CN106795681B

CN106795681B - Clothes treating appliance with ozone generating device

Info

Publication number: CN106795681B
Application number: CN201580054539.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·布罗伊恩利希; I·舒尔策; H·绍布; F·普罗布斯特; H·埃格迈尔; M·德雷斯勒
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2014-10-08
Filing date: 2015-09-29
Publication date: 2020-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-29
Also published as: WO2016055310A1; EP3204548B1; RU2671185C1; EP3204548A1; CN106795681A; DE102014220355B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry treating appliance (100) for treating laundry, the laundry treating appliance (100) comprising a laundry drum (105) for accommodating laundry, load detecting means (107) for detecting a load of laundry in the laundry drum (105), ozone generating means (109) for generating ozone, and control means (108). The control device (108) is configured to determine an amount of ozone in dependence on a detected load of laundry located in the laundry drum (105), and the ozone generating device (109) is configured to generate the determined amount of ozone.

Description

Clothes treating appliance with ozone generating device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance having an ozone generating device.

Background

During a laundry treatment process in a laundry treatment appliance, such as a washing machine or a tumble dryer, the laundry to be treated is cleaned with washing liquid or dried by warm air. The introduced laundry may contain microorganisms at the beginning of the laundry treatment process, which have been transferred into the laundry by the wearer of the laundry. The microorganism includes, for example, algae, archaea, amoebae, flagellates, bacteria, protozoa, or viruses. In some cases, microorganisms can produce unpleasant odors in the laundry, and therefore it is advantageous to reduce the number of microorganisms in order to reduce the unpleasant odors produced by the microorganisms in the laundry.

DE 102012209211 a1 describes a water-conducting household appliance having an atomizing device for atomizing water in a water reservoir and a process gas generator for generating a process gas.

The unexamined patent application DE 102010029885 a1 shows a method of treating laundry in a washing machine at low temperatures.

The unexamined patent application WE 00/15893 a1 shows a washing machine comprising an ozone generator.

The unexamined patent application WO 2007/143785 a1 shows a system and an apparatus for introducing ozone into a washing machine.

The unexamined patent application DE 102011007170 a1 shows a method for identifying and displaying the hygiene level of laundry.

The unexamined patent application WO 2013/112197 a1 shows a system for controlling the ozone supply of a washing machine.

Unexamined patent application JP 2005021633 a shows a washing machine.

The unexamined patent application DE 102011089386 a1 shows a method of operating a household appliance having a storage container and an oxidant generator.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating appliance with which odor and microorganisms in laundry can be reduced.

According to one aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a laundry treatment appliance for treating laundry, comprising a laundry drum for accommodating the laundry, load detection means for detecting a load of laundry in the laundry drum, ozone generation means for generating ozone, and control means configured to be able to determine an amount of ozone depending on the detected load of laundry located in the laundry drum, the ozone generation means being configured to be able to generate the determined amount of ozone.

This has the following technical advantages: since the control means determines the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected load of laundry located in the laundry drum, the ozone generating means generates said amount of ozone for reducing the microbial count and odor of the laundry during the laundry treatment process without a large amount of superfluous ozone remaining in the laundry treatment appliance after the laundry treatment process is ended. Since a large amount of unnecessary ozone does not remain in the laundry treating appliance after the laundry treating process is finished, the dissipation time after the laundry treating process can be reduced. This makes it possible to remove the treated laundry immediately after a short time segment after the laundry treatment process is ended, thereby reducing the overall duration of the laundry treatment program.

During the laundry treatment process, the amount of ozone may be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum together with the washing liquid. During the laundry treatment process, the amount of ozone may be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum together with an amount of mist or wash liquor mist produced by the atomizing device. During the dry laundry treatment process, the amount of ozone may be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum together with air, without supplying ozone to the laundry in the laundry drum together with water or washing liquid.

In order to achieve a successful treatment, different amounts of ozone must be supplied to the laundry drum depending on the load of laundry in the laundry treatment appliance. More ozone must be generated for a large amount of laundry than in the case of a small amount of laundry in order to ensure that a favorable amount of ozone is supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum. Since the load detection means accurately detects the laundry load or the laundry type, the control means may determine the precise amount of ozone that must be generated to reduce bacteria and odor.

The laundry treating appliance refers to an appliance for treating laundry. It may be a large household appliance, such as a washing machine or dryer. In particular, such a laundry treating appliance refers to a household laundry treating appliance, in other words, a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry in a normal household usage under a household environment.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the load detecting device is configured to be able to detect a laundry weight or a laundry volume in the laundry drum as the laundry load, in order to obtain a detected laundry load.

This has the following technical advantages: by detecting the laundry weight or the laundry volume of the laundry in the laundry drum, the control device may determine the advantageous amount of ozone needed to ensure reduction of microorganisms and odors in the laundry.

Various methods for determining the laundry weight or the laundry volume of laundry in a laundry drum are known and are included herein.

For example, the load detection device may detect the weight of the laundry by measuring the weight of the laundry in the laundry drum. To this end, the load detection device may include a weighing device that may detect the weight of the laundry after the laundry is introduced into the laundry drum. In a washing machine, the weighing device has, for example, the following advantages: the weight of the laundry in the laundry drum may be determined before the washing liquid is directed to the laundry. This prevents, for example, an incorrect weight of the laundry detected as a result of the washing liquid wetting the laundry in the laundry drum.

For example, the load detection device may also detect the laundry weight or the laundry volume by detecting wetting of the laundry in the laundry drum of the washing machine. In this case, the amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub and absorbed by the laundry in the laundry drum during the washing cycle is measured.

For example, the load detection device may detect the amount of the washing liquid supplied to the tub. The pressure sensor provided in the tub may detect a hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the tub after the amount of the washing liquid is supplied, and thus may determine a filling level of the washing liquid in the tub. The load detection device may determine the amount of washing liquid absorbed by the laundry in the laundry drum by comparing the amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub with the filling level of the washing liquid in the tub. If the fabric type of the garment and thus the specific absorbency of the garment is known, the garment weight or garment volume can be determined.

For example, the load detection device may also be configured to be able to determine the total amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub, based on a measurement of the hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the tub of the washing machine. The laundry in the laundry drum absorbs a portion of the supplied washing liquid. The laundry weight or the laundry volume of the laundry in the laundry drum may be derived from the amount of the remaining washing liquid.

For example, the load detection device in the laundry treatment appliance may also be configured to be able to detect the laundry weight of the laundry in the laundry drum by load-induced damping of the oscillating system. The laundry drum comprises an oscillating system suspended on springs. When the spring constant and the elongation of the spring are known, the force exerted on the oscillating system by the weight of the laundry in the laundry drum can be determined. The laundry weight of the laundry located in the laundry drum may be derived from the damping of the oscillating system of the laundry drum, taking into account the damping of the oscillating system caused by the static friction, and taking into account the empty weight of the oscillating system.

Thus, the described method or methods enable measuring laundry weight or laundry volume, so that the control device can determine a favorable amount of ozone for the laundry treatment process to reduce odor and microbial count.

In another advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the load detecting means are further configured to be able to detect the type of laundry in the laundry drum, and the control means are configured to be able to determine said amount of ozone in dependence on the detected laundry load and the type of laundry.

This has the following technical advantages: the control device may determine a favorable amount of ozone for ensuring reduction of odors and microorganisms in the laundry by detecting the laundry type and the laundry load of the laundry in the laundry drum.

The type of laundry to be cleaned affects the amount of ozone required. In the case of large surface clothing types, such as towels, large amounts of ozone are required to reduce odors and microorganisms in the clothing. Another example is clothing with cotton fibres that have a large surface and therefore can incorporate a large amount of ozone. Therefore, when treating laundry having cotton fiber, more ozone must be supplied to the laundry drum than in the case of other laundry fiber.

In the case of a type of laundry capable of absorbing a small amount of ozone, such as polyester fiber, a small amount of ozone is required, so that the amount of ozone supplied to the laundry can be reduced. The clothes having the synthetic fiber with a smooth surface absorb a small amount of ozone. Thus, for synthetic fibers, a small amount of ozone must be supplied to ensure the reduction of odor and microorganisms.

The accurate determination of the load of the laundry and the type of laundry by the load detecting means may thus ensure that the control means determines a favourable amount of ozone for effectively eliminating odours and micro-organisms from the laundry.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the ozone generating device is configured to be able to generate said amount of ozone under the influence of ultraviolet light or by dielectrophoresis.

This has the following technical advantages: the generation of ozone by dielectrophoresis or by ultraviolet light ensures that a constant amount of ozone is generated over a longer period of time. In the dielectrophoresis-based ozone generating apparatus, ozone is generated from molecular oxygen by two electrodes of opposite charges in the case of silent discharge. In one advantageous embodiment, the ozone is generated by dielectrophoresis. Dielectrophoresis enables ozone to be generated at low cost and at ozone volume concentrations between 3% and 6%. In an ozone generating apparatus for generating ozone under the influence of ultraviolet light, ozone is generated from molecular oxygen by the influence of ultraviolet light. In an ozone generating device based on ultraviolet light, ozone with a volume concentration between 0.5% and 1% can be generated. Therefore, the ozone generating apparatus based on ultraviolet light or dielectrophoresis can produce the amount of ozone required to effectively reduce odor and microorganisms in the laundry.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the ozone generating device is configured to be able to generate an ozone/air mixture.

This has the following technical advantages: by generating the ozone/air mixture, ozone and ambient air can be directly introduced into the laundry drum. This simplifies the procedure, since no means for producing the ozone/water mist mixture, for example by means of a water mist generating device, is required. The generated ozone/air mixture may be directly introduced into the laundry drum to be in contact with the laundry in the laundry drum, so that odor and microorganisms can be effectively eliminated.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the control device is configured to determine an ozone concentration value depending on the detected laundry load or laundry type, and the ozone generating device is configured to generate the amount of ozone at the determined ozone concentration value.

This has the following technical advantages: the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device may be adapted to the amount of ozone required for the laundry treatment operation. The ozone concentration value must be determined in order to be able to effectively reduce odor and microorganisms in the laundry drum. The determined ozone concentration value must be chosen such that it is possible to ensure an effective reduction of odours and microorganisms in the laundry. At the same time, the determined ozone concentration value should not be too high, since excess ozone may remain in the laundry treating appliance after the laundry treating operation is ended.

Thus, determining the amount of ozone by the control means in dependence on the load of laundry or type of laundry facilitates determining a favorable ozone concentration. When the load of laundry in the laundry drum is large, a large amount of ozone is absorbed by the laundry. Thus, for a large number of clothes or a large volume of clothes, more ozone is required to produce a determined ozone concentration value compared to a small load of clothes. The ozone concentration value can reach 50ppm at most. The ozone concentration value may preferably be at most 20 ppm. The ozone concentration value is particularly preferably at most 15 ppm. Since the laundry absorbs a part of the supplied ozone during the ozone treatment, the ozone concentration may decrease after the supply of ozone and reach the maximum determined ozone concentration. After the laundry has absorbed a portion of the supplied ozone, the ozone concentration value is related to the load of the laundry or the type of the laundry. Determining an ozone concentration value according to the detected laundry load or laundry type by the ozone generating means and generating the ozone amount at the determined ozone concentration value by the ozone generating means enables effective reduction of odors and microorganisms during the laundry treating process.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the control device is configured to determine a time segment for generating ozone depending on the detected laundry load or laundry type, and the ozone generating device is configured to generate said amount of ozone in the determined time segment.

This has the following technical advantages: the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device may be adapted to the amount of ozone actually required in the laundry treatment process. The amount of ozone supplied must be selected so as to ensure effective reduction of odours and micro-organisms in the laundry.

The ozone generating device is generally configured to enable ozone to be supplied to the laundry drum at a constant rate, in particular in a defined amount of ozone per unit time. Since in this case it is not possible to adjust the amount of ozone produced by varying the ozone generation rate, the amount of ozone supplied is adjusted by determining the time period during which ozone is supplied to the laundry drum. The time segment may comprise a starting time point, when the starting time point is reached, the ozone generating device starts to generate ozone. The time segment may comprise an end time point, when the end time point is reached, the ozone generating device stops generating ozone.

The different ozone generation time segments may also follow one another, or the time segments may be separated by intervals. Selecting different time segments enables different amounts of ozone to be generated and supplied to the laundry drum, thereby enabling a determined amount of ozone to be supplied to the laundry. By determining the time period during which ozone is generated and supplied to the laundry drum, it may be possible to effectively reduce odor and microorganisms in the laundry drum.

In another advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the laundry treating appliance comprises a fill level sensor configured to detect a fill level of the washing liquid in the tub, the control device being configured to determine the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected fill level and in dependence on the detected load of laundry or type of laundry.

This has the following technical advantages: the amount of washing liquid in the tub of the washing machine determined by the fill level sensor during a washing cycle is related to the load of laundry or the type of laundry, whereby the control device may determine the amount of ozone that is advantageous for effectively reducing the odor and microorganisms in the laundry.

The amount of washing liquid in the tub determined by the fill level sensor is related to the laundry load or laundry type of the laundry in the laundry drum, since the laundry binds a portion of the washing liquid in the tub. For example, when there is a large amount of laundry, a large amount of washing liquid is bound by the laundry. Therefore, when there is a large amount of laundry, more ozone is also required to reduce odor and microorganisms, as compared to the case where the amount of laundry is small. Therefore, the amount of ozone can be determined by the control device, so that odor and microorganisms can be effectively reduced in the laundry.

In another advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the laundry treating appliance comprises a pressure sensor configured to detect the hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the tub, the control device being configured to determine the amount of ozone from the detected hydrostatic pressure and from the detected load of laundry or type of laundry.

This has the following technical advantages: the hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the tub detected during the washing cycle is related to the load of laundry or the type of laundry in the laundry drum, whereby the control device can determine an advantageous amount of ozone. A pressure sensor may be located at the bottom of the tub and detect the hydrostatic pressure of the wash liquid in the tub. The pressure sensor detects the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the bottom of the tub by the column of washing liquid in the tub.

The laundry located in the laundry drum may bind a portion of the washing liquid in the tub depending on the laundry load or the laundry type, thereby reducing the hydrostatic pressure of the water column detected by the pressure sensor. The ozone generating means may be automatically adjusted according to the hydrostatic pressure detected by the pressure sensor and according to the detected load of laundry or type of laundry. This ensures that a favorable amount of ozone can be determined for effective reduction of odors and microorganisms.

In another advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the laundry treating appliance comprises a fresh water line configured to be able to supply water to the tub, a washing liquid line configured to be able to drain washing liquid from the tub, and a through-flow sensor configured to be able to detect, during a further time interval, a flow rate of water in the fresh water line or a flow rate of washing liquid in the washing liquid line, the through-flow sensor being configured to be able to determine an amount of introduced water or an amount of discharged washing liquid based on the flow rate of water or the flow rate of washing liquid detected during said further time interval, the control device being configured to be able to determine the amount of ozone from the determined amount of introduced water or from the amount of washing liquid discharged during said further time interval, and from the detected load of laundry or type of laundry.

This has the following technical advantages: from the flow rate detected during the further time segment detected, the amount of water supplied or the amount of washing liquid drained during said further time segment of the laundry treatment process can be derived, which in turn is related to the laundry load or the laundry type of the laundry in the laundry drum, thereby enabling the control means to advantageously determine the amount of ozone generated. The throughflow sensor can detect the volume flow of water flowing into the tub through the fresh-water line during the further time interval. The throughflow sensor can detect the volume flow of the washing liquid which is discharged from the tub through the washing liquid line during the further time interval. Laundry located in a laundry drum of a laundry treatment appliance binds a portion of water flowing into the tub, or a portion of washing liquid drained from the tub. The amount of water bound by the laundry is a function of the load of the laundry or the type of laundry, for example the weight of the laundry or the volume of the laundry.

The amount of water or washing liquid absorbed by the laundry can be derived by comparing the amount of water flowing in or the amount of washing liquid drained based on the flow rate in the detected additional time zone. By determining the amount of water or wash liquid bound by the laundry, the laundry type may be derived when the laundry weight is known, or the laundry weight may be derived when the laundry type is known. Thus, the control device may determine a favourable amount of ozone to enable efficient elimination of odours and micro-organisms from the laundry, depending on the detected flow rate during said further time period, and depending on the detected laundry load or laundry type.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the laundry treating appliance comprises an ozone removing device configured to be able to remove a further amount of ozone from the laundry treating appliance.

This has the following technical advantages: the ozone removing device can prevent redundant ozone from being removed from the clothes treating appliance. The ozone removal device may comprise an activated carbon filter which converts further amounts of ozone, for example into carbon dioxide, by means of a chemical reaction, thereby enabling the removal of ozone from the laundry treatment appliance. Alternatively, the ozone removing means may comprise means capable of binding and thereby removing said further amount of ozone in the laundry treatment appliance. The ozone removing means, e.g. an activated carbon filter, may be controlled such that the further amount of ozone or excess ozone can be removed from the laundry treating appliance after the ozone treatment is finished. This is advantageous especially when the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device exceeds the amount of ozone actually required for the laundry treatment process. The additional amount of excess ozone may be removed from the laundry treating appliance using the ozone removing device. This ensures effective reduction of odor and microorganisms in the laundry drum.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the control device is configured to determine an amount of oxygen depending on the detected laundry load or laundry type, and the oxygen generating device is configured to generate the determined amount of oxygen and to supply said oxygen to the ozone generating device.

This has the following technical advantages: when the oxygen generating device generates oxygen and supplies the generated oxygen to the ozone generating device, the efficiency of generating ozone by the ozone generating device can be improved. Ozone is generated from molecular oxygen by means of an electric discharge reaction in an ozone generating device. The effectiveness of the ozone generating reaction can be increased if the oxygen concentration in the ozone generating device is increased. The ozone generating means generates more ozone in the same time period if the oxygen concentration is higher than the oxygen concentration in the ambient air. The generated ozone may be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum of the laundry treatment appliance. This mentions the effectiveness of eliminating odors and microorganisms during the laundry treatment process.

In another advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the laundry treating appliance comprises an ozone sensor configured to be able to detect an ozone concentration value in the laundry drum, the control device being configured to be able to determine the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected ozone concentration value and in dependence on the detected laundry load or laundry type.

This has the following technical advantages: by using an ozone sensor, the ozone concentration value in the laundry drum can be determined, thereby ensuring that the ozone generating device produces a favorable amount of ozone and supplies said amount of ozone to the laundry in the laundry drum. The ozone sensor enables the detected ozone concentration value in the laundry drum to be directly transmitted to the ozone generating device. This enables the ozone generating device to respond to too low or too high ozone values in the laundry drum without delay and automatically and to increase or decrease the ozone generation. Setting a favorable ozone concentration value in the laundry drum enables efficient elimination of odors and microorganisms from the laundry in the laundry drum.

In another advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the control device is configured to be able to stop the generation of ozone by the ozone generating device when the detected ozone concentration value reaches a predetermined ozone concentration threshold value.

This has the following technical advantages: by combining the ozone sensor with the control device, the ozone concentration in the laundry drum of the laundry treating appliance can be automatically controlled. This enables odor and microorganisms to be effectively eliminated from the laundry in the laundry drum.

In another advantageous embodiment of the laundry treating appliance, the laundry treating appliance comprises a signal generating device configured to generate a signal when the detected ozone concentration value reaches a predetermined ozone concentration threshold value.

This has the following technical advantages: by combining the ozone sensor with the signal generating device, excess ozone in the laundry treatment appliance can be indicated. The signal generating device may generate a signal when the ozone concentration value in the laundry drum exceeds a predetermined ozone concentration threshold value.

The predetermined ozone concentration threshold may comprise a limit value selected to be specific to the concentration of ozone. The predetermined ozone concentration threshold may be at 20 μ g/m³To 200. mu.g/m³In the meantime. The signal generated by the signal generating means may comprise an acoustic signal or an optical signal, for example an optical signal. The signal may also comprise an internal signal to the laundry treatment appliance which causes the ozone generating device to reduce or completely stop the generation and supply of ozone to the laundry drum. The signal may also comprise an internal signal to the laundry treatment appliance, which for example causes the door of the laundry treatment appliance to be locked until the ozone concentration value detected in the laundry drum again falls below a predetermined ozone concentration value.

Further exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and described in more detail below.

Drawings

In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a laundry treatment appliance.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a common laundry treatment appliance 100, for example a washing machine. The laundry treating appliance 100 may optionally comprise a storage container 101, said storage container 101 being fillable with a detergent or other liquid substance when the laundry treating appliance 100 is a washing machine. When water is supplied to the storage container 101, the water is mixed with detergent or other liquid substances in the storage container 101, generating washing liquid required for the laundry treatment process. The laundry treating appliance 100 may optionally include a tub 103 therein, the generated washing liquid being contained in said tub 103. A quantity of laundry may be introduced into the laundry drum 105, said laundry drum 105 being at least partially embedded in an optionally provided tub 103.

Laundry treating appliance 100 comprises a load detecting device 107, said load detecting device 107 being configured to be able to detect a load of laundry in laundry drum 105. The load detection device 107 may detect, among other things, the laundry weight, the laundry volume or the laundry type of the laundry in the laundry drum 105. Load detecting means 107 may for example comprise weight detecting means, such as weighing means, for determining the laundry weight of the laundry in laundry drum 105. Alternatively, load detection device 107 may comprise a device for detecting a laundry volume or a laundry type of laundry in laundry drum 105, for example a device for detecting wetting of laundry in a washing machine.

The load detection means 107 are in contact with control means 108 via a load connection 110, said control means 108 being able to process information about the detected load of laundry or type of laundry and to use said information to determine the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating means 109. The control means 108 is in contact with the ozone generating means 109 via an ozone generating connection 111 in order to control the ozone generating means 109 such that the amount of ozone determined by the control means 108 is produced.

The measuring system provided in the laundry treating appliance 100, such as a through-flow sensor or a pressure sensor, may be used for ozone treatment based on the load and the type of laundry. Alternatively, an off-line determined ozone concentration profile may be utilized to determine the advantageous amount of ozone generated by ozone generating device 109 and supplied to laundry drum 105.

The ozone generating device 109 may supply ozone to the laundry in the laundry drum together with the washing liquid or the mist of the washing liquid generated by the atomizing device. The ozone generating means 109 may alternatively supply ozone together with air to the laundry in the laundry drum during the drying laundry treatment process, without the laundry in the laundry drum 105 being wetted by water or washing liquid.

The ozone generating means 109 comprises a conventional ozone generator adapted to generate gaseous ozone, for example an ozone generator generating ozone by dielectrophoresis. The ozone generating device 109 may emit the generated ozone as an ozone/air mixture.

The control device 108 is configured to be able to determine the amount of ozone according to the detected load of laundry or type of laundry and to supply the determined amount of ozone to the laundry drum 105. The type of laundry detected by the load detection device 107 may have a considerable effect on the amount of ozone required.

The load detection means 107 may detect that e.g. the laundry in the laundry drum 105 is mainly made of synthetic fibers. Since the synthetic fiber has a relatively smooth surface that can absorb a small amount of water and a small amount of ozone, if the load detection device 107 detects the synthetic fiber, the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generation device 109 can be reduced.

Alternatively, load detecting device 107 may detect that the laundry in laundry drum 105 is mainly made of cotton. Due to the large surface of the cotton fiber, the cotton fiber can absorb a large amount of water and a large amount of ozone. Therefore, if cotton fibers are detected, the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device 109 can be increased. This can be achieved, for example, by extending the time period during which ozone is supplied by the ozone generating device 109 or in the case where the ozone generating device 109 re-supplies ozone at a different point in time during the laundry treatment process.

Therefore, using the control means 108 and the ozone generating means 109 enables an amount of ozone determined according to the detected load of laundry or type of laundry to be supplied to the laundry drum 105, which is advantageous for effectively reducing odor and microbial count in the laundry drum 105.

Accurately determining the advantageous amount of ozone enables to effectively reduce odors and microorganisms in the laundry drum 105 by the amount of ozone supplied to the laundry drum 105, while preventing excessive ozone from remaining in the laundry treating appliance 100 after the laundry treating process. Therefore, when ozone is generated by ozone generating device 109, it is also important to consider the time required for ozone supplied to laundry drum 105 to be dissipated again.

Accurately determining the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device 109 and supplying the generated amount to the laundry drum 105 enables to effectively reduce odor and microbial count in the laundry.

All features described and shown in connection with the embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations within the subject matter of the invention in order to achieve their advantageous effects simultaneously.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and is not limited to the features described in the specification or shown in the drawings.

List of reference numerals

100 laundry treating appliance

101 storage container

103 barrel

105 laundry drum

107 load detection device

108 control device

109 ozone generator

110 load connection

111 ozone generating connection

Claims

1. A laundry treating appliance (100) for treating laundry, wherein the laundry treating appliance (100) comprises a laundry drum (105) for accommodating laundry, a load detecting device (107) for detecting a load of laundry in the laundry drum (105), an ozone generating device (109) for generating ozone, and a control device (108), wherein the load detecting device (107) is further configured to be able to detect a type of laundry in the laundry drum (105), wherein the laundry treating appliance (100) comprises a filling level sensor configured to be able to detect a filling level of washing liquid in a tub (103), characterized in that,

the amount of washing liquid in the tub (103) determined by the filling level sensor is related to the load of laundry or the type of laundry, wherein,

the control means (108) are configured to determine the amount of ozone as a function of the detected fill level and as a function of the load of laundry located in the laundry drum (105) associated with the detected fill level or of the type of laundry associated with the detected fill level, and

the ozone generating device (109) is configured to be able to produce the determined amount of ozone.

2. The laundry treating appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the load detecting device (107) is configured to be able to detect a laundry weight or a laundry volume in the laundry drum (105) as the laundry load in order to obtain a detected laundry load.

3. The laundry treatment appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ozone generating device (109) is configured to be able to produce said amount of ozone under the influence of ultraviolet light or by dielectrophoresis.

4. The laundry treatment appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ozone generating device (109) is configured to be able to generate an ozone/air mixture.

5. Laundry treatment appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device (108) is configured to be able to determine the ozone concentration value as a function of the detected laundry load or laundry type, and

an ozone generating device (109) is configured to be able to produce the amount of ozone at the determined ozone concentration value.

6. The laundry treatment appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device (108) is configured to be able to determine the time segment for ozone generation depending on the detected laundry load or laundry type, and

the ozone generating device (109) is configured to be able to produce said amount of ozone within the determined time period.

7. The laundry treating appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laundry treating appliance (100) comprises a pressure sensor,

the pressure sensor is configured to be able to detect a hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the tub (103), an

The control means (108) are configured to determine said amount of ozone as a function of the detected hydrostatic pressure and as a function of the detected load of laundry or type of laundry.

8. The laundry treatment appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laundry treatment appliance (100) comprises a fresh water line, a washing liquid line and a throughflow sensor,

the fresh water line is configured to be able to supply water to the tub (103),

the washing liquid line is configured to be able to drain washing liquid from the tub (103),

the throughflow sensor is configured to be able to detect the flow rate of water in the fresh water line or the flow rate of washing liquid in the washing liquid line for a further period of time,

the throughflow sensor is configured to be able to determine the quantity of water introduced or the quantity of washing liquid discharged on the basis of the flow rate of water or washing liquid detected in the further time interval, and

the control device (108) is configured to determine the amount of ozone as a function of the determined amount of introduced water or as a function of the amount of washing liquid discharged during the further time interval and as a function of the detected load of laundry or type of laundry.

9. The laundry treating appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laundry treating appliance (100) comprises an ozone removing device configured to be able to remove an additional amount of ozone from the laundry treating appliance (100).

10. The laundry treating appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laundry treating appliance (100) comprises an oxygen generating device,

the control device (108) is configured to determine the amount of oxygen, and

the oxygen generating device is configured to be able to generate the determined amount of oxygen and to supply said oxygen to the ozone generating device (109).

11. The laundry treating appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laundry treating appliance (100) comprises an ozone sensor,

the ozone sensor is configured to be able to detect an ozone concentration value in the laundry drum (105), an

The control means (108) are configured to determine said amount of ozone as a function of the detected ozone concentration value and as a function of the detected load of laundry or type of laundry.

12. The laundry treatment appliance (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the control device (108) is configured to stop the generation of ozone by the ozone generating device (109) when the detected ozone concentration value reaches a predetermined ozone concentration threshold value.

13. The laundry treating appliance (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the laundry treating appliance (100) comprises a signal generating device, and

the signal generating device is configured to generate a signal when the detected ozone concentration value reaches a predetermined ozone concentration threshold value.