CN115992434A

CN115992434A - Clothes care equipment with automatic metering system

Info

Publication number: CN115992434A
Application number: CN202211284631.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·阿耶奈尔; N·帕特尔; J·齐格勒
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2021-10-18
Filing date: 2022-10-17
Publication date: 2023-04-21
Also published as: EP4166707A1; DE102021211725A1

Abstract

A laundry care appliance with an automatic metering system comprises a storage unit comprising at least two containers for receiving and storing laundry care agents. The laundry care apparatus includes: a housing having a front wall and an opening through which a receiving container arranged in the housing for receiving laundry is accessible; a door unit for closing the opening; a storage unit receiving means for receiving a storage unit, which is arranged in the floor area of the laundry care appliance in the installed position below the door unit; and a lifting device connected to the container and arranged in a first plane of the laundry care appliance extending substantially parallel to the floor and received in the storage unit receiving device in an moved-in state of the lifting device, the lifting device in a moved-out state placing the container of the storage unit outside the housing such that at least one section of at least one container protrudes into a second plane extending parallel to the floor of the laundry care appliance and further away from the floor than the first plane.

Description

Clothes care equipment with automatic metering system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance with an automatic metering system.

Background

The metering device in the laundry care appliance allows for accurate metering of the laundry care agent, which can be adapted automatically to the size and type of cleaning and/or drying load, and if necessary also to the degree of soiling and/or dryness according to a set cleaning program and/or drying program. The user of a laundry care appliance equipped with such a metering device only has to put one or more storage containers into the storage container of the laundry care appliance provided for this purpose, without having to worry about metering problems.

DE 10 2007 048 197 A1 discloses a metering device for a treatment agent of a washing machine. The metering device comprises a plurality of containers, wherein the metering device or container is arranged outside the washing machine and is connected with the washing machine through a pipeline.

In EP 2 479 335 A1 a metering device for liquid and viscous additives for washing machines is disclosed. Here, the additive is received in a container, wherein the container is received in a movable container that serves as a drawer. The container or drawer is configured in the floor area of the washing machine.

A storage container and a metering device are known from EP 2,84,205 A1. The storage container has a housing which is designed to be pushed into a receiving device of a water-conducting household appliance in an insertion direction.

In the above known solutions, the user has to bend down to a great extent in order to reach the storage container when filling and/or cleaning the storage container. The solution of placing the storage container outside the washing machine requires not only space to place the washing machine, but also additional space to place the storage container.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a laundry care appliance having an automatic metering device and a storage unit for a quantity of laundry care agent provided for this purpose, which laundry care appliance is provided for a predefinable quantity of cleaning processes, in which laundry care appliance the filling and/or replacement and/or cleaning of the storage unit is of an ergonomically advantageous design for the user and in which the filling and/or replacement and/or cleaning of the storage unit is easier for the user, thereby further expanding the prior art.

The object of the invention is achieved by the features of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the description and the figures.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object of the invention is achieved by a laundry care appliance having an automatic dosing system, wherein the laundry care appliance comprises a storage unit for supplying a predefinable quantity of laundry care agent for a cleaning process and/or a drying process, wherein the storage unit comprises at least two containers for receiving and storing the laundry care agent. The laundry care appliance further comprises a housing having a front wall and an opening, and a door unit for substantially closing the opening, through which a receiving receptacle provided in the housing for receiving laundry is accessible. Furthermore, the laundry care appliance comprises a storage unit receiving means for receiving a storage unit, wherein the storage unit comprises at least two containers, wherein the storage unit receiving means is arranged in the floor area of the laundry care appliance below the door unit in the mounted position, wherein the laundry care appliance comprises at least one lifting means, wherein the at least two containers of the storage unit are connected to the at least one lifting means. The at least two containers of the storage unit are arranged in a first plane of the laundry care appliance in the moved-in state of the at least one lifting device, which first plane extends substantially parallel to the floor, and are received in the storage unit receiving device, and the at least one lifting device in the moved-out state arranges the at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit substantially outside the housing, such that at least one section of the at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit protrudes into a second plane of the laundry care appliance, which second plane extends parallel to the floor and further away from the floor than the first plane.

The housing comprises two side walls, which are arranged substantially parallel to each other, a bottom plate and an upper side, wherein the bottom plate is arranged substantially parallel to the upper side. Here, each side wall is connected to the floor and to the upper side.

The storage unit receiving means may be in the form of a chamber. The storage unit receiving means may be placed as a structural component in the laundry care appliance. Furthermore, the storage unit receiving device may have connection elements, such as electrical and/or fluid technology connections, which connect the storage unit to the receiving container, for example, in order to be able to deliver laundry care agents into the receiving container and/or to be coupled to an automatic metering system.

The storage unit is lifted by at least one lifting device towards a user, who typically stands in front of the laundry care device when loading the laundry care device. This means that the user does not have to kneel or bend down to a storage unit that can be arranged in the lower region of the washing machine. Thereby making it easier and more ergonomic for the user to fill and/or refill and/or replace and/or clean the storage unit and the container comprising the storage unit.

Preferably, the laundry care appliance comprises a first region in which the storage unit receiving means are arranged substantially and in which the opening and door unit of the laundry care appliance are arranged substantially, wherein the first planar configuration is in the first region and the second region is configured in the second region, wherein the first region and the second region are substantially spatially separated from each other.

The storage unit receiving means is basically a separate space and/or chamber formed separately from the receiving container. For the user, the division of the laundry care apparatus is as follows: in the second region of the laundry care appliance, the receiving container and/or the opening for loading the receiving container are arranged according to the habit of the user. The first region is formed substantially at a lower region of the laundry care device. That is, the first region is formed in the region of the bottom plate. The second zone is an upper zone of the laundry care device. The second region extends from the first region in a direction toward an upper side of the laundry care device. The spatial separation of the first and second zones provides for a clean division of the laundry care appliance.

Advantageously, a cover element is arranged on the laundry care apparatus, which covers the storage unit receiving means, and which is arranged swingably and/or foldable and/or tiltable and/or releasable on the laundry care apparatus.

Thereby, the storage unit receiving means is covered, thereby providing a beautiful design of the laundry care appliance, but also providing a protection mechanism against accidental extension into the storage unit. Furthermore, there are fewer dirt particles that accumulate in the storage unit or the storage unit receptacle, which may limit the smooth operation of the storage unit or the storage unit receptacle.

Preferably, at least two containers of the storage unit are refillable containers and/or replaceable containers. For example, the replaceable container may be designed as a cartridge that can be conveniently and quickly removed from the storage unit or storage unit receiving means and can be conveniently and quickly used. The refillable container is configured for refilling. This means that the container remains substantially arranged in the storage unit and is refilled only when it becomes empty, or when it is indicated and/or reported to the user that the container is about to become empty or has become empty. Both solutions of refillable and exchangeable containers bring about different advantages. However, it is also conceivable that at least two containers are removable containers, but still refillable.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is advantageous if each of the at least two containers is individually movable, at least one container of the at least two containers of the storage unit being assigned a lifting device. Preferably, a lifting device is assigned to each of the at least two containers of the storage unit. This allows, for example, containers filled with different laundry care agents or laundry care substances to be exchanged and/or filled and/or cleaned individually, so that the entire storage unit does not have to be moved at all times.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least two containers can be moved as a common unit by means of a lifting device. This means that only one lifting device is required, whereby the production costs are low compared to the solution described above, in which each container is arranged on its own lifting device.

Advantageously, the at least two containers each comprise a front element which can each be arranged at least in a first position in which the at least two containers of the storage unit are located substantially in the storage unit receptacle and are arranged in a first plane of the laundry care appliance, or in a second position in which at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit is located at least partially outside the housing of the laundry care appliance and is arranged at least partially in a second plane of the laundry care appliance.

The at least two containers may occupy different positions, but the first and second positions are two preferred positions. In the first position, at least two containers of the storage unit are arranged substantially in the laundry care appliance. In the second position, at least two containers of the storage unit are arranged substantially outside the laundry care apparatus.

Preferably, the at least one lifting device is designed such that at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit can be raised and/or at least tilted and/or at least swiveled.

At least one of the at least two containers is at least partially disposed outside the storage unit receiving device in the second position. This means that the storage unit or at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit can be arranged in such a way that the removal and/or filling and/or cleaning of the containers is designed to be as convenient as possible. Preferably, the at least two containers of the storage unit may be arranged in this way.

The at least two receptacles may be raised and/or at least tiltable and/or at least swingable such that the respective front element of each receptacle is at least partially arranged in the second plane of the laundry care appliance and/or may be arranged outside the housing of the laundry care appliance in front of the door unit. It is thereby achieved that the at least two containers are easily accessible to a user, for example, for replacement and/or refilling and/or cleaning the containers.

The at least one lifting device advantageously comprises a guide rail arranged on each side wall, wherein in each guide rail a guide rail is arranged or mounted in each case in a movable manner, wherein on the respective end of the guide rail a swinging arm is arranged which is rotatably fixed parallel to the side walls and spaced apart from one another in parallel, wherein the first end of the respective swinging arm is arranged on the respective guide rail essentially by means of a swivel joint, wherein on the second end of the swinging arm an additional swivel joint is formed, respectively, and on the additional swivel joint a holding device is arranged, respectively, wherein the holding devices are arranged essentially parallel to one another and are connected to at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit in such a way that in the removed state of the at least one lifting device at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit protrudes at least partially into the second plane.

This design of the at least one lifting device may ensure that the at least one lifting device requires little installation space in the laundry care appliance. The at least one lifting device and the storage unit arranged thereon function in principle like a pullout drawer, which has at least one lifting device integrated therein, which moves the storage unit into the second position or moves the containers in such a way that at least one section of at least one of the at least two containers protrudes at least partially and/or sectionally into the second plane.

Preferably, a locking device is provided, which locks at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit in the removed state of the at least one lifting device. It is thereby ensured that the at least one container is kept in the removed state, so that a user can fill and/or replace and/or clean the container without having to hold the container.

A wide variety of ways are conceivable to operate or control the at least one lifting device. The at least one lifting device can advantageously be displaced manually and/or semi-automatically and/or automatically from an in-put state into an out-put state, wherein at least one of the at least two containers of the storage unit can be brought at least in sections and/or partly from the first plane into the second plane.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic front and side view of a laundry care appliance with an automatic metering unit;

fig. 2 shows a front and side view of a laundry care apparatus with a storage unit arranged therein;

fig. 3 shows a front and side view of the laundry care apparatus, wherein the storage unit is moved out;

FIG. 4a shows a laundry care appliance with one embodiment of the lifting device removed;

FIG. 4b shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the removed lifting device;

fig. 5a shows a laundry care appliance with a further embodiment of the lifting device removed;

FIG. 5b shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of the removed lifting device;

fig. 6 schematically illustrates a process for filling and/or cleaning and/or replacing a storage unit of a laundry care appliance.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1a schematic front and side view of a laundry care device 1 with an exemplary representation of an automatic metering system 2 is shown. The laundry care appliance 1 may be a washing machine, a laundry dryer and/or a laundry dryer. The automatic metering system 2 is provided for metering laundry care agents.

The laundry care apparatus 1 comprises a housing 3. The housing 3 basically comprises a side wall 5, a front wall 7, an upper side 9 and a bottom plate 11. Furthermore, the front wall 7 or the housing 3 of the laundry care apparatus 1 further comprises at least one opening 13. The receptacle 15 arranged in the housing 3 of the laundry care apparatus 1 is accessible through the opening 13. Through this opening 13, a receiving container 15 is accessible, which is arranged in the housing 3 of the laundry care device 1. The door unit 17 is arranged on the laundry care device 1 and is provided for closing said opening 13. The side walls 5 are arranged substantially parallel to each other. Furthermore, the upper side 9 is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom plate 11.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1, an operating unit 19 is shown. However, the operation unit 19 is not absolutely necessary. The operating unit 19 may be designed as a rotary selector and/or a button and/or a key and/or a combination of a rotary selector and a button and/or a key. The operating unit 19 may, for example, be used as an on/off button and/or be designed as a rotary selector, for example, in order to invoke various operating programs and/or to set operating parameters. Furthermore, the operating unit 19 can also be designed as a confirmation button and/or as a type of confirmation button. If the operating unit 19 is not configured, at least one communication unit is configured in the laundry care apparatus 1, which may receive instructions, for example, wirelessly.

The laundry care device 1 may be divided into a first area a and a second area B. The first region a may also be referred to as a lower region a. The second region B may also be referred to as an upper region B. The first area a and the second area B are substantially adjacent to each other, wherein the first area a and the second area B are substantially spatially separated from each other. The first region a extends from the bottom plate 11 toward the door unit 17. The second region extends substantially from the first region a in the direction of the upper side 9 of the laundry care device 1.

The storage unit receiving means 21 is basically configured in the first area a of the laundry care apparatus 1. The storage unit receiving means 21 is arranged in the area of the bottom plate 11 of the laundry care apparatus 1 in an installation position below the door unit 17. The storage unit receiving means 21 is arranged for receiving a storage unit 22, wherein the storage unit 22 comprises at least one container 23 (shown in fig. 2). The opening 13 is basically configured and the door unit 17 of the laundry care apparatus 1 is arranged in the second area B.

Furthermore, the first plane E1 extends in a first area a or a lower area a of the laundry care device 1. The first plane E1 extends substantially parallel to the base plate 11 and in the region of the storage unit receiving means 21 of the laundry care appliance 1. The second plane E2 extends parallel to the bottom plate 11 and further away from the bottom plate 11 than the first plane E1, which extends in a second area of the laundry care device 1. The first plane E1 and the second plane E2 extend substantially horizontally and substantially parallel to each other.

In the lower region a, the cover element 25 is arranged on the laundry care apparatus 1. The cover member 25 covers the storage unit receiving device 21. The cover element 25 can be arranged on the laundry care apparatus 1 in a swingable and/or foldable and/or detachable manner. A push-push opening mechanism is also conceivable, which can open the cover element 25 in order to access the storage unit receiving means 21. Other mechanisms for opening or removing the cover element 25 from the laundry care apparatus 1 are conceivable.

In fig. 2, a front and a side view of the laundry care apparatus 1 is shown, having a storage unit 22 arranged therein. The storage unit 22 is designed for a quantity of laundry care agents which are provided for a predefinable quantity of cleaning processes. The laundry care agent is stored or held in the storage unit 22 and is requested by the automatic metering system 2 when required and is fed into the receiving container 15 after mixing. The storage unit 22 is arranged in the storage unit receiving device 21. The storage unit 22 comprises at least two containers 23. In this embodiment, there are three containers 23. However, it is also conceivable that the storage unit 22 comprises exactly two containers 23 or more than three containers 23. As described above, the storage unit 22 is disposed in the lower region a of the laundry care apparatus 1. This means that the storage unit 22 is arranged below the door unit 17 in the laundry care apparatus 1 in the mounted position.

In fig. 2, the storage unit 22 is basically received in the storage unit receiving device 21. This means that the storage unit 22 is arranged substantially in the region of the first plane E1. In the present embodiment of fig. 2, the cover element 25 has been opened so that the container 23 of the storage unit 22 can be seen. The container 23 of the storage unit 22 shown in this embodiment has a front element 31. The front element 31 may be configured, for example, as a handle element 33 and/or as a cover element 33. In fig. 2, the front elements 31 of the at least two containers 23 are arranged in a first position. This means that the at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 are received in the storage unit receiving means 21. This in turn means that the at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 are arranged substantially in the housing 3 of the laundry care apparatus 1.

The at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 may be configured, for example, as refillable containers 23 or replacement containers 23.

If the container 23 is designed as a refillable container 23, a container opening 34 is preferably formed behind the front element 31 or behind the cover element 33, through which the refillable container 23 of the storage unit 22 can be filled and/or cleaned. In this case, each front element 31 is preferably formed as a cover element 33 and a handle element 33.

If the container 23 is designed as a replacement container 23, the replacement container 23 can be removed from the storage unit 22 or from the storage unit receiving device 21 by means of the front element 31. In this case, the front elements 31 are preferably designed as handle elements 33. In this case, the container 23 can also be designed as a cartridge or reusable container.

In fig. 2, at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 and the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 are each arranged in the first position. In this first position, the at least two containers 23 are substantially located in the storage unit receiving means 21. The front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 of the storage unit 22 is arranged substantially in the first plane E1, so that this plane E1 extends substantially through the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33. In said first position, the front element 31 is substantially received into the housing 3 of the laundry care device 1.

In fig. 3, a front and a side view of the laundry care apparatus 1 are shown, wherein the storage unit 22 is moved out of the storage unit receiving means 21. The storage unit 22 in fig. 3 comprises, for example, two containers 23. The container 23 of the storage unit 22 is moved out of the storage unit receiving means 21 by at least one lifting device 35. The at least one lifting device 35 is arranged substantially in the storage unit receiving device 21. The storage unit receiving means 21 may be formed as a kind of chamber in which the storage unit 22 is received or already received. The lifting device 35 can be moved out of the storage unit receiving device 21 at least in sections.

The at least one lifting device 35 comprises two

guide rails

37a,37 b. The two

guide rails

37a,37b are arranged parallel to one another and are each arranged in the region of the side wall 5 of the laundry care appliance 1. These two

guide rails

37a,37b are arranged in particular in the storage unit receiving device 21. A

rail

39a,39b is arranged in each case movably in the two

rails

37a,37 b. The storage unit 22 is basically arranged on the lifting device 35 and is movably connected with elements of the lifting device 35, such as the

guide rails

37a,37b and/or the

slide rails

39a,39 b. At least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 are arranged substantially on the

rails

39a,39b of the lifting device 35 and can be moved along the

rails

37a,37b and/or

rails

39a,39b of the lifting device 35.

The front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 of the container 23 of the storage unit 22 lie substantially in the first plane E1, so that the first plane E1 extends substantially through the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33. In fig. 3, the storage unit 22 is arranged substantially outside and/or the storage unit receiving means 21 or in sections outside the housing 3 of the laundry care apparatus 1.

In fig. 4a an embodiment of the laundry care apparatus 1 with the lifting device 35 removed is shown. In fig. 4b a schematic side view of the laundry care apparatus 1 with the lifting device 35 removed is shown. Furthermore, the lifting device 35 comprises at least two

oscillating arms

41a,41 b. The

swing arms

41a,41b each have a

first end

43a,43b and a

second end

45a,45 b. A rotary joint 47 is arranged on the respective

first end

43a,43b of the

respective swivel arm

41a,41b, wherein the respective rotary joint 47 is arranged on the

respective slide rail

39a,39 b.

A further rotary joint 49 is arranged at the respective

second end

45a,45b of the

respective pivot arm

41a,41b, wherein the respective further rotary joint 49 is connected to the

respective holding device

51a,51 b. In the embodiment of fig. 4a and 4b, the further rotary joint 49 can be embodied rigidly and essentially serves as a fastening element for connecting the respective

oscillating arm

41a,41b to the at least one container 23. The two

holding devices

51a,51b are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The two

holding devices

51a,51b are connected to at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23. The two

holding devices

51a,51b are connected to at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 in such a way that the at least one container 23 can be moved from the moved-in position of the lifting device 35 into the moved-out position of the lifting device 35.

Fig. 4a and 4b show the removal of the lifting device 35. The lifting device 35 is tiltable or swingable so that at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 are moved substantially out of the first plane E1. This means that the storage unit 22 is arranged substantially outside the storage unit receiving means 21 or outside the housing 3 of the laundry care apparatus 1, such that the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 of the container 23 of the storage unit 22 is located substantially in the region of the second plane E2, such that the second plane E2 extends substantially through the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33. The second plane E2 extends, for example, in the region of the gate unit 17. Thereby making it easier for a user to fill and/or clean and/or replace the container 23. The second plane E2 may extend into a lower region or an upper region of the door unit 17 or between the lower region and the upper region of the door unit 17.

In fig. 4a and 4b, the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 of the container 23 of the storage unit 22 are each arranged in the second position. This means that the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 of the receptacle 23 of the storage unit 22 is at least partially located outside the housing 3 of the laundry care apparatus 1 and is at least partially arranged in the second plane E2. The storage unit 22 or at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 are arranged in the removed state essentially outside the housing 3 of the laundry care device 1 and at least partially in the upper region B and the second plane E2 of the laundry care device 1. At least one section of at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 is preferably arranged in the region of the door unit 17.

Furthermore, a locking device 53 is provided. The locking means 53 is arranged to lock at least one of the at least two containers 23 in the removed state of the lifting means 35 such that at least one of the at least two containers 23 is fixed and held in position. As shown in fig. 4a and 4b, the locking means 53 may also lock the at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 in the second position.

It goes without saying that the storage unit 22 may be arranged as close as possible to the laundry care apparatus 1. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the

guide rails

37a,37b and the

slide rails

39a,39b do not protrude too much from the laundry care apparatus 1 in the removed state, so that a user does not trip over the

guide rails

37a,37b and/or the

slide rails

39a,39b when filling and/or cleaning and/or changing the container 23.

In fig. 5a and 5b, a further embodiment of a lifting device 135 is shown. In fig. 5a, a further embodiment of a laundry care appliance 1 with a removed lifting device 135 is shown. In fig. 5b a schematic side view of the laundry care apparatus 1 with the lifting device 135 removed is shown.

The laundry care appliance 1 comprises a storage unit receiving means 21. The lifting device 135 is basically disposed in the storage unit receiving device 21. The lifting device 135 can be moved out of the storage unit receiving device 21 at least in sections or at least in sections. The lifting device 135 comprises at least two

guide rails

137a,137 b. The two

guide rails

137a,137b are arranged parallel to one another and are each arranged in the region of a side wall 5 of the laundry care appliance 1. These two

guide rails

137a,137b are arranged in particular in the storage unit receiving device 21. A

rail

139a,139b is arranged or mounted in each case in a movable manner in the two

rails

137a,137 b.

Furthermore, the lifting device 135 comprises at least two oscillating arms 141a,141 b. The swing arms 141a,141b each have a

first end

143a,143b and a

second end

145a,145 b. On the respective

first end

143a,143b of the respective swing arm 141a,141b a rotary joint 147 is arranged, wherein the respective rotary joint 147 is arranged on the

respective slide rail

139a,139 b.

A further rotary joint 149 is arranged at the respective

second end

145a,145b of the respective pivot arm 141a,141b, wherein the respective further rotary joint 149 is connected to the

respective holding device

151a,151 b. The two holding means 151a,151b are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The two

holding devices

151a,151b are connected to at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23. The two

holding devices

151a,151b are connected to at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 in such a way that the at least one container 23 can be moved from the moved-in position of the lifting device 135 into the moved-out position of the lifting device 135.

The two

holding devices

151a,151b may each comprise a

further guide rail

155a, 155b. The further rotary joints 149 may be movably supported in respective

further guide rails

155a, 155b. Thus, at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 can be moved further in the removed state of the lifting device 135, so that an arrangement or setting of the storage unit 22 that is optimal for the user can be adjusted.

Furthermore, a locking device 153 is provided. The locking means 153 are arranged to lock at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 in the removed state of the lifting means 135 such that at least one container of the at least two containers 23 is fixed and held in the second position.

In the removed state of the lifting device 135 or in the raised state of the lifting device 135, at least one of the at least two containers 23 is arranged at least partially or in sections in the second plane E2. If the storage unit 22 can only be moved as a whole, the at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 are arranged at least partially or in sections in the second plane E2 by the lifting device 135.

This means that the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 of the container 23 of the storage unit 22 is arranged in the second position in fig. 5a and 5b, respectively. This in turn means that the front element 31 or the handle element 33 and/or the cover element 33 of the receptacle 23 of the storage unit 22 is at least partially outside the housing 3 of the laundry care apparatus 1 and at least partially arranged in the second plane E2.

It is contemplated that the

lifting devices

35, 135 of both embodiments may also occupy an inclined or swinging position as well as an elevated position. The

lifting devices

35, 135 are first raised and then tilted or pivoted. Thereby, the at least two receptacles 23 may be arranged, for example, higher in the direction of the upper side 9 of the laundry care device 1, for example in the region above the plane E2. Other embodiments are also contemplated.

Fig. 6 schematically shows a process for filling and/or cleaning and/or changing the container 23 of the storage unit 22 of the laundry care appliance 1.

The storage unit 22 is first received into the storage unit receiving means 21 of the laundry care appliance 1 with the automatic metering system 2. By removing the cover element 25, the storage unit 22 becomes visible and can be moved out of the storage unit receiving device 21. For example, the storage unit 22 or at least one of the at least two containers 23 is pulled out of the storage unit receiving device 21 by pulling the storage unit 22 and/or the containers 23 of the storage unit 22. This is accomplished with the lifting

device

35, 135. This is depicted in fig. 4a, 4b or fig. 5a, 5b. The pulling out or removing of the storage unit 22 or of at least one of the at least two containers 23 may be done manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically.

If the storage unit 22 or at least one of the at least two containers 23 is pulled out of the storage unit receiving means 21, so that the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 is arranged substantially outside the housing 3 of the laundry care appliance 1 and substantially in the first plane E1, the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 can be moved into the removed state of the lifting means 35, 135.

This is achieved by tilting and/or swinging and/or lifting the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23, so that the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 is arranged at least partially or in sections in the second plane E2.

If the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 is arranged at least partially or in sections in the second plane E2, the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 may be locked in order to remain in the second position. At least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 may then be cleaned and/or filled and/or removed. Subsequently, the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 can be moved back into the laundry care apparatus 1 again, so that the

lifting device

35, 135 is again in the moved-in state. In the moved-in state of the lifting device 35, the storage unit 22 or at least one container 23 of the at least two containers 23 is arranged in the first position.

In short, the process for filling and/or cleaning and/or replacing the container 23 of the storage unit 22 of the laundry care apparatus 1 comprises the following steps: opening the cover member 25 (V1); at least one container 23 (V2) removed from the storage unit 22; at least one container 23 (V3) of the storage unit 22 is swung or raised; at least one container 23 (V4) of the filling/cleaning/replacement storage unit 22; the at least one container 23 (V5) moved into the storage unit 22; closing the cover element 25 (V6). The laundry care device 1 may be reset and perform further cleaning and/or drying processes.

Preferably, the container 23 of the storage unit 22 of the laundry care apparatus 1 can be filled and/or cleaned and/or replaced only when the laundry care apparatus 1 is not in operation. This means that the laundry care process, such as the water inflow during the washing process, has not yet been started or has not yet been started. It is envisaged that the user will be notified before the cleaning and/or drying process is initiated: i.e., there is insufficient laundry care agent in the storage unit 22 to perform the cleaning and/or drying process. Other notifications, such as light signals and/or illuminated symbols and/or notifications to a smart phone are also contemplated. It is also contemplated that after the cleaning and/or drying process is completed, e.g., there is insufficient laundry care agent in the storage unit 22 for the next cleaning and/or drying process, and/or before the cleaning and/or drying process is initiated, the notification is displayed or output to the user, and/or the notification is output to the user that the storage unit 22 will soon need refilling. In the latter case, it is conceivable, for example, that at least two cleaning and/or drying processes may also be carried out, so that the user can organize new laundry care agents without time pressure. Preferably, if there is insufficient laundry care agent in the storage unit 22, the cleaning and/or drying process cannot be initiated.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that each individual container 23 of the at least two containers 23 of the storage unit 22 is arranged on a

lifting device

35, 135 such that each of the at least two containers 23 can be moved individually. This means that a

lifting device

35, 135 is assigned to each container 23, so that each container 23 can be individually removed and tilted and/or swung and/or lifted. This has the advantage that not all containers 23 of the at least two containers 23 have to be moved at all times.

However, it is also conceivable that the at least two containers 23 can be moved as a common unit with only one

lifting device

35, 135. This means that the at least two containers 23 are interconnected such that the containers 23 of the storage unit 22 of the laundry care apparatus 1 can be moved with only one

lifting device

35, 135. This has the advantage that the production costs can be kept as low as possible.

List of reference numerals

1. Clothes care equipment

2. Automatic metering system

3. Shell body

5. Side wall

7. Front plate

9. Upper side of

11 bottom plate

13 opening(s)

15 receiving container

17 door unit

19 operating unit

21 storage unit receiving device

22 storage unit

23 container

25 cover element

31 front element

33 handle/cover element

34 container opening

35 lifting device

37a guide rail

37b guide rail

39a slide rail

39b slide rail

41a swing arm

41b swing arm

43a first end

43b first end

45a second end

45b second end

47 rotary joint

49 further rotary joints

51a holding device

51b holding device

53 locking device

135 lifting device

137a guide rail

137b guide rail

139a slide rail

139b slide rail

141a swing arm

141b swing arm

143a first end

143b first end

145a second end

145b second end

147 rotary joint

149 further rotary joint

151a holding device

151b holding device

153 locking device

155a and further guide rail

155b, further guide rail

A first/lower region

B second/upper region

E1 first plane

E2 second plane

V1 first procedure

V2 second procedure

V3 third procedure

V4 fourth procedure

V5 fifth Process

V6 sixth procedure.

Claims

1. A laundry care appliance (1) with an automatic metering system (2), the laundry care appliance (1) comprising a storage unit (22) for a quantity of laundry care agent, which is provided for a predefinable quantity of cleaning and/or drying processes, the storage unit (22) comprising at least two containers (23) for receiving and storing the laundry care agent, the laundry care appliance having:

a housing (3), the housing (3) having a front wall (7) and an opening (13), a receiving receptacle (15) arranged in the housing (3) for receiving laundry being accessible through the opening (13);

a door unit (17) for substantially closing the opening (13);

a storage unit receiving device (21) for receiving the storage unit (22), which is arranged in the mounting position below the door unit (17) in the region of the floor (11) of the laundry care appliance (1),

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the laundry care appliance (1) comprises at least one lifting device (35, 135), at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) being connected to the at least one lifting device (35, 135), the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) being arranged in a first plane (E1) of the laundry care appliance (1) in the moved-in state of the at least one lifting device (35, 135) and being received in the storage unit receiving device (21), the first plane (E1) extending substantially parallel to the base plate (11), and the at least one lifting device (35, 135) in the moved-out state arranging the at least one container (23) of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) substantially outside the housing (3) such that at least one section of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) protrudes into a second plane (E2) of the laundry care appliance (1) and extends further parallel to the base plate (11) than the second plane (E1).

2. Laundry care device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the laundry care device (1) has a first area (a) and a second area (B), the storage unit receiving means (21) being arranged substantially in the first area (a), and the opening (13) and the door unit (11) of the laundry care device (1) being arranged substantially in the second area (B), the first plane (E1) being configured in the first area (a) and the second plane (E2) being configured in the second area (B), the first area (a) and the second area (B) being substantially spatially separated from each other.

3. Laundry care apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a cover element (25) is arranged on the laundry care apparatus (1), which cover element (25) covers the storage unit receiving means (21), which cover element (25) is arranged swingably and/or foldable and/or tiltable and/or releasable on the laundry care apparatus (1).

4. Laundry care device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two containers (23) are refillable containers (23) and/or exchangeable containers (23).

5. Laundry care device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the at least two containers (23) is individually movable, wherein at least one container (23) of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) is assigned a lifting means (35, 135), preferably each container (23) of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) is assigned a lifting means (35, 135).

6. Laundry care apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least two containers (23) are movable as a common unit with the at least one lifting device (35, 135).

7. Laundry care appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two containers (23) each have a front element (31), the respective front element (31) being arrangeable in at least a first position or a second position, respectively, in which first position the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) are located substantially in the storage unit receiving means (21) and are arranged in a first plane (E1) of the laundry care appliance (1), and in which second position at least one container (23) of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) is located at least partially outside the housing (3) of the laundry care appliance (1) and is arranged at least partially in a second plane (E2) of the laundry care appliance (1).

8. Laundry care device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one lifting means (35, 135) is configured such that at least one container (23) of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) is raisable and/or at least tiltable and/or at least swingable.

9. Laundry care device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one container (23) of the at least two containers (23) is raisable and/or at least tiltable and/or at least swingable, such that a respective front element (31) of a respective container (23) is arranged at least partially in a second plane (E2) of the laundry care device (1) and/or can be arranged outside a housing (3) of the laundry care device (1) in front of the door unit (17).

10. Laundry care apparatus (1) according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said at least one lifting device (35, 135) comprises guide rails (37 a,37b,137a,137 b) arranged on each side wall (5), in each guide rail (37 a,37b,137a,137 b) a slide rail (39 a,39b,139a,139 b) is movably arranged, respectively, on the respective end of said slide rail (39 a,39b,139a,139 b) a swinging arm (41 a,41b,141a,141 b) being rotatably fixed parallel to said side wall (5) and arranged spaced apart from each other, a first end (43 a,43b,143a,143 b) of the respective swinging arm (41 a,41b,141a,141 b) being arranged substantially in a rotary joint (47, 147) on the respective slide rail (39 a,39b, 39a,139 b), in a second end (149 b) of said swinging arm (39 a,39b,139a, 149 b) being arranged in a manner such that said second end (149 a, 149 b, 149 a, 149 b) of said swinging arm (35 a, 135 b) is held in a state of being rotatably fixed parallel to each other and said at least one other (35, 51a,51 b) is held in a state of being held in which said container (35, 51a,51 b) is held in a state of being rotatably parallel to each other, at least one container (23) of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) protrudes at least in sections into the second plane (E2).

11. Laundry care appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking device (53, 153) is configured, which locks at least one container (23) of the at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) in the removed state of the at least one lifting device (35, 135).

12. Laundry care appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one lifting device (35, 135) can be moved manually and/or semi-automatically and/or automatically from an in-put state into an out-put state, at least one container (23) of at least two containers (23) of the storage unit (22) being able to be moved at least in sections and/or partly from the first plane (E1) into the second plane (E2).