DE102011007170A1 - Method for detecting and indicating a degree of hygiene of the laundry and / or the laundry treatment appliance in a laundry treatment appliance and a laundry treatment appliance suitable for this purpose - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting and displaying a degree of hygiene of laundry 7 in a laundry treatment appliance 1, which comprises a container 3 for receiving laundry 7 to be treated, a control device 12 which is designed to carry out a plurality of selectable laundry treatment programs, and a display device 29 wherein a hygienic grade Hres predicted after a selection of a laundry treatment program and / or a hygiene grade Hres of the laundry 7 resulting after a selected laundry treatment program has been completed are displayed on the display device 29 as a signal S1. Furthermore, the method comprises steps for determining the predicted or resulting degree of hygiene Hres of the laundry 7, taking into account a predetermined or determined initial hygiene level Horig and / or the selected laundry treatment program. The invention also relates to a laundry treatment appliance 1 suitable for carrying out this process.

Description

The invention relates to a method for detecting and displaying a degree of hygiene of laundry in a laundry treatment appliance and a particularly suitable laundry treatment appliance.

Recently, there has been a trend for washing laundry at a low temperature. The improvement of detergents and washing machines enables a good removal of soiling even at low temperatures. In addition, the washing at low temperatures is increasingly dictated by the textile industry, since many laundry items should be washed after washing instructions only at 30 ° C or 40 ° C. In addition, washing at low temperatures saves energy and thus protects the environment. For many consumers, however, the question arises as to whether a sufficiently high degree of hygiene is achieved during a washing process at low temperatures. Microbial germs, in contrast to soils, are generally invisible and can threaten health. If a washing machine is operated mainly in the low temperature range and with mild detergents, contamination and formation of a biofilm in the washing machine can occur. In addition, during a washing process, cross-contamination may take place if heavily contaminated laundry items are washed together with slightly contaminated items of laundry in the same washing operation, after which the germ content of the previously slightly contaminated items of laundry has risen. Although many of the microbial germs found in household linen are not pathogenic to humans, special care should be taken in the home, in the care of the elderly, babies and toddlers, and generally heavily contaminated items such as kitchen towels. In such cases, an increased level of hygiene appears appropriate, which requires increased decontamination during the washing process.

In order to achieve the highest possible degree of hygiene, various modifications to laundry treatment appliances have hitherto been known. Particularly in the industrial sector, for example in the cleaning of special workwear (such as surgical gowns), highly specialized washing processes up to sterilization are used. In laundries and nursing homes are also z. B. special "hygiene washing machines". In the household sector, in view of the increased demand for high hygiene standards, eg. As in allergic persons or in households with small children special washing machines that have programs with additional rinses offered.

Moreover, in the course of using laundry treatment appliances, particularly water-bearing laundry treatment appliances, the hygiene condition due to the formation of deposits and biofilms generally deteriorates. Biofilms contain immobilized bacterial cells embedded in a polymer matrix of microbial origin and, in addition to microorganism cells, may contain abiotic or inorganic components in greater amounts, all being held together by mucus formed by bacteria. The water content is relatively high with generally 80 to 95% of the moisture content. This fact also influences the hygiene level of laundry in a laundry treatment appliance.

To improve the hygienic condition of a laundry treatment appliance, a special hygiene program is sometimes activated in which, for example, using steam and / or provided with bioactive additives liquids or gases cleaning of the relevant parts of the laundry treatment appliance is performed. However, the hygiene programs are not optimally adapted to the hygienic needs of the laundry treatment appliances, since the time, duration and intensity of the measures carried out in a hygiene program are not adjusted to the actual hygiene status in the laundry treatment appliance. It would therefore be desirable to obtain qualitative and in particular also quantitative information on the degree of hygiene of the laundry treatment appliance and in particular the degree of hygiene of the laundry contained in it.

Against this background, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for detecting and displaying a degree of hygiene of laundry in a laundry treatment appliance, with which the degree of hygiene can be determined and displayed in a manner advantageous to a user, wherein the user preferably also has an option for consideration from different starting situations such. As the degree of contamination of the laundry with germs and diseases or sensitivities of the wearer of the laundry, can be given. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a particularly suitable for carrying out this method laundry treatment device.

The object underlying the invention is achieved by a method and a laundry treatment appliance according to respective independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are listed in the respective dependent claims, whose features can be used in the invention in any combination. Preferred embodiments of the laundry treatment appliance according to the invention correspond to preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention, even if not separately pointed out here.

The invention thus relates to a method for detecting and displaying a degree of hygiene of laundry in a laundry treatment appliance and / or the laundry treatment appliance, which comprises a container for receiving laundry to be treated, a control device which is designed to carry out a plurality of selectable laundry treatment programs, and a display device wherein a hygiene level H _res predicted after a selection of a laundry treatment program or a hygiene level H _{res of} the laundry resulting after the passage of a selected laundry treatment program is displayed on the display device as a signal S1. Below, the predicted degree of hygiene H _{res is} also understood as the resulting degree of hygiene H _res . Preferably, the resulting hygiene level H _{res of} the laundry is determined taking into account a predetermined or determined initial hygiene level H _orig and / or the selected laundry treatment program. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a difference ΔH between the resulting hygiene level H _{res of} the laundry and a desired hygiene level H _{tar of} the laundry is displayed on the display device as the signal S1, in particular the difference ΔH being indicated when the difference ΔH = (H _res - H _tar ) ≥ 0.

According to the invention, the degree of hygiene is greater when a number of germs on the laundry is lower. Hygienic grade in the sense of the present invention is thus understood to mean the degree of contamination of the laundry with germs. The definition of the degree of hygiene is otherwise not limited.

The degree of hygiene of the laundry can thus be indicated, for example, as the number of germs per cm ² , ie germs / cm ² , on the surface of the laundry and determined in various ways. In a preferred embodiment of the method, therefore, the number n of germs per cm ^{2 of} the surface of the laundry is used as a measure of the degree of hygiene. In the context of the invention, the size of the nucleating unit known from microbiology is known in the context of the invention for quantitative data under one germ. KBE) or colony-forming unit (CFU).

Depending on the method of determination, other parameters may be used to indicate the degree of hygiene.

Thus, a degree of hygiene can be determined, for example, by using a biosensor, which can preferably specifically indicate the presence and the number of germs. This can be done, for example, by adding laundry in the laundry treatment appliance with a certain amount of an aqueous liquid and examining the resulting solution with the biosensor.

Alternatively or in addition, by changing a concentration or amount of a disinfecting agent such as. B. ozone of the degree of hygiene can be determined. In this case, it makes sense to exclude or minimize a possible influence of inorganic or organic non-living impurities. This could be done, for example, by setting a degree of contamination with such inorganic or organic impurities that can already be visually determined by a user by a user or by means of any sensors present in the laundry treatment appliance.

Furthermore, an initial degree of hygiene of the laundry treating appliance can be estimated from the history of the previous laundry treatment programs. It is assumed that, for example, in a sequence of so-called cold wash programs can accumulate over time in the laundry treatment device germs, since such programs have only a lower germ reduction effect than programs with a treatment temperature of greater than or equal to 60 ° C. Cold wash programs are laundry treatment programs with a treatment temperature of less than or equal to 30 ° C. In addition to the treatment temperature, the duration of treatment and the treatment agents used, in particular the detergents, of the previous laundry treatment programs also have an influence on the degree of hygiene in the laundry treatment appliance. Thus, in order to determine the degree of hygiene of the washing machine, the setting and operating parameters of the previous laundry treatment programs stored in the control device, for example the program selection, the treatment temperature, the program duration, the amount of laundry, the amount of water used, optionally selected special functions and / or the type and / or Amount of the treatment agent used to be evaluated. A hygiene grade of the laundry treatment appliance determined or estimated from the setting and operating parameters serves, for example, as follows: B. as a measure of the initial degree of hygiene H _orig .

Furthermore, a degree of hygiene of the laundry and / or the laundry treatment appliance can be determined by measuring, by means of an ozone sensor, the time reduction of ozone provided in the laundry treatment appliance for contact with the laundry, e.g. B. as a measure of the initial Hygienegrad H _orig . For this purpose, for example, the laundry-containing container of the laundry treatment device with an amount of M _{1 is applied} to ozone and the decrease .DELTA.M the amount M ₁ of ozone after a predetermined time t _set with an ozone sensor (b) and / or an ozone sensor (c). Preferably, in this case in the container of the laundry treatment device, a predetermined concentration c _{set set} to ozone and evaluated with a arranged in this container ozone sensor (c) time decrease in the concentration c of ozone as a measure of the degree of hygiene of the laundry. In this case, a decay constant λ of the ozone, corrected for the natural decomposition of the ozone, is advantageously used as a measure of the degree of hygiene.

That in the container of the laundry treatment device a predetermined concentration c _{set set} to ozone, may in particular also mean that an ozone-containing gas mixture or an ozone-containing liquid of unknown concentration of ozone is added to the container and first with the ozone sensor (c) the Concentration c _set of ozone is measured.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method, at a predetermined flow rate v _{set of} an ozone-containing gas mixture or an ozone-containing liquid at an input to the container of the laundry treatment device, a concentration c _in predetermined and the concentration c _out at the output from the container with an ozone sensor (b) and the concentration difference Δc = c _in -c _out -ΔC _dec , where ΔC _{dec is} a measure of the natural decomposition of ozone, is evaluated to determine the hygiene grade of the laundry.

The fact that "a concentration c _in at ozone is specified at an input to the container of the laundry treatment appliance" can in particular also mean that an ozone-containing gas mixture or an ozone-containing liquid of unknown concentration of ozone is brought to the inlet and first with the ozone sensor ( a) the concentration c _in of ozone is measured.

These methods can be used, for example, to determine the initial degree of hygiene H _orig . In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, therefore, the initial degree of hygiene H _{orig is} determined using at least one sensor, in particular a biosensor or an ozone sensor.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, empirical values for the initial degree of hygiene H _orig can be used, for example an average value for the degree of hygiene of laundry to be treated of 10 ⁸ germs / cm ² . It can also be considered that the hygiene level of tea towels and underwear is generally worse than that of outerwear.

Possibly. It is also possible to use a combination of different methods for determining the initial degree of hygiene H _orig .

In the abovementioned embodiment of the method according to the invention, a degree of hygiene predicted according to a selection of a laundry treatment program is H _res or a degree of hygiene resulting after the selected laundry treatment program has ended. H _{res of} the laundry and / or the laundry treatment device, taking into account a predetermined or determined initial level of hygiene H _orig and the selected laundry treatment program determined, preferably a difference .DELTA.H between the resulting Hygienegrad H _{res of} the laundry and / or the laundry treatment device and a desired degree of hygiene H _tar der Laundry is displayed on a display device as a signal S1. Preferably, the signal S1 is displayed when ΔH = (H _{res -H tar} ) ≥ 0.

The laundry treatment program will depend on the type of laundry treatment device. A washing machine will usually be a washing program and a dryer will be a drying program.

In a washing program is usually after wetting the laundry to be treated, especially laundry to be washed, the laundry using a detergent and a predetermined amount of water at a likewise predetermined temperature profile for a certain period of time washed. In addition, various rinsing steps may be provided. Finally, the container is moved in a predetermined manner with the laundry, usually a rotatable drum, during a washing program, which generally also includes rinsing steps. In particular, speed, direction of rotation, downtime and / or movement times of a drum can be selected differently. The influence of these factors on an initial degree of hygiene H _orig is generally either known or can be determined by experiments, so that a resulting degree of hygiene H _res can be determined for different washing programs.

The same applies to a dryer, whereby in particular the temperature and drying time chosen for the drying determine the resulting degree of hygiene H _res .

In a preferred embodiment of the method, a relationship between the resulting hygiene level H _res and the selectable laundry treatment programs is therefore stored in the control device of the laundry treatment device for predetermined values of the initial hygiene level H _orig .

In this case, it is again preferred that in the case of a washing machine or a washer dryer in the selectable laundry treatment programs, a relationship between the type and amount of a detergent used, a temperature profile and / or a movement program of the container and the resulting degree of hygiene H _{res of} the laundry are stored.

The container for receiving laundry to be treated according to the invention is generally a drum rotatable about a horizontal or vertical axis, preferably a horizontal axis.

"Movement program of the container" therefore generally means a succession of rotation and standstill phases of the drum. In this case, in rotational phases of the drum, the rotational speed of the drum may be different. In addition, the direction of rotation of the drum can be changed. In particular reversing phases are possible in which the drum is first rotated in one direction and. then, if necessary, after a short break, again rotated in the other direction, this process can be repeated several times.

Generally, a desired level of hygiene is to be H _tar achieved after carrying out a laundry treatment program. The desired degree of hygiene H _tar may differ, depending on whether the laundry to be treated is intended for example for the sick, the elderly or babies. Accordingly, therefore, the laundry treating appliance is preferably arranged so that a user of the laundry treating appliance can input the hygienic degree H _tar . It can therefore depending on the degree of hygiene H _tar a different difference ΔH = (H _res - H _tar ) result.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, therefore, with a determined difference ΔH = (H _res -H _tar ) <0, the selected laundry treatment program is modified in order to increase the resulting hygiene level H _res until, for the difference ΔH = (H _{res -H tar} ) ≥ 0 applies.

Modification of the laundry treatment program here means in particular that one of the aforementioned parameters such. As temperature, movement program of the drum, duration of the program and its steps are changed so that the desired degree of hygiene H _{tar is} at least achieved.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, a type and / or amount of a detergent is determined by means of a detergent sensor in the laundry treatment appliance and the selected laundry treatment program is modified accordingly.

In a further preferred embodiment, a set and automatically set by a user of the laundry treatment device type and / or amount of laundry is taken into account.

Preferably, a difference .DELTA.H = (H _{res -H tar} ) <0 between the resulting hygienic level H _res and a desired degree of hygiene H _tar on the display device as a signal S2, which spatially, visually and / or acoustically different from signal S1, is displayed.

The display device may for example consist of one or more LEDs, which may indicate a degree of hygiene H _{res of} the laundry, if necessary by lighting or non-lighting or by displaying different colors. Alternatively or in addition to this, for example, a liquid crystal display may be present.

The invention also relates to a laundry treatment appliance having a container for receiving laundry to be treated, a control device which is designed to carry out a plurality of selectable laundry treatment programs, and a display device, wherein the display device. at least one display element, in particular a display or at least one LED, which is set up to display a resulting degree of hygiene H _res . Preferably, the control means is arranged and the laundry treating appliance has means for carrying out a method of detecting and displaying a hygiene degree of laundry in the laundry treating appliance as described above.

The laundry treating appliance is generally a washing machine, a washer-dryer or a tumble dryer.

The laundry treatment appliance preferably contains as such means a device for providing ozone, in particular an ozone generator or else an opening or a buffer for an ozone-containing gas mixture or an ozone-containing liquid. Thus, the determination of a degree of hygiene on the consumption of ozone is possible. The control device of Laundry treatment equipment is then usually set up to determine a degree of hygiene by measuring the time reduction of ozone provided in the laundry treatment appliance as a measure of the degree of hygiene.

Further funds within the meaning of the invention are sensors, for. As a detergent sensor, an ozone sensor and / or a biosensor, a pump or a fan for setting a desired flow of an ozone-containing air or an ozone-containing gas, an ozone removing device and / or various controllable closure devices. To determine a degree of hygiene, a biosensor may be present in the laundry treatment appliance, for example, which can detect germs selectively in general.

The invention has the advantage that it is possible in a simple and efficient way to determine the hygiene level of laundry treatment equipment and display. Finally, the method according to the invention makes it possible to provide improved laundry treatment programs and hygiene programs, in particular for improving the degree of hygiene. Thus, a general improvement in the hygiene of the laundry is achieved, which also also for special user groups such. As allergy sufferers can be targeted. The invention makes it possible to also take into account a disease or sensitivity of a user wearing the laundry.

In addition, a user of the laundry treatment appliance is freed from its uncertainty, whether a particular laundry treatment program, eg. For example, a specific wash program meets its hygiene requirements. For example, in the case of a washing program "baby clothing", a positive confirmation of the washing result can be made. As a result, a carefree washing is possible, in addition to too high temperatures can be avoided. As a result, the laundry can be spared and energy consumption reduced. Finally, by specifying a "scaled" level of hygiene, a user of the laundry treatment appliance can also be given a positive affirmation for per se "less" hygienic laundry treatment programs.

A non-limiting embodiment of the invention is illustrated below with reference to the figures, wherein

1 a schematic representation of the inventive washing machine and

2 shows the relationship between the degree of hygiene and the treatment temperature as an example.

As an example of a laundry treatment appliance according to the invention, a washing machine is cited. The 1 schematically shows the presently relevant parts of a washing machine, in which a method to be explained below can be performed. The in the 1 shown washing machine 1 has a tub 2 in which a drum 3 as a container for laundry 7 around a horizontal axis of rotation 4 rotatably mounted and by a drive motor 14 can be operated. The arrow here shows the direction of rotation of the drum 3 at. In the drum 3 are on the inner surface of the drum shell Wäschemitnehmer 34 and scooping devices 5 for the wash liquor 6 available.

The washing machine 1 also has a water inlet system in a water inlet 8th arranged a water connection fitting, not shown here for the domestic water network, an electrically controllable valve 9 and a Waschmitteleinspüleinrichtung ("Einspülschale") 11 having.

The over the water supply 8th incoming water can through the dispenser tray 11 detergent portions located there via the connecting pipe 10 in the tub 2 transport.

The washing machine of 1 allows the determination of a hygiene level of laundry by the consumption of germs killing ozone. This is located in the water supply line 8th a Venturi nozzle 26 in the embodiment shown here via an ozone supply line 25 with an ozone generator 32 connected is. The ozone generator is in a supply air duct 30 Supplied with air. About the Venturi nozzle 26 sucks in the water supply 8th running water from the domestic water network in the ozone supply line 25 located, ozone-containing air. As a result, ozone enters the dispenser bowl together with water 11 and then into the tub 2 and to the laundry 7 in the drum 3 , However, ozone can also be introduced as a gas in principle.

In the 2 schematically the relationship between the achievable with a laundry treatment program level of hygiene H on the hand of the parameter treatment temperature T is shown. The horizontal axis of the in 2 1, the treatment temperature T in ° C of a laundry treatment program is shown, and on the vertical axis, the achieved hygienic degree of the laundry after performing a laundry treatment program with that in FIG 2 applied treatment temperature T applied. Here, the degree of hygiene in percent of the remaining on the laundry after treatment germs of a normal with germs loaded laundry. It is assumed that a normally loaded with germs garment 100,000,000 germs per Square centimeter laundry area. The in 2 shown functional relationship between the degree of hygiene H and the treatment temperature T should only qualitatively describe the context. Further, in addition to the treatment temperature T further operating parameters, such as treatment duration or type and amount of the treatment agent, the degree of hygiene H influence.

Such basic relationships between the degree of hygiene H, understood here as the predetermined degree of hygiene H _orig , and the individual setting and / or operating parameters are in a control device 12 stored. Depending on a selection of a laundry treatment program and, if appropriate, additional additional functions, a resulting hygienic level H _{res can be} predicted from the setting and / or operating parameters assigned to the program or functions, which after selection of the laundry treatment program on a display device 29 the laundry treatment device is displayed as a signal S1. Thus, immediately after the selection and before starting a laundry treatment program, an operator has the opportunity to check whether the predicted hygienic level H _res meets his expectations and, if necessary, to select another laundry treatment program.

In a further embodiment, the washing machine in the 1 not shown on adjustment, with which an operator can set the hygiene level H _{orig of} the laundry to be treated or with possibly a further adjustment a desired degree of hygiene H _tar can pretend on the display device 29 or another display device can be displayed.

When in the 1 the embodiment shown is the Einspülschale 11 via a connecting pipe (filling hose) 10 with the tub 2 connected. In addition, the Einspülschale 11 via a first partial exhaust air duct 18 and the tub 2 via a second partial exhaust air duct 19 with an exhaust duct 17 connected. In the first partial exhaust air duct 18 There is also a first adjustable closure device 33 , z. B. flaps.

Ozone-containing air or ozone-containing aqueous liquid from the ozone generator 32 can through the dispenser tray 11 and the connecting pipe 10 in the tub 2 and in the drum 3 reach. Germs on the in the drum 3 located laundry 7 are attacked by the ozone. This reduces the content of ozone in the air or in the aqueous liquid beyond the extent due to the natural decomposition of the ozone, so that the consumption of ozone as a measure of an initial degree of hygiene H _{orig of} the laundry can be used.

In front of the dispenser tray 11 is an ozone sensor (a) 16 arranged, with the help of which in the embodiment shown here in one by means of a suction pump 21 set flow velocity v _set a concentration cm of ozone in front of the dispenser tray 11 which serves as a reference for a subsequent decrease in the ozone concentration. The means of an ozone sensor (b) 27 detected concentration c _out of ozone can be used to determine the decrease in ozone concentration due to the killing of the germs. The position of the ozone sensor (b) 27 is here as an output from the under investigation, laundry 7 containing drum 3 considered. After measuring the concentration c _out at the output 27 from the drum 3 with the ozone sensor (b) 27 the concentration difference Δc = c _in -c _out -Δc _dec , where Δc _{dec is} a measure of the natural decomposition of ozone, is evaluated to determine the hygiene level of the laundry. For this purpose, for example, ozone-containing air at an open second controllable closure device 35 and a closed first controllable closure device 33 through the tub 2 and the second partial exhaust air duct 19 in the exhaust duct 17 reach. The ozone concentrations are determined by ozone sensor (a) 16 and ozone sensor (b) 27 measured.

The in the 1 shown embodiment of the laundry treatment machine also allows a specification of an initial level of hygiene H _{orig of} the laundry by a default value can be specified, possibly taking into account the type of laundry used (underwear, tea towels, etc.), which may be set by a user on the laundry treatment appliance can.

The embodiment shown here also allows a determination of the degree of hygiene of the laundry via a direct measurement in the laundry 7 containing drum 3 , This is in the drum 3 an ozone sensor (c) 24 arranged. In the drum 3 can be adjusted by introducing a known amount or concentration of ozone, a predetermined concentration c _set of ozone. Alternatively, one from the ozone sensor (c) 24 First, certain ozone concentrations are assumed to be the reference point c _set . In any case, to determine a degree of hygiene of the laundry 7 that with the ozone sensor (c) 24 measured time decrease of the concentration c of ozone evaluated. Since ozone can also react with lifeless contaminants of the laundry, contamination of the laundry with dirt should preferably be taken into account.

In the drum 3 is next to the laundry 7 also an aqueous liquid 6 indicated in the a biosensor 15 for the qualitative and quantitative detection of germs.

In the exhaust duct 17 There is an ozone removing device 20 , which contains an activated charcoal filter unit 28 contains, and a suction pump 21 , The of the dispenser bowl 11 and the tub 2 by means of the suction pump 21 aspirated ozone-containing air passes to remove excess ozone in the ozone removing device 20 and the clean air through an exhaust outlet 22 in the installation room of the washing machine 1 , The suction pump 21 is in the exhaust duct 17 between the ozone removing device 20 and the exhaust air outlet 22 arranged. An ozone sensor (d) 31 for measuring an ozone content is between the ozone removing device 20 and the suction pump 21 arranged. A proper functioning of the ozone removing device 20 occurs when the ozone sensor (d) 31 No or only very small amounts of ozone can be detected.

To carry out the method according to the invention in the washing machine, a resulting degree of hygiene H _{res of} the laundry 7 determined, which as a signal S1 on a display device 29 is shown. The indication of the resulting hygienic degree H _{res of} the laundry 7 may be determined taking into account a predetermined initial hygiene level H _orig and / or the selected laundry treatment program determined as described above, and is done after the selection of a laundry program and / or after the lapse of a selected laundry treatment program. The signal S1 indicates the predicted or determined resulting hygienic grade H _res . In one embodiment, the signal S1 may be a difference ΔH between the resulting hygienic level H _{res of} the laundry and a previously entered desired level of hygiene H _{tar of} the laundry 7 be determined, ie ΔH = H _res - H _tar , which is preferably understood as the signal S1, the positive difference ΔH (ΔH = H _res - H _tar ≥ 0). The display device 29 serves for acoustic and / or visual indication of the degree of hygiene.

In addition, at the in the 1 shown washing machine a difference .DELTA.H = (H _res - H _tar ) <0 between the resulting hygiene level H _{res of} the laundry and a desired degree of hygiene H _tar , on the display device 29 signal S2, which differs locally, visually and / or acoustically from signal S1.

With a determined difference ΔH = (H _{res -H tar} ) <0, the selected laundry treatment program is modified here to determine the resulting. Hygienic grade H _res to increase until the difference ΔH = (H _res - H _tar ) ≥ 0 applies.

It is also in the tub 2 a heater 13 , The valve 9 as well as the heating 13 can by a control device 12 be controlled in accordance with a schedule which may be tied to a timed program and / or to the achievement of certain measurements of parameters such as liquor level, liquor temperature, drum rotation speed, etc. within the washing machine. In addition, the signals from the drive motor 14 , Biosensor 15 , Ozone generator 32 , Suction pump 21 , Ozone sensor (a) 16 , Ozone sensor (b) 27 , Ozone sensor (c) 24 and ozone sensor (d) 31 the control device 12 supplied, although this is not shown for reasons of clarity.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Washing machine

2

tub

3

Drum, container for laundry

4

axis of rotation

5

scoop

6

aqueous liquid

7

Laundry

8th

Water supply (from the domestic water network)

9

electrically controllable valve

10

Connecting pipe (filling hose for lye / water)

11

Detergent dispenser (dispenser)

12

control device

13

heater

14

drive motor

15

biosensor

16

Ozone sensor (a)

17

exhaust duct

18

first exhaust partial duct

19

second exhaust air part channel

20

Ozone removal device

21

suction pump

22

exhaust air outlet

23

Drain pump

24

Ozone sensor (c)

25

Ozone supply line

26

venturi

27

Ozone sensor (b)

28

filter unit

29

display device

30

Supply air duct for the ozone generator

31

Ozone sensor (d)

32

Ozone generator, device for providing ozone

33

First adjustable closure device, flap

34

laundry agitator

35

Second adjustable closure device, flap

Claims (19)

Method for detecting and indicating a degree of hygiene of laundry ( 7 ) in a laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) and / or the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) containing a container ( 3 ) for receiving laundry to be treated ( 7 ), a control device ( 12 ) configured to perform a plurality of selectable laundry treatment programs, and a display device ( 29 ), characterized in that a hygiene grade H _res predicted after a selection of a laundry treatment program or a hygiene level H _{res of} the laundry resulting after a selected laundry treatment program has expired ( 7 ) and / or the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) on the display device ( 29 ) is displayed as a signal S1. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the resulting degree of hygiene H _{res of} the laundry ( 7 ) and / or the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) is determined taking into account a predetermined or determined initial hygiene level H _orig and / or the selected laundry treatment program. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a difference ΔH between the resulting hygiene level H _{res of} the laundry and a desired degree of hygiene H _{tar of} the laundry ( 7 ) and / or the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) on the display device ( 29 ) is displayed as a signal S1. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the control device ( 12 ) at least one setting and / or operating parameters of past laundry treatment programs are stored and an initial degree of hygiene H _{orig is} determined from the setting and / or operating parameters of previous laundry treatment programs. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the control device ( 12 ) for given values of the predetermined or initial degree of hygiene H _orig a relation between the resulting degree of hygiene. H _res the laundry and / or the laundry treatment device ( 1 ) and the selectable laundry treatment programs is deposited. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that in the selectable laundry treatment programs, a relationship between the type and amount of a detergent used, a temperature profile and / or a movement program of the container ( 3 ) and the resulting degree of hygiene H _{res of} the laundry are deposited. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that by using at least one sensor ( 15 ) the initial degree of hygiene H _{orig is} determined. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the initial degree of hygiene H _{orig is} determined by means of an ozone sensor ( 16 . 24 . 27 ) the time decrease in the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) for contact with the laundry ( 7 ) and / or parts of the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) supplied ozone as a measure of the initial degree of hygiene H _orig . Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the laundry ( 7 ) containing containers ( 3 ) of the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) is subjected to an amount of M ₁ of ozone and the decrease ΔM of the amount M ₁ of ozone after a predetermined time t _set with an ozone sensor (b) ( 27 ) and / or an ozone sensor (c) ( 24 ) is measured. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that in the container ( 3 ) of the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) a predetermined concentration c _{set is} adjusted to ozone and one with a in this container ( 3 ) arranged ozone sensor (c) ( 24 ) measured time decrease of the concentration c of ozone as a measure of the degree of hygiene of the laundry and / or the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) is evaluated. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that a decay constant λ of the ozone, corrected for the natural decomposition of the ozone, is used as the degree of hygiene. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that as a measure of the degree of hygiene of the laundry and / or the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) the number n of germs (cfu) per cm ² on the surface of the laundry and / or the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) is used. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at a detected difference ΔH = (H _res - H _tar ) <0, the selected laundry treatment program is modified to increase the resulting degree of hygiene H _res until the difference Δ _H = ( H _res - H _tar ) ≥ 0. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a difference ΔH = (H _res - H _tar ) <0 between the resulting degree of hygiene H _res and a desired degree of hygiene H _tar , on the display device ( 29 ) is displayed as signal S2, which differs in particular locally, visually and / or acoustically from signal S1. Method according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a type and / or amount of a detergent by means of a detergent sensor in the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) and the selected laundry treatment program is modified accordingly. Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that one of a user of the laundry treatment device ( 1 ) or automatically determined type and / or quantity of laundry ( 7 ) is taken into account. Laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) containing a container ( 3 ) for receiving laundry to be treated ( 7 ), a control device ( 12 ) configured to perform a plurality of selectable laundry treatment programs, and a display device ( 29 ), characterized in that the display device ( 29 ) contains at least one display element, in particular a display or at least one LED, which is set up to display a resulting degree of hygiene H _res . Laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 17, characterized in that the control device ( 12 ) is set up and the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) Medium ( 16 . 27 . 24 . 31 . 21 . 35 ) to provide a method of detecting and indicating a degree of hygiene of laundry ( 7 ) in the laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 14. Laundry treatment appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that it has a washing machine ( 1 ), a washer-dryer or a tumble dryer.

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