5 or dosing device 7. In this way it can be ensured that an optimal dosing program is always used for a particular preparation. It can also be provided that in the absence of an RFID label or an RFID label with a false or faulty identifier, no metering by the metering device 7 takes place and instead an optical or acoustic signal is generated that the user on the indicates this error.

To preclude misuse of the container 17, the container 17 may also have structural elements that correspond with corresponding elements of the metering device 7 cooperate according to the key-lock principle, so that, for example, only containers of a certain type can be coupled to the metering device. Furthermore, this configuration makes it possible for information about the container 17 coupled to the dosing device 7 to be transmitted to the control unit 5, as a result of which control of the dosing device 7 coordinated with the contents of the corresponding container can take place.

6 shows the metering system according to the invention with a plurality of household electrical appliances 2, 2a, 2b.

The control unit 5 is connected via the power cables 3, 3a, 3b, each with a household electrical appliance 2, 2a, 2b. The control unit 5 mets the power consumption of the respective household electrical appliance 2, 2a, 2b and determines therefrom the respectively present operating state in order to generate therefrom control signals for the metering units 7, 7a, 7b.

Thus, it is conceivable, for example, that when a vacuum cleaner 2b is switched off after the suction process has ended, a delivery of fragrance from the dosing unit 7b is effected so that the sucked space receives a fresh fragrance.

Claims

claims 1. metering system for the controlled release of active substances, in particular detergents, cleaning agents, fragrances, air fresheners, comprising dosing devices comprising at least one control unit (5) • means for determining the power consumption of at least one household electrical appliance (2, 2a, 2b) in an electrical network • means for determining the operating state of a household appliance (2, 2a, 2b) from the power consumption characterized in that • the dosing system (1) comprises at least one metering device (7, 7a, 7b) for dispensing at least one active substance, wherein the metering device (7, 7a, 7b) is not coupled to the operating control of a household electrical appliance (2, 2a, 2b) and • the dosing system (1) comprises means for transmitting information (6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) between the control device (5) and the dosing device (7, 7a, 7b), wherein at least information about the operating state of a household electrical appliance (2 , 2a, 2b) in the electrical network by a control device (5) to a metering device (7, 7a, 7b) and used to control at least one metering device (7, 7a, 7b) in such a way that in the presence of a predefined operating condition a household electrical appliance (2, 2a, 2b) is a controlled release of active substance from a metering device (7, 7a, 7b) is effected. 2. dosing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the metering device (7, 7a, 7b) is fixed or detachable on or in the electrical household appliance. 3. dosing system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data line (6,11, 12) is formed wirelessly. 4. Dosing system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (5) determined operating states to an information processing device, in particular a programmable microprocessor or computer are transferable.