Reckitt Benckiser N.v.

Reckitt Benckiser Finish B.v.

Reckitt Benckiser Inc.

Eltek S.p.a.

Chris Efstathios Housmekerides

Stefan Gaa

Karl-Ludwig Gibis

Karl Ludwig Gibis

Rainer Link

Daniele Fregonese

Markus Schilling

Ralf Wiedemann

Dietmar Van Loyen

Gaj Renato

Costanzo Gadini

Pavlinka Roy

Judith Preuschen

Marco Moro

Brendyn Murray Rodgers

Renato Gaj

Roger Kaiser

Guido Brandt

Thomas Enkel

Michael Hahl

Marcus Richter

Brendyn Invetech Pty Limited Rogers

Thomas Reckitt Benckiser Produktions Gmbh Enkel

Karl-L Reckitt Benckiser Produktions Gmbh Gibis

Guido Invetech Pty Limited Brandt

Guido Invetech Pty Limited Private Bag 44 Brandt

Karl L Reckitt Benckiser Produktions Gmbh Gibis

A low-foaming composition for cleaning a ware-washing machine comprises water, an alkoxylate, an acid (preferably citric acid), and preferably a phase separation promoter (for example a polyethylene glycol or an ionic salt). The composition is in two separate layers under ambient conditions.

Composition and method

The invention concerns detergent dosing devices and particularly a device for metering detergent doses within a dishwashing machine. A detergent dosing device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises: a water/wash liquor collection area (), a controlled inlet valve () for receiving water/wash liquor from the water/wash liquor collection area () and selectively allowing the collected water/wash liquor to pass through it, a housing partfor receiving water/wash liquor passed to it by the controlled inlet valve (), a detergent supply () for mixing with said water/wash liquor, a first sensor () for sensing the cleanliness level of water/wash liquor, a second sensor () for sensing detergent, a controller () for receiving signals from said first and second sensors () and for selectively controlling said inlet valve () on the basis of the outputs from the first and second sensors and an outlet () for dispensing mixed water/wash liquor and detergent.

Detergent dosing device

A long-life substance dispensing device for a washing machine, particularly a dishwasher, comprises: &#x2014;a body (') designed to be sealingly fixed to a structure of the washing machine, &#x2014;a support means () adapted to contain a total amount of a substance sufficient for performing a plurality of washing cycles, &#x2014;an actuation system () which is electrically controllable for causing delivery of at least one dose of the substance contained in the support means (). The actuation system () comprises at least one drive element and one driven element () capable of cooperating to obtain the delivery. The actuation system () is arranged for being able to take on an operative condition, wherein the drive element (&#x2033;) is operatively coupled with the driven element (&#x2032;), and an inoperative condition, wherein the drive element () is decoupled from the driven element ().

Dispensing device, particularly for domestic appliances

This invention relates to a dosage element of cleaning composition and an associated chamber for use in a ware washing machine, for example a dishwashing machine or a laundry washing machine. The dosage element and chamber are particularly useful in the context of forming part of a multi-dosing detergent delivery device and/or a refill for such a device. The element supports various different configurations of ingress and egress holes for an efficient dissolution of cleaning composition.

Dosage element and chamber

An article comprises a rack of solid sticks () of dishwasher detergent, retained on a backing material () and being formable into a nested, preferably cylindrical, form. The nested article is inserted into a holder, which is a plastics body, rigid and substantial. The holder is a permanent article located in use in a dishwasher but the article is a refill. Wastage of material when it is exhausted is minimal.

Multiple dosing ware washing article

The invention relates to a multi-dosing detergent delivery device. In embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises a housing () for receiving a cartridge (). The cartridge () has a plurality X of chambers, each accommodating a detergent composition. The device has a lid () for receiving water/wash liquor and directing it selectively into a chamber of the cartridge () to contact the detergent composition therein and an outlet to allow the detergent loaded wash liquor to exit the device. The device has automatic indexing means () for automatic movement of said cartridge () relative to said lid () so as to cause a neighboring chamber to be in an exposed, ready to be used, position prior to a next washing cycle and features an end stop mechanism (A,B) for preventing actuation of said automatic indexing mechanism () subsequent to an Xth washing cycle. The indexing mechanism () operates so as to impart a first amount of rotational movement to said cartridge () during a heating cycle and to provide a second amount of rotational movement to said cartridge () during a cooling cycle and said end stop mechanism (A,B) is arranged to block completion of the second amount of rotational movement following the Xth heating cycle.

Multi-dosing detergent delivery device

The use of an emanator blister, comprising a nonwater soluble membrane, for the release of a surfactant. Also an emanator blister, the emanator comprises a non-water soluble membrane which is suitable for the dispense of a surfactant.

Emanator blister

A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine has a cartridge, a selecting mechanism, an operating mechanism, and a thermal element. The cartridge includes a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition. The selecting mechanism selectively exposes each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber. The operating mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating mechanism. The thermal element retains the operating means in the second position and is arranged to move when subjected to an elevated temperature prevailing in an interior of the washing machine during a wash cycle, thereby the thermal element moves or releases the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is arranged to advance the selecting mechanism to an adjacent chamber as the cartridge remains stationary.

Detergent dispensing device

A dishwasher detergent delivery cartridge comprises a plurality of unit dose elements of a dishwasher detergent composition, the composition being a substantially coherent mass and comprising at least 20 wt % of methyl glycine diacetic acid and/or a salt thereof and/or of glutamic diacetic acid and/or a salt thereof. Such compositions have been found to have excellent stability and/or performance in multi-dose applications.

Delivery cartridge

The present invention concerns a multi-dosing detergent delivery device including a status indicator for providing an external indication of the internal status of the device. The indicator comprises a first element () internal to a main housing part () of the device and whose position is directly related to the status of the device and a second element () external of the main housing. The second element () and the first element () are linked together by means of magnetic attraction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first element () comprises a magnet and the second element () comprises a ferro-magnetic sphere, held within a transparent dome (). The sphere () and dome () are mounted to the exterior of a main housing of the device and form an isolated sub-housing, while the magnet () is provided internally. Motion of the magnet () is translated to motion of the sphere () and a static scale adjacent to the path of movement of the sphere indicates the device status.

Device status indicator for a multi-dosing detergent delivery device

The invention relates to a multi-dosing detergent delivery device. In embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises a housing () for receiving a cartridge (). The cartridge () has a plurality X of chambers (), each accommodating a detergent composition. The device further includes a directing means () to direct wash liquor selectively into a chamber () of the cartridge () to contact the detergent composition within it, and an outlet to allow the detergent loaded wash liquor to exit the device. The device also includes indexing means () for causing automatic movement of the cartridge () relative to the directing means () during and subsequent to a wash cycle so as to cause a neighboring chamber () to be exposed prior to a next washing cycle.

A composition comprising phthalimidoperhexanoic acid (PAP) is provided. The PAP has a particle size of 0.01 to 100 &#x3bc;m and a particle size distribution with x(50) of less than 10 &#x3bc;m. Preferably the composition is a detergent composition.

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Ludwigshafen, Germany

Chris Efstathios Housmekerides