CN110114531B - Laundry dryer comprising a filter assembly and method of cleaning a filter assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of cleaning a filter assembly in a laundry dryer (1), wherein the dryer (1) comprises: a cabinet (2); a drum (3) rotatably supported in the cabinet (2); a duct (18) defining a flow path for the process air leaving the drum (3); a filter assembly (80, 80', 90) positioned at least partially within the duct (18) to filter process air flowing within the duct; the filter assembly (80, 80', 90) comprises: a frame (31) having a first end and a second end and defining a storage portion (50) at its first end; a filter supported by the frame (31) and defining a first filtering surface (32); a cleaning device for cleaning the first filter surface (32), the cleaning device comprising a translatable wiper (330) to wipe the first filter surface (32); the method is characterized by comprising: translating the wiper (330) from a first position, in which it is located at a second end of the frame (31), towards the first end of the frame (31); wiping the first filter surface (32) by the wiper (330) during translation so as to move the filter material adhering to the first filter surface (32) towards the first end of the frame (31); and collecting the filter material in the storage section (50).

Description

Laundry dryer comprising a filter assembly and method of cleaning a filter assembly

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer comprising a filter assembly with cleaning means, and to a method of cleaning such a filter assembly by means of a cleaning means.

Laundry dryers typically comprise a filter system for collecting fluff or lint separated from the laundry to be treated in the drying process. Typically, prior art tumble dryers provide a filter system that is accessible for control and maintenance by opening the door of the tumble dryer. An air flow into the filter system is provided in the tumble dryer. Fluff or lint (generally, foreign substances) carried by the air flow from the laundry to be dried is filtered out by the filter system, such that the air leaving the filter system is substantially free of lint or fluff. The air may be reheated and delivered to a laundry treatment chamber of the tumble dryer. Alternatively, the air may be exhausted outside the dryer.

If the accumulation of foreign matter on the filter system is greater than a predetermined level, the foreign matter may interfere with the air being discharged from the drum by reducing the circulation of air to and from the drum; therefore, the filter system in the dryer should be cleaned periodically.

The manner in which the cleaning operation of the filter is performed depends on the type of filter system used. For example, some dryers include a base below the laundry loading/unloading door, with the base door to be opened to access and clean the filter system using suitable tools, leaving the filter system in place. Alternatively, when the user separates the filter system from the dryer after completing the drying cycle, the filter system cleaning is performed, foreign substances are removed from the filter system, and the filter system is installed again in the dryer. A further cleaning operation of known type provides for the removal of foreign substances by means of a fluid sprayed onto the filter system with fluff. The start of the fluid jet operation is typically automatic, i.e. initiated by the laundry drying control unit algorithm. Such automatic filter cleaning operations require complex configurations to be provided in the dryer architecture, however, these configurations invariably require the user to remove the washed fluff from the machine.

Filter cleaning, performed manually with an external tool or by completely removing the filter system, is not only cumbersome, but is also generally not favored by users who try to delay filter cleaning. In view of this, since filter cleaning may not be performed every time the dryer is operated, until the filter is cleaned, there may be a sufficient air flow rate required to fail to achieve drying due to foreign substances interfering with the air flow discharged from the drum, thereby reducing the overall efficiency of the dryer, and even causing the laundry to fail to dry as desired by the user at the end of the drying cycle.

In addition, in the event that cleaning of the filter system requires an external tool (such as a brush), the external tool may be lost or misplaced. In case the filter system needs to be removed from the laundry dryer for cleaning, this may cause damage to the filter system itself if an incorrect handling occurs.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to make available: a laundry dryer including a filter assembly and a method of cleaning the filter assembly in the laundry dryer in which the cleaning operation of the filter assembly is simplified with respect to prior art records.

Preferably, cleaning of the filter assembly does not require additional tool(s) external to the dryer that need to be stored and retrieved for cleaning.

In addition, the cleaning action is preferably relatively easy and fast.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method of cleaning a filter assembly in a laundry dryer, wherein the laundry dryer comprises:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably supported in the cabinet;

a duct defining a flow path for the process air leaving the drum;

a filter assembly positioned at least partially in the conduit to filter process air flowing in the conduit;

the filter assembly comprises:

■ a frame having a first end and a second end and defining a storage portion at its first end;

■ a filter supported by the frame and defining a first filtering surface;

■ a cleaning device for cleaning the first filter surface, the cleaning device comprising a translatable wiper to wipe the first filter surface;

the method is characterized by comprising:

translating the wiper from a first position, in which the wiper is located at the second end of the frame, towards the first end of the frame;

wiping the first filter surface by the wiper during translation so as to move the filter material adhering to the first filter surface towards the first end of the frame; and is

Collecting the filter material in the storage section.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a laundry dryer comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably supported in the cabinet;

a duct defining a flow path for the process air leaving the drum;

a filter assembly positioned at least partially in the conduit to filter process air flowing in the conduit;

the filter assembly comprises:

● a frame having a first end and a second end and defining a storage portion at its first end, the storage portion being susceptible to storing and retaining collected filter material therein;

● a filter supported by the frame and defining a first filtering surface;

● a cleaning device for cleaning the filter surface, the cleaning device comprising a wiper to wipe the first filter surface, wherein the wiper is translatable from a first position in which the wiper is located at the second end of the frame to a second position in which the wiper is located at the first end of the frame, and wherein the wiper is configured to wipe the first filter surface during translation so as to move filter material attached to the first filter surface into the storage portion towards the first end of the frame.

In the following, when relative terms such as "front", "rear", "side", "top", "bottom" and the like are used, they refer to a normal operating position of the laundry dryer when in use, for example on a generally (substantially) horizontal floor. The horizontal plane is thus a plane parallel to the floor on which the dryer is located. The position of the loading/unloading door of the laundry dryer, generally used for loading and unloading the laundry into and from the dryer and usually coupled to the front wall of the cabinet for access to the drum, defines the "front" of the dryer itself. In view of the horizontal plane in which the garment lies, "top" and "bottom" (as their normal common meaning) refer to the position of an object along a vertical axis. A vertical axis is defined as an axis perpendicular to a horizontal plane, such as the ground.

With the term "laundry dryer" or "dryer", it is intended an appliance having only a drying function or a combined laundry drying appliance capable of performing washing and drying cycles.

The dryer includes a cabinet or support structure, preferably including a base, a front wall and a rear wall. The front and rear walls are preferably mounted on a base which stands on a surface such as the ground. The front wall may advantageously be provided with a through opening at which a door is mounted for accessing the interior of the cabinet to locate or remove laundry. The side walls connect the front and rear walls to form an enclosed volume with the top wall.

The base rests on the floor and its vertical distance from the floor can be advantageously adjusted by means of adjustment feet provided on the lower surface of the base facing the floor.

The base in turn defines a base region of the dryer. The base has a base interior volume, i.e., a volume within the cabinet bounded by the cabinet walls and located at the base region. The base may be perforated or include perforated elements to enable the introduction and removal of cooling air, if desired. The base may be provided with portions for supporting operating components of the laundry dryer, which portions are required for performing a laundry drying process on the laundry, such as air ducts, motors, etc.

The laundry dryer of the present invention comprises a drum in which the load to be dried (for example, clothes or other laundry) is placed. The drum further preferably comprises a cover defining a front end facing the front wall of the cabinet and preferably an opening therein realized and closed by a door for loading and unloading laundry, and a rear end facing the rear wall of the cabinet.

The drum of the dryer of the invention may be a closed drum, i.e. the rear end is closed by a rear wall or flange which rotates as a single piece with the hood when the drum is driven in rotation. Alternatively, it may be an open drum, with a fixed rear wall closing the rear end of the drum, i.e. the rear wall does not rotate with the drum, and it is preferably integral with the cabinet. Thus, the rear wall of the drum may be attached to and rotate with the drum, or attached to the cabinet and be stationary.

Within the cabinet, the drum is rotatably mounted to rotate, preferably according to a substantially horizontal or inclined axis of rotation. For example, at least one drum support assembly is provided within the cabinet for rotatably supporting the drum upon rotation of the drum about this given axis of rotation.

The drum is fluidly connected to a duct defining a flow path for process air to exit the drum. In fact, relatively dry and warm process air flows over the laundry located in the drum in order to dry the laundry. It is necessary to remove the moist, cooler process air from the drum, so that, for example, additional drying air can flow in.

The drum is part of a process air circuit, in particular a closed loop in the case of a condensation dryer or an open circuit in the case of a ventilation dryer, which in both cases comprises a process air duct for guiding a process air flow in order to dry the load. The process air duct may be connected to the drum through its two opposite ends. In this embodiment, hot dry air is fed into the drum, flows over the laundry, and the resulting moist (and cooled to a lower temperature) air leaves the drum. In the case of a closed-loop drying air circuit, the humid air stream enriched in water vapour is then fed to a dehumidifying element and/or a hot-air generator, such as a heat exchanger. The resulting cooled drying air is then heated before being re-entered into the drying chamber again by means of a hot drying air generator (which may be, for example, a condenser or an air/air exchanger of a heat pump system), and the whole loop is repeated until the end of the drying cycle. In addition, the hot dry air generator may comprise an electrically or gas powered heating device. In a vented dryer, ambient air is fed into the dryer via an inlet duct, such air being heated by a hot drying air generator (such as a condenser of a heat pump system and/or an electrically or gas powered heating device) before entering the drum. The heated air flowing through the drum and over the damp laundry contained in the drum removes moisture from the laundry. The humid air stream leaving the drum may optionally be dehumidified by an evaporator of a heat pump system or an air-air type heat exchanger as explained above before being discharged outside the dryer.

Preferably, the hot or dry air generator is located in the base of the cabinet.

In an embodiment, the duct guides the process air from the drum. A section of the duct, preferably the front section of the duct, directs the process air coming out of the drum downwards towards the base of the laundry dryer and deflects the process air flow from a downward direction to a horizontal direction. The "downward" direction may comprise flow path sections which are vertical and/or (partly) inclined to the vertical or even partly horizontal-but with the net effect that in the channel section unit the process air is directed downwards from a higher height level to a lower height level (in the normal operating orientation of the laundry treatment apparatus). Preferably, the process air deflected to the horizontal flow direction is discharged to the outside or into a hot or dry air generator. In this latter case, the process air then re-enters the drum via the rear wall of the drum, which may have perforations, for example.

Further, preferably, the process air duct may include a fan for blowing the process air flowing into the process air duct.

The process air duct is also provided with a filter assembly arranged along the duct before the vents, in the case of a vented dryer, so that the fluff is not arranged to the outside, or upstream of the heat or drying generator, in the case of a condensation dryer, to prevent fluff and/or lint particles from reaching and clogging the generator and/or fan.

Any filter assembly may be used in the present invention so long as it includes a first filtering surface supported by a frame.

In the same way, the first filtering surface can have any shape, which can for example comprise a mesh or net of suitable size to block typical fluff or particles produced by the laundry. As an example, the filter assembly may comprise a flat first filter surface having a square shape. The filter surface may be substantially vertical. Alternatively, the filter surface may be inclined with respect to a vertical plane, or there may be more than one filter surface. In addition, the frame defines a frame interior volume. For example, the frame may have a box-like shape with walls surrounding the interior volume. The walls may be open or closed.

Alternatively, the filter assembly may comprise a substantially wedge-shaped cartridge which may be fitted, for example in a removable manner, into an air cartridge seat realised on the annular frame, which delimits the laundry loading/unloading opening on the front wall of the cabinet, so as to cover/close the entire seat. In this case, the filter surface may be inclined with respect to a vertical plane due to the wedge shape of the cartridge.

The frame includes a first end and a second end, e.g., a top end and a bottom end if the frame is vertically disposed or has a major vertical component. At the first end, a storage portion is defined. In this storage section or fluff collector, the lint and fluff filtered by the filter assembly is collected, as described in more detail below. The storage portion may be a volume defined by the frame, for example a volume defined by an end thereof in the case of a box-like frame.

In addition, the frame of the filter assembly comprises cleaning means for facilitating cleaning of the first filtering surface, wherein, as mentioned, fluff, particles, dust and other materials filtered from the process air leaving the drum and entering the duct may be present. This material is filtered by the first filtering surface of the filter assembly, which is preferably suitably dimensioned and positioned into the duct such that substantially the entire cross-sectional dimension of the duct is covered by the filtering surface. In this way, most of the foreign substances present in the process air are removed by the first filter surface.

Due to the filtering action, the first filter surface is covered over time by filter material which has been removed from the process air flowing in the duct. In order to maintain the efficiency of the dryer, it is necessary to periodically remove the material collected on the filter surface.

The means for removing such material from the first filter surface in the present invention comprises a cleaning device comprising a wiper to wipe the first filter surface.

The movement performed by the wiper to produce the wiping action is a translation. The wiper does translate onto the filter surface in order to clean the filter surface. The wiper may be translatable from a first position when the wiper is at a second end of the frame, e.g., at the top of the frame, where the storage portion is at the first end of the frame, which may also be the bottom of the frame, to a second position when the wiper is at the first end of the frame. During translation from the second end to the first end of the frame, the wiper wipes the first filter surface and drags the filter material present on the filter surface in its movement. Thus, the filter material reaches the storage portion due to the translation of the wiper and is collected in the storage portion.

Preferably, the frame is box-shaped. More preferably, one surface of the cartridge is a first filtration surface. Preferably, the wiper moves within the cartridge.

Thus, the first filter surface can be easily cleaned by a simple movement (such as translation) of the wiper. Such movement may be, for example, a downward movement that pushes the wiper downward. In order to perform the movement effectively, i.e. in order for the movement to clean the filter surface, the wiper may have a rod shape during the translation. The rod may be positioned parallel to the storage portion and, in the wiping action, the rod moves along the filter surface. To move the bar, for example by hand, an arm formed with a T-bar may be connected to the bar. The additional arm may further comprise a handle.

There is no need to remove any part of the filter assembly during and at the end of the wiping action. The wiper allows the filter material to be collected in a storage section where the fluff and lint can be held for several drying cycles. Only when the storage portion is full, one or more portions of the filter assembly need to be removed in order to empty the storage portion.

The invention may incorporate one or more of the following features in the first or second aspects.

Preferably, the method comprises:

translating the wiper back towards the second end while retaining the filter material in the storage portion.

The wiping action, i.e. wiping the filter surface, may be performed several times in the same cleaning cycle or in different cleaning cycles after the drying cycle, thereby keeping the collected filter material in the storage section. Thus, cleaning the filter assembly after the drying cycle is quick.

Preferably, the cleaning device comprises a manually operable handle connected to the wiper, and wherein translating the wiper from a first position when the wiper is located at the second end of the frame towards the first end of the frame comprises translating the wiper by operating the manually operable handle.

Preferably, the wiper is operated by hand. In order to securely grasp the wiper and translate the wiper, a handle is preferably provided.

Preferably, the cabinet comprises a seat for housing the filter assembly, the seat being positioned downstream of the drum in the flow direction of the process air, and wherein the method comprises:

removing the filter assembly from the seat to remove the filter material from the storage portion.

When the storage portion is full, the filter assembly needs to be removed from the seat in which it is housed in order to remove the filtering material. The seat is positioned in a portion of the cabinet. Preferably, the seat is located in a location that is easily accessible to the user for easy grasping of the wiper and removal of the filter assembly.

Preferably, the manually operable handle is movable from a first configuration in which it is located at the second end of the frame to a second configuration, and wherein the method comprises:

setting the manually operable handle in the first configuration in the first position; and is

Moving said manually operable handle into the second configuration, in which said handle at least partially protrudes from said frame, before said step of translating the wiper from the first position towards the first end of the frame.

A handle may be present to facilitate translational movement of the wiper. The handle is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration, both configurations being available when the wiper is positioned in the first position at the second end of the frame. Before starting the wiping movement, the handle-while the wiper is staying in the first position-needs to be moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.

More preferably, the manually operable handle is movable from a first configuration in which it is substantially fully received in the seat to a second configuration, and wherein the method comprises:

setting the manually operable handle in the first configuration in the first position; and is

Moving said manually operable handle to a second configuration in which it protrudes from said seat, before said step of translating the wiper from the first position towards the first end of the frame.

The first configuration of the handle is a "hidden" configuration, in which the handle is completely housed in the seat also housing the filter assembly. This may occur, for example, when the handle is bent, folded or retracted. Before starting the wiping action, the handle is moved from the first configuration to a second configuration in which it is visible, i.e. protruding from the seat.

Preferably, in the second configuration, the manually operable handle defines an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wiper, and wherein the method comprises:

pushing the wiper downwards by operating the manually operable handle in order to slide the wiper over the first filtering surface.

The configuration obtained may be an L-shaped configuration or a T-shaped configuration, wherein the wiper is a rod and the handle is an arm attached to and perpendicular to the rod.

Preferably, the manually operable handle is hinged to the wiper, and wherein the method comprises:

rotating the manually operable handle to bring it from the first configuration to the second configuration before sliding.

A possible way of having a first configuration and a second configuration of the handle (the first configuration being a "hidden" configuration) is to provide a hinge between the wiper and the handle so that the two can be folded over each other.

Preferably, the filter assembly comprises a second filter surface facing the first filter surface, wherein the wiper is positioned between the first and second filter surfaces, and wherein the method comprises wiping the first and second filter surfaces by the wiper during translation.

In the case of a filter assembly in which two filter surfaces are present, for example in the case of a shell-like filter assembly, a single wiper may wipe both filter surfaces.

Preferably, the dryer includes a base door to access the base portion of the cabinet, and wherein the method includes:

● open the base door to operate the wiper.

Typically, the filter assembly of the dryer is positioned at the base. Thus, in order to perform the wiping action, the base door preferably needs to be opened in order to grasp a handle attached to the wiper.

Preferably, said dryer comprises a base door for accessing a base portion of the cabinet, and said cabinet comprises an input/output aperture allowing access to the drum and a door for closing said aperture, said manually operable handle being located in a seat realised in a surface of said input/output aperture, wherein the method comprises:

● opening the loading/unloading door to access the manually operable handle;

● moving the manually operable handle from the first configuration to the second configuration; and is

● pulls or pushes the manually operable handle to wipe the first filter surface.

Another common location for filter assemblies is in a seat formed at the loading/unloading aperture of the dryer. To perform a cleaning action of the filtering surface, the door of the dryer is opened and the handle is moved from the "hidden" configuration to the second configuration. Then, preferably, the handle is pressed downward or pushed upward to translate the wiper and wipe the first filter surface.

Preferably, the filter assembly comprises a second filter surface facing the first filter surface, wherein the wiper is positioned between the first and second filter surfaces to move filter material adhered to the first and second filter surfaces into the storage portion towards the first end of the frame. More preferably, the wiper includes: a first wiping element susceptible to wiping the first filter surface; a second wiping element in contact with the second filter surface for wiping the second filter surface; and a connector for connecting the first and second wiping elements, the connector being air permeable in a given direction.

In an embodiment, the filter assembly comprises two filter surfaces, e.g. positioned one behind the other to define a wiper seat. Thus, the wiper portion is preferably positioned within the wiper seat, i.e. between the two filter surfaces. Thus, the wiping part may comprise a first wiping element and a second wiping element in order to wipe both surfaces during the wiping movement.

Even more preferably, the translational movement of the first wiping element is the same as the translational movement of the second wiping element.

In case both wiping parts move with the same movement over the first and second surface, a connector may be positioned between the first and second wiping elements in order to strengthen their connection. The connector secures the two wiping elements to each other. In order not to disturb the flow of process air, the connector is preferably air-permeable, so that the flow of process air through the conduit can pass the connector without being blocked by the connector. For example, the same motion is possible if the first and second wiping elements are integral with each other, being part of the same physical object.

Preferably, the cleaning device comprises a manually operable handle connected to the wiper.

The wiper is preferably manually operated, so that the handle allows easy gripping onto the cleaning device. The cleaning device of the present invention comprises a wiper portion for wiping the first filter surface, and a manually operable handle portion connected to the wiper portion. When the manually operable handle portion is actuated (e.g., manipulated by a user), movement of the manually operable handle portion causes movement of the wiper portion, particularly for wiping the first filter surface. Wiping occurs due to contact between the wiping part and the first filter surface. This contact may be a frictional contact, i.e. preferably, scraping or brushing of the first filter surface occurs during the wiping movement. Thus, a manual movement of a user holding the manually operable handle portion causes a wiping of the first filter surface due to a subsequent movement of the wiper portion.

More preferably, the manually operable handle is movable from a first configuration when the manually operable handle is positioned at the second end of the frame to a second configuration when the handle at least partially protrudes from the frame.

When no wiping action is performed, the handle is preferably substantially "hidden" within the frame, such that normal operation of the laundry dryer is not affected.

Preferably, the manually operable handle is movable relative to the wiper from a retracted configuration allowing the cleaning apparatus to be positioned at the second end of the frame to an extended configuration allowing the cleaning apparatus to be manually moved towards the first end of the frame.

Preferably, said manually operable handle is movable from an inclined configuration in which it forms an angle with said wiper different from 180 ° to a parallel configuration in which the manually operable handle and wiper are parallel to each other, thereby allowing the cleaning device to be manually moved towards said first end of the frame.

Preferably, the manually operable handle is movable from a folded configuration allowing the cleaning device to be positioned at the second end of the frame to an unfolded configuration allowing the cleaning device to protrude from the frame.

The transition between the rest position to the one or more wiping positions is preferably performed by the user and his/her action on the manually operable handle portion (i.e. his/her manipulation of the manually operable handle portion). The manually operable handle portion is moved from one position to another so that it is first "hidden" within the wiper seat (when wiping is not required) and then it protrudes from the latter (when wiping is required).

In this way, a simple wiping can be performed, due to the fact that (when not in use) the cleaning device is substantially "hidden" and that the standard use of the dryer does not change or require special adaptations. The wiping itself is very simple, since in the wiping position the cleaning device can be handled very easily by the user via the manually operable handle portion.

As noted, the manually operable handle portion is in a rest position substantially "hidden" within the wiper seat and then in a wiping position in which it projects from the wiper seat for easy manipulation by a user. In an embodiment, to transition from the rest position to the wiping position, the operable handle portion can be moved from a retracted position to an extended position such that in the first position the handle portion can be received within the wiper seat and in the extended position the handle portion can protrude from the wiper seat. The manually operable handle portion may be of a telescopic type, for example.

In various embodiments, the manually operable handle may be angled differently between the rest position and the wiping position (i.e., from a position in which the manually operable handle portion is within the wiper tray to a position in which the manually operable handle portion extends from the wiper tray). In the rest position, the manually operable handle portion and the wiper portion are aligned along two axes of incidence. For example, they may be formed at a relatively small angle so that the handle portion can be folded and positioned within the wiper seat. In the wiping position, the handle portion and the wiper portion may be in an extended configuration in which the handle portion and the wiper portion are substantially parallel to one another and the manually operable handle portion protrudes from the wiper tray.

In a further different embodiment, the wiper portion and the handle portion change their mutual configuration in order to pass from the rest position to the wiping position.

Preferably, the manually operable handle is air permeable in a given direction.

Since the filter assembly is at least partially housed in the duct where the flow of process air is present, the presence of the filter assembly should not "disturb" the flow too much for efficient drying. For this reason, the flow blockage that can be avoided is minimized.

Preferably, the direction in which the manually operable handle is air permeable is a direction perpendicular to the flow of process air, or perpendicular to the main flow direction of the process air.

Preferably, the wiper comprises a rod.

Even more preferably, the rod is substantially horizontal. Preferably, the rod is parallel to the bottom surface of the storage section.

Preferably, the wipers remain substantially parallel to themselves when in the first and second positions.

The wiping action involves a translation, so that at the start and end of the movement the wiper keeps itself parallel.

Preferably, the frame comprises a guide and the wiper and/or the manually operable handle comprises a guided element for guiding the cleaning device during sliding within the frame.

Preferably, the frame is substantially box-shaped, in which the wiper slides (i.e. performs a translation). In order to keep the wiper in place within the cartridge, i.e. to prevent the wiper from vibrating or shifting during translation within the frame, a guide is preferably provided in the frame such that the wiper and/or the handle are guided in the wiping movement.

More preferably, the wiper includes first and second distal ends coupled to the guide in the frame for translating the wiper.

In an embodiment, the ends of the wipers, which are at the same height in the case of horizontal wipers, are inserted into the guides of the frame so that the wipers can easily translate, for example up and down, in the frame.

Preferably, the wiper and/or the manually operable handle comprise a ridge coupled to the guide in the frame for translating the wiper.

In an alternative or additional embodiment, the handle is positioned in the guide, for example by having a protrusion such as a ridge.

Preferably, the cabinet comprises a seat for housing the filter assembly, the seat being positioned downstream of the drum in the flow direction of the process air, and wherein the filter assembly is removably housed in the seat.

The filter assembly may be located at an aperture closed by a door of the dryer. In this configuration, to operate the wiper, the door of the laundry is opened. To clean the filter assembly to remove the filter material from the storage portion, the filter assembly is removed from the seat.

Preferably, the filter assembly includes an indicator for signaling that the wiper has not reached the first portion of the frame.

This indication implies that the storage portion is full and therefore the accumulated filter material is not able to bring the wiper to the first end where the storage portion is located.

Preferably, each of the first and second wiper elements defines a first end and a second end, respectively, and wherein the connector or the manually operable handle comprises any one of:

a wall having perforations connecting the first wiping element and the second wiping element;

a plurality of ribs connecting the first element and the second element;

a first ledge and a second ledge connecting the first wiping element and the second wiping element at their respective first and second ends.

In order to achieve a gas-permeable connector, several possibilities arise. For example, the connector may include perforations, or it may include ribs or rungs that connect the two wiping elements.

Preferably, the connector is air-permeable in a direction perpendicular to the main flow direction of the process air. For example, the connector may be air permeable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane comprising the first filtering surface. The connector may be air permeable in a direction perpendicular to a plane defining the entrance to the wiper seat.

Preferably, in the first configuration the manually operable handle extends along a substantially horizontal plane.

In the rest position, the wiper and the handle are preferably horizontal, i.e. preferably parallel to the surface on which the laundry dryer is located.

Preferably, in the first configuration the connector comprises a surface substantially perpendicular to the flow of process air.

This configuration does not block air flow as a preferred air-permeable connector.

Preferably, the manually operable handle is pivotally connected to the wiper.

In this way, the orientation between the wiper and the handle can be changed, and the handle can be moved from a hidden configuration to a visible configuration.

Preferably, the filter assembly is removably received in the wiper seat.

When the storage section is filled with filter material, this material needs to be removed to keep a good wipe from taking place. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the filter assembly to empty the storage section.

Preferably, the cabinet comprises a loading/unloading aperture allowing access to the drum and a door for closing said aperture, the entrance of the wiper seat being formed on the surface area delimiting said aperture.

The laundry loading and unloading hole in the dryer is easily accessible by the user, so it is a good place for the filter assembly.

Preferably, the filter assembly has a shell-like structure and the first and second filter surfaces face each other. More preferably, the shell-like structure is openable.

Shell filters are known in the art and they have a wide filtration surface.

Preferably, the filter assembly comprises a first filtering surface and a non-filtering surface facing the first filtering surface.

In various embodiments, the filter assembly also includes a non-filtering surface. This non-filtering surface may for example be attached to a door or to a wall of a duct handling the flow of air.

Preferably, the cabinet includes a rotatable door and the filter assembly is positioned behind the rotatable door.

Access to the filter assembly is required and therefore, if located within the cabinet, means are preferably provided to reach the filter assembly.

Preferably, the filter assembly is attached to the rotatable door. More preferably, the filter assembly is attached to the rotatable door by a non-filtering surface.

Thus, the aperture of the door means that the filter assembly is at least partially removed from the cabinet as it follows the attached door in its opening movement. Thus, the filter assembly is positioned in a better position for viewing and manipulation by the user. Access to the strainer assembly for e.g. cleaning the strainer assembly is thus simplified.

Preferably, the cabinet includes a loading/unloading hole allowing access to the drum and a door for closing the hole, the rotatable door being located below the loading/unloading hole. More preferably, the rotatable door is a base door that accesses a base volume within the cabinet or a door accessed by opening the base door.

The base is a common location for the filter assembly.

More preferably, the rotatable door is hinged to a front wall of the cabinet, the rotatable door defining a rotation axis, the rotation axis being substantially horizontal.

Preferably, the non-filtering surface is located behind the rotatable door. More preferably, the non-filtering surface is attached to the rotatable door.

The filter assembly, if placed in the base, can be easily accessed by opening the base door. It is easier to access if the filter assembly is attached directly to the rotatable door, because by opening the rotatable door itself, the filter assembly is closer to the user and at the same time is more clearly visible. Thus, it is easier to activate or clean the filter assembly.

Preferably, the filter assembly defines a portion of the duct for the process air.

Preferably, the non-filtering surface is part of a bounding wall of the conduit.

The filter assembly may form part of the duct itself, and thus one wall of the duct may also be a wall of the frame of the filter assembly.

Preferably, the filter assembly comprises first and second shell-like structures each having a filter surface, the second shell-like structure being inserted into the first shell-like structure.

The filter assembly of the present invention may have different shapes and may include, for example, a double shell construction where enhanced filtration is desired.

Preferably, the cleaning device is apt to wipe the filtering surface located in the first shell-like structure and/or the second shell-like structure.

The wiper may wipe any filtering surface of the filter assembly.

Preferably, the laundry dryer includes:

a base as a base of the cabinet, the base defining a base interior volume within the cabinet, and the filter assembly being located in the base interior volume; (ii) a

An actuator adapted to force said translation of said wiper relative to said frame when actuated, said actuator being positioned away from said filter assembly;

a connecting element for connecting the actuator and the wiper, so that the movement of the actuator is transformed into a translational movement of the wiper.

The wiper may be remotely actuated, i.e., the wiper may be moved from a location that may be remote from the actual location of the wiper. For example, the filter assembly may be located in the base portion and the actuator comprising the manually operable handle portion may be located in another region of the dryer. A connecting element connects the actuator and the wiper portion such that movement of the actuator causes movement of the wiper portion. In this way, the filter assembly can be placed in an optimal position for filtration purposes, while the wiping can be performed from a position that is comfortably reached by the user.

Preferably, the actuator is adapted to perform linear translation.

The linear translation of the actuator becomes the linear translation of the wiper.

Preferably, the cabinet comprises a loading/unloading aperture for allowing access to the drum and a door for closing the aperture, the duct inlet being formed on an edge of the aperture, and wherein the actuator is located in the inlet.

For example, the actuator may be located at the load/unload door such that the door must be opened in order to operate the actuator. The actuator cannot be operated accidentally because it is hidden and protected by the loading/unloading door during normal operation of the dryer, or when the dryer is shut down.

Preferably, the actuator comprises a manually operable handle.

It is therefore easier to operate the actuator.

Preferably, the connecting element comprises a rod. The lever of the connecting element is then preferably pivoted on a manually operable handle of the actuator or on the wiper.

Further advantages of the invention will be better understood by reference, without limitation, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a laundry dryer realized according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a schematic view of an air handling duct in the dryer of the invention;

figure 3 is a perspective view of the laundry dryer of figure 1 in a partially disassembled configuration;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the dryer of fig. 1 and 3, with the walls of the cabinet removed;

figure 5 is a perspective view of the dryer of figures 1, 3 and 4;

figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the dryer of the invention; (ii) a

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the dryer of figure 6;

figure 8 is a perspective view of the dryer of figure 6 or 7, comprising a first embodiment of the filter assembly in a first configuration;

figure 9 is a perspective view of the dryer of figures 6 to 8, comprising the first embodiment of the filter assembly in a second configuration;

figure 10 is a perspective view of the dryer of figures 6 to 9, comprising the first embodiment of the filter assembly in a third configuration;

fig. 11 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a filter assembly in the configuration of fig. 8, included in the dryer of fig. 6 to 10;

fig. 12 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the filter assembly of fig. 11 in the configuration of fig. 9, included in the dryer of fig. 6 to 10;

figure 13 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the filter assembly of figures 11 and 12 in the configuration of figure 10, comprised in the dryer of figures 6 to 10;

fig. 14 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the filter assembly of fig. 11 to 13 in a disassembled configuration, comprised in the dryer of fig. 6 to 10;

figures 15 to 20 are perspective views of a second embodiment of a filter assembly in different configurations;

figure 21 is a perspective view of a dryer comprising a third embodiment of a filter assembly;

figure 22 is a perspective exploded view of a portion of the dryer of figure 21 with a third embodiment of a filter assembly;

figure 23 is a perspective view of the dryer of figure 21, comprising a third embodiment of the filter assembly in another configuration; and is

Fig. 24 is an additional perspective exploded view of a portion of the dryer of fig. 21 with a third embodiment of a filter assembly.

With reference first to fig. 1, a laundry dryer realized according to the present invention is indicated as a whole with 1.

The laundry dryer 1 comprises: an outer box cabinet 2, preferably but not necessarily parallelepiped-shaped; and a drying chamber, such as a drum 3 (visible only in fig. 3 to 4), for example having the shape of a hollow cylinder, for housing the laundry and, in general, the clothes and garments to be dried. The drum 3 is preferably rotatably fixed to the cabinet 2. Access to the drum 3 is effected, for example, via a door 4 (also further referred to as loading/unloading door), preferably hinged to the cabinet 2, which can open and close a loading/unloading aperture 5 realised on the cabinet itself.

In more detail, cabinet 2 generally comprises a front wall 20, a rear wall 21 and two side walls 25, all mounted on a base 24. Preferably, the substrate 24 is realized in a plastic material. Preferably, the substrate 24 is molded via an injection molding process. Preferably, a door 4 is hinged on the front wall 20 to access the drum. The cabinet and its walls define the volume of the laundry dryer 1. The base 24 rests on the floor and its vertical distance from the floor can be advantageously adjusted by means of adjustment feet (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the base facing the floor. The dryer 1 (and in particular the base 24) defines a plane which is substantially the ground on which the dryer 1 is located and is therefore considered to be a substantially horizontal plane (X, Y) and a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the plane (X, Y).

Laundry dryer 1 also preferably comprises an electric motor assembly (not shown) for rotating rotary drum 3 on command along its axis inside cabinet 2.

The load to be dried (e.g. clothes or other laundry) is placed in the drum 3 of the laundry dryer 1 via a door 4 provided on the front wall 20 of the cabinet. The drum preferably comprises a cover defining a front end 3a facing the front wall 20 of the casing and a rear end 3b facing the rear wall 21 of the casing (visible only in fig. 15).

Referring now to the schematic view of fig. 2, the drum 3 is fluidly connected to a duct defining a process air circuit 18 (depicted in fig. 2 by a series of arrows). The process air circuit 18 involves a (first) circulation of relatively dry and warm process air inside the tumble 3, on the laundry positioned in the drum for drying, and a (second) circulation of humid, cooler process air outside the drum 3. New dry and warm process air enters the drum 3 and the circuit repeats until the desired is achieved, preferably until the laundry is dried. Depending on the type of dryer, the moist process air can be conveyed in different ways when it leaves the drum 3.

If the dryer 1 is a condensation dryer, the circuit 18 of the process air is a closed loop circuit and the moist process air leaving the drum 3 is first dried by passing through a dehumidifying element/hot-air generator, such as a heat exchanger 19. The resulting cold drying air is then heated by means of the hot-air generator 19 before being re-entered into the drum 3 again. Preferably, the hot-air generator is a heat pump, and the humid air is first passed through an evaporator, where the water contained in the humid air is removed, and then it is heated in a condenser before being returned into the drum 3.

If the dryer 1 is a vented dryer, the circuit of the process air is open, i.e. ambient air is fed into the dryer, heated and passed into the drum 3, while moist process air leaving the drum 3 is discharged outside the dryer 1. This open circuit is not depicted in the drawings.

Preferably, a hot or dry air generator (e.g., heat pump 19) is located in the base 24 of the cabinet.

The duct forming the process air circuit 18 comprises a first portion 18a having an inlet 16 connected to the front end 3a of the drum. This first portion 18a receives air from the drum 3. The inlet 16 of the first portion 18a of the duct is preferably located at a surface 17 that constitutes the contour of the edge of the loading/unloading hole 5, as can be seen in fig. 3. Further, preferably this first portion 18a of the duct is substantially vertical, that is to say the process air flowing within the first portion 18a has the longest component of movement along a vertical axis. Thus, the process air coming from the drum 3 (flowing substantially horizontally, or having a motion with the longest horizontal component) needs to be turned by substantially 90 ° at the loading/unloading aperture 5 so that it can flow in the first portion 18a of the duct via the inlet 16. This situation is schematically depicted in fig. 2.

In addition, a first portion 18a of the conduit extends from the inlet 16 into the base 24. The duct then preferably continues with a second portion 18b which extends in the base 24 and is substantially horizontally elongated or has a longer horizontal component, so that the process air performs a further 90 ° bend at the end of the first portion 18a to continue its flow.

The process air then either preferably passes through the rear end 3b to enter into the inside of the drum 3, so the circuit 18 is a closed loop as shown. There, the air absorbs moisture or humidity from the laundry and thus dries the laundry. Alternatively, the process air is led out of the dryer 1 via a vent (not visible in the figures).

The dryer 1 is adapted to provide an air circulation which is preferably variable in temperature. The process air flow is preferably generated in the region below the substrate, for example in a duct of the process air circuit 18, for example by means of a fan (not depicted in the drawings).

The duct defining the process air circuit 18 is also provided with a filter assembly, preferably located near or at the front wall 20 of the cabinet 2, with the aim of preventing fluff and/or lint particles separated from the laundry during the drying process from reaching undesired positions and flowing with the process air. For example, in a vented dryer, the filter assembly is located upstream of the vent, so that fluff and/or lint is prevented from reaching the outside of the dryer with the moist process air leaving the drum 3 and being discharged to the outside. In a condensing dryer, a filter assembly is located upstream of the heat or drying generator 19 for preventing fluff and/or lint from reaching and clogging the generator.

The duct 18 therefore directs the process air leaving the drum 3 towards the filter assembly. The filter assembly is preferably arranged so that the process air passes therethrough to the end of the first portion 18a of the duct and flows within the second portion 18b and advantageously to the region below the substrate where it is again drawn in by the fan.

Preferably, the filter assembly is arranged below the drum 3.

In the dryer of fig. 3 to 5, the seat 8 is formed at the edge surface 17 of the loading/unloading aperture 5, more preferably at the inlet 16 of the duct 18. The seat extends from the surface 17 into the conduit 18 and it preferably extends downwardly into the base 24.

In the seat 8, a first embodiment of a filter assembly 80 is positioned. The filter assembly 80 may be removably inserted into the seat 8. The filter assembly 80 comprises an inlet 41 positioned substantially at the inlet 16 of the duct 18, e.g. flush with or very close to the edge surface 17.

The filter assembly 80 is shown in an enlarged view and is separated from the dryer 1 in fig. 15-20.

The filter assembly 80 includes a generally wedge-shaped filter cartridge. In detail, the filter assembly 80 includes a frame 31 that includes a housing or cartridge 112. The housing 112 includes a first component 116 and a second component 118. The first and second parts 116, 118 of the housing 112 are hingedly connected to one another. For example, the two components are connected via a hinge 124.

Both the first component 116 and the second component 118 define a filter surface. Preferably, the first and second parts are covered or coverable by a filter mesh so as to form a filter surface. The filter screen is not explicitly shown in fig. 14 to 17. Each of these filters extends in a plane.

For example, the housing 112 includes two filter surfaces, one for each component. For example, the filter surface may be formed by a perforated grid. A portion of the perforated grid may be an integral component of the first component 116 to form the first filter surface 32, while another portion of the perforated grid may be an integral component of the second component 118 to form the second filter surface 32'. These portions of the perforated grid are arranged at the first outer member 116 and the second outer member 118, respectively, opposite the outer hinge 124. In the closed state of the filter assembly 30 ', the two filter surfaces 32, 32' are substantially parallel to each other and face each other. Thus, the interior volume 40 of the frame 31 is defined between the first member 116 and the second member 118.

Preferably, the housing 112 is positioned within the seat 8 such that the first filtering surface 32 and the second filtering surface 32' are substantially vertical.

The frame 31 defines an upper part comprising an inlet 41 and a substantially vertically oriented lower part 42.

The lower member 42 defines a lint collector or storage portion 50 in which lint or filter material is collected when removed from the first and second filter surfaces 32, 32'. When the housing 112 is opened via the hinge 124, the lint picker 50 is opened. Thus, the housing 112 includes the lint picker 50 at its bottom end, and the lint picker is susceptible to picking up lint or any other filtering material from the first and second filtering surfaces 32, 32'. The filter material falls under gravity into the lint collector 50.

In summary, the filter assembly 80 includes two filter surfaces 32, 32'.

In addition, the filter assembly 80 comprises a cleaning device 33 which facilitates the removal of fluff or other material deposited on the first and second filtering surfaces 32, 32' from the first and second filtering surfaces. The cleaning device 33 comprises a wiper 330 for wiping the first filter surface 32 and the second filter surface 32'.

Preferably, the wiper is made of a plastic material.

The wiper 330 cleans the filter surface by virtue of its movement, as described below.

In the first embodiment of the filter assembly 80, the movement by the wiper 330 onto the first and second filter surfaces 32, 32 'of the frame 31 is a sliding movement, i.e., the wiper 330 translates to the first and second filter surfaces 32, 32' to remove fluff or other filter material therefrom.

In this embodiment, the wiper 330 comprises a rigid element, a rod 331, having a shape matching a portion of the shape of the internal volume 40 formed by the frame 31. Therefore, according to the shape of the frame 31, the shape of the wiper 330 follows accordingly. The bar 331 is preferably substantially horizontally disposed and has a length equal to or slightly shorter than the length of the frame 31.

The rod 331 is susceptible to translating from top to bottom or bottom to top within the housing 112, thus scraping the first and second filter surfaces 32, 32' to remove filter material therefrom. In fig. 15, 16 and 20, the stem 331 is shown positioned at the top or upper portion of the inlet 41 with the housing 112. The upper portion 116 is removed in fig. 20 to better illustrate the location of the rod 331. In fig. 18 and 19, the rod 331 is shown at the bottom 42 of the housing 112, where the lint picker 50 is located. The upper portion 116 is removed in fig. 19 to better illustrate the location of the rod 331. The intermediate position of the stem 331 between the top or bottom of the housing 112 is shown in fig. 17.

In order to properly clean the surfaces 32, 32', the stem 331 comprises parallel opposite walls 335, 336, which are in contact with the first and second filtering surfaces 32, 32', so that the walls 335, 336 scrape against the first and second filtering surfaces 32, 32' when the wiper 330 translates, e.g., slides, from top to bottom in the housing 112, or vice versa.

To stabilize the rod 331, the walls 335, 336 are preferably connected by a crosspiece 339. Thus, preferably, the stem 331 includes two spaced walls 335, 336 connected by a ledge 339 and separated by a void space.

In addition to the rod 331, the wiper 330 includes a handle 338. The handle 338 is preferably an elongated member and is hinged to the lever 331 at a hinge point 337. The hinge point 337 is preferably located midway along the length of the rod 331. Preferably, the handle 338 is hollow, i.e., the elongated member is formed by a peripheral wall and has a through hole in its center.

The handle 338 is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, as shown in fig. 15, 20 (folded configuration) and 16, 17 and 19 (open configuration).

In the folded configuration, the wiper 330 is positioned at an upper portion of the frame 31, i.e., the inlet 41. In this configuration, the stem 331 is substantially horizontal and the handle 338 is folded such that its longitudinal axis is also substantially horizontal. Thus, the handle and the lever are substantially parallel to each other. In this configuration, the handle 338 is preferably completely hidden in the frame 31 and thus in the seat 8.

Due to the configuration of the lever 331 and the handle 338, process air entering the duct 18 from the inlet 16 can flow in the filter assembly 80 due to the fact that: the rod 331 and the handle 338 are air-permeable in a plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the process air.

Before starting the wiping action, i.e. before the rod 331 translates over the first and second filtering surfaces 32, 32', the handle 338 changes its configuration to the open configuration. To achieve the open configuration, the handle 338 is rotated about pivot point 337 such that the final configuration of the wiper 330, lever, and handle is a T-shaped configuration. The handle 338 is in a substantially vertical open configuration.

In this configuration, the handle 338 protrudes from the frame 31 and the seat 8.

For the wiping action, the handle 338 is then moved, translated downwards, so that the rod 331 scrapes the first and second filter surfaces 32, 32' through the walls 335, 336. The removed fluff is collected in a fluff collector 50 at the bottom of the frame 31.

When the bar 331 reaches the lint picker 50, the translation of the bar 331 is terminated.

The dryer 1 functions as follows.

During the drying cycle, the filter assembly 80 is positioned in the seat 8 and the wiper 330 is located at the top of the frame 31, extending substantially to the inlet 41 of the frame 31. The handle 338 is in a folded configuration.

Due to the air permeable rod 331 and the handle 338, air in the processing circuit can flow in the conduit 18.

At the end of the drying cycle, the loading/unloading door 4 is opened and the seat 8 at the edge surface 17 is visible. The filter assembly 80 is accessible from the loading/unloading aperture 5. The handle 338 may be moved from the folded configuration to the open configuration, causing the handle 338 to rotate about the pivot point 337.

Thus, the wiper 330 is pushed down until the rod 331 reaches the lint collector 50. In this way, the first and second filtering surfaces 32, 32' are cleaned by the walls 335, 336 and the filtering material deposited therein finally reaches the lint collector 50 formed by the bottom of the frame 31.

The wiper 330 is pulled and returned to the upper position before another drying cycle can begin. The handle 338 is folded.

The filter assembly 80 can be completely removed from the seat 8 if the lint picker 50 is full or for maintenance purposes. In this way, the fluff collected at the bottom of the frame 31 can be removed.

Different embodiments of the dryer, i.e. dryer 1', will now be described with reference to fig. 6 to 10. The same features as those of the dryer 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The base 24 defines a base region 7 of the dryer 1'. The base region 7 defines a base interior volume, i.e. a volume inside the cabinet 2 bounded by the cabinet walls and located at the base region 7. Preferably, the base region 7 comprises a perforated portion, for example it may comprise a perforated element 71 on the front wall 20, in order to enable the feeding and/or the discharge of cooling air to/from the base interior volume, if required. The base area 7 may be provided with parts and/or elements and/or components for supporting the operating components of the laundry dryer 1' which are required for performing a laundry drying process on the laundry, such as air ducts, motors, etc.

Preferably, cabinet 2 includes a base door 60, such as a rotatable door, to access the base interior volume. Preferably, the base door 60 is hinged to the cabinet 2 and its axis of rotation is substantially horizontal. The base door 60 is preferably hinged at the front door 20 of the cabinet 2.

Upon opening the base door 60, there is an additional door 61, referred to as the first door 61. This first door 61 is accessible only by opening the base door 60. Preferably, this further door 61 is also rotatable along a substantially horizontal axis. The first door 61 is located behind the base door 60 so that the base 7 can be accessed by opening both doors. Further, the base door 60 and the first door 61 are located substantially below the loading/unloading hole 5 and the door 4.

The filter assembly 90 is positioned in the first portion 18a of the conduit 18. The filter assembly 90 is placed within the base region 7.

In the example shown in the figures of fig. 6 to 14, the filter assembly 90 is advantageously arranged below the drum 3. Preferably, a majority of the filter assembly 90 is contained within the base region 7. In addition, the filter assembly 90 is arranged within the first portion 18a of the duct of the process air circuit 18, for example below the inlet 16 of the duct itself. A filter assembly 90 according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in an enlarged view in fig. 11-14 and includes a first filter surface 32 (which in this embodiment is substantially flat) supported by a frame 31. Preferably, the filter surface 32 is substantially vertical. In this embodiment, the frame 31 is a box-like container forming part of the first portion 18a of the duct, and the first filtering surface 32 is a side or wall of the box-like container. The box-like container 31 includes: an inlet 41 for process air, positioned on top of the frame; and surrounding walls which, in addition to the wall with the first filter surface 32, prevent process air from leaving the container. The filter surface 32 is preferably substantially perpendicular to the inlet 41 of the box-like container. Thus, the process air entering the inlet 41 from above is forced to turn through 90 ° to change direction from a downward direction to a substantially horizontal direction and to easily leave the box-like container via the filter surface 32. The first filtering surface 32 separates the first portion 18a of the conduit 18 from the second portion 18b of the conduit, that is, the first filtering surface 32 places the first portion 18a and the second portion 18b of the conduit 18 in fluid communication.

Preferably, the inlet 41 is located at the top of the frame 31. A bottom member 42 is also defined opposite the inlet 41. The bottom member 42 does not serve as an outlet, but rather the outlet of the filter assembly 30 is via the first filter surface 32, described in more detail below.

The bottom defines a lint collector 50 for collecting filter material removed from the first filter surface 32.

The first filter surface 32 may be in the form of a mesh or net of suitable size to block typical fluff or particles produced by the garment. The mesh or filter is not depicted in the drawings, otherwise it would cover all other elements. Thus, in the drawings, the first filter surface 32 appears to be "open," but it should be construed as being covered by a mesh or grid, or any other structure that facilitates filtering of material flowing in the process air flowing in the conduit 18.

Preferably, the filtering surface 32 is positioned substantially vertically, or at a small inclination with respect to the vertical. The frame 31 thus defines an upper portion, which is the portion of the frame having the topmost vertical position (i.e. the portion including the inlet 41).

In the filter assembly 90 of fig. 11-14, there is a single filter surface 32.

The frame 31 may also include a non-filtering surface 37 facing the first filtering surface 32. In this configuration, the frame 31 defines an internal volume 40 between the first filtering surface 32 and the non-filtering surface 37, but only one surface (filtering surface) is subjected to the flow of process air in order to filter it. In other words, in this embodiment, the non-filtering surface 37 is a wall of the box-like container or frame 31, which is opposite the first filtering surface 32 and faces the first filtering surface (which forms the other wall of the box-like container 31) and guides the flow of the process air.

In this embodiment, the non-filtering surface 37 is attached to the first door 61. By opening this further first door 61, the filter assembly 30 can be rotated, for example, from a position in which the first filter surface is substantially vertical to a position in which the first filter surface is inclined with respect to a vertical plane. In addition, rotation of the first door 61 causes rotation of the entire filter assembly 30 attached to the door 61.

Thus, in this embodiment, the filtering surface 32 faces substantially, even more preferably parallel, to the first door 61 to which the non-filtering surface 37 is attached. Both the first door 61 and the filtering surface 32 are preferably vertical, i.e. they define a substantially vertical plane or a plane that is only slightly inclined with respect to the vertical plane. An interior volume 40 is defined between the two surfaces (i.e., the non-filtering surface 37 and the filtering surface 32).

In an embodiment not depicted, the first door 61 is not attached to the non-filtering surface 37. The filter assembly 90 may still be rotatable, for example with the axis of rotation also parallel to the horizontal axis about which the base door 60 and first door 61 rotate, however the rotation of the doors 60, 61 and the rotation of the filter assembly 30 are independent. Thus, in order to move into a position in which the first filtering surface is inclined with respect to a vertical plane, in an embodiment not depicted here the first door 61 is first rotated, and then the filter assembly is likewise rotated.

In all embodiments, rotation of the filter assembly, whether attached or not attached to the first door 61, means that the filter assembly 90 reaches an inclined position with the entrance 41 of the frame directed outwardly, i.e. the entrance 41 facing the outside of the cabinet 2.

In addition, the filter assembly 90 includes a cleaning device 33 that facilitates the removal of lint and other material deposited on the first filter surface 32 from the first filter surface. The cleaning device 33 includes a wiper 330.

The wiper 330 of this embodiment is implemented as the wiper of the first embodiment 80, and therefore is not further detailed.

The movement performed by the wiper 330 onto the first filter surface 32 of the frame 31 is a sliding movement, i.e. the wiper 330 is translated onto the first filter surface 32 in order to remove fluff or other filter material from the first filter surface.

The wiper 330 comprises a rigid element, a rod 331, having a shape matching a portion of the shape of the internal volume 40 formed by the frame 31. Therefore, according to the shape of the frame 31, the shape of the wiper 330 follows accordingly. The bar 331 is preferably substantially horizontally disposed and has a length equal to or slightly shorter than the length of the frame 31.

The wiper also includes a handle 338 as in embodiment 80.

The rod 331 is susceptible to translating from top to bottom or bottom to top within the housing 112, thus scraping the first filter surface 32 to remove filter material therefrom. In fig. 8 and 11, the rod 331 is shown at the top or upper portion of the inlet 41 with the frame 31. In fig. 10 and 13, the pole 331 is shown at the bottom 42 of the frame 31, with the lint picker 50 located in the bottom.

In order to slide properly within the frame 31, the wiper 330 preferably includes a ridge 340 formed along the handle 338. Preferably, it comprises two ridges at two opposite sides of the handle, respectively facing the filtering surface 32 and the non-filtering surface 37.

The frame 31 in turn comprises two grooves 341 in each of which a ridge 340 can be inserted. The ridges and grooves are preferably vertically oriented so as to guide the sliding of the wiper 330 in the frame 31.

In order to properly clean the surface 32, the bar 331 comprises parallel opposite walls 335, 336 which are in contact with the first filtering surface 32 and the non-filtering surface 37, so that when the wiper 330 translates, for example slides, from top to bottom in the frame 31, and vice versa, the wall 335 scrapes the first filtering surface.

To stabilize the rod 331, the walls 335, 336 are preferably connected by a crosspiece 339. Thus, preferably, the stem 331 includes two spaced walls 335, 336 connected by a ledge 339 and separated by a void space.

The handle 338 is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, as shown in fig. 11, 8 (folded configuration) and 9, 12 (open configuration).

In the folded configuration, the wiper 330 is positioned at an upper portion of the frame 31, i.e., the inlet 41. In this configuration, the stem 331 is substantially horizontal and the handle 338 is folded such that its longitudinal axis is also substantially horizontal. Thus, the handle and the lever are substantially parallel to each other. Thus, the handle 338 is preferably completely hidden within the frame 31.

Due to the configuration of the stem 331 and the handle, process air entering the duct 18 from the inlet 16 can flow in the filter assembly 80 due to the fact that: the rod 331 and the handle 338 are air-permeable in a plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the process air.

Before starting the wiping action, i.e. before starting the translation of the lever 331 onto the first filter surface 32, the handle 338 is rotated about the pivot point 337 such that the final configuration of the wiper 330 is a T-shaped configuration. The handle is now substantially vertical.

In this configuration, the handle 338 protrudes from the frame 31.

To perform the wiping action, the handle is then moved, displaced downwards, so that the rod 331 with the walls 335, 336 first scrapes the first filter surface 32. The removed fluff is collected in a fluff collector 50 at the bottom of the frame 31.

When the bar 331 reaches the lint picker 50, the translation of the bar 331 is terminated.

The operation of the filter assembly 90 is as follows.

During the drying cycle or outside the wiping action, the wiper 330 is positioned inside the frame 31, inserted in the frame. The rod 331 is arranged substantially horizontally at the entrance 41 of the frame 31. The entire assembly is located within the base interior volume and it forms a portion of the conduit 18. First filter surface 32 filters the flowing process air in circuit 18 and filtered material accumulates thereon. The first filter surface 32 is preferably substantially vertical or has a large vertical component. The handle 338 is folded and substantially horizontal, preferably it does not extend outside the frame 31, but is fully received within the frame.

In this configuration, the inlet 16 of the duct 18 and the inlet 41 of the filter assembly 90 are one below the other as part of the same duct.

At the end of the drying cycle, or whenever it is desired to clear the filter material that has accumulated during the drying cycle from the first filter surface 32 of the filter assembly, the base door 60 is opened. Opening preferably occurs by rotation of the base door 60 about a horizontal axis. This configuration is shown in fig. 8. Behind the base door 60, there is a first door 61. The filter assembly 90 is positioned to be attached to the first door. Alternatively, the filter assembly is freely rotatable about a horizontal axis.

Opening the first door 61 (i.e., preferably rotating the first door about a horizontal axis) removes the assembly 90 from the interior volume of the base 7 and the inlet 41 of the frame 31 is oriented outwardly (see fig. 8).

To wipe the first filter surface 32, the wiper is actuated. For example manually. The handle 338 is placed in an open, substantially vertical position and then pushed downward until the bar 331 reaches the lint collector 50. This translation causes wiping of the first filter surface 32.

The fluff and lint are collected in the fluff collector 50.

Before the dryer 1' resumes operation, the wipers 330 are returned to the initial upper position, the door 61 is rotated again so that the filtering surface 32 returns to the vertical position and the door 60 should close the base 7.

A third embodiment of a filter assembly 80' is depicted in fig. 14-17.

In this embodiment, features common to either the first embodiment 80 or the second embodiment 90 are identified with like reference numerals.

The filter assembly 80' includes a frame 31 having the same characteristics as in the second embodiment 90. As in the second embodiment 90, the lint picker 50 is part of the frame 31, in particular, the lint picker comprises its bottom portion 42. Thus, the filter material from the first filter surface 32 is collected within the frame 31, at the bottom of the frame.

The frame 31 has the same box shape as that of the second embodiment of the filter assembly 90. The first filtering surface 32 is preferably vertical and is preferably one of the walls of the box defined by the frame 31. For other features of the frame 31 and the filter surface 32, reference is made to the second embodiment of the filter assembly 90.

The filter assembly 80' further includes a wiper 330 that is adapted to wipe the first surface 32. The wiper 330 comprises a T-shaped member comprising a substantially horizontal bar 331 and a vertical bar 333 fixed in the middle of the horizontal bar and projecting upwards. The T-shaped element is translatable, i.e. it can slide from the bottom 42 of the frame 31 onto the first filtering surface 32 to the upper part thereof. The bar 331 can slide from bottom to top or top to bottom, i.e. the movement of the bar 331 is in a vertical direction. The movement is wide enough to wipe the entire first filter surface. Preferably, the width of the bar 331 is equal to or slightly less than the width of the frame so that the bar 331 matches a portion of the inner shape of the frame 31 for smooth sliding. For example, the wiper 330 may start movement from the bottom 41 of the frame 31 and end movement at the top of the frame 32, or vice versa. The configuration of the bar 331 of the wiper 330 is depicted in fig. 23 at the bottom, while the assembly 80 "(but the wiper is not visible) is shown in fig. 21 with the bar at the top of the frame. The configuration in which the wiper 330 is positioned between the top and bottom of the frame is depicted in fig. 22 and 24.

In addition, the filter assembly 80' includes an actuator 81. The actuator is positioned in the seat 8 realized at the inlet 16 of the duct 18. The actuator 81, when not actuated, preferably remains completely housed within the seat 8 realised at the edge surface 17 of the loading/unloading opening 5. The actuator 81 protrudes from the seat 8 when actuated, as described in detail below. The actuator 81 comprises an elongate member defining a longitudinal axis. When the actuator 81 is not operated, the longitudinal axis of the elongate member is substantially horizontal and the elongate member lies substantially flat in the inlet 16. In this configuration, the T-shaped element of wiper 330 is located on top of frame 31. When actuated, the longitudinal axis of the elongate member is substantially vertical and the elongate member protrudes from the inlet 16. In this configuration, the T-shaped element of wiper 330 may be located anywhere between the top and bottom of frame 31.

The actuator 81 is connected to the wiper 330 by a connector 82, which includes a pivot element 336'. The pivot element 336 'connects the wiper 330, in particular the vertical rod 333, and the elongated element of the actuator 81, so that the elongated element can oscillate about the pivot element 336' with respect to the T-shaped element of the wiper 330.

The actuation of the actuator 81 includes the following movements. The first motion is a rotation, such that the elongated element rotates around the pivot element 336 and the vertical rod 333 and the elongated element of the actuator 81 become geometrical extensions of each other along a vertical axis. Furthermore, the actuator is pushed, i.e. it translates in a vertical motion, i.e. downwards. This second movement of the actuator causes movement of the wiper 330 and, more precisely, causes the wiper 330 to translate downward.

The operation of the filter assembly 80' is as follows.

When wiping is not required, the actuator 81 is positioned in the seat 8 and does not protrude therefrom. The longitudinal axis of the elongate member is substantially horizontal. The wiper 330 is located on top of the frame 31. In this configuration, the door 61 cannot be opened. The filter surface 32 is substantially vertical.

The loading/unloading door 4 is opened to take out the laundry from the drum 3, for example. At the end of the extraction, the user can actuate actuator 81 to rotate the elongated member about pivot member 336 and then push the elongated member downward to perform a vertical translation. By translating the actuator 81, the connector 82 (pivot element 336', which does not act as a pivot during translation) attached to the wiper 330 slides the T-shaped element in the frame 31, so that the bar 331 scrapes the first filtering surface 32 from top to bottom in a vertical sliding. The fluff is collected in a fluff collector 50 within the frame 31. At the bottom side 42 of the frame 31, the end position of the wiper 330 is reached.

In order to remove fluff collected in the fluff collector 50, the wiper 330 may be completely withdrawn from the seat 8. In this configuration, the door 61 can be opened and the lint collector 50 within the frame 31 can be accessed. The opening of the first door 61 may also take place, for example, for maintenance purposes.

In addition, wiper 330 needs to be reinserted into frame 31 before a new drying cycle can begin.

The above-described configuration of actuating the wiper 330 via the connector by means of the actuator may also be achieved using a filter assembly that is not attached to the door 61.

Claims (45)

1. A method of cleaning a filter assembly in a laundry dryer, wherein the dryer comprises:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably supported in the cabinet;

a duct defining a flow path for process air to exit the drum;

a filter assembly;

said cabinet comprising a seat for housing said filter assembly, said seat being positioned downstream of said drum in the flow direction of the process air, and the filter assembly being positioned at least partially in the duct so as to filter the process air flowing in the duct; the filter assembly includes:

a frame having a first end and a second end and defining a storage portion at its first end, said storage portion being adapted to store filter material for a number of drying cycles without emptying;

a filter supported by the frame and defining a first filter surface;

a cleaning device for cleaning the first filter surface, the cleaning device comprising a translatable wiper to wipe the first filter surface, said cleaning device comprising a manually operable handle connected to the wiper and movable from a first configuration in which said manually operable handle is substantially fully received in said seat to a second configuration;

the method comprises the following steps:

disposing the manually operable handle in the first configuration in the first position;

moving the manually operable handle to the second configuration before translating a wiper towards the first end of the frame from a first position, in which the wiper is at the second end of the frame, by operating the manually operable handle, in which the manually operable handle protrudes from the seat;

wiping the first filter surface by the wiper during translation so as to move filter material attached to the first filter surface toward the first end of the frame; and is

Collecting the filter material in the storage portion;

removing the filter assembly from the seat to remove the filter material from the storage portion.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

translating the wiper back toward the second end while retaining the filter material in the storage portion.

3. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the manually operable handle is movable from a first configuration in which it is positioned at the second end of the frame to a second configuration, and wherein the method comprises:

disposing the manually operable handle in the first configuration in the first position; and is

Prior to said step of translating the wiper from the first position towards the first end of the frame, moving said manually operable handle to the second configuration in which said manually operable handle at least partially protrudes from said frame.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein in the second configuration, the manually-operable handle defines an axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the wiper, and wherein the method comprises

Pushing the wiper downwardly by operating the manually operable handle to slide the wiper over the first filter surface.

5. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the manually operable handle is hinged on the wiper, and wherein the method comprises:

rotating said manually operable handle to bring the handle from the first configuration to the second configuration prior to sliding.

6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter assembly includes a second filter surface facing the first filter surface, wherein the wiper is positioned between the first filter surface and the second filter surface, and wherein the method includes wiping the first filter surface and the second filter surface with the wiper during the translating.

7. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the dryer includes a base door to access a base portion of the cabinet, and wherein the method comprises:

the base door is opened to operate the wiper.

8. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dryer comprises a base door for accessing a base portion of the cabinet, and the cabinet comprises an input/output aperture allowing access to the drum and a door for closing said aperture, said manually operable handle being located in a seat realised in a surface of said input/output aperture, and wherein the method comprises:

opening the door to access the manually operable handle;

moving the manually operable handle from the first configuration to the second configuration; and is

Pulling or pushing the manually operable handle to wipe the first filter surface.

9. A laundry dryer comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably supported in the cabinet;

a duct defining a flow path for process air to exit the drum;

a filter assembly;

the cabinet comprising a seat for housing the filter assembly, the seat being positioned downstream of the drum in a flow direction of the process air, and the filter assembly being removably housed in the seat and being positioned at least partially in the duct so as to filter the process air flowing in the duct;

the filter assembly includes:

a frame having a first end and a second end and defining a storage portion at its first end, said storage portion being apt to store and hold therein the collected filter material for several drying cycles without emptying;

a filter supported by the frame and defining a first filter surface;

a cleaning device for cleaning the filter surface, the cleaning device comprising a wiper to wipe the first filter surface and a manually operable handle connected to the wiper, wherein the wiper is translatable from a first position, in which the wiper is located at the second end of the frame, to a second position, in which the wiper is located at the first end of the frame, and wherein the wiper is configured to wipe the first filter surface during translation so as to move filter material attached to the first filter surface into the storage portion towards the first end of the frame,

the handle is movable from a first configuration in which the manually operable handle is substantially fully received in the seat to a second configuration in which the manually operable handle projects from the seat.

10. The laundry dryer according to claim 9, wherein said filter assembly includes a second filter surface facing the first filter surface, wherein said wiper is positioned between said first filter surface and said second filter surface to move filter material adhered to said first filter surface and said second filter surface into the storage portion toward the first end of the frame.

11. The laundry dryer according to claim 10, wherein said wiper comprises: a first wiping element susceptible to wiping the first filter surface; a second wiping element in contact with the second filter surface for wiping the second filter surface; and a connector for connecting the first and second wiping elements, said connector being air permeable in a given direction.

12. Laundry dryer according to claim 9, wherein the manually operable handle is movable from a first configuration when the manually operable handle is positioned at the second end of said frame to a second configuration when the handle at least partially protrudes from said frame.

13. Laundry dryer according to claim 9, wherein said manually operable handle is movable from an inclined configuration, in which it forms an angle with said wiper different from 180 °, to a parallel configuration, in which the manually operable handle and the wiper are parallel to each other, so as to allow the cleaning device to be manually moved towards said first end of the frame.

14. The laundry dryer according to claim 9, wherein said manually operable handle is movable from a folded configuration allowing the cleaning device to be placed at the second end of said frame to an unfolded configuration allowing the cleaning device to protrude from said frame.

15. A laundry dryer according to any preceding claim wherein the manually operable handle is air permeable in a given direction.

16. A laundry dryer according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein the wiper comprises a lever.

17. A laundry dryer according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein said wiper remains substantially parallel to itself when in said first and second positions.

18. A laundry dryer according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein said frame includes guides and said wiper and/or said manually operable handle includes guided elements to guide the cleaning device during sliding within the frame.

19. The laundry dryer according to claim 18, wherein said wiper includes a first distal end and a second distal end coupled to said guide in said frame for translating said wiper.

20. A laundry dryer according to claim 18 wherein the wiper and/or manually operable handle includes a ridge coupled to the guide in the frame for translating the wiper.

21. Laundry dryer according to any of claims 9-14, wherein said filter assembly comprises an indicator to signal that the wiper has not reached the first portion of the frame.

22. The laundry dryer of claim 11 wherein each of said first and second wiper elements defines first and second ends, respectively, and wherein said connector or said manually operable handle comprises any one of:

a wall having perforations connecting the first wiping element and the second wiping element;

a plurality of ribs connecting the first wiping element and the second wiping element;

a first rail and a second rail connecting the first wiping element and the second wiping element at their respective first and second ends.

23. A laundry dryer according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein in the first configuration the manually operable handle extends along a substantially horizontal plane.

24. Laundry dryer according to claim 11, wherein in said first configuration said connector comprises a surface substantially perpendicular to the flow of process air.

25. A laundry dryer according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein the manually operable handle is pivoted to the wiper.

26. The laundry dryer according to claim 9, wherein said cabinet includes a loading/unloading aperture allowing access to the drum and a door for closing said aperture, the entrance of said wiper seat being formed on a surface area delimiting said aperture.

27. A laundry dryer according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein the filter assembly has a shell-like structure and the first and second filter surfaces face each other.

28. The laundry dryer of claim 27 wherein said shell-like structure is openable.

29. The laundry dryer according to any of claims 9-14, wherein said filter assembly comprises a first filtering surface and a non-filtering surface facing the first filtering surface.

30. The laundry dryer of claim 29 wherein the cabinet includes a rotatable door and the filter assembly is positioned behind the rotatable door.

31. The laundry dryer of claim 30 wherein said filter assembly is attached to said rotatable door.

32. A laundry dryer according to claim 30 wherein the cabinet includes a loading/unloading aperture allowing access to the drum and a door for closing said aperture, said rotatable door being located below said loading/unloading aperture.

33. The laundry dryer of claim 30 wherein said rotatable door is a pedestal door enabling access to a pedestal volume within the cabinet or a door accessed by opening said pedestal door.

34. A laundry dryer according to claim 30 wherein the rotatable door is hinged to a front wall of the cabinet defining a rotatable axis, the rotatable axis being substantially horizontal.

35. The laundry dryer of claim 30 wherein said non-filtering surface is located rearward of said rotatable door.

36. The laundry dryer of claim 30 wherein the non-filtering surface is attached to the rotatable door.

37. The laundry dryer of claim 31 wherein said filter assembly defines a portion of said conduit for said process air.

38. A laundry dryer according to claim 37 wherein the non-filtering surface is part of a bounding wall of the duct.

39. A laundry dryer according to any of claims 9 to 14 wherein the filter assembly includes first and second shell-like structures each having a filter surface, the second shell-like structure being inserted within the first shell-like structure.

40. A laundry dryer according to claim 39 wherein the cleaning means is apt to wipe filter surfaces located in the first shell-like structure and/or the second shell-like structure.

41. The laundry dryer according to claim 9, comprising:

a base as a base of the cabinet, the base defining a base interior volume within the cabinet, and the filter assembly being located in the base interior volume;

an actuator adapted to force said translation of said wiper relative to said frame when actuated, said actuator positioned away from said filter assembly;

a connecting element for connecting the actuator and the wiper such that movement of the actuator is converted into translational movement of the wiper.

42. A laundry dryer according to claim 41 wherein said actuator is adapted for linear translation.

43. A laundry dryer according to claim 41 wherein the cabinet includes a loading/unloading aperture for allowing access to the drum and a door for closing said aperture, the inlet to the duct being formed on the edge of the aperture and wherein the actuator is located in the inlet.

44. A laundry dryer according to claim 41 wherein the actuator comprises a manually operable handle.

45. A laundry dryer according to claim 41 wherein the connecting element comprises a rod.

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