CN116463832A - Washing and drying machine comprising a fluff filter inside a tub and corresponding operating process - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing and drying machine (1), comprising: a tub (4) in which a drum (5) for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit (8, 9, 10, 11) for passing a process air flow through the drum (5) and comprising a blower (12) for driving the air flow; an air heating device (6) for heating the process air before it enters the drum (5); and a lint filter (3), characterized in that the lint filter (3) is arranged inside the tub (4) between the tub (4) and the drum (5). The invention also relates to an operating procedure for a washer-dryer.

Description

Washing and drying machine comprising a fluff filter inside a tub and corresponding operating process

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine, comprising: a tub in which a drum for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit for passing a process air stream through the drum, comprising a blower for driving the air stream; an air heating device for heating the process air before the process air enters the drum; a fluff filter. The invention also relates to an operating procedure for the washing and drying machine.

Background

The fluff filtering solution in heat pump washers and dryers today is to use a filter screen in a specific part of the process air circuit. Depending on the automation type of the filtration, such filters may be cleaned manually by a user or by a self-cleaning system. Most self-cleaning systems involve water spray.

For example, in a heat pump washer-dryer, the process air outlet in the tub is typically located at the rear of the tub. The process air is then led through an air duct to the evaporator of the heat pump. In this concept, the filter is integrated in the air duct, and in addition relates to a cleaning system, which is usually based on flushing water.

EP 3 825,450 A1 discloses a laundry treatment apparatus with a filter. In particular, a combined washer/dryer is disclosed, comprising: a barrel at least partially defining a barrel interior having a barrel inlet; a rotatable drum positioned inside the tub and at least partially defining a process chamber having a process chamber inlet; a dry air duct having an inlet formed in the tub and defining a cross-sectional area at the inlet; and a filter having a front face overlying the inlet and having a surface area greater than the cross-sectional area. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3A, a cross-sectional side view of the filter of the combined washing and drying machine is shown. A filter may be placed at the inlet of the drying air duct between the drum and the tub. It may comprise a seat which may extend beyond at least a portion of the inlet to the drying air duct.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a washer-dryer that can perform an improved filtering of the process air after it is used for drying laundry. In particular, the use of fluff filters should be improved. It is preferable to improve the cleaning of the lint filter so that, for example, the lint can be better handled and the time interval between the cleaning steps of the lint filter can be shortened. Another object is to provide an operating procedure for the dryer.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a washer-dryer and its operating procedure according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the washer-dryer according to the invention are particularly shown in the dependent claims. The preferred embodiments of the operating procedure correspond to the preferred embodiments of the washer-dryer and vice versa, even if not explicitly stated herein.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a washer-dryer comprising: a tub in which a drum for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit for passing a process air stream through the drum, the process air circuit comprising a blower for driving the air stream; an air heating device for heating the process air before the process air enters the drum; a fluff filter; wherein the lint filter is disposed between the tub and the drum within the tub.

In a preferred embodiment of the washing and drying machine of the present invention, the air heating means is selected from the group of condensers comprising a resistive heater and a heat pump or a combination thereof. Preferably, the air heating means is a condenser of a heat pump.

The heat pump circuit used in one preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerant passage for circulating a refrigerant, a condenser as a heat source, an evaporator as a heat sink, an expansion device for expanding a refrigerant flow, and a compressor for driving and compressing the refrigerant, the refrigerant being circulated through the compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator in this order.

In a heat pump circuit, a refrigerant is circulated to be cyclically compressed and expanded and cooled and heated in order to absorb heat in an evaporator by evaporating the refrigerant at a low pressure and to release heat in a condenser by condensing the refrigerant at a high pressure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer comprises control means for controlling the operation of the washer-dryer. In embodiments using a heat pump, the expansion device is typically a variable valve operatively connected to the control device. This operation may be on-off, i.e. the valve switches between an open position for circulating part of the refrigerant and a closed position for shutting off any recirculation. Alternatively, this operation may allow varying the amount of refrigerant that is recirculated, either stepwise or continuous.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the washing and drying machine, the lint filter is arranged on or close to the inner wall of the tub. Preferably, the inner wall is a rear wall of the tub.

The shape of the fluff filter is not particularly limited. In any case, it is preferable that the lint filter is coaxial with the rotation axis of the drum.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the lint filter is substantially in the form of a ring which is placed on or in a small gap from the rear wall of the tub. Such a fluff filter shape may be considered as a doughnut shape inside the tub, in particular at the rear thereof.

One particular embodiment is to have a fluff filter section covering around 300 ° of circumference. The size of this portion of the filter may be determined as desired. The outlet aperture (for process air into the exhaust duct) is preferably designed to prevent wash/spin water from reaching the aperture and subsequently entering the exhaust duct.

Therefore, in the washing and drying machine of the present invention, it is preferable to provide a hole of the rear wall of the tub, which is open to the exhaust duct of the process air circuit, that is, which serves as a passage from the process air to the air duct.

In the washing and drying machine of the present invention, the surface of the lint filter directly opposite to the drum is preferably in the range of 100 to 700cm ³ In the range of from 200 to 600cm, more preferably ³ Within a range of (2).

The lint filter may be fixed to the tub by welding or gluing. We have also noted that the air flow may be further improved because if more cross sections are required for the fluff filter, i.e. the filter channels for the air flow, slight modifications may be made to the cartridge.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an operating process of a washing and drying machine, comprising: a tub in which a drum for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit for passing a process air stream through the drum and including a blower for driving the air stream; an air heating device for heating the process air before the process air enters the drum; and a lint filter, characterized in that the lint filter is disposed within the tub between the tub and the drum, the operating process comprising the following steps in the washing process:

(a) Introducing laundry into the drum;

(b) Introducing water and detergent into the tub in an amount sufficient to produce lye in the tub and drum;

(c) Heating the alkali liquor by an air heating device;

(d) Washing the clothes with alkali liquor and washing a fluff filter;

(e) Pumping out the used alkali liquor;

(f) Washing the laundry and the lint filter with an aqueous solution; and

(g) The used aqueous solution was pumped out.

Finally, the present invention relates to a process of operating a washer-dryer comprising: a tub in which a drum for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit for passing a process air stream through the drum and including a blower for driving the air stream; an air heating device for heating the process air before the process air enters the drum; and a fluff filter, characterized in that the fluff filter is disposed within the tub between the tub and the drum, the operation process comprising the following steps in the drying process:

(a) Introducing laundry into the drum;

(b) Heating the treated air by an air heating device;

(c) Driving process air through the process air circuit by a blower, including driving the process air through a fluff filter in the tub and through the outlet aperture; and

(d) Repeating steps (a) through (c) until a preset time has elapsed or a preset laundry humidity level has been reached.

Advantages of the present invention include improving the performance of a washer-dryer by allowing a lint filter to be used for a long period of time without cleaning it, because it is possible to have a lint filter having a large surface area. Furthermore, if cleaning of the lint filter is ultimately required, the cleaning of the filter may be performed during the washing process. If the drying cycle is always carried out before the washing cycle, it is possible to avoid the use of special washing systems, such as water spraying systems with nozzles, hoses, electric valves. This reduces complexity, cost and mechanical failure. However, since the use of the washer-dryer may be wash only, dry only or a combination of wash and dry, it is recommended to include a special cleaning system in the washer-dryer to ensure that the filter is clean in any case, or to set up a program to ensure that the filter cleaning is performed between successive process programs involving drying of the laundry only. Furthermore, in addition to the normal manner of cleaning the filter during each cycle, a "tub and drum cleaning" or the like procedure may be used to wash the filter system, including the lint filter, from time to time. This is not possible when other filtering schemes are located within the air duct.

Since the lint filter is not located in the process air duct, but inside the tub, preferably at the rear of the poking, the filtering area can be greatly increased compared to the prior art. For example, more than 600cm can be achieved with the present invention ³ For example even over 700cm ³ . This means that clogging of the lint filter due to lint is more difficult to occur, which has a great influence on the pressure drop, the behaviour of the fan and the drying performance. The larger area of the lint filter may cause the lint filter to become dirty with lint without requiring cleaning before or after each drying process of the washer-dryer.

In the present invention, the size of the filtering portion including the lint filter may be determined as needed. If the fluff filter is essentially in the shape of a circular ring, it is not necessary to use the entire circumference.

The invention also allows the connection between the filter duct and the aperture-air duct to be protected or designed to prevent or avoid any liquid water from the washing stage from reaching the air duct.

Another advantage of the washer-dryer according to the invention is that fluff and hair are collected in the tub and can thus be pumped directly with the washer-dryer's drain pump, which is typically its main pump, which can easily handle dirty water.

In an embodiment of the washer-dryer of the present invention, air circulation will be from the inlet bellows, through the drum and tub, and then through the lint filter to the evaporator. Since in a preferred embodiment the doughnut shape of the fluff filter is aligned with the drum, the air distribution within the drum will be improved and the bypass effect reduced.

Drawings

Further details, benefits and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of a particular embodiment with reference to fig. 1 to 6, in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a washer-dryer according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprising a heat pump circuit and further having a lint filter inside the tub;

fig. 2 shows a vertical section of the rear of the washing and drying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a lint filter is placed in a drum such that there is a gap between the lint filter and the tub rear wall;

fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a vertical section of a rear portion of a washing and drying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 illustrates a top view of a tub and drum of a washing and drying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 illustrates a top view of a rear portion of a tub of a washing and drying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a drum and a rear portion of a tub of a washing and drying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The washer-dryer according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1 has a tub (also referred to as "lye container") 4 and a washing drum 5 rotatably mounted in the tub about an axis 23. The lye container 4 is connected via a lye discharge pipe 19 to a lye pump 14 which can discharge the aqueous solution from the lye container 4 to the outside of the washer dryer 1. In fig. 1, the flow direction of water or aqueous solution and process air is indicated by arrows, respectively. The washing drum 5 is loaded with laundry to be treated through an access door, i.e., a filling port 22, located at the front side of the washing and drying machine 1. In order to be able to wash laundry in the washer-dryer 1, the washer-dryer 1 is connected to an external water supply of the washer-dryer 1 via a water supply 15, not shown here. The water supply 15 is connected to a rinsing tray 17 from which part of the detergent or builder can be fed into the lye container 4 via a water supply pipe 18 with the aid of the water supply 15.

The washer-dryer shown in fig. 1 also has a heat pump, of which a condenser 6, an evaporator 7 and a compressor 21 are shown in fig. 1. The compressor 21 is arranged on the bottom plate 24. In fig. 1, the heat pump refrigeration circuit connecting these components and the throttle valve not shown here are not shown for the sake of clarity.

In a first embodiment of the washing and drying machine according to the invention, shown in fig. 1, the condenser 6 and the evaporator 7 are located on opposite sides of the laundry drum 5, in particular substantially on opposite sides of a surface parallel to the soleplate 24, passing through the rotation axis 23 of the laundry drum 5. Further, the condenser 6 is disposed above the laundry drum 5, and the evaporator 7 is disposed below the rotation shaft 23.

The condenser 6 and the evaporator 7 are connected to a water supply 15 in order to clean them by using water from the water supply 15, in particular fluff which may occur during the drying of the laundry.

In order to dry the moist laundry in the washing drum 5, it is provided in the washing and drying machine of fig. 1 that the washing and drying machine operates according to the exhaust principle, air is sucked as process air from the storage chamber of the washing and drying machine into the air supply duct 8 from the air supply opening 9 by the blower 12. In this case, the blower 12 is located directly after the air supply opening 9. A condenser 6, which can heat the process air, is arranged in the supply air duct 8. The heated process air then enters the laundry drum 5 from the supply duct 8 through the sleeve 16. After passing through the laundry drum 5 and drying the moist laundry located therein (not shown here), the moist warm process air leaves the drum 5 or the lye container 4 through the rear and enters the exhaust duct 10, in which the evaporator 7 is located. In the evaporator 7, the moist warm process air is cooled below the dew point, in which the moisture contained condenses and passes through a condensate collector 13 (here designed as a condensate pan) into a condensate drain 20 and finally into the lye pump 14, by means of which the condensate can be pumped out for treatment and conveyed to the outside of the washer-dryer 1. The cooled process air is finally conveyed to the exhaust port 11 of the washer-dryer 1, where it can enter the installation chamber. This is but one non-limiting example. In a preferred embodiment, the process air may be recirculated in the process air circuit.

In the washer-dryer 1, the lint filter 3 is placed inside the tub 4, i.e. between the tub 4 and the drum 5, which filter is here shaped as a ring, thus, taking into account its three-dimensional nature like a doughnut. However, there is a gap 25 between the lint filter 3 and the rear wall 2 to allow air from the drum 5 to bypass and reach the lint filter 3, entering the exhaust duct 10 through an increased area. The manner in which the lint filter 3 is secured to the rear wall 2 of the basket 4 is not shown in detail in fig. 1, but this is easily considered.

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section of the rear of the washer-dryer according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the lint filter 3 is placed on the rear wall 2 of the tub 4 in such a way that there is a gap 25 between the lint filter 3 and the tub rear wall 2. Details of the fixed fluff filter 3 are not shown in order not to complicate fig. 2.

The lint filter 3 here forms a circular ring coaxial with the rotation axis 23 of the drum 5. 26 denotes a central opening in the tub 5 for (rotating) shafts and bearings. 34 denotes the surface of the lint filter 3 directly opposite the drum 5. The process air is led from the drum 5 through the tub 4, including the lint filter 3, through the outlet opening 27 in the rear wall 2 of the tub to the exhaust duct 10.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of a vertical section of a rear half of a washing and drying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. 30 denotes a rear half portion of the tub 4, 29 is a drum bracket, and 31 is a bearing portion. 28 refers to the rear half of the drum backplate and 3 refers to the fluff filter. The gap between the lint filter 3 and the rear wall of the tub is indicated with 25.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the tub 4 and the drum 5 of the washing and drying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. From this top view, it can be seen that the lint filter 3 extends over the drum 5, the boundaries of which can be easily seen from above. Furthermore, it can be seen that the lint filter 3 forms a circular ring coaxial with the rotation axis 23 of the drum 5. The outlet aperture 27 provides access to the exhaust duct on the rear wall of the tub.

Fig. 5 illustrates a top view of a rear portion of a washer-dryer according to another embodiment of the present invention. 32 refers to the solid part for fixing the lint filter 3, which here also forms a circular ring, spaced apart (with a gap) from the rear wall of the tub 4, where details cannot be seen. 33 refers to the filter screen or solid non-filter screen portion facing the outlet opening of the vat 4. Which here contains an outlet opening 27 in the rear wall of the tub.

Fig. 6 illustrates an exploded view of a drum rear portion of a washing and drying machine and a rear half portion 30 of a tub according to another embodiment of the present invention. 28 denotes the rear of the drum back, 23 denotes the rotation axis, and 29 denotes the drum stand. The fluff filter 3 is the same annular fluff filter 3 shown in fig. 5.

List of reference numerals

1 washing and drying machine

A rear wall of the tub 2; barrel back wall

3 fluff filter

4 barrels; alkali liquor container

5, a roller; drum of washing machine

6 condenser

7 evaporator

8 air supply pipeline

9 air supply outlet

10 exhaust duct

11 exhaust port

12 blower

13 condensate collector

14 pump, lye pump

15 water supply system

16 lining rings; casing pipe

17 rinsing plate; a laundry detergent bowl; detergent chamber

Connection between a water supply line, a rinsing plate and a tub

19 lye discharge pipe

20 condensate drain

21 compressor

22 access door (for introducing laundry to be treated)

23 rotation axis

24 bottom plate

25 gap (between the fluff filter and the back wall).

Central opening for 26 shaft and bearing

Outlet opening in the rear wall of the 27 barrels

Rear of 28 roller backboard

29 roller support

Rear half of 30 barrels

31 bearing portion

32 solid portion

33 screen or solid non-screen portion facing the outlet aperture of the barrel

34 surface of fluff filter facing the drum

Claims (10)

1. A washer-dryer (1) comprising: a tub (4) in which a drum (5) for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit (8, 9, 10, 11) for passing a process air flow through the drum (5) and comprising a blower (12) for driving the air flow; an air heating device (6) for heating the process air before it enters the drum (5); and a lint filter (3), characterized in that the lint filter (3) is arranged inside the tub (4) between the tub (4) and the drum (5).

2. The washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the air heating device (6) is selected from the group of condensers (6) comprising resistive heaters and heat pumps (6, 7, 21) or a combination thereof.

3. The washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lint filter (3) is provided on or close to an inner wall (2) of the tub (4).

4. A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 3, wherein said inner wall (2) is a rear wall (2) of said tub (4).

5. The washer-dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lint filter (3) is coaxial with the rotation axis (23) of the drum (5).

6. The washing and drying machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lint filter (3) has the form of a substantially circular ring, which is placed on the rear wall (2) of the tub (4) or spaced apart from the rear wall (2).

7. The washer-dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a hole (27) is provided in the rear wall (2) of the tub (4) leading to the exhaust duct (10) of the process air circuit.

8. The washer-dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the surface of the lint filter (3) directly opposite the drum (5) is between 100 and 700cm ³ Within a range of (2).

9. An operating procedure for a washer-dryer (1), said washer-dryer comprising: a tub (4) in which a drum (5) for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit (8, 9, 10, 11) for passing a process air flow through the drum (5) and comprising a blower (12) for driving the air flow; an air heating device (6) for heating the process air before it enters the drum (5); and a lint filter (3), characterized in that the lint filter (3) is arranged inside the tub (4) between the tub (4) and the drum (5), the operating process comprising the following steps in the washing process:

(a) Introducing laundry into the drum (5);

(b) Introducing water and detergent into the tub (4) in an amount sufficient to produce lye in the tub (4) and drum (5);

(c) Heating the lye by means of the air heating device (6);

(d) Washing the laundry with the alkaline liquor and washing the fluff filter (3);

(e) Pumping out the used alkali liquor;

(f) Washing the laundry and fluff filter (3) with an aqueous solution; and

(g) The used aqueous solution was pumped out.

10. An operating procedure for a washer-dryer (1), said washer-dryer comprising: a tub (4) in which a drum (5) for receiving laundry is rotatably provided; a process air circuit (8, 9, 10, 11) for passing a process air flow through the drum (5) and comprising a blower (12) for driving the air flow; an air heating device (6) for heating the process air before it enters the drum (5); and a fluff filter (3), characterized in that the fluff filter (3) is arranged inside the tub (4) between the tub (4) and the drum (5), the operating process comprising the following steps in the drying process:

(a) Introducing laundry into the drum (5);

(b) Heating the process air by means of the air heating device (6);

(c) Driving process air through a process air circuit by said blower (12), including driving process air through a lint filter (3) in said tub (4) and through an outlet aperture (27); and

(d) Repeating steps (a) through (c) until a preset time has elapsed or a preset laundry humidity level has been reached.