CN107849795B

CN107849795B - Clothes care appliance with lye pump

Info

Publication number: CN107849795B
Application number: CN201680045692.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·海尔-韦弗斯; H·绍布
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2015-08-04
Filing date: 2016-07-08
Publication date: 2020-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-08
Also published as: CN107849795A; DE102015214804B3; WO2017021098A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry care appliance (100), comprising a lye container (109), a heating element (112), a discharge opening (113) in the lye container (109), a control device (129) for controlling a lye pump (121), the discharge opening (113) being connected to a discharge hose (115) and being closable by a closure (114), the discharge hose (115) being connected to the lye pump (121). The control device (129) activates the lye pump (121) for a first time period, and the washing lye is conveyed from the lye container (109) through the discharge opening (113) to the discharge hose (115). The control device (129) sets the lye pump (121) to operate in the second time period when the closure element (114) closes the outlet opening (113), receives washing lye in the outlet hose (115), and releases the biofilm from the outlet hose (115). The control device (129) activates the lye pump (121) in a third time interval, pumps the washing lye and the biofilm out of the discharge hose (115), and cleans the discharge hose (115).

Description

Clothes care appliance with lye pump

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance with a lye pump.

Background

After the laundry care session is ended, the remaining water remains in the drain hose (Ablaufschlauch) of the conventional laundry care appliance. If the laundry care appliance is not operated for a longer period of time next, biofilms (Biofilm) and unpleasant odours may develop in the drain hose of the laundry care appliance, wherein these unpleasant odours may under adverse conditions penetrate into the outer region of the laundry care appliance and may be perceived by the user of the laundry care appliance.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a clothing care appliance, in which advantageous cleaning of the discharge hose is ensured.

This object is achieved by a laundry care appliance and a method according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the description and the drawings.

According to one aspect, the task according to the invention is solved by a laundry care appliance comprising: a lye container for receiving washing lye, a heating element for heating the washing lye, a discharge opening arranged on the lye container for discharging the washing lye, wherein the discharge opening is connected to a discharge hose and can be closed by a closure (Verschluss), wherein the discharge hose is connected to a lye pump, and a control device for controlling the lye pump, wherein the control device is designed to activate a feed operation of the lye pump in a first time period

For conveying washing lye from the lye container into the discharge hose through the discharge opening, wherein the control device is configured for adjusting the setting (einstellen) of the conveying operation of the lye pump in a second time interval following the first time interval with the discharge opening closed by the closure element for receiving the pumped washing lye in the discharge hose for releasing a biofilm from the discharge hose

And wherein the control device is configured for activating the lye pump in a third time interval following the second time interval for pumping out washing lye and loosened biofilm from the discharge hose for cleaning the discharge hose.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: the pumped-out washing lye can in the second time period effectively loosen the biofilm from the discharge hose; the washing lye and the detached biofilm can be pumped out of the discharge hose in the third time period in order to clean the discharge hose.

In the case of long stops of the laundry care appliance, the drain hose tends to form a biofilm intensively, since residual water from the previous laundry care course may remain in the drain hose. Biofilm and unpleasant odours may thereby form, which may escape from the laundry care appliance and be perceived by the user. In the case of an insufficiently closed outlet opening of the lye container (for example due to foreign matter or due to a damaged seal), residual water containing biofilm may penetrate into the lye container through the outlet opening and cause microorganisms on the laundry to be cleaned or unpleasant odors to the laundry to be cleaned. If the user wants to lead out the remaining water from the drain hose or wants to remove foreign substances from the drain hose, the user directly comes into contact with the remaining water (or biofilm) present in the drain hose.

In the present invention, the removal or reduction of biofilm in the drain hose of a laundry care appliance is achieved by: the discharge hose is treated with warm washing lye for a defined period of time, wherein the washing lye has in particular a temperature of more than 40 ℃. In this way, a detachment of the biofilm from the drain hose can be achieved, and the detached biofilm can subsequently be removed from the drain hose by intensive flow-through of the washing lye, thereby cleaning the drain hose.

During the laundry care process, washing lye which is heated by the heating element is present in the lye container. During the first time period (in particular before the end of the main wash program), the control device activates the feed operation of the lye pump, whereby wash lye is fed from the lye container into the discharge hose through the discharge opening. The washing lye is conveyed only up to the drain hose and is not pumped out of the laundry care appliance through the drain hose, so that the washing lye level in the lye container does not drop too sharply.

In a second time interval following the first time interval, the control device sets the delivery operation of the lye pump. Thereby causing a pressure drop in the drain hose and a return flow of the pumped washing lye in the drain hose. Since the closure member closes the discharge opening in the second time interval, washing lye flowing back in the discharge hose cannot pass through the discharge opening into the lye container, thereby being received in the discharge hose. The closure can in particular comprise a floating body arranged on the discharge opening

The floating body is pressed against a seal on the outlet opening of the lye container by the washing lye flowing back in the outlet hose in the second time period, whereby a liquid-tight (fl ü ssigkeitsdicht) closure of the outlet opening is achieved.

In the second time period, the washing lye remains in the discharge hose, wherein the washing lye can act on the biofilm and thereby loosen it from the discharge hose. Subsequently, the lye pump is reactivated in a third time segment following the second time segment to pump wash lye received in the discharge hose and loosened biofilm out of the discharge hose, thereby achieving effective cleaning of the discharge hose. The process of pumping out washing lye and detached biofilm during the third time interval is a common process, in particular a process which is carried out at the end of the main washing process.

A laundry care appliance is understood to be a device for laundry care (such as a washing machine or a washer dryer). Such a laundry care appliance is to be understood as meaning in particular a household laundry care appliance. I.e. a laundry care appliance for use in a domestic framework and for treating a quantity of laundry common to households.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a washing drum for receiving laundry, the laundry care appliance comprises a drive for rotating the washing drum, the control device is configured for deactivating (dealivieren) the drive for stopping the rotation of the washing drum before the start of the first time segment.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: by stopping the rotation of the washing drum, washing lye is collected in the lye container before the start of the first time period, whereby the washing lye cannot come into contact with the laundry received in the washing drum. In particular in a low-temperature washing program, wherein the temperature of the washing lye in the lye container is in particular below 40 ℃, the collected washing lye can then be heated effectively for conveying the heated washing lye into the discharge hose in the first time period.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the lye container has a discharge region for receiving washing lye, the heating element is arranged in the discharge region, and the control device is configured for activating the heating element for heating the washing lye in the discharge region before the start of the first time period.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: the washing lye in the discharge region is heated by the heating element, which results in an advantageously heated washing lye, by means of which an effective detachment of the biofilm from the discharge hose can be ensured. By means of the heating element it is ensured that: even in laundry care methods in which the washing lye is not heated, such as during a fine washing program or a cold water washing program, it is ensured that the washing lye is sufficiently heated for effective cleaning of the drain hose by means of the heated washing lye.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a water supply device for supplying water into the lye container, the control device being configured for activating the water supply device in the second time interval for supplying water to the lye container.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: by supplying water through the water supply device during the second time period, this may prevent the laundry in the washing drum, which may be temperature sensitive, from being damaged. After the heated washing lye has been pumped out of the lye container into the discharge hose during the first time period by the lye pump, the heated washing lye in the lye container may be cooled by adding cold fresh water through the water supply means during the second time period.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the outlet opening comprises a seal, wherein the seal is configured for liquid-tightly closing the outlet opening closed by the closure.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: by means of the seal, it is possible to achieve a liquid-tight closure of the outlet opening by the closure, whereby no liquid can flow out through the closed outlet opening.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the closure element comprises a float body which is designed to close the outlet opening in the second time segment when the delivery operation of the lye pump has been set.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that the discharge opening can be effectively and liquid-tightly closed by means of the floating body, in the second time interval the lye pump regulates the feed operation of the washing lye set, whereby the washing lye located in the discharge hose flows back to a slight extent (Ausma β), whereby the floating body floats on the returning washing lye and is positioned on the discharge opening for effectively closing the discharge opening.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the discharge hose has an inlet section and a pump-out section, wherein the discharge opening is connected to the inlet section, wherein the lye pump is connected to the inlet section and the pump-out section of the discharge hose, and wherein the pump-out section is connected to an outflow opening on the outside of the laundry care appliance.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: by connecting the lye pump with the inlet section and the pump-out section of the discharge hose, this ensures that wash lye is efficiently pumped out of the lye container and that biofilm is efficiently removed from the discharge hose. The washing lye pumped out of the lye container is pumped through the discharge opening, through the input section of the discharge hose, through the lye pump, through the pumping-out section of the discharge hose, and out of the laundry care appliance through the outflow opening.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the discharge opening is arranged at a discharge level on the lye container and the outflow opening is arranged at an outflow level on the outside of the laundry care appliance, wherein the wash lye has a liquid column in the discharge hose after the first time period, and wherein the liquid column is between the discharge level and the outflow level.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: by conveying the washing lye up to the liquid column of the discharge hose in the first time period, this achieves a sufficient wetting of the biofilm in the discharge hose by the washing lye. The liquid column in the discharge hose is between the discharge height and the outflow height after the first time period. This ensures that sufficient area of the drain hose is wetted by the washing lye by the liquid column above the drain height. By the liquid column being lower than the outflow height, it is ensured that washing lye is not pumped out of the laundry care appliance through the outflow opening during the first time period.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the pump-out section of the drain hose has an opening for venting the drain hose.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: this opening for venting the outlet hose ensures an advantageous pressure compensation in the outlet hose. When the delivery operation of the lye pump is set in the second time interval, an advantageous pressure compensation then enables the pumped washing lye to effectively flow back in the discharge hose up to the discharge opening closed by the closure.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the washing lye has a further liquid column in the discharge hose after the end of the second time period, wherein the height of the further liquid column is smaller than the above-mentioned liquid column.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: effective detachment of the biofilm from the drain hose is achieved by receiving washing lye in the drain hose. When the delivery operation of the lye pump is set in the second time interval, the pumped-out washing lye flows back in the discharge hose up to the discharge opening closed by the closure element. Thereby the column of washing lye in the discharge hose is caused to drop slightly, so that the washing lye has a further column of liquid in the discharge hose, which is of a smaller height than the liquid column.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the control device is configured to deactivate the lye pump in the second time segment.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: the return flow of washing lye in the discharge hose is not effected by the active pump process of the lye pump but by the return flow of washing lye due to the hydrostatic pressure of the washing lye in the discharge hose. In this way, the lye pump runs without any action during the second time interval, so that electrical energy can be saved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a liquid sensor for detecting a washing lye column in the drain hose, wherein the control device is configured for: ending said first time period as soon as the detected wash liquor column corresponds to said liquid column.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: an automatic transition from the first time segment to the second time segment is ensured by the liquid sensor. As soon as the washing lye pumped out into the discharge hose has reached the liquid column, the control device can determine from the detected washing lye column and can subsequently end the pumping process. In this way it is possible to prevent: the lye pump pumps out wash lye pumped out during the first time segment, which exceeds the liquid column, from the laundry care appliance.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the wash lye in the lye container, the control device being configured for: activating the delivery operation of the lye pump in the first time segment when the detected temperature reaches a temperature threshold.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: the lye pump pumps washing lye out of the lye container in the first time interval only if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor corresponds to a predetermined temperature threshold. In this way it is ensured that the pumped-out washing lye has been sufficiently heated to ensure effective detachment of the biofilm in the discharge hose.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the lye pump has a pressure side and a suction side, wherein wash lye is pumped from the suction side to the pressure side of the lye pump during the first time interval through the discharge hose, and wherein wash lye is conveyed back from the pressure side to the suction side of the lye pump during the second time interval through the discharge hose.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: by arranging the lye pump in the discharge hose, this ensures that: during the first time period washing lye is effectively pumped out of the lye container into the discharge hose and during the second time period washing lye is effectively received in the discharge hose,

according to a second aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a method for loosening biofilm in a drain hose of a laundry care appliance, wherein the laundry care appliance comprises: a lye container for receiving washing lye, a heating element for heating the washing lye, a discharge opening arranged on the lye container for leading out the washing lye, wherein the discharge opening is connected with a discharge hose and can be closed by a closure, wherein the discharge hose is connected with a lye pump, and the laundry care appliance comprises a control device for controlling the lye pump, wherein the method comprises the following steps: activating a feed operation of the lye pump by the control device in a first time period for feeding wash lye from the lye container through the discharge opening into the discharge hose; adjusting the feed operation of the lye pump in a second time segment following the first time segment in order to receive the pumped washing lye in the discharge hose in order to loosen the biofilm from the discharge hose; and activating the lye pump by the control device for pumping out washing lye and detached biofilm from the discharge hose in a third time interval following the second time interval in order to clean the discharge hose.

In this way the following technical advantages are achieved: by activating the lye pump, setting the delivery operation of the lye pump in a regulated manner, and reactivating the lye pump and in connection therewith pumping out (or feeding back) the wash lye, it is ensured that biofilm is advantageously removed from the discharge hose, whereby an effective cleaning of the discharge hose is achieved. The present method can in particular be performed towards the end of a main wash program of a laundry care appliance, whereby the following advantages are obtained: the residual washing power of the washing lye, which is present through the overdosing of the washing agent, and the heating of the washing lye during the main washing process ensure that the biofilm is advantageously removed.

Drawings

Further embodiments are explained with reference to the drawings. The figures show:

FIG. 1: a schematic illustration of a laundry care appliance;

FIG. 2: a schematic illustration of a laundry care appliance having a lye pump connected to a discharge hose; and

FIG. 3: procedure for a method for loosening biofilm in a drain hose of a laundry care appliance.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a common laundry care appliance 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 comprises a wash-in receptacle 101, into which wash-in receptacle 101 wash care substances, such as detergent, can be filled. The laundry care appliance 100 comprises a door 103 for loading the laundry care appliance 100 with laundry and comprises an appliance housing 105.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a laundry care appliance with a drain hose. The laundry care appliance 100 comprises: an appliance housing 105; a washing drum 107 arranged in the appliance housing 105 for receiving laundry; and a lye container 109 for receiving washing lye. The lye container 109 has a discharge area 111, in which discharge area 111 wash lye is received in the lye container 109. In the discharge area 111 a heating element 112 is arranged, which heating element 112 is configured for heating the washing lye received in the discharge area 111.

The lye container 109 has a discharge opening 113, which discharge opening 113 is arranged on the bottom side of the lye container 109. The outlet opening 113 can be closed by a closure 114. The outlet opening 113 is connected to an outlet hose 115, wherein the outlet hose 115 has an inlet section 117 and a pump-out section 119. The outlet opening 113 is connected to an inlet section 117 of the outlet hose 115. A lye pump 121 is arranged between the inlet section 117 and the outlet section 119 of the discharge hose 115. The pump-out section 119 is connected to an outflow opening 123 on the device housing 105. The lye pump 121 is configured for: washing lye is pumped out of the lye container 109 through the discharge opening 113 and the pumped-out washing lye is pumped out of the laundry care appliance 100 through the input section 117, through the pumping-out section 119 and through the outflow opening 123. The laundry care appliance 100 further comprises a water supply device 125, the water supply device 125 being connected to the lye container 109 via a water supply conduit 127 for supplying fresh water to the lye container 109.

In the conventional laundry care appliance 100, after the laundry care course, the remaining water may remain in the drain hose 115, thereby possibly forming a biofilm and an unpleasant odor. These unpleasant odors may escape from the laundry care appliance 100 and be perceived by the user under adverse conditions. In order to remove the biofilm, the area covered with biofilm must be contacted with warm (in particular having a temperature above 40 ℃) washing lye for a suitable period of time. Subsequently, the biofilm can be removed by being intensively flowed through by the washing lye.

Before the end of the washing process (for example, 10 minutes before the end), the control device 129 of the laundry care appliance 100, which is connected to the lye pump 121 via the control connection 131, activates the lye pump 121 during a first time interval. The lye pump 121 pumps washing lye from the lye container 109 through the discharge opening 113 into the discharge hose 115, wherein the control device 129 however controls the lye pump 121 such that the pumped washing lye is not removed from the laundry care appliance 100 through the outflow opening 123. Instead, on the pressure side of the lye pump 121, a washing lye column builds up in the pump-out section 119 of the discharge hose 115, wherein the washing lye column reaches the liquid column 133 in the pump-out section 119 after the first time period, and wherein the height of the liquid column 133 is smaller than the height of the outflow opening 123. In this way it is ensured that: the washing lye level in the lye container 109 does not drop too sharply, whereby the remaining washing time (Restwaschzeit) is maintained.

In a second time period following the first time period, the control device 129 sets the feed operation of the lye pump 121 such that the liquid column 133 present in the discharge hose 115 falls and the closure element 114 of the discharge opening 113 is thereby closed by the returning washing lye. The closure 114 comprises in particular a floating body which closes the discharge opening 113, whereby washing lye is received in the discharge hose 115 and can thus loosen the biofilm from the discharge hose 115.

In a third time period following the second time period, the control device 129 reactivates the lye pump 121 for pumping washing lye and detached biofilm out of the discharge hose 115 for cleaning the discharge hose 115.

In a low-temperature washing program (in particular at temperatures below 40 ℃), the rotation of the washing drum 107 can be stopped immediately after the end of the main washing process, so that the freely available washing lye in the discharge region 111 of the lye container 109 can no longer come into contact with the laundry. Subsequently, the washing lye available for free use in the discharge area 111 of the lye container 109 is heated to a temperature above 40 ℃ without the laundry being heated together. Next, the lye pump 121 can convey wash lye from the lye container 109 into the discharge hose 115 through the discharge opening 113 during the first time period. In the case of sensitive textiles (e.g. wool or silk), during the second time period, to avoid temperature-induced textile damage, the lye container 109 is filled with slightly cold fresh water.

The main advantages of the invention are: the drain hose 115 is frequently treated to prevent biofilm and/or foul odors. The discharge hose 115 is cleaned during each washing process, in particular washing processes which reach a temperature above 40 ℃. Since heavy-duty detergents (Vollwaschmitel) are usually used at higher washing temperatures, bleaching agents can also be present in the washing liquor in addition to the washing active, for example in the case of powder detergents. Thereby achieving a further cleaning effect and a purification treatment of the laundry. An advantage of the present invention is that the user of the laundry care appliance 100 does not have to add additional detergent or initiate additional cleaning steps. The loosened biofilm and odorous wastewater is directed into the sewer at a fixed wastewater interface. Additionally formed biofilm-based or biofilm-forming deposits (such as sand, fluff, grease or wax) are removed together with the loosened biofilm, thereby reducing the risk of clogging of the discharge hose 115 (or the lye pump 121).

Fig. 3 shows a flow of a method for loosening biofilm in a drain hose of a laundry care appliance.

The first method step of the method 200 is: in a first time interval, a feed operation of the lye pump 121 is activated 201 by the control device 129 for feeding washing lye from the lye container 109 into the discharge hose 115 through the discharge opening 113. The second method step of the method 200 is: in a second time interval following the first time interval, the delivery operation of the lye pump 121 is set 203 such that the pumped washing lye is received in the discharge hose 115. The third method step of the method 200 is: in a third time period following the second time period, the lye pump 121 is activated 205 by the control device 129 for pumping washing lye and detached biofilm out of the discharge hose 115 for cleaning the discharge hose 115.

All the features explained and illustrated in connection with the individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in the subject-matter according to the invention in different combinations in order to achieve their advantageous effects simultaneously.

The scope of protection of the invention is given by the claims and is not limited to the features given in the description or the drawings.

List of reference numerals

100 laundry care appliance

101 punch into support shell

103 door

105 appliance housing

107 washing drum

109 lye container

111 discharge area

112 heating element

113 discharge opening

114 closure

115 discharge hose

117 input section

119 pump-out section

121 lye pump

123 outflow opening

125 water supply device

127 water supply line

129 control device

131 control connection

133 column of liquid

200 method for loosening biofilm in a drain hose of a laundry care appliance

201 first method step: activating delivery operation of lye pump

203 second method step: adjusting the delivery operation of a set lye pump

205 third method step: activating lye pump

Claims

1. A laundry care appliance (100) having:

-a lye container (109) for receiving washing lye,

-a heating element (112) for heating the washing lye,

-a discharge opening (113) arranged on the lye container (109) for leading out washing lye, wherein the discharge opening (113) is connected with a discharge hose (115) and can be closed by a closure (114), wherein the discharge hose (115) is connected with a lye pump (121), and

-control means (129) for controlling the lye pump (121),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the control device (129) is designed to: in a first time period, a feed operation of the lye pump (121) is activated for feeding washing lye from the lye container (109) through the discharge opening (113) into the discharge hose (115),

the control device (129) is designed to: in a second time period following the first time period, with the discharge opening (113) closed by the closure (114), the feed operation of the lye pump (121) is set to be regulated in such a way that the pumped washing lye is received in the discharge hose (115) in order to loosen the biofilm from the discharge hose (115), and

the control device (129) is designed to: in a third time period following the second time period, the lye pump (121) is activated for pumping washing lye and detached biofilm out of the discharge hose (115) for cleaning the discharge hose (115).

2. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a washing drum (107) for receiving laundry,

the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a drive for rotating the washing drum (107), and

the control device (129) is designed to: -deactivating the drive for stopping the rotation of the washing drum (107) before the first time segment starts.

3. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the lye container (109) having a discharge area (111) for receiving washing lye,

the heating element (112) is arranged in the discharge region (111), and

the control device (129) is designed to: before the beginning of the first time period, the heating element (112) is activated for heating the washing lye in the discharge area (111).

4. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a water supply device (125) for supplying water into the lye container (109), and

the control device (129) is designed to: in the second time interval, the water supply device (125) is activated for supplying water to the lye container (109).

5. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the discharge opening (113) comprises a seal, wherein the seal is configured for: the outlet opening (113) closed by the closure (114) is closed in a liquid-tight manner.

6. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the enclosure (114) includes a buoyant body configured to: in the second time interval, the outlet opening (113) is closed when the delivery operation of the lye pump (121) has been set.

7. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the discharge hose (115) has an inlet section (117) and a pump-out section (119),

wherein the discharge opening (113) is connected with the input section (117),

wherein the lye pump (121) is connected with the inlet section (117) and the pump-out section (119) of the discharge hose (115), and

wherein the pump-out section (119) is connected with an outflow opening (123) on the outside of the laundry care appliance (100).

8. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 7,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the discharge opening (113) on the lye container (109) is arranged at a discharge level, an

The outflow opening (123) on the outer side of the laundry care appliance (100) is arranged at an outflow height,

wherein after the first time period the wash liquor has a liquid column (133) in the discharge hose (115), and

wherein the liquid column (133) is between the discharge height and the outflow height.

9. The laundry care appliance (100) of claim 8,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the pump-out section (119) of the discharge hose (115) has an opening for venting the discharge hose (115).

10. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 8 or 9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after the end of the second time period, the washing lye has a further liquid column in the discharge hose (115), wherein the height of the further liquid column is smaller than the liquid column (133).

11. The laundry care appliance (100) according to any of claims 1-2, 8-9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the control device (129) is designed to: in the second time segment, the lye pump (121) is deactivated.

12. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 8 or 9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a liquid sensor for detecting a column of washing lye in the drain hose (115), wherein the control device (129) is configured for: ending said first time period as soon as the detected wash liquor column corresponds to said liquid column (133).

13. The laundry care appliance (100) according to any of claims 1-2, 8-9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the washing lye in the lye container (109), and

the control device (129) is designed to: activating the delivery operation of the lye pump (121) in the first time segment when the detected temperature reaches a temperature threshold.

14. Laundry care appliance (100) according to any of claims 1-2, 8-9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the lye pump (121) has a pressure side and a suction side,

wherein during the first time period washing lye is pumped from the suction side to the pressure side of the lye pump (121) through the discharge hose (115), and

wherein during the second time period wash lye is conveyed from the pressure side of the lye pump (121) back to the suction side through the discharge hose (115).

15. A method for loosening biofilm in a drain hose (115) of a laundry care appliance (100), wherein the laundry care appliance (100) has:

-a lye container (109) for receiving washing lye,

-a heating element (112) for heating the washing lye,

-control means (129) for controlling the lye pump (121),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the method (200) comprises:

-activating (201), by means of the control device (129), a delivery operation of the lye pump (121) for delivering washing lye from the lye container (109) into the discharge hose (115) through the discharge opening (113) in a first time period,

-in a second time interval following the first time interval, adjusting (203) the delivery operation of the lye pump (121) so that the pumped washing lye is received in the discharge hose (115) so as to loosen the biofilm from the discharge hose (115), and

-activating (205), by means of the control device (129), the lye pump (121) for pumping washing lye and detached biofilm out of the discharge hose (115) for cleaning the discharge hose (115) in a third time interval following the second time interval.