Multi-Dosing Detergent Delivery Device

Abstract

A multi-dosing detergent delivery device removably insertable into an automatic dishwashing machine. The device comprises a cartridge capable of receiving therein a plurality of dosage elements of a cleaning composition, a collection area formed in a lid area of said device suitable to collect water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle of a dishwasher and a directing means to direct water or wash liquor from said collection area selectively to an interior part of said device. The collection area of the device is optimised for collecting enough water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle of a dishwasher to achieve standard dissolution of a single dosage element during a dishwashing programme.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a multi-dosing detergent delivery device containing a plurality of dosage elements of cleaning composition, for use in a ware washing machine, for example a dishwashing machine or a laundry washing machine.

[0002] In dissolving cleaning composition in a dishwasher main wash, any given amount of detergent which is enclosed in a chamber needs a minimum amount of water to be passed through that chamber to guarantee complete dissolution. This is in contrast to the dissolution of, for instance, a normal dishwasher tablet as dispensed within a conventional dishwasher arrangement, because here the tab, once it has been released from the dispenser, is immersed in the turbulent washing liquor within the dishwasher itself, which means there is available an almost unlimited resource of water for dissolving the tablet.

[0003] In perfecting the design of a multi-dosing device for a dishwasher, it must be ensured that enough water is collected for a fast dissolution of the cleaning composition, keeping in mind that the consumer does not want to give up too much space in the dishwasher for storage of the multi-dosing delivery cartridge.

[0004] Attempting to solve the problems of ensuring proper dissolution of the cleaning composition within a given time frame in a dishwasher environment, is not a trivial exercise as dishwasher design varies around the world, placement of the device within the dishwasher will also vary and the footprint of a dosage delivery cartridge needs to be minimised.

[0005] Accordingly, it is an aim of preferred embodiments of the invention to provide a multi-dosing delivery cartridge capable of overcoming, or minimising the above mentioned problems and providing good dissolution of cleaning compositions regardless of positioning within a dishwasher.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-dosing detergent delivery device removably insertable into a ware washing machine, the device comprising a cartridge capable of receiving therein a plurality of dosage elements of a cleaning composition, a collection area formed in a lid area of said device suitable to collect water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle of a ware washing machine and a directing means to direct water or wash liquor from said collection area selectively to an interior part of said device, wherein the collection area is suitable to collect enough water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle to achieve standard dissolution of a single dosage element during a washing programme.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-dosing detergent delivery device removably insertable into a ware washing machine, the device comprising a cartridge containing a plurality of dosage elements of a cleaning composition, a directing means to direct water or wash liquor selectively to one of said plurality of dosage elements to contact with the cleaning composition therein, wherein, in use, each dosage element is accessible by said water/wash liquor via at least one opening to allow ingress of said water/wash liquor and egress of said water/wash liquor with said cleaning composition, wherein the device in a lid area thereof, includes a collection area suitable to collect enough water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle of a ware washing machine to achieve standard dissolution of a dosage element during a washing programme.

[0008] Preferably, said collection area is arranged to collect a minimum of 50 g of water per minute.

[0009] Preferably, said device is arranged to be positionable at any wire basket/rack position within a dishwasher.

[0010] Preferably, said device is arranged such that when placed at a position within the ware washing machine in which a minimum amount of water is available to it, said water collection area is sufficient.

[0011] Preferably each dosage element is of elongate formation and is housed within a chamber having said at least one opening. Preferably, the rack is in the form of a parallel array of elongate chambers, each containing a solid dosage element. Preferably, the nested form is generally cylindrical.

[0012] Preferably, each dosage element contains between 15 and 25 g of cleaning composition.

[0013] Preferably, the cleaning composition has an average density within the range of 1.0 to 1.5 g/cm.sup.3.

[0014] Preferably, the hardness of the composition is between 100N-400N.

[0015] Comprehensive tests in various dishwashers of various rack positions give a minimum available water flow of 1 g per minute per cm.sup.2, the maximum is about 15 g water per minute per cm.sup.2 and said device is arranged so as to cope with the minimum water flow positioning.

[0016] Tests have shown that standard dishwashing cleaning compositions (detergents) show a complete dissolution after 5 to 20 minutes in a standard dissolution test comprising complete immersion of detergent in water, at 40.degree. C., under mechanical action.

[0017] Preferably, each chamber has a larger internal volume than is simply required for storing the dosage element within it. Preferably, where the volume of the dosage element is taken as being a 100% nominal figure, then the chamber may have an internal volume up to 140%--i.e. maybe up to 40% larger in size than the dosage element it contains. Preferably though, the volume of the chamber exceeds the volume of the dosage element by between 15 and 20% and sizing the chamber in this fashion may have a surprisingly beneficial effect on the dissolution times.

[0018] It has been found that a device which can collect and direct by any means a minimum of 50 g of water per minute into a chamber is able to dissolve a cleaning composition having a standard dissolution time of 5 minutes therein in a 50.degree. C. normal programme, provided the aforementioned criteria are met regarding volume.

[0019] Where a cleaning composition having a 10 minute standard dissolution time is utilised, a minimal water flow of 200 g of water per minute is required through a chamber, whereas for a 20 minute standard dissolution time cleaning composition, a 500 g per minute water flow has been found to be required. Preferably the device of the present invention utilises a cleaning composition having a standard dissolution time of between 3 and 15 minutes and more preferably 8 minutes and most preferably 5 minutes.

[0020] Preferably, said water collection area is in the range of 30 to 80 cm.sup.2. Most preferably, said water collection area is approximately 50 cm.sup.2, such that a water flow of 1 g per minute per cm.sup.2 is sufficient to dissolve a cleaning composition having a standard dissolution time of 5 minutes.

[0021] Preferably, said device is a cylindrical device having a diameter of approximately 8 cm. Most preferably, the ratio of said water collection area to cleaning composition standard dissolution time is within the range of 5 to 50 and, particularly in the range of 10 to 30.

[0022] Preferably each chamber comprises a sleeve, for example of a plastics material. Each sleeve may have at least one opening to allow the dosage element to be washed away in use. Preferably each sleeve has two openings, at opposite ends so that water may enter one end (the upper end in use) and leave the other end (the lower end in use), carrying with it dissolved or broken away cleaning composition. An upper opening may suitably be of area at least 10 mm.sup.2, preferably at least 30 mm.sup.2, and most preferably at least 60 mm.sup.2. Suitably it may be of area up to 200 mm.sup.2, preferably up to 160 mm.sup.2, and most preferably up to 120 mm.sup.2. The upper face of the sleeve may suitably be left totally open. A lower opening may suitably be of area at least 3 mm.sup.2, preferably at least 6 mm.sup.2, and most preferably at least 10 mm.sup.2. Suitably it may be of area up to 200 mm.sup.2, preferably up to 60 mm.sup.2, and most preferably up to 20 mm.sup.2. The lower face of the sleeve is preferably not left totally open, so that it retains the dosage element in place, until in use it dissolves. There may be one or more intermediate openings in the side face of the sleeve, i.e. between the upper opening and the lower opening, and the size thereof preferably conforms to the definitions given above for the lower opening.

[0023] Preferably the sleeves are formed in one piece. That piece may be in the form of a moulded or thermoformed tray having multiple compartments, into which the dosage elements are placed. The backing material may be secured over the tray to entrap the dosage elements. In such an embodiment the tray and backing material together form the sleeves.

[0024] The dosage elements are of a solid cleaning composition and as such may be of a particulate material, for example powder or granules, provided that the material is retained until it is washed away in use; for example in a sleeve as described above. Preferably however the dosage elements are of a solid cleaning composition in the sense of being non-flowable. Preferably they are of a coherent mass; preferably formed by a moulding or shaping process, for example injection moulding, extrusion, casting or compression forming.

[0025] Preferably the dosage elements are identical to each other.

[0026] Preferably the dosage elements are of substantially the same cross-section along their length; in particular, they preferably do not taper.

[0027] Preferably the rack is such that, in its nested form, each pair of dosage elements is separated by a spacing, at least for part of the depth of the dosage elements. The spacing preferably extends part-way towards the backing; for example between one-third and two-thirds of the distance to the backing. The device cartridge into which the nested rack is placed, in use, preferably has an array of walls radiating from a hub, wherein spacings must be mated with divider walls when the article is located in the device cartridge. There could be one-to-one correspondence between spacings and divider walls, but preferably there are more spacings than divider walls. Three or four divider walls will generally suffice to cause the nested rack to be located correctly in the device cartridge. In general we may say there are preferably 3-8 divider walls, preferably 4-6.

[0028] The multi-dosing detergent delivery device is generally a plastics body, rigid and substantial, but the nested rack, once the dosage elements have gone, is light and may even be rather flimsy. It suitably comprises just the backing material and the sleeves (which may be light thermoformed sheet, or film). The rack is intended as a refill, whilst the remainder of the multi-dosing delivery device, comprising cartridge, collection area and directing means, is retained. The wastage of material when the rack of dosage elements is exhausted is very small. The invention may thus be seen as a desirably ergonomic solution.

[0029] Preferably the device has means to deliver water to the rack of dosage elements in sequence, one in each wash. Such means may operate automatically or be operated by the user, before a wash is commenced.

[0030] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of carrying out washing in a ware washing machine, the method comprising collecting water/wash liquor in a lid area of a multi-dosing detergent delivery device, and directing said water/wash liquor to a cartridge area of the device, wherein said cartridge area houses a rack of X dosage elements and said water/wash liquor is directed to a selected single dosage element during a single wash cycle, wherein in said collecting step, sufficient water/wash liquor is collected by said lid area during a main wash cycle of a ware washing machine to achieve standard dissolution of said dosage element during a dishwashing programme.

[0031] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided the use of a device in accordance with the first aspect or the second aspect in carrying out washing in a ware washing machine.

[0032] The following definitions of dosage elements of the invention apply both to dosage elements which are monolithic and to dosage elements constituted by two or more pieces set end-to-end. In the latter embodiments the following definitions treat such dosage elements as if they were monolithic; for example length denotes the consolidated length, and surface area denotes the surface area of the dosage elements set end-to-end, not the summated surface area of the separated pieces.

[0033] Preferably the length (that is, the minimum length--see above) of a dosage element is at least 4 cm, preferably at least 5 cm, preferably at least 6 cm.

[0034] Preferably the length of a dosage element is up to 14 cm, preferably up to 12 cm, preferably up to 10 cm.

[0035] Preferably the thickness (that is, the maximum thickness--see above) of a dosage element is at least 0.8 cm, preferably at least 1.4 cm, preferably at least 1.8 cm.

[0036] Preferably the thickness of a dosage element is up to 5 cm, more preferably up to 3.5 cm, more preferably up to 2.5 cm.

[0037] Preferably the cross-sectional area (that is, the maximum cross-sectional area--see above) of a dosage element is at least 0.6 cm.sup.2, preferably at least 1 cm.sup.2, preferably at least 1.5 cm.sup.2.

[0038] Preferably the cross-sectional area of a dosage element is up to 5 cm.sup.2, preferably up to 3.5 cm.sup.2, more preferably up to 2.5 cm.sup.2.

[0039] Preferably the surface area of a dosage element is at least 30 cm.sup.2, preferably at least 35 cm.sup.2, preferably at least 40 cm.sup.2.

[0040] Preferably the surface area of a dosage element is up to 60 cm.sup.2, preferably up to 55 cm.sup.2, preferably up to 50 cm.sup.2.

[0041] Preferably the volume of a dosage element is at least 6 ml, preferably at least 9 ml, preferably at least 12 ml.

[0042] Preferably the volume of a dosage element is up to 25 ml, preferably up to 20 ml, preferably up to 16 ml.

[0043] Preferably the weight of a dosage element is at least 8 g, preferably at least 12 g, preferably at least 15 g.

[0044] Preferably the weight of a dosage element is up to 32 g, preferably up to 26 g, preferably up to 24 g.

[0045] Preferably a dosage element has an aspect ratio (that is, the ratio of minimum length to maximum thickness--see above) of at least 2:1, preferably at least 2.5:1, preferably at least 3:1.

[0046] Preferably a dosage element has an aspect ratio of up to 12:1, preferably up to 8:1, preferably up to 6:1.

[0047] Preferably a dosage element has a ratio of length to cross-sectional area of at least 2:1, preferably at least 2.5:1, preferably at least 3:1 (units of length.sup.-1).

[0048] Preferably a dosage element has a ratio of length to cross-sectional area of up to 12:1, preferably up to 8:1, preferably up to 6:1 (units of length.sup.-1).

[0049] Preferably a dosage element has a ratio of surface area to volume of at least 1.5:1, preferably at least 2:1, preferably at least 3:1 (units of length.sup.-1).

[0050] Preferably a dosage element has a ratio of surface area to volume of up to 8:1, preferably up to 6:1, preferably up to 4:1 (units of length.sup.-1).

[0051] The invention of the first aspect may be combined with any of the preferred features of the second, third and fourth aspects in any logical combination. The invention of the second aspect may be combined with any of the preferred features of the first, third or fourth aspects in any logical combination. The invention of the third aspect may be combined with any of the preferred features of the first, second or fourth aspects in any logical combination. The invention of the fourth aspect may be combined with any of the features of the first, second or third aspects in any logical combination.

[0052] The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a rack of dosage elements for use with a multi-dosing detergent delivery device of the present invention in a nested form, in a perspective view, generally from above;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows the article of FIG. 1 in nested form, in side view;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows the article of FIG. 1 in flat form;

[0056] FIG. 4 shows the dosage element of FIG. 3 in plan view;

[0057] FIG. 5a shows the article of FIG. 1 being introduced into a multi-dosing detergent delivery device of FIG. 5b, the cap, containing the dosage element selecting device, being shown removed, as FIG. 5c;

[0058] FIG. 6 shows the article of FIG. 1 having been located within the holder of FIG. 5b; and

[0059] FIG. 7 shows the fully assembled device, with the cap of FIG. 5c having been placed on the holder and article assembly of FIG. 6a.

[0060] The rack of dosage elements of FIG. 1 is manufactured as a flat plastics tray of elongated blister pockets 2, shown in FIG. 3, comprising a thermoformed plastics tray. The open end of each blister pocket 2 is formed all around its perimeter with an endless flange 4 (which can be seen in FIG. 2). Solid rods or sticks of a cleaning composition 6 (intended in this embodiment to be used for cleaning in an automatic dishwasher machine) are introduced into the blister pockets. This can be done in different ways. For example in one embodiment the cleaning composition can be injected or cast into the pockets. However in this embodiment the rods or sticks are pre-formed by injection moulding or extrusion, then cut to length, then introduced into the pockets. It may be noted that they are introduced into the pockets to fill each pocket to the bottom end 8, but to leave a space 10 at the top end. This space 10 is left so that water can enter the pocket, via opening 12 in the upper end wall of the pocket and, as is discussed later, may also help in providing complete dissolution of cleaning composition within a reduced time period. In this embodiment each such opening 12 is circular, and 8 mm in diameter. An identical opening (not shown) is formed in the lower end wall of the article, to allow water and entrained or dissolved cleaning composition to exit the pocket.

[0061] Once all of the pockets have been provided with the rods or sticks of cleaning composition (by whatever means) a backing sheet 14 is laid over the open ends, and secured to the flanges 4. The backing may be adhered thereto by any convenient means, for example by heat or adhesive.

[0062] Next, the flat article, now in the form of a rack or linear array of rods or sticks, may be curled into its nested form shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment the nested form is a generally cylindrical array. It may be retained in its nested form by a piece of adhesive tape 16.

[0063] The backing may be printed on its outwards-facing side with information, for example a trade mark, with product get-up, and/or with usage information.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 4, each rod or stick--and correspondingly each blister, has a flat base wall 18 abutting the backing sheet 14. From the base wall 18, each rod or stick, and each blister, generally tapers to a narrower distal end wall 20. The side walls initially taper gradually, as at 22, 24, then undergo a somewhat abrupt inward dislocation 26, then taper at an intermediate rate (between that of the side wall portion 22 and the dislocation 26) at 27, until the distal end wall 20 is reached.

[0065] The rods or sticks may be regarded as having the general shape of a triangular prism (i.e. trigonal). To be more precise, as noted above the side walls taper in a discontinuous manner.

[0066] It will be noted that the rods or sticks are located on the backing sheet with a separation 28 between them, at their base walls 18.

[0067] It may further be noted that the rods or sticks have a separation 30 between them, at their distal end region, when in their nested form.

[0068] The backing sheet has, as a result of the mould into which it is thermoformed during manufacture, preferential fold lines 32. These fold lines 32 are aligned with the spacings 28 between the rods or sticks.

[0069] The end result of these features is as follows, and can be clearly seen in FIG. 1: when the article is formed into its nested shape the backing sheet is displaced about its fold lines 22, in an articulated manner. This nesting or folding is permitted by the spacings 28 and 30; if the sticks or rods simply abutted against each other the operation would not be permitted, due to physical obstruction. As can be seen in FIG. 1 the spacings 30 in the distal end regions may remain even in the nested form (though obviously narrowed).

[0070] In use, the rack of dosage elements is a refill which is supplied in its nested form shown in FIG. 1, and also FIG. 5a. In that nested form it is inserted into a holder, shown in FIG. 5b. The holder is a cylindrical tub having a hub-like axial projection 40 extending upwards from its base substantially the whole axial length of the tub. Projecting outwardly from the projection 40 are four fins 42, set at 90.degree. intervals. The fins extend approximately four-tenths of the radial distance of the holder.

[0071] The holder has a hanging handle 44.

[0072] The bottom wall of the holder is a large opening (not shown).

[0073] The holder has a lid shown in FIG. 5c. The lid defines a water/wash liquor collection area which extends across substantially a full upper surface area of the lid (in other words, across substantially the full cross-sectional area of the cylindrical device) and has a central indexing device 46 surrounded by a sieve 48, to allow particulate-free water to enter the holder. The central indexing device has a push button 50 and, around it, a dial 54 carrying numbers, equalling the number of rods or sticks of cleaning composition. Each time the dishwasher is to be used, the user presses the button to advance the control dial by one number, bringing the next rod or stick of cleaning into use. This is done by rotating an apertured disc within the lid by one position so that water entering the holder is directed via directing means comprising the aperture thereof, now in alignment with the next rod or stick. Water enters the appropriate blister through the opening 12 which is aligned with the opening within the lid. The water may fill the spacing 10 above the rod or stick. The rod or stick is soaked by the water and dissolves and/or crumbles away, leaving the blister through the bottom opening.

[0074] Somewhat surprisingly, we have found that excellent dissolution of the rods or sticks is achieved by this method. It might have been expected that dissolving dosage elements of the cleaning composition by directing water to one end of them in an axial or lengthwise direction might be an inefficient method. In fact, dissolution or dispersion is excellent and the arrangement is very space-efficient, in not taking up very much of the "footprint area" available within the dishwashing machine.

[0075] In determining the minimum footprint of the device, a number of factors are involved. Firstly, it is generally the case that for an efficient cleaning cycle to be carried out by a dishwasher a dosage element should contain between 15 and 25 g of cleaning composition. For efficient working within the device of the present invention, an average density of the composition is set within the range of 1.0 to 1.5 g/cm.sup.3 and the preferred hardness of the composition is between 100N-400N.

[0076] In arriving at required dimensions for the device, dishwasher environments were analyzed for flow of water/wash liquor and it was found that, in general, water flow rates within a dishwasher are in the range of 1 g of water to 15 g of water per square centimetre per minute.

[0077] Tests have shown that standard dishwashing cleaning compositions (detergents) show a complete dissolution after 5 to 20 minutes in a standard dissolution test comprising complete immersion of detergent in water, at 40.degree. C., under mechanical action.

[0078] Where a cleaning composition having a 10 minute standard dissolution time is utilised, a minimal water flow of 200 g of water per minute is required through a chamber, whereas for a 20 minute standard dissolution time cleaning composition, a 500 g per minute water flow has been found to be required. Preferably the device of the present invention utilises a cleaning composition having a standard dissolution time of 5 to 15 minutes.

[0079] It has been found that a device which can collect and direct by any means a minimum of 50 g of water per minute into a chamber is able to dissolve a cleaning composition having a standard dissolution time of 5 minutes therein in a 50.degree. C. normal programme.

[0080] It is desirable for the device to function when placed anywhere within a the dishwasher in which a minimum amount of water is available to it, and so it has been assumed that perhaps only 1 g water per minute per square cm is available. With this in mind, to assure that said water collection area is sufficient to provide 50 g of water per minute, a water collection area of 50 cm.sup.2 is desirable, meaning a cylindrical device will require a diameter of approximately 8 cm.sup.2. Whilst the foregoing may be the optimum dimensions for the device, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be seen to cover a range of devices with differing dimensions with, for instance, water collection areas in the range of 30 cm.sup.2 to 80 cm.sup.2 and that where high flow rates of water/wash liquor are known to be present a device having reduced dimensions may be utilised. Most preferably, the ratio of said water collection area to cleaning composition standard dissolution time is within the range of 5 to 50 and, particularly in the range of 10 to 30.

[0081] Where we refer to standard dissolution times, what is meant is the time to take for the cleaning composition to be substantially completely disintegrated in a given test environment. In such a test dosage elements are provided in separate metal cages and mechanically agitated in 40.degree. C. water. The dosage elements are, in fact, not completely dissolved as such as they contain some water insoluble ingredients, therefore we can not speak about complete dissolution but "standard dissolution" which equates here to complete disintegration.

[0082] It has surprisingly been found that the dissolution of cleaning composition within the device is aided when each dosage element is housed within a chamber having a larger volume than the cleaning composition stored within it--hence the spacing 10 above the rod or stick--and it may also be desirable to provide a spacing between a lowermost part of the cleaning composition stick and the bottom of its respective outer sleeve. Dissolution is particularly improved when the volume of the chamber does not exceed the volume of the dosage element by more than 40% and most preferably when the volume of the chamber exceeds the volume of the dosage element by between 15 and 20%.

[0083] As can be seen in FIG. 6a, when the article is located within the tub of the holder the fins 42 are located within spacings 30 of the nested article. The tolerance of the fins in the spacings 30 is not large and in this way it is assured, that the rods or sticks, and the upper openings 12, are in the correct orientation, to align with the opening within the lid.

[0084] FIG. 7 shows the fully assembled device.

[0085] As will be apparent to the skilled man, many variations may be made to the device without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, whilst the features of the water collection area and optimisation of dissolution characteristics have been discussed in relation to a mechanically user advanced device, these characteristics may advantageously be applied equally to other types of multi-dosing device, such as devices having an automatic advance mechanism between washes.

Claims

1. A multi-dosing detergent delivery device removably insertable into a ware washing machine, the device comprising a cartridge capable of receiving therein a plurality of dosage elements of a cleaning composition, a collection area formed in a lid area of said device suitable to collect water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle of a dishwasher and a directing means to direct water or wash liquor from said collection area selectively to an interior part of said device, wherein the collection area is suitable to collect enough water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle of a ware washing machine to achieve standard dissolution of a single dosage element of said plurality of dosage elements during a washing programme.

2. A multi-dosing detergent delivery device removably insertable into a ware washing machine, the device comprising a cartridge containing a plurality of dosage elements of a cleaning composition, a directing means to direct water or wash liquor selectively to one of said plurality of dosage elements to contact with the cleaning composition therein, wherein, in use, each dosage element is accessible by said water/wash liquor via at least one opening to allow ingress of said water/wash liquor and egress of said water/wash liquor with said cleaning composition, wherein the device in a lid area thereof, includes a collection area suitable to collect enough water/wash liquor in a main wash cycle of a ware washing machine to achieve standard dissolution of a dosage element during a washing programme.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said collection area is arranged to collect a minimum of 50 g of water per minute.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is positionable upon a dishwasher wire rack within a dishwasher.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is arranged such that it may be positioned within the dishwasher at a place in which it will receive at least 1 g per minute of water/wash liquor per square centimetre of collection area.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein, said dosage element is formed of a cleaning composition having a standard dissolution time of approximately 3 to 15 minutes.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said dosage element is formed of a cleaning composition having a standard dissolution time of approximately 5 minutes.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said collection area is arranged to collect a minimum of 50 g of water/wash liquor per minute.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said water collection area has a surface area in the range of 30 cm.sup.2 to 80 cm.sup.2.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said water collection area has a surface area of approximately 50 cm.sup.2.

11. The device according to of claim 10, wherein said device is substantially cylindrical and has a diameter of approximately 8 cm.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein each dosage element contains between 15 g and 25 g of cleaning composition.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning composition has an average density within the range of 1.0 to 1.5 g/cm.sup.3.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the cleaning composition is between 100N-400N.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of said water/wash liquor collection area to cleaning composition standard dissolution time is within the range of 5 to 50.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of said water collection area to cleaning composition standard dissolution time is within the range of 10 to 30.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein each dosage element is of elongate formation and is housed within a chamber having said at least one opening for receiving water/wash liquor from water collection area via said directing means.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein each chamber has a larger volume than the dosage element it contains.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein where the dosage element has a nominal volume of 100%, the internal size of the chamber is up to a maximum volume 140%.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the internal volume of the chamber is in the range of 115% to 120%.

21. A method of using the device according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: placing the device within a wire basket/rack of a dishwasher, closing the door of the dishwasher and carrying out a machine dishwasher cycle.

22. (canceled)

23. A method of using the device according to claim 2 comprising the steps of: placing the device within a wire basket/rack of a dishwasher, closing the door of the dishwasher and carrying out a machine dishwasher cycle.

24. The device according to claim 2 wherein each dosage element is of elongate formation and is housed within a chamber having said at least one opening for receiving water/wash liquor from water collection area via said directing means.