Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Dispenser
The present invention relates to a dispenser for an
automatic dishwashing machine, particularly for use in
the dispense of a fragrance.
Automatic dishwashing is a well recognised field. It
provides convenience to a consumer in comparison to
manual dishwashing.
One problem associated with the use of automatic
dishwashers is that of malodour. This is typically
caused by the presence of a residual amount of wash
liquor retained in a part of the machine after use.
Microbiological action on this residual liquor can cause
a generation of malodour, which although harmless, is
unwelcome.
The malodour is noticeable when the machine is left open
between wash cycles and especially at the end of a wash
cycle.
Usually the malodour is addressed by a fragrance
emanator. The emanators used generally comprise a cage
for attachment to a part of the dishwasher and a source
of fragrance (such as a blister) contained therein.
Although these emanators have been found to partially
alleviate the malodour issue their use is. not without its
problems.
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The first problem is that of the rate of release of the
fragrance. Normally the fragrance release follows a
reverse exponential curve: initially the release of
fragrance is strong, with the rate of release diminishing
with time. Indeed in the early stages of use the large
amount of fragrance released, whilst addressing the
malodour issue, can reach an equally unpleasant level.
Conversely towards the end of the life cycle of the
fragrance emanator the release of fragrance is often so
weak that the malodour issue is not effectively
addressed.
A second problem is the nature of the fragrance released.
Fragrances, whether a natural or man-made, comprise a
complex admixture of components, wherein each component
provides a different element to the overall fragrance.
Normally the volatility of the components varies having
regard to one another. Hence their release from
emanators, which are normally unsophisticated devices
(due to cost consideration), also varies. This has the
effect that the overall scent of the fragrance alters
during the lifetime of the emanator.
It is an object of the present invention to
overcome/mitigate the problems above.
According to the present invention there is provided a
dispenser for an automatic dishwasher, the dispenser
comprising a body having an aperture for release of an
active component, the extent of opening of the aperture
being controllable, and wherein the active is contained
in a blister disposed in the body.
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Most preferably the active component is a fragrance. The
fragrance is generally used to address malodour issues
prevalent in automatic dishwashers.
The dispenser of the present invention has been found to
have excellent properties. These properties are
particularly pertinent when the release profile of the
most preferred active component, fragrance, is
considered.
Firstly the dispenser has been found to be able to
release the fragrance in a linear fashion both over and
between a large number of automatic dishwasher wash
cycles (typically between 50 and 100 wash cycles. This
is in contrast to previous dispensers. Furthermore with
the dispenser of the invention linear release has been
observed at varying opening extents of the aperture.
Thus not only is the dispenser able to dispense a
fragrance at a linear rate but also the rate of the
release has been found to be adjustable, without having
an adverse effect on the linearity of the release.
Additionally the dispenser of the present invention has
been found to overcome the problem of differential
release of different components of the fragrances. That
is to say, throughout the working life of the dispenser
of the present invention the fragrance released is
virtually identical to that of the 'fresh' fragrance.
Without wishing to be bound by theory it is postulated
that this effect is achieved by the creation of a zone of
saturated fragrance in the headspace of the dispenser.
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Preferably the extent of opening of the aperture is
controlled by a gate mounted on the body. The gate is
mounted such that it may be moved relative to the body to
affect the opening extent of the aperture. Usually the
gate is mounted relative to the body such that rotation
of the gate relative to the body varies the opening
extent of the aperture.
The gate preferably comprises an apertured member. In
this way when the aperture of the gate is at least
partially aligned with the body aperture dispense of the
active component may occur. The degree of alignment may
preferably be varied to affect a variable rate of
release.
In a preferred embodiment the dispenser may have an
indication system which displays the degree of alignment
between the gate and the body (and hence the expected
rate of release) to the user.
In a further embodiment the aperture on the body may be
split into a series of apertures with a bespoke aperture
for each level of release. Thus, as an example, the
aperture on the body may be split into two separate
apertures; one large aperture for a high rate of release
(with the aperture on the gate being the same size as
that of the body) and a smaller aperture for a lower rate
of release. Obviously this arrangement of apertures may
be reversed: the series of apertures may be on the gate
rather than on the body.
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Preferably the body has a plurality of apertures to allow
release of the active component (and also for inflow/
drainage of wash liquor). Equally preferably the gate
also has a plurality of apertures (most preferably one
5 gate aperture per one body aperture). Clearly it will be
understood that in the embodiment where the aperture is
subdivided into a series of apertures there may be a
plurality of these series of apertures.
Generally the apertures are arranged in a regular pattern
on a side wall of the body.
Preferably the body has a means to permit attachment to
the inside of a dishwasher. Usually the attachment means
is in the form of a hook or a clip.
Usually the body has a window so that the user is able to
see the blister retained within the body. In this wa:y
the user is able to assess the contents of the blister
and hence can obtain an indication of the likely
remaining lifetime of the blister. The window is most
preferably in the form of an aperture in the body.
Preferably the window is sealed by being filled with the
blister.
Generally the reservoir body comprises a substantially
planar base.
The base is permeable to allow the contents of the
blister to emanate in use.
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It is preferred that the reservoir (preferably enclosed
in a skin) projects from a surface of the base. Most
preferably the reservoir is stepped having a lower most
and an upper most portion. Preferably, in use, the upper
most portion of the reservoir body extends into the
window aperture of the body. Preferably, in use, the
lower most portion of the reservoir body extends beneath
and behind a lower edge of the window aperture of the
body.
As, generally the body is opaque, only the portion of the
reservoir body which extends into the window aperture is
visible when the blister is mounted in the body. Thus
the blister has a hidden portion, which may, when
appropriate conceal a residue of a component which is to
be released from the emanator. In this way the presence
of any residue (particularly from a fragrance
composition) does not detrimentally effect the impression
of the user as to whether the blister needs to be
replaced.
The volume of the portion of the reservoir body which is
hidden may be varied to suit the expected amount of
residue remaining in the blister. Preferably the volume
of the reservoir body which is hidden comprises around
150 of the volume of the entire reservoir. (It has been
found that typical fragrance compositions leave a residue
of up to 15o by volume after the active components
thereof have been allowed to/cause to emanate. Thus a
large portion of the reservoir body (around 85o by
volume) may be observed by user. This gives excellent
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indication of the use of the blister contents and end-of-
life indication.
Generally the blister, more particularly the skin of the
blister, is transparent so as to allow the user to view
the contents thereof.
Most preferably the blister contains a fragrance
composition. Generally the fragrance composition
l0 contains a dye and/or a colouring agent. The
dye/colouring agent may give an indication of the nature
of the fragrance for added consumer recognition/appeal.
For example an 'apple' fragrance may have a green colour
and a 'citrus' fragrance a yellow/orange colour.
The dispenser will now be described with reference to the
following drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the components of the body of
the dispenser of the invention;
Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the components of
the body of the dispenser of the invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an exploded device of
the invention;
Figure 4 is an alternative perspective view of an
exploded device of the invention;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the components of the body of
an alternative embodiment of the invention;
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Figure 6 is an underneath plan view of an assembled
device of the alternative embodiment of the dispenser of
the invention;
Figure 7 is a side view of an assembled device of the
alternative embodiment of the dispenser of the invention;
Figures 8 and 9 show side views of a preferred embodiment
of a blister which can be used in the dispense of the
invention; and
Figures 10 and 11 show cross sections of the blister of
figures 8 and 9 taken along the longitudinal access A-A
and the equatorial access B-B respectively.
With reference to Figures 1 to 4 the dispenser 1 of the
present invention comprises a body 2, a blister 3 and a
gate 4.
The body 2 comprises a front section 5 and a rear section
6. Both the front section 5 and the rear section 6
include a largely circular portion 7 and an extended
portion 8. The front section 5 and the rear section 6
adjoin by virtue of a 'snap fit' arrangement.
In the centre of the circular portion 7 of the front
section 5 there is a window aperture 9 to allow a
consumer to view the contents of the blister 3, mounted
therein. The extended section 8 of the front section 5
includes a hook 10 for mounting the body within an
automatic dishwasher (not shown). The interior side of
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the front section 5 has a lip 11 arranged around the
window aperture 9. The lip 11 provides support for the
blister 3 to be mounted within the body 2 adjacent the
window aperture a 9 such that the contents of the blister
3 are visible form the exterior of the body 2.
The circular portion 7 of the rear section 6 is stepped.
This provides a volume within the body 2 for retention of
the blister 3. The circular portion 7 includes a number
of clusters of apertures 12 arranged with regular
spacing. Each cluster 12 comprises three individual
apertures; a,b,c, arranged in an inverted 'L'
configuration.
The extended section 8 of the rear section 6 includes a
series of markings; 'HI', 'MED' and 'LO'. The
significance of these markings will become clear with
reference to the gate 4.
The gate 4 includes a largely circular portion 7 and a
limb extension 13.
The circular portion 7 of the gate 4 is stepped in the
same way as the rear section 6 of the body 2. The
circular portion 7 includes a number of clusters of
apertures 14 arranged with regular spacing. Each cluster
14 comprises two individual apertures; I,II, arranged in
an 'I' configuration.
The limb extension 13 of the gate 4 extends beyond the
markings on the extended section 8 of the rear portion 6.
The limb extension 13 includes a window 15. The markings
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are intended to be visible through the window 15 of the
limb extension 13.
The gate 4 is mounted adjacent the rear section 6 so that
5 the gate 4 may be rotated relative to the rear section 6.
In this way the clusters of apertures 14 on the gate 4
may be arranged relative to the cluster of apertures 12
on the rear section 6.
l0 In the illustrated embodiment three arrangements of the
gate 4 relative to the rear section 6 are contemplated
(although none of these arrangements is actually
illustrated) as follows:-
In the first arrangement the limb
the window 15 of
extension 13 of the gate 4 is aligned such that the
marking 'LO' is visible therethrough. In this
orientation none of the apertures I, II on the gate are
4
aligned with the apertures a,b,c on the rear ction 6.
se
In the second arrangement the window 15 of the limb
extension 13 of the gate 4 is aligned such that the
marking 'MED' is visible therethrough. In this
orientation the apertures I on the gate 4 are aligned
with the apertures a on the rear section 6.
In the third arrangement the window 15 of the limb
extension 13 of the gate 4 is aligned such that the
marking 'HI' is visible therethrough. In this
orientation the apertures I and II on the gate 4 are
aligned with the apertures b and c on the rear portion 6.
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Thus it can be seen that as the gate is moved from the
'LO' to the 'HI° setting the area of overlap of the
apertures I, II on the gate 4 and the apertures a, b, c
on the rear section 6 increases. This allows increased
release form the dispenser 1.
It will obviously be appreciated that whilst in Figures 1
to 4 three separate arrangements of the gate 4 relative
to the rear section 6 have been contemplated, other
numbers of arrangements with other numbers of different
positions are not ruled out.
With reference to Figures 5 to 7 an alternative
embodiment of the dispenser l of the present invention is
shown. The alternative embodiment shares many of the
features described above for the first embodiment (with
reference to Figures 1 to 4).
The body 2 comprises a front section 5 and a rear section
6. The front section 5 and the rear section 6 adjoin by
virtue of a 'snap fit' arrangement. Both the front
section 5 and the rear section 6 are dished to provide a
volume within the body 2 for retention of the blister 3.
The rear section 6 includes a hook 10 for mounting the
body within an automatic dishwasher.
The periphery of the front section 5 includes a number of
clusters of apertures 12 arranged with regular spacing.
Each cluster 12 comprises four individual apertures;
a,b,c,d, arranged in a row.
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The periphery of the rear section 6 is cutaway in
sections to create four projections 16.
The front section 5 is mounted adjacent the rear section
6 so that the front section 5 may be rotated relative to
the rear section 6. In this way the clusters of
apertures 12 on the front section 5 may be arranged
relative to the projections 16.
In the illustrated embodiment five arrangements of the
front section 5 relative to the projections 16 are
contemplated (although none of these arrangements is
actually illustrated) as follows:-
In the first arrangement the front section 5 is aligned
such that all of the apertures a,b,c,d are adjacent the
proj ections 16 on the rear section 6 . Thus none of the
apertures a,b,c,d is open.
In the second through to the fifth arrangement the front
section 5 is aligned such that a decreasing number of the
apertures a,b,c,d is adjacent the projections 16 on the
rear section 6. Thus progressively the apertures a,b,c,d
are opened with, finally in the fifth arrangement, all of
the apertures a,b,c,d being open.
Thus it can be seen that as the front section 5 is moved
relative to the rear section 6 the area of overlap of the
apertures a,b,c,d on the front section 5 and the
projections 16 on the rear section 6 decreases. This
allows increased release from the dispenser 1.
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It will be appreciated that whilst in Figures 5 to 7 five
separate arrangements of the front section 5 relative to
the rear section 6 have been contemplated, other numbers
of arrangements with other numbers of different positions
are not ruled out.
Figures 8 to 11 show the preferred embodiment of the
blister 3 for use with the dispenser 1.
The blister 3 comprises a base 17 in the form of an oval
strip. The oval base 17 comprises a permeable skin for
release of the fragrance.
The base 17 is provided with two-stepped platforms 18 and
19 which project on the front side of the base 17. The
platform 18 has a similar shape to the base 17, namely it
is oval, yet is smaller than the base 17, thus leaving a
non-platformed perimeter 20 therearound.
The stepped platform 19 has a circular surface 21. The
surface 21 is inclined at an angle about an axis there
through, the said axis being arranged parallel to the
equatorial axis of the blister B-B. Thus the stepped
platform 19 has a depth which varies along longitudinal
axis A-A.
The surface 21 and most preferably the entire blister 3
is transparent.
In use the blister 3 is preferably supported in the body
2 by the lip 11 such that at least a portion of the
surface 21 of the stepped platform 19 is visible through
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the window aperture 9. This allows the user to visually
determine the amount of fragrance contained within the
blister 3.
The platform 18 extends beneath and behind a lower edge
of the window aperture 9. This arrangement allows the
last remnants of liquid in the blister 3 to be hidden
from a user. This serves as an aid to the user for
blister replacement as typically the last remnants of
fragrance solution contain little or no fragrance and
mostly comprise colorant, i.e. is 'inactive'. If this
portion is seen the user may perceive that the blister 3
is still capable of functioning thus the replacement of
the blister 3 may be delayed. When hidden the presence
of this 'inactive' will not dissuade the user from
replacing the unit and thus the high efficacy of the
blister 3 is maintained.
Generally the blister 3 is mounted such that the
longitudinal axis A-A is substantially vertical with the
deepest part of the recess 19 uppermost. This serves to
reduce the appearance of under-fill of the blister 3 - an
important consideration for consumers.
Generally the surface 22A of retainer 22 against which
the upper surface 21 of the blister 3 abuts is arranged
so as to be co-planer therewith. In the illustrated
embodiment this is achieved by surface 22A being
substantially domed.
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The invention will be further illustrated with reference
to the following non-limiting examples.
5
Examples
Example 1 - Fragrance Dispense Rate
The fragrance dispense rate of a dispenser in accordance
with the invention was measured in an automatic
dishwashing machine.
A dispenser as shown in Figures 1 to 4 was used. The
dispenser contained a blister as shown in Figures 8 to
11. The blister contained 4 grams of a commercially
available dishwasher fragrance.
The fragrance release rate was measured by taking the
weight of the blister after a number of cycles in an
automatic dishwasher (Miele, model G 676 SC, program
"'Universal°') which was run for a number of cycles at
65°C. The weight loss was expressed as a percentage of
fragrance lost from the blister (referring to the initial
weight of 4g).
In the tests a varying number of apertures of the
dispenser were set to the open position to determine the
effect that this would have on the fragrance release
rate. A comparative example of a dispenser which is
outside the scope of the present invention, i.e. not
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having controllable apertures was also tested as a
comparison.
The results of the weight loss are shown in Table 1
below.
Table 1
Loss of Fragrance
(~ w/w)
No of Washes
Comparative "LO" "MED" "HI"
' Example
5 9.54 2.00 3.85 6.79
18.71 3.75 8.79 13.40
26.75 5.88 13.14 19.88
34.56 7.72 17.20 26.15
43.35 11.58 23.04 33.70
49.85 13.39 26.60 38.63
56.33 15.34 30.92 43.92
63.18 17.81 35.73 49.32
70.50 21.01 40.59 55.13
75.59 22.58 43.82 59.61
79.83 24.12 47.61 63.98
83.48 25.45 50.63 67.93
l0
"ZO" means 0 open apertures.
"MED" means 8 open apertures.
"HI" means 16 open apertures.
15 The dispenser in accordance with the present invention
has excellent release properties. Not only is the
fragrance release linear in mature but also the rate of
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release can be varied (whilst still remaining linear) to
suit the output required.
The Comparative Example has a very large uncontrollable
rate of release with the rate of release displaying the
usual reverse exponential decay.
Example 2 - Nature of Fragrance Dispensed
The nature of the fragrance dispensed from a dispenser in
accordance with the invention was measured.
A dispenser as shown in Figures 1 to 4 was used. The
dispenser contained a blister as shown in Figures 8 to
11. The blister contained 4 grams of a commercially
available dishwasher fragrance.
The nature of the fragrance released was tested taking a
sample of the fragrance (from the inside of the blister)
and feeding the sample into a Gas-Chromatograph (Agilent,
model 6890 Series, columns HP-1, HP-5 Carbowax, carrier
gas: Helium 1 ml/min; program 80°C to 250°C (10 min),
heating rate 6°C/min). In this way the content of the
fragrance could be measured.
For the fragrance the top note, the medium notes and the
low notes were measured after 60 washes under the wash
conditions in Example 1 (with the dispenser at the medium
setting). The measurements for the dispenser in
accordance with the present invention were compared with
the pure fragrance and with the fragrance from a
dispenser which is outside the scope of the present
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invention. The results of the analysis are shown in
Table 2 (given as total peak area o).
Table 2
Dispenser Fragrance Fragrance Fragrance
Type Top Notes Middle Notes Base Notes
(0-30 min.) (30-50 min.) (50-81 min.)
None (Fresh 16.3a 680 15.7%
Fragrance)
Dispenser of 7.90 74.30 17.60
the Invention
Comparative 1.50 56.30 42.20
Dispenser
In the dispenser of the present invention the fragrance
after 60 washes is much closer to that of the fresh
fragrance than that of the comparative Example.
