US 12,139,839 B2
Washing machine
Markus Behr, Bielefeld (DE); Andrea Sudkemper, Delbrück-Hagen (DE); and Robert Müther, Heikendorf (DE)
Assigned to MIELE & CIE. KG, Gütersloh (DE)
Appl. No. 17/283,044
Filed by Miele & Cie. KG, Gütersloh (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 1, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/076603
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 6, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/078719, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 125 476.8 (DE), filed on Oct. 15, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0348319 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. D06F 39/02 (2006.01); D06F 39/12 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 39/022 (2013.01) [D06F 39/12 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A washing machine comprising:
a housing,
an outer tub for receiving washing liquid,
a drum mounted rotatably in the outer tub for receiving laundry,
a metering device configured to receive at least one cartridge and to meter detergent contained in the at least one cartridge into one of the outer tub and the drum, wherein the at least one cartridge is elongated and defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the metering device is configured to receive the at least one cartridge in an inclined position where the longitudinal axis is inclined relative to horizontal,
wherein the housing accommodates the outer tub, the drum and the metering device and has a housing flap in front of a location of the at least one cartridge that can be arranged in the metering device,
wherein the housing flap is at least partly transparent or has at least one opening to define at least one viewing window such that when the at least one cartridge is placed in the metering device, a fill level of the at least one cartridge is at least partly visible from outside the housing, wherein the at least one viewing window is configured and arranged in such a way that the at least one viewing window is completely covered by detergent when a respective cartridge placed in the metering device behind the at least one viewing window is full of detergent, that the at least one viewing window is partially covered by detergent when the respective cartridge is partially filled with detergent above a predefined level, and that the at least one viewing window is not covered at all by detergent when the respective cartridge has a detergent level below the predefined level, the predefined level of the detergent being less than five wash cycles,
wherein at least one lighting device is arranged behind the at least one cartridge to illuminate the at least one cartridge towards the direction of the housing flap.