(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(10) International Publication Number
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`WO 2018/099900 A1
`
`h a
`
`WIPOI PCT
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`(19) World Intellectual Property
`Organization
`International Bureau
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`(43) International Publication Date
`07 June 2018 (07.06.2018)
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`(51)
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`International Patent Classification:
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`D06F 39/02 (2006.01)
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`A47L 15/44 (2006.01)
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`(21)
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`International Application Number:
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`PCT/EP2017/080630
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`(22)
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`(25)
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`(26)
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`(30)
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`(71)
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`(72)
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`International Filing Date:
`28 November 2017 (28.11.2017)
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`Filing Language:
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`Publication Language:
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`English
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`English
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`Priority Data:
`16202715
`
`30 November 2016 (30.11.2016) GB
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`Applicant: RECKITT BENCKISER FINISH B.V.
`[NL/NL]; Siriusdreef 14, 2132WT Hoofddorp (NL).
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`Inventors: FLETCHER, Henry Matthew Lawrence;
`C/o Cambridge Consultants Limited, Science Park, Mil-
`ton Road, Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB).
`MIDDLETON, Max William; C/o Cambridge Consul-
`tants Limited, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge
`Cambridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB). PRYOR, Colin; C/
`0 Cambridge Consultants
`Inc, 745 Atlantic Avenue,
`Boston, Massachusetts 02111 (US). BURGE, Simon; C/
`0 Cambridge Consultants Limited, Science Park, Mil-
`ton Road, Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB).
`DILLON, Charles Kevin; C/o Cambridge Consultants
`Limited, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge Cam-
`bridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB). SMITH, Iain Christopher;
`
`C/o Cambridge Consultants Limited, Science Park, Mil—
`ton Road, Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB).
`VILHAUER, Mike Andrew; C/o Cambridge Consultants
`Limited, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge Cam—
`bridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB). FRY, Thomas Murray;
`C/O Cambridge Consultants Limited, Science Park, Mil-
`ton Road, Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB).
`WELLS, Rosanna Elizabeth; C/o Cambridge Consul-
`tants Limited, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge Cain-
`bridgeshire CB4 ODW (GB). PFLUG, Joerg Peter; C/
`o Reckitt Benckiser Produktions GmbH, Robert-Koch-Str.
`1, 69115 Heidelberg (DE). HEPPERT, Kai Werner; C/o
`Reckitt Benckiser Produktions GmbH, Robert—Koch—Str. 1,
`69115 Heidelberg (DE).
`
`Agent: RICHARDSON, Lyndsey et a1.; Dansom Lane,
`HULL Yorkshire HUS 7DS (GB).
`
`Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind ofnational protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ,
`CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DJ, DK, DM, DO,
`DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN,
`HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JO, JP, KE, KG, KH, KN, KP,
`KR, KW, Kz, LA, LC, LK, LR, Ls, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME,
`MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ,
`OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA,
`SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN,
`TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
`
`(74)
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`(81)
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`(54)
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`Title: DOSING DEVICE AND SYSTEM
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`10; 100
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`/
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`
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`(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a dosing device (10) or system
`for dispensing a plurality of tablets ( 1), which each comprise at least one ac-
`tive 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 plurality of tablets at once into the automatic washing ma-
`chine, wherein the dosing device or system comprises: a container (12) for
`storing the plurality of tablets, wherein the container comprises an exit port; an
`outlet for delivering the one or more tablets from the container into the auto-
`matic washing machine; a metering mechanism located between the exit port
`of the container and the outlet, wherein the metering mechanism comprises
`a wheel (66) which is rotatable between a first position, in which the one or
`more tablets are receivable from the exit port, and a second position in which
`the one or more tablets are deliverable to the outlet.
`
`
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`wo2018/099900A1|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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`[Continued on nextpage]
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`WO 2018/099900 A1 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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`(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
`GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, TZ,
`UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ,
`TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK,
`EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IIR, IIU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV,
`MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM,
`TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW,
`KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
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`Declarations under Rule 4.17:
`
`— ofinventorship (Rule 4.17(iv))
`Published:
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`— with international search report (Art. 21 (3))
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`WO 2018/099900
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`PCT/EP2017/080630
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`DOSING DEVICE AND SYSTEM
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`The present invention relates to a dosing device or system. The invention especially
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`relates to a dosing device or system for reliably dispensing tablets of active ingredient into
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`an automatic washing machine, such as a dishwasher or a laundry washing machine,
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`multiple times over multiple washing cycles.
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`BACKGROUND RELATING TO THE PRIOR ART
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`Most commercially available domestic dishwashers have a detergent dispenser which the
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`consumer loads with a single dose of detergent before each wash program. However, a
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`developing area of interest in this field has been the provision of a means to store multiple
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`doses of detergent and deliver them automatically during each successive wash program.
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`Devices that have been previously disclosed in this area generally fall into the categories of
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`“machine-independent” or “machine-dependent”. Machine-independent devices are ones
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`which are not physically connected to the dishwasher’s electronics or powered directly by
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`its power source. They can be freely positioned inside the dishwasher, for instance in the
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`rack, so they are not particularly limited by spatial constraints in their design. On the other
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`hand, in order to trigger a dosing step at the appropriate time, they should be designed to
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`respond to sensed parameters of the wash, such as heat, turbidity, etc., which does not
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`always provide a very accurate control mechanism. Conversely, machine—dependent
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`devices are generally connectable to the dishwasher in a predetermined location, and can
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`take their control signals and power from the dishwasher itself. This can lead to more
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`accurate control of when dosing takes place, but brings its own constraints on device
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`design. For instance, a convenient, accessible location to connect such a device is in the
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`door of the dishwasher, but there is limited space in this area, so more attention should be
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`paid to making this type of device as compact and slim as possible. Such machine-
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`dependent devices are the primary focus of the present inventors.
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`It is known that dosing devices can supply active ingredients to the wash in the form of
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`powders or liquids. However, not all active ingredients can be suitably provided in a liquid
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`composition, whereas powders are liable to suffer from dispensing issues due to moisture
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`intake from the humid washing environment, e.g. swelling or becoming sticky, especially
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`when stored in a container inside an automatic washing machine.
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`it is also known that
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`dosing devices can instead supply tablets to the wash, generally hard tablets formed of
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`compressed powder. The device needs to store multiple tablets and dose one or more
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`individual ones per wash program as required. For effective closing, it is important to
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`ensure that tablets do not become wedged against each other inside the device. This is a
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`particular challenge for tablets having a flat face, whilst spherical ones can be more difficult
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`to manufacture.
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`An example of a machine-dependent dosing device is disclosed in EP 1,355,561.
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`In this
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`prior art dosing device, there is provided a rotating disc which can control the delivery of
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`spherical or cylindrical tablets from a container into the main wash tank of a dishwasher.
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`The tablets are pre-sorted and lore-orientated into columns inside the container, with curved
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`surfaces of the tablets touching and guides physically separating the tablets in different
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`columns to restrict their movement.
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`A further prior art dosing device for a dishwasher is disclosed in EP 1,159,913. The main
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`portion of this dosing device is located outside the dishwasher, free from space constraints,
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`and a long delivery tube feeds the dosed tablets down inside the machine to the bottom of
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`the main tank. The main body of the device accommodates a loose filling of tablets and
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`has a rotating disc to meter tablets into the dishwasher. However, the tablets are
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`preferably fed to the disc from the bulk via a feed chute accommodating a single column of
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`tablets, which in turn is fed by a conveyor device.
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`In this prior art dosing device, the
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`conveyor device aligns the tablets such that they are all fed into the rotating disc in the
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`same orientation.
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`In this way, jams inside the dosing device are reduced.
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`Both these devices are bulky and awkward to manufacture; attempts to decrease their size
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`have led to increasing jamming issues.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dosing device or
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`system for dispensing a plurality of tablets, which each comprise at least one active
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`ingredient for an automatic washing process, into an automatic washing machine, wherein
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`the dosing device or system is for dispensing one or more, but not all, of the plurality of
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`tablets at once into the automatic washing machine, wherein the dosing device or system
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`comprises:
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`a container for storing the plurality of tablets, wherein the container comprises an
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`exit port;
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`an outlet for delivering the one or more tablets from the container into the automatic
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`washing machine;
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`a metering mechanism located between the exit port of the container and the outlet,
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`wherein the metering mechanism comprises a wheel which is rotatable between a first
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`position, in which the one or more tablets are receivable from the exit port, and a second
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`position in which the one or more tablets are deliverable to the outlet; and
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`a housing defining a cylindrical space in which the wheel is positioned, wherein the
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`cylindrical space comprises a longitudinal axis;
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`wherein the cylindrical space of the housing comprises an inlet opening extending
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`in a first direction for receiving the one or more tablets from the exit port of the container,
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`and an output opening for delivering the one or more tablets to the outlet;
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`wherein the rotation axis of the wheel is substantially parallel to the longitudinal
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`axis, and wherein the rotation axis of the wheel is substantially transverse the first direction;
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`wherein the separation between the wheel and the inlet opening is maximised when
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`the wheel is in the first position, and wherein the separation between the wheel and the
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`output opening is maximised when the wheel is in the second position.
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`According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge
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`comprising one or more closing devices according to the invention in its first aspect,
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`comprising a plurality of tablets inside the or each container, each tablet comprising at least
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`one active ingredient for an automatic washing process.
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`According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising an
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`automatic washing machine and at least one cartridge according to the invention in its
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`second aspect.
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`According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic
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`washing machine comprising a device or system comprising an outlet, metering
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`mechanism and housing each as defined in the first aspect of the invention, wherein the
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`device or system is configured to connect with a container to form a dosing system
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`according to the invention in its first aspect, wherein the container comprises an exit port
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`and a plurality of tablets inside the container, each tablet comprising at least one active
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`ingredient for an automatic washing process.
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`Embodiments described herein in relation to one aspect of the invention apply equally to
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`other aspects of the invention unless specified to the contrary or the context otherwise
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`requires.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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`Figure 1a shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a dosing device
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`according to the invention in a first, closed, position; and
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`Figure 1b shows a schematic cross-sectional view of this dosing device in a second, open,
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`position.
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`Figure 2 shows a schematic View of a closing system according to an embodiment of the
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`invenfion.
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`Figure 3 shows a schematic View of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the
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`invenfion.
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`Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the
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`invenfion.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`The device or system of the present invention may advantageously be made less bulky
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`than the prior art devices and systems without suffering jamming issues as its size
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`decreases. By maximising the separation between the wheel and the inlet/output openings
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`as described herein, the likelihood of a tablet becoming stuck, or getting jammed, as it
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`passes through these openings is reduced.
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`Preferably the wheel comprises at least one recess for receiving the one or more tablets.
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`The inlet opening and the output opening may be diametrically opposed one another inside
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`the cylindrical space.
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`In an embodiment, the wheel comprises two or more tablet—receiving
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`recesses, such that the wheel rotates through a smaller angle for each dispensing step.
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`Preferably, each recess holds one tablet only.
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`In an embodiment, the wheel comprises at least two radially projecting spokes, wherein a
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`tablet is receivable between the two spokes.
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`The wheel may comprise a plurality of teeth, which may extend around the circumference
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`of the wheel. Rotation of the wheel may be driven by a motor.
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`In use of the dosing device or system, tablets which are located in the container are
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`preferably fed by gravity towards the metering mechanism.
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`In this way, the need for a
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`separate mechanism to feed tablets inside the container towards the metering mechanism
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`is removed. The metering mechanism may have a sloping surface at an end adjacent the
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`exit port, along which a tablet can slide.
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`In an embodiment, the dosing device or system comprises a tube for delivering tablets from
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`the exit port of the container towards the inlet opening of the housing. Preferably, the tube
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`is sized such that tablets are delivered one at a time to the inlet opening.
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`In an embodiment, the dosing device or system comprises an agitation means which is
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`moveable by the wheel, to agitate tablets in the vicinity of the exit port. This reduces the
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`chance of them becoming wedged against each other or against the sides of the exit port
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`and thereby blocking the exit port. When the dosing device or system comprises an
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`agitation means, and when the dosing device comprises a plurality of teeth, the agitation
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`means may be engageable against the plurality of teeth. When the dosing device or
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`system comprises the above-described tube, the tube may be rotatable in concert with the
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`wheel, and the top surface of the tube may be located around the exit port and may
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`comprise a crenelated portion which acts as the agitation means. A plurality of
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`crenelations may each define a geometric shape, such as a triangle, a rectangle, or a semi—
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`circle.
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`Preferably, a maximum width of the agitation means is no more than four times, more
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`preferably no more than three times, a maximum diameter of the exit port.
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`In this way, the
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`size of the agitation means can be restricted so as to not occupy a large amount of space
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`inside the container.
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`In the invention, the container, metering mechanism and housing may all be located in a
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`cartridge for connection to an automatic washing machine. Alternatively, the metering
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`mechanism and housing may already be located in an automatic washing machine, and the
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`container is a separate product to be connected in the appropriate position. The cartridge
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`or container may be connected to the automatic washing machine via a suitable interface.
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`The cartridge, dosing device or system may be made of any suitable materials. Preferably,
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`at least the container is made of a plastics material and/or is thermally insulated, to prevent
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`heat damage to the tablets inside. Preferably, the container converges towards the
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`metering mechanism. For example, it may be funnel shaped.
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`Preferably, the dosing device or system is configured to dispense only one tablet at a time.
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`In an embodiment, the cartridge, dosing device or system has no internal electrical power
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`source, 9.9. no battery.
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`In an embodiment, the cartridge, dosing device or system is
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`electrically connected to the automatic washing machine.
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`The cartridge, dosing device or system need not comprise any temperature, turbidity,
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`conductivity and/or water sensor.
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`It may comprise no sensors at all.
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`It may be controlled
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`based on signals from such sensors found elsewhere in the automatic washing machine.
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`This simplifies its construction and reduces its cost.
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`The tablets comprise one or more active ingredients for an automatic washing process. As
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`will be appreciated by the skilled person, the nature of the active ingredient(s) used in the
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`tablets will vary depending on the desired application. When used inside a dishwasher, the
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`tablets may, for example, comprise an active ingredient performing a dishwasher
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`detergent, rinse aid, machine cleaner or dishwasher deodorizing function.
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`In the context of
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`laundry washing machines, the tablets may, for example, comprise an active ingredient
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`performing a laundry detergent or fabric softener function. Suitable active ingredients will
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`be known to the skilled person; examples include bleach, bleach activator, bleach catalyst,
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`enzyme, surfactant, builder, pH—adjusting agent, corrosion inhibitor, and fragrance.
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`Advantageously, each tablet contains a unit dose of the active ingredient, i.e. the entire
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`amount of the active ingredient desired to be used in the washing process, such that only
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`one tablet of that active ingredient needs to be dispensed per washing process (though
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`multiple dosing devices or systems may still be used to dispense multiple tablets of
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`different active ingredients per washing process).
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`In other embodiments, it may be an
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`advantage for the unit dose of the active ingredient to be provided by more than one tablet.
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`For example, in some cases a single tablet containing the entire unit dose may be rather
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`large or heavy, and dosing may be more effective or reliable using multiple smaller or
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`lighter tablets. Preferably, the desired dose of the active ingredient is provided by no more
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`than 10 tablets, preferably no more than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, or 4 tablets. Preferably, the unit dose
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`is provided by 1, 2, 3 or 4 tablets, in an embodiment 3 or 4 tablets.
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`Another useful option is to provide tablets each of which contains an amount of active
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`ingredient that corresponds to no more than one unit dose of the active ingredient for at
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`least one washing process of the automatic washing machine. Some automatic washing
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`machines are configured to allow selection between various different modes of operation,
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`such as an intensive wash program and a light wash program, which require different
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`amounts of the active ingredient. Thus, a number of tablets may be dosed during one
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`mode of operation and a different number of tablets are dosed during a different mode of
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`operation. For example, one tablet may be dosed during a wash program for a certain
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`soiling level and two tablets during a wash program designed for a higher level of soiling.
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`The tablets may be of any suitable form, such as solid, gel tab, or water soluble package /
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`container (preferably of low deformability). Preferably, at least the exterior of the tablets
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`are solid. For example, a capsule of a dissolvable (preferably hard) shell material could
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`enclose a powder, liquid or gel composition. Advantageously, however, the tablets are
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`formed of a compressed powder. Each tablet may, for example, be single phase or multi—
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`layered, and may be otherwise structured to ensure that each active ingredient is released
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`from the tablet at the most optimal time. The tablets may be wrapped in a film of water-
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`soluble material, but preferably they are unwrapped. They may be coated with a suitable
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`coating, 9.9!. to reduce friability.
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`The tablets may be of any suitable shape, such as cylindrical, disc-shaped, spherical,
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`spheroidal, or cuboid.
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`In an embodiment, each tablet has at least one flat face. Preferably
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`the tablets are cylindrical or disc-shaped, since spherical tablets are more difficult to
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`manufacture whilst shapes such as cuboid are less easily dispensed.
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`In the case of a
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`cylindrical tablet, preferably the length of the tablet is up to 5 % more or less than the
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`diameter of the tablet. When the tablet has edges, preferably at least some of these edges
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`are chamfered and/or filleted to reduce the liability to chip during manufacture and whilst
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`the tablet is in the dosing device. Preferably the chamfer has an angle of 15 to 20 degrees.
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`In an embodiment, each tablet has a weight of: at least 0.1 g, at least 0.5 g, at least 0.7 g,
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`at least 1 g, at least 1.2 g, at least 1.5 g, at least 2 g, at least 3 g, at least 4 g, or at least 5
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`9; and/or up to 15 9, up to 14 g, upto 13 9, up to 12 9, up to 11 g, upto 10 9, up to 9 9, up
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`to 8 9, up to 7 g, or up to 6 g.
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`In an embodiment, each tablet has a maximum length
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`and/or diameter of: at least 5 mm, at least 6 mm, at least 7 mm, at least 8 mm, at least 9
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`mm, or at least 10 mm; and/or up to 20 mm, up to 19 mm, up to 18 mm, up to 17 mm, up to
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`16 mm, or upto 15mm.
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`Preferably, the tablets are loosely filled into the container. Preferably, they are randomly
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`oriented therein. The maximum dimension of each tablet may be, for example, less than
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`2/3 of, or less than half of, the width of the exit port. Thus, in an embodiment, there is
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`plenty of room for the tablets to be agitated in the vicinity of the exit port.
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`The cartridge of the second aspect of the invention comprises one or more of the inventive
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`dosing devices, and a plurality of tablets inside the or each container. The third aspect of
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`the invention provides a kit of at least one of these cartridges and an automatic washing
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`machine.
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`Advantageously, the invention allows the dispensing of different tablets into the automatic
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`washing machine separately, Different tablets may need to be stored separately due to
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`incompatibility, or may be more effective if dispensed at different times during a single
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`wash process, or may be adapted to different types of wash programs. For example, it
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`may be advantageous to dose a bleach—containing tablet separately from an enzyme-
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`containing tablet.
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`It may also be desirable to dose a tablet containing a high level of an
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`active ingredient during an intensive wash program for heavily soiled items, but a tablet
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`containing a lower level of an active ingredient during a lower intensity wash program for
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`more lightly soiled items.
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`In an embodiment, the cartridge comprises at least two of the inventive dosing devices.
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`Alternatively or in addition, two or more cartridges may be provided in a kit. Preferably, the
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`tablets inside the container of a first dosing device are different from the tablets inside the
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`container of a second dosing device. The tablets may differ in the type of active
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`ingredient(s) included, or in the amount of active ingredient(s), or in another respect. The
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`operation of the first dosing device is preferably independent from the operation of the
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`second dosing device.
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`Each container may be refillable with tablets, or may be single-use such that when a
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`container runs out of tablets, it is disposed of.
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`An automatic washing machine may be provided with a dosing device of the invention or a
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`system comprising two or more dosing devices of the invention. Preferably, the dosing
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`devices can be operated independently.
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`The automatic washing machine may be, for example, a dishwasher or a laundry washing
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`machine. Preferably, it is a dishwasher, preferably a domestic dishwasher.
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`In an
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`embodiment, it is a dishwasher having a single tank. Preferably, the dishwasher does not
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`operate on a conveyor system, i.e. the dishes remain stationary during the wash rather
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`than being moved through one or more tanks. Preferably, the dishwasher has a main wash
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`space which is closed by a door.
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`In an embodiment, the cartridge, dosing device or system
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`is located at least partially inside the main wash space during use, for example it may be
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`partially embedded in a wall and partially projecting into the main wash space during use,
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`or it may be attached to a wall of the main wash space.
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`In an embodiment, the outlet of the
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`dosing device or system delivers the tablets directly into the main wash space.
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`In an embodiment, the inventive cartridge, dosing device or system connects to the
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`automatic washing machine in a predetermined location ofthe automatic washing machine.
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`The connection may be via an interface.
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`In the case of a dishwasher, preferably the
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`inventive cartridge, dosing device or system connects to the dishwasher via an interface in
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`a door of the dishwasher. The interface may comprise electrical and/or optical connections
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`to transfer power and/or control signals between the automatic washing machine and the
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`cartridge, dosing device or system.
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`Preferably, the automatic washing machine has a controller which controls the operation,
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`and dispensing of tablets from, the container(s).
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`Also disclosed herein is a method of dispensing tablets into an automatic washing
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`machine, using a dosing device or system according to the invention, comprising moving
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`the wheel from the first position to the second position and metering at least one tablet into
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`WO 2018/099900
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`PCT/EP2017/080630
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`the automatic washing machine.
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`In an embodiment, at least one tablet is dispensed
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`directly into a main wash space of the automatic washing machine. Preferably, at least one
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`tablet is dispensed during a main wash cycle of a dishwasher. Alternatively or in addition,
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`at least one tablet may be dispensed during a rinse cycle of the dishwasher.
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`Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described further with reference to the
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`accompanying Figures.
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`With reference to Figures 1a and 1b, there is shown an embodiment of a dosing device
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`10;10c for administering tablets 1
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`into an automatic washing machine. At its top end, the
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`dosing device 10 comprises a container 12 containing a plurality of tablets (not shown).
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`The bottom of the container 12 is funnel shaped and converges towards an exit port 14 of
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`the container 12. This dosing device 10;100 also comprises a metering mechanism having
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`a wheel 66, a housing 22, an outlet, and an agitation means 40. This dosing device 10;10c
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`is operable to move between a first position as shown in Figure 1a and a second position
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`as shown in Figure 1b.
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`The wheel 66 is rotatable inside the housing 22 and comprises a recess 68 in which a
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`tablet 1 from the container 12 is operable to be held during rotation of the Wheel 66 inside
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`the housing 22 from the first position to the second position.
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`In this dosing device 100, the
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`cylindrical housing 22 is horizontally orientated such that it defines a space in which the
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`wheel 66 is operable to rotate inside the housing 22 about a substantially horizontal axis.
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`The inlet opening 25 from this dosing device 10c is located in an uppermost portion of the
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`horizontal side wall 26 of the housing 22. The output opening 28 is located in a lowermost
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`portion of the horizontal side wall 26, and in a position which is diametrically opposed from
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`the inlet opening 25 inside the housing 22.
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`In the first position of the metering mechanism, the recess 68 from the wheel 66 faces
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`upwards and is in communication with the inlet opening 25 of the housing 22 (as shown in
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`Figure 1a). Upon rotation of the wheel 66 to the second position of the metering
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`mechanism, in this second position the recess 68 from the wheel 66 faces downwards and
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`is in communication with the output opening 28 of the housing 22 and the outlet of the
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`dosing device 10c (as shown in Figure 1b).
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`The radius of the wheel 66 is not uniform around its circumference, such that the radius
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`(R1) of the wheel is at a minimum at the angular position of the recess 68, and is at a
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`maximum (R2) at the angular position which is diametrically opposed the recess 68. As a
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`result of this varying radius, the wheel 66 defines an eccentric shape such that as it rotates
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`inside the housing 22, the separation (S1) between the wheel 66 and the inlet opening 25
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`is maximised when the wheel is in the first position (i.e. when the recess is in
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`communication with the inlet opening 25), and the separation (82) between the wheel 66
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`and the output opening 28 is maximised when the wheel is in the second position (i.e.
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`when the recess 68 is in communication with the output opening 28).
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`By providing a small amount of additional clearance between the recess 68 at the points
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`where it is in communication with either of the inlet opening 25 and the output opening 28,
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`this additional clearance helps guide a tablet 1
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`into the recess 68, such that the likelihood
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`of a tablet 1 becoming stuck, or getting jammed, inside the metering mechanism during its
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`operation is reduced.
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`The dosing device 10c comprises a tube 70 for delivering a tablet 1 from the exit port 14 of
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`the container 12 down towards the inlet opening 25 of the housing 22.
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`The agitation means 40 from this dosing device 100 is defined by a crenelated portion 62
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`added to the top surface of the tube 70. The top surface of the tube 70, which is located
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`around the exit port 14 of the container 12, comprises a plurality of crenelations 64 each
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`defining a geometric shape, such as a triangle, a rectangle, or a semi-circle.
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`The bottom of the tube 70 comprises a series of teeth 72 which engage with corresponding
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`teeth 74 extending around the circumference of the wheel 66. Since the bottom of the tube
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`70 comprises teeth 72 which engage with the corresponding teeth 74 on the wheel 66, as
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`the wheel 66 rotates during use of the dosing device 100, the crenelations 64 on the top
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`surface of the tube 70 linearly oscillate up and down, and also rotate around the exit port
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`14 from the container 12 to agitate tablets in the vicinity of the exit port 14.
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`The dosing device 10;1OC is operable to dispense at least one tablet into a dishwasher
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`during a wash cycle of the automatic washing machine. Preferably, for each movement of
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`the wheel 66 from the first position to the second position, the dosing device 10 is
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`configured to dispense a single tablet from the container 12 to the outlet of the dosing
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`device.
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`Movement of the wheel 66 between its first and second positions is controlled using a
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`motor (not shown in the Figures) which is connected to the metering mechanism.
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`Operation of the motor is governed by commands sent from a controller located in the
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`automatic washing machine. For a given wash cycle, the controller is configured to instruct
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`the motor to move the metering mechanism between its first and second positions, such
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`that one or more tablets are dispensed by the dosing device 10 into the machine at
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`10
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`different times during the wash cycle.
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`It will be appreciated that by having a plurality of dosing devices 10 arranged in parallel, a
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`closing system 100 can be provided as shown in Figure 2. With such a dosing system 100,
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`the dosing devices 10 can be filled with tablets 1 of different active ingredients.
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`In this way,
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`and by having each dosing device 10 individually controlled by the controller, the dosing
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`system can dispense different tablets at different times.
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`It will also be appreciated that any number of dosing devices 10 and/or dosing systems 100
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`can be su