U.S. patent application number 10/631949 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-03 for processes.
Invention is credited to Ambuter, Hal, Cavanagh, James William.
Application Number | 20050022314 10/631949 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34104229 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050022314 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ambuter, Hal ; et
al. |
February 3, 2005 |
Processes
Abstract
The present invention provides for a method of dosing treating
agents into a washing machine in particular sequences so that only
one treating agent is dosed at one time. This avoids interaction of
incompatible treating agents as well as provide for better cleaning
as now one treating agent can perform without interference from
other treating agents typically found in washing machines.
Inventors: |
Ambuter, Hal; (Vernon,
NJ) ; Cavanagh, James William; (Ramsey, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORRIS, MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS
875 THIRD AVE
18TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
34104229 |
Appl. No.: |
10/631949 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/158 ; 68/17R;
68/207 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/4472 20130101;
C11D 11/0064 20130101; A47L 2401/10 20130101; A47L 15/44 20130101;
A47L 2401/11 20130101; D06F 39/02 20130101; A47L 15/0055 20130101;
A47L 2501/07 20130101; D06F 33/37 20200201; A47L 2401/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/158 ;
068/017.00R; 068/207 |
International
Class: |
D06F 039/08 |
Claims
1. A method of dispensing a plurality of treating compositions into
a multistage automatic washing machine comprising operating a
cartridge in the machine, the cartridge comprising at least two
chambers, each chamber containing a treating composition, wherein
the chambers are activated in a manner such that only one chamber
is activated and one treating composition, is dosed during each
stage of the washing cycle.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of cartridges are
provided within the automatic washing machine.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the chambers of the cartridge
contain a plurality of treating compositions.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the chambers of the cartridge
contain a plurality of treating compositions.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein each treating composition differs
from the other treating compositions.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein each treating composition differs
from the other treating compositions.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cartridge comprises 4
chambers.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cartridge comprises a chamber
suitable for activation in a pre-rinse segment, which contains an
enzymatic detergent treating composition.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the cartridge comprises a chamber
suitable for activation in a wash segment, which contains a
hypohalite/peroxygen detergent treating composition.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the cartridge comprises a chamber
suitable for activation in a rinse segment, which contains a rinse
agent treating composition.
9. The method of claim 5, wherein the cartridge comprises a chamber
suitable for activation in a treatment segment, which contains an
anti-lime agent or a water treatment agent treating
composition.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein in operation the cartridge
interacts with a sensor within the automatic washing machine, the
sensor sensing a parameter of the automatic washing machine wash
liquor and conveying the parameter back to the cartridge,
influencing the operation of a cartridge chamber.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor senses the hardness
of the water in the automatic washing machine wash liquor.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor senses the soil
loading of the water in the automatic dishwasher machine wash
liquor.
13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sensor senses the
amount to which the automatic washing machine has been loaded with
house ware to be washed.
14. The method of claim 5, wherein in operation the cartridge
interacts with a sensor within the automatic washing machine, the
sensor sensing a parameter of the automatic washing machine wash
liquor and conveying the parameter back to the cartridge,
influencing the operation of a cartridge chamber.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor senses the hardness
of the water in the automatic washing machine wash liquor.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor senses the soil
loading of the water in the automatic dishwasher machine wash
liquor.
17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the sensor senses the
amount to which the automatic washing machine has been loaded with
house ware to be washed.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatic washing machine is
an automatic dishwashing machine.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to the process of using multiple
detergent compositions, rinse aids, and other additives within one
complete wash cycle of an automatic washing machine. The various
cleaning compositions may be dosed into the machine at varying
quantities, times, sequences, and for varying durations during a
washing machine cycle. The use of multiple cleaning compositions
allows for increased and optimized cleaning performance.
[0002] Current conventional systems used in automatic dishwashers
only dose one detergent composition per wash cycle with the
optional addition of a rinse agent composition at the very end of
the washing machine cycle. The detergent compositions are primarily
either enzymatic based or incorporate a hypohalite oxidative bleach
(e.g. sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, etc.).
[0003] Enzymatic detergents provide excellent cleaning on enzyme
sensitive soils (primarily protein and starch based) but fail to
provide performance on hard to remove stains, such as coffee, tea,
and tomato stains.
[0004] Hypohalite based (for example, chlorine bleach based)
detergents provide excellent cleaning on the hard to remove stains
but fail to provide performance on the enzyme sensitive soils.
[0005] Because enzymes and hypohalite oxidizing bleaches are
incompatible within the same formula matrix, the consumer must make
a trade-off decision on performance and use one detergent
composition or the other. This presents an obvious dilemma to the
consumer--whether to get good cleaning on an enzymatic sensitive
stain to the detriment of a hard to remove stain or vice versa.
[0006] The use of multiple detergent compositions within one
washing machine cycle would mitigate this trade-off decision and
provide optimal performance across the range of stains and soils
normally encountered in an automatic dishwasher. However, given the
incompatibility of enzyme based detergents and hypohalite
detergents, the detergent compositions must be kept separate and
dosed at different times so that the performance of each detergent
is not affected by the presence of the other detergent.
[0007] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a
multistage automatic dishwashing machine where different detergents
and other additives can be dosed into the machine at different
times during the machine cycle so that a particular dosed detergent
or additive can perform its function without interference or
deleterious effects from other detergents or additives. Once the
particular dosed detergent or additive has performed its function,
a further detergent or additive can be dosed into the machine to
perform yet another function.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide for a
cartridge that contains at least two chambers with each chamber
containing one discrete detergent or additive. The individual
chambers can be charged with a variety of detergents and additives
that can be used to treat the contents of the washing machine as
well as the interior of the washing machine itself.
[0009] Typically dishwashing machines contain a suitable slot or
receiving port of appropriate size to accommodate the cartridge.
Additionally, the machine usually contains electrical and/or
mechanical circuitry, sensors and/or actuators and/or logic
controllers, which permit the user to operate the machine by
selecting a particular cycle (or alternatively by selecting a
series of segments to define a particular cycle). The use of a
controller, the construction and design of which is well known to
those skilled in the art, allows the selected cycle/segments to
send an appropriate signal to the cartridge such that at the
appropriate segment of the cycle, (as either preprogrammed by the
machine manufacturer or programmed by the user), the appropriate
chamber in the cartridge is activated and the material therein is
dosed.
[0010] Alternatively the dosing may be based upon feedback from a
sensor within the machine that determines a feature of the load
such as the size thereof and/or the amount of soil therein. In this
way a desired chamber in the cartridge may then be activated. At
the same time, one or more other chamber(s) may be "locked out",
unable to dose its (their) material into the machine.
[0011] In addition or as an alternative the sensors within the
machine may be used to detect the type or quality of load or water
hardness at the appropriate time. Generally, but not always, this
occurs at the beginning of the cycle. Detecting the number of items
and/or soil load then permits the machine to devise a series of
segments that would dose appropriate treating agents in the
appropriate segment.
[0012] In certain instances, it may be desirable to dose an
enzymatic detergent first, then followed by a hypohalite detergent
and then finally with a rinse aid. In other instances, it may be
desirable to dose a hypohalite detergent first, then followed by an
enzymatic detergent and then finally with a rinse aid. In further
instances, it may be desirable to dose an enzymatic detergent
first, then followed by a rinse aid; then followed by a hypohalite
detergent and then finally with a rinse aid. In still further
instances, it may be desirable to dose a hypohalite detergent
first, then followed by a rinse aid; then followed by an enzymatic
detergent and then finally with a rinse aid. In even still further
instances, it may be desirable to first dose water treatment agents
(for example, builders, water softeners, chelaters, etc and the
like) and then follow with either an enzymatic detergent or
hypohalite detergent, then either a hypohalite detergent or
enzymatic detergent, and then a rinse aid. Even further instances
may include a segment where a dose of anti-lime scale agent is
dosed prior to the final rinse aid segment. In even further
instances, it may be desirable to dose an additive (for example, a
rinse aid) at the same time as the hypohalite detergent or
enzymatic detergent. Those in the art will appreciate that there
are numerous other segment combinations which can be envisioned,
all of which are within the scope of the present invention.
[0013] Depending upon the treating agent to be dosed into the
machine, the dosing of the detergent may take place prior to the
final rinse segment or zone, preferably prior to the first wash
segment or zone.
[0014] A further object for the present invention is to provide a
method of dispensing a plurality of treating compositions into a
multi-stage automatic washing machine, the method comprising
operating a cartridge in the machine, the cartridge comprising at
least two chambers, each chamber containing a treating composition,
wherein the chambers are activated in a manner such that only one
chamber is activated and one treating composition is does during
each stage of the dishwashing cycle.
[0015] Most preferably the automatic washing machine is an
automatic dishwashing machine.
[0016] Optionally a plurality of cartridges may be provided within
the automatic dishwashing machine, wherein each cartridge has a
plurality of chambers for holding/dosing a treating
composition.
[0017] Most preferably the chambers of the cartridge contain at
least two different treating compositions. Optionally each treating
composition differs from each other treating composition.
[0018] The treating composition may comprise a single treating
agent or alternatively may comprise a plurality of treating
agents.
[0019] The types of treating agents which can be placed
individually into the separate chambers include enzymatic
detergents, hypohalite/peroxygen detergents, water treatment
agents, rinse aids, anti-lime scale removers, sanitizers, perfumes,
and surface repair agents.
[0020] A typical dishwashing cycle consists of a pre-rinse segment,
a wash segment, two more rinse segments, and finally, a dry
segment. Some dish washing machines may have an additional segment
such as treating segments (for example, a water treatment segment
or an anti-lime scale segments). A timing device within the
dishwasher is responsible for precisely controlling all of the
electrical circuits and activating the components associated with
each segment.
[0021] Preferably the cartridge chamber that is activated in the
pre-rinse segment contains an enzymatic detergent.
[0022] Preferably the cartridge chamber that is activated in the
wash segment contains a hypohalite/peroxygen detergent.
[0023] Preferably the cartridge chamber that is activated in the
rinse segment contains a rinse agent.
[0024] Preferably the cartridge chamber that is activated in the
treatment segment contains an anti-lime agent or a water
treatment.
[0025] To clearly illustrate this concept the operation of the,
cartridge in accordance with the method of the present invention in
a typical dishwashing machine may be as follows.
[0026] For use with a typical multistage dishwashing machine the
cartridge comprises four chambers, one for each of the cycles
outlined above. Each cartridge chamber, independently of the other
cartridge chambers may be filled, partially filled or empty. The
filling of each cartridge may be dependent upon the nature of the
dishwasher machine cycle, e.g. whether or not a particular segment
is present in said cycle. Alternatively the user may exert some
influence as to the needs of the items to be washed and the amount
of treating composition added to each chamber.
[0027] The cartridges may also be sold commercially, wherein the
treating agents have been added as necessary to each cartridge
chamber.
[0028] Usually chamber one (for activation in a pre-rinse segment)
contains an enzymatic detergent, chamber two (for activation in a
wash-segment) contains a hypohalite detergent, chamber three (for
activation in a rinse segment) contains a rinse aid, and chamber
four (for activation in a treatment-segment) contains a water
treatment agent. Chambers one, two, three, and four are activated
during the machine dishwasher cycle in a sequential manner to dose
their respective contents (if present) into the machine during a
predetermined segment such that only one chamber is activated and
the material therein is dosed into the machine during said segment
no other chamber is activated and no other material is dosed into
the machine until the prior stage has been completed.
[0029] Typical preprogrammed cycles found in automatic dishwashing
machines and cycles include HEAVY and CHINA CRYSTAL. Within these
and other automatic dishwasher cycles, (which can, for example, be
selected by the user) is an array of options. Examples of options
include DELAY START, AIR DRY, LOW ENERGY RINSE, HIGH TEMP WASH, and
CANCEL DRAIN.
[0030] Each cycle can have its own treating agent dispense
requirements, for example, for a HEAVY cycle, it may be preferred
or necessary to first dose a rinse agent then followed by an
enzymatic detergent and then the hypohalite detergent (or vice
versa) and then finally an anti-lime scale agent.
[0031] In another example, for a CHINA CRYSTAL cycle, it may be
preferred or necessary to first dose a rinse agent, then an
enzymatic detergent (or hypohalite detergent), then the rinse
agent, then a hypohalite detergent (or enzymatic detergent), and
then finally again a rinse agent.
[0032] For a typical automatic dishwasher machine, once the machine
is loaded with articles to be cleaned and/or treated, generally the
following events occur when the door of the washing machine is
closed and the user has selected a particular cycle (either
preprogrammed or programmed).
[0033] (1) Latching the door activates the timer and other
controls. The user selects a cycle by pressing a button and/or
turning a dial on the front panel of the dishwasher.
[0034] (2) The timer opens a water-inlet valve and when the water
reaches the appropriate level in the dishwasher tub, the
water-inlet valve closes. The timer advances to activate a
motor-driven pump, which sends water through the pump housing and
into the spray arms and tower at a powerful rate, causing the spray
arms to rotate and spray water over the dishes.
[0035] (3) As the water becomes soiled with food particles, the
water circulates through a filtration system which eliminates food
particles from the water.
[0036] (4) At the end of the rinse segment, the timer signals the
machine to empty the water into the home's drain system. If a cycle
requires another rinse segment, the timer activates the machine to
refill, rinse and drain before going into the main wash
segment.
[0037] (5) For the main wash segment, the timer signals the
detergent dispenser to open and empty its contents into the
water-filled tub.
[0038] (6) The hot water and detergent are pumped throughout the
machine to break down and loosen soil on dishes and utensils. The
timer then directs the pump to drain the tub and refill with clean,
hot water for final rinse segments.
[0039] (7) Once the final rinse segments are completed, the
automatic drying period begins.
[0040] As can be appreciated, at certain points within the above
cycles, the treating agents discussed herein can be dosed into the
washing machine to perform rinsing, cleaning, disinfecting, water
treating, and other tasks for which the treating agents are
designed.
[0041] For example, during segment (2), a water treatment agent
could be dosed into the washing machine to address any water
hardness issues. Of course this will vary depending upon the water
quality of the individual user. Thereafter, a rinse agent could
also be dosed.
[0042] For segment (5), an enzymatic detergent could be dosed first
into the washing machine and allowed to work. Then a segment (5A)
could be envisioned where there is a short rinse and then segment
(5B) would then dose a hypohalite detergent. Then segment (6) would
then follow.
[0043] As mentioned above, there can be a variety of different
segments which can be placed in a variety of sequences to define a
cycle. The various cycles can be preprogrammed by the washing
machine manufacturer or could be programmed by the user. Also
envisioned are sensors within the washing machine that could sense
the article load and the soil load. In so doing, the amount of
treating agent to be dosed could be changed to meet the load
requirements.
[0044] In practice, the washing machine user will load the washing
machine with articles to be cleaned. After selecting a
preprogrammed cycle or selecting segments which form a cycle, the
washing machine is turned on.
[0045] Water hardness sensors can be placed, for example, in the
water inlet pipe into the washing machine or in the bottom of the
washing machine cavity. The water hardness sensor could be an ion
selective electrode or detectors which can measure the amount of
calcium and/or magnesium in the water. The sensor can be preset
such that depending upon the hardness of the water, an appropriate
amount of water treating agent can be added. Water hardness is
classified by the U.S. Department of Interior and the Water Quality
Association and can range from soft water (0-17 mg/l or ppm of
hardness) to moderately hard water (60-120 mg/l or ppm of hardness)
to hard water (120-180 mg/l or ppm of hardness) to very hard water
(>180 mg/l or ppm of hardness). The amount of water treatment
agent needed to be added to adjust the incoming water to an
appropriate water hardness can be programmed into the sensor.
Additionally, various types of water treatment agents are available
and the sensor can be programmed to identify the water treatment
agents in the cartridge through manufacturer's sensors identifying
the agents which are placed on a cartridge.
[0046] Once the water hardness has been adjusted to an appropriate
level, infrared and/or ultra violet sensors which are placed within
the washing machine can do a survey of the load to determine the
type and quantity of load. For example, the IR and/or UV sensors
could send out signals to survey the load. Both enzyme sensitive
and hard to remove stains, as discussed above, could be detected.
If the majority of the stains were detected to be hard to remove
stains, for example, red containing stains which could be
indicative of a tomato based stain--identified above as preferably
treated by the use of a hypohalite detergent. If detected, then a
logic switch connected to the sensor would then send a signal to
the chamber containing the hypohalite to be dispensed and thus a
first wash segment could be commenced. Thereafter, once this wash
segment was complete, the water in the cavity could be discharged,
new water loaded, again check for water hardness, and then the
enzymatic detergent could be charged into the machine and the
second wash segment could commence. Once this wash segment was
complete, the water in the cavity could be removed and the rinse
segment(s) could commence.
[0047] Those in the art will appreciate that if the IR and/or UV
sensors detected more protein type stains (for example, egg), then
the first wash segment would be conducted using an amount of
enzymatic detergent dosed into the cavity. The second wash segment
would then be conducted using the hypohalite detergent.
[0048] The invention is further illustrated with reference to the
following non-limiting Examples.
EXAMPLES
[0049] The performance of dosing different detergents at different
times within a washing machine was investigated.
[0050] Two performance tests were run to illustrate the performance
differences between the use of a sole detergent and a multiple
detergent system. The tests compared the performance of the
following detergent systems:
[0051] Ex. 1 enzymatic detergent alone in the pre-wash cup and in
the main wash cup
[0052] Ex. 2 hypohalite detergent alone in the pre-wash cup and in
the main wash cup
[0053] Ex. 3 enzymatic detergent in the pre-wash cup and hypohalite
detergent in the main wash cup
[0054] Ex. 4 hypohalite detergent in the main wash cup and
enzymatic detergent in the main wash cup
[0055] The first test was a cleaning test that measures the
performance of a detergent system at removing a wide variety of
different types of soils and stains. The test used the European
standard IKW (Industrial Associate for Personal Hygienic Products
and Detergents) cleaning test in commercially available US machines
against four different soil/stain classes: bleachable, dried/starch
containing, dried/protein and, persistent/burnt containing. The
soil/stains tested are listed in Table 1. The detergents tested and
other testing parameters and equipment are set forth in Table A.
Each soil/stain was visually rated after the wash performance using
a scoring system of 1 to 10; 10 indicating 100% removal and 1
indicating 0% removal. The results are found in Table 1.
1 TABLE A Hypohalite Detergent (HD) Electrasol Lemon Gel Enzymatic
Detergent (ED) Cascade Complete Gel Water hardness 9.degree. GH
Water temperature 55.degree. C. Machine: G.E. Potscrubber Program:
Normal/Heated Dry
[0056]
2TABLE 1 Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Pre-wash Detergent Cup 45 gram
dosage HD ED HD ED Main wash Detergent Cup 60 gram dosage ED HD HD
ED Bleachable Stains TEA INTENSIVE 6.7 9.8 9.9 4.0 Starch, dried-on
OAT FLAKES 8.9 8.3 5.4 9.0 STARCH MIX 9.8 9.0 7.0 10.0 Protein,
dried-on MINCED MEAT 10.0 1.8 3.9* 9.8 EGG YOLK 6.1 2.0 0.8 6.5 EGG
YOLK/MILK 7.5 2.4 1.2 7.9 Burnt-on Stains MILK 7.4 7.5 7.9 7.3
Average 8.06 5.83 5.16 7.78
[0057] As can be seen from the data in Table 1, a combination of an
enzymatic and hypohalite detergents provided superior cleaning
performance results versus using either one of the detergents
alone.
[0058] The second test measured the spotting and filming
performance of the detergent systems evaluated above. This test
used the standard ASTM method D3556-85 (Reapproved 1989) "Standard
Test Method for Deposition on Glassware During Mechanical
Dishwashing" to evaluate spotting and filming in commercially
available US machines. The detergents tested and other testing
parameters and equipment are set forth in Table B. Glasses were
measured for spotting and filming after 4 consecutive washes.
Spotting and filming were graded separately for each glass on a
scale from 1 to 5, 1 indicating no spotting or filming and 5
indicating heavy level of spotting and filming. The results are
found in Table 2.
3TABLE B Hypohalite Detergent (HD) Electrasol Lemon Gel Enzymatic
Detergent (ED) Cascade Complete Gel Test Method ASTM D3556-85
Spotting & Filming Test Water hardness 150 ppm calcium
carbonate Water temperature 120.degree. F. (.about.49.degree. C.)
Machine G.E. Profile Program Normal/Heated Dry
[0059]
4TABLE 2 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 8 Pre-wash Detergent Cup 45 gram HD
ED HD ED dosage Main wash Detergent Cup 60 gram ED HD HD ED dosage
Spotting 1.64 1.71 1.86 1.64 Filming 1.75.sup.78 1.48.sup.78 2.15
2.06
[0060] The superscript letter above the individual score indicates
a significant difference versus the product indicated. As an
example the score for filming in Ex. 5 is indicated as 1.75.sup.78
This means that it is significantly better in filming than Ex. 7
and Ex. 8.
[0061] The data in Table 2 show that a combination of an enzymatic
and hypohalite detergent system produce superior cleaning
performance results versus using either one of the detergents
alone.
[0062] The above data highlight the advantages of a multiple
cleaning composition system when used in current, commercially
available machines, which have preset detergent dosage amounts and
preset wash cycle times. Further performance advantages can be
achieved if these restrictions are removed through redesign of the
dishwasher.
[0063] The cleaning system could be either
[0064] 1. placed into the existing dishwasher cups
[0065] 2. placed into a bulk storage reservoir permanently attached
to the dishwasher
[0066] 3. placed into a disposable or reusable cartridge
[0067] Additionally, further cleaning compositions can be added to
this detergent system for even higher levels of performance apart
from those mentioned above. For example:
[0068] 1. multiple dosing points in the wash segment of rinse
agent--currently limited to a dosage of 1-3 ml and only at the very
end of the wash segment.
[0069] 2. The addition of an acidic based composition at the end of
the wash segment to remove any limescale or soap scum deposits from
either the dishes/plates/glasses or the machine itself.
[0070] 3. The addition of a cationic disinfectant composition at
the end of the wash segment.
* * * * *