DE102014220023A1 - Laundry care device with an air suction device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry care device (100) for the care of laundry, with a condensation device (111), with a dosing system (105) for dosing laundry substance, with an induction bowl (103) for receiving the dosing system (105), with a shell housing ( 101) for receiving the dispensing tray (103), with an air suction device (107) for sucking air from an outer region of the laundry care device (100), and with an air line (109) for supplying the sucked air to the condensation device (111). In the air line (109) a branch element (113) is arranged. The branch element (113) is connected to the shell housing (101) through a supply line (115) for feeding the sucked air to the metering system (105) in the induction bowl (103) of the shell housing (101).

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry care apparatus having an air suction device for cooling laundry care substance.

In a laundry care process in a laundry care appliance, such as e.g. a washing machine, an amount of laundry-care substance must be added to the laundry in the laundry drum to ensure effective care of laundry in the laundry-care appliance. In conventionally used laundry-care appliances, the laundry-care substance is placed in an induction bowl which is located in a shaft of the laundry-care appliance. The laundry care device passes water into the shaft, which then flows into the dispenser tray, whereby the Wäschepflegesubstanz is dissolved in the dispenser tray. The resulting mixture of water and Wäschepflegesubstanz is supplied to the laundry care device to be available for the laundry care process.

In order to avoid that the user of the laundry care appliance must manually add the laundry care substance to the laundry bowl in the washing tray before a laundry care process, conventional laundry care appliances may have metering systems.

In DE 10 2008 042 655 A1 is a water-conducting household appliance with a controllable by a control unit automatic dosing described.

It is the object underlying the invention to provide a laundry care device with an effective dosing system.

This object is achieved by articles having the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figure, the description and the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a laundry care device for the care of laundry, with a condensation device, with a dosing system for dosing Wäschepflegesubstanz, with a Einspülschale for receiving the dosing, with a shell housing for receiving the Einspülschale, with an air intake for sucking Air from an exterior of the laundry care apparatus, and with an air line for supplying the sucked air to the condensing device, wherein in the air line, a branch element is arranged, and wherein the branch element is connected by a supply line to the shell housing to the sucked air the metering system in the Einspülschale feed the shell housing.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective cooling of the Wäschepflegesubstanz is made possible in the dispensing bowl, without having to be installed in the laundry care device in addition to the already existing in the laundry care device condensation device a separate cooling element.

Due to the tight installation space situation in laundry care appliances, heating of the entire laundry care appliance occurs during the heating of laundry. If the laundry care device has laundry-care substance in the dispensing system, then the laundry-care substance may also heat up. When the laundry care appliance heats up, temperatures of significantly greater than 40 ° C. may occur in the dispensing dish or in the dispensing system. At such temperatures, the laundry care effect of the laundry care fabric and the laundry care additives, e.g. Softener or bleach, be reduced.

A laundry care appliance, such as a tumble dryer, usually has a condensation device through which moisture from the air can be removed to achieve effective drying of laundry in the laundry drum. The condensation device is connected by an air line with an air suction device, can be sucked through the air from the outside of the laundry care device and the condensing device can be supplied.

It has proved to be advantageous not to supply the air sucked in by the air suction device exclusively to the condensation device, but to use part of the intake air for cooling laundry substance in the metering system. This is achieved by a branching element which is integrated into the air duct and which is connected to the supply line, through which a part of the air sucked in by the air suction means is supplied to the shell housing and the dispenser shell. As a result, an effective cooling of the shell housing and the Wäschepflegesubstanzen be achieved in the metering system. Since conventional Wäschepflegesubstanzen can lose their effectiveness in a multiple heating to a temperature of about 40 ° C, it is advantageous to prevent heating of the Wäschepflegesubstanzen used to a temperature of about 40 ° C.

By previous washing or drying steps, the inside air of the laundry care device can already be warmed up, so that through the Indoor air no sufficient cooling of the laundry care substance can be ensured. For cooling, therefore, the use of air from the outside of the laundry care device has proven to be particularly advantageous because the outside air usually has a lower temperature than the air in the interior of the laundry care device.

The air intake device already installed in the laundry care device for cooling the condensation device may be e.g. a radial fan, which provides sufficient air flow to supply both the condensing device and the induction bowl with a sufficient amount of cool air. In addition, the air intake device is designed to compensate for an additional occurring during the introduction of the sucked air into the dispenser shell pressure loss.

By using the branch element in the air line leading to the condenser and by supplying sucked air through the feed line to the shell housing and to the dispenser shell, effective cooling of the laundry care substance in the dispensing system can be achieved.

A laundry care appliance is understood to mean a device which is used for laundry care, such as e.g. a washing machine, a tumble dryer or a combination of washing machine and tumble dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood as a household laundry care appliance. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of household management, and is treated with the laundry in normal household quantities.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the metering system is adapted to deliver a predetermined amount of laundry care substance to the dispensing bowl during a dosing process, and wherein the amount of laundry detergent in the dosing system is higher than the need for laundry detergent during a dosing operation.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that when using a metering system with a larger amount of Wäschepflegesubstanz the heating of Wäschepflegesubstanz can be delayed in the dosing.

A dosing system comprises an electronically controllable mechanical system for semi-automatic dosing and addition of laundry care substance to the laundry care device. Since the dosing has its own reservoir for receiving Wäschepflegesubstanz, a larger amount of Wäschepflegesubstanz is usually filled in the reservoir, which is sufficient for several dosing. For this reason, the Wäschepflegesubstanz can remain in the dosing system for a longer period in the laundry care device and the Wäschepflegesubstanz can lose by repeatedly occurring high temperatures of effectiveness.

By supplying the sucked air through the branching element and through the supply line effective cooling of the larger amount of Wäschepflegesubstanz is ensured in the metering system.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the branching element comprises a three-way valve which is connected to the air intake device through a first section of the air line, which is connected to the condensation device by a second section of the air line, and which is connected to the shell housing by the supply line, wherein the three-way valve in a first valve setting, the sucked air through the second portion of the air line of the condenser supplies, and in a second valve setting, the sucked air through the supply line to the shell housing.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by using a three-way valve as a branch element advantageous control of the amount of sucked air, which is supplied to the dispenser by the feed line, is possible. Thereby, the cooling effect of the supplied sucked air can be controlled.

At the beginning of the laundry care process, the air in the laundry care device has a low temperature, so that a strong cooling of the laundry care substance in the dispenser is not necessary. In this case, the first valve setting of the three-way valve can be selected, whereby the three-way valve supplies the sucked air through the second portion of the air line of the condenser to ensure effective air drying by the condenser.

During the laundry treatment process, the temperature in the interior of the laundry care appliance increases, as a result of which the laundry-care substance in the dispenser bath is likewise heated. In order to achieve effective cooling of the dispensing tray in this case, the second valve setting of the three-way valve can be selected so as not to supply the sucked air to the condensation device, but to feed it through the feed line to the dispenser tray.

Thus, by controlling the supply of the sucked air through the three-way valve, an effective and temporally advantageous controlled reduction of the heating of the Wäschepflegesubstanz be achieved in the metering system.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the three-way valve is designed to supply the sucked air through the second section of the air line of the condensation device in a third valve setting, as well as through the supply line to the shell housing.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that by using the third valve setting, both the condensation device and the shell housing can be supplied simultaneously with sucked air. In this way, both the function of the condensation device can be ensured during the laundry care process, as well as the shell housing are cooled by supplied air.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the dosing system comprises a temperature detection device for detecting a temperature of the laundry care substance, and the laundry care device comprises a control device for controlling the supplyable amount of intake air through the supply line in dependence on the detected temperature.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by using the temperature detecting means and the control means for controlling the supply of sucked air depending on the detected temperature, it can be prevented that the temperature of the laundry fabric in the metering system reaches such a high value that the laundry care effect the Wäschepflegesubstanz is reduced.

If the detected temperature reaches a temperature threshold at which the laundry care substance can be damaged, the temperature detection device can transmit a signal to the control device. By virtue of such a signal, the controller may, for example, increase the supply of aspirated air to the shell housing to achieve more efficient cooling of the laundry care substance in the dispensing system. Thus, by controlling the supply of air in response to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means, excessive heating of the laundry-care substance in the metering system is prevented.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the control device is designed to control the air intake device in dependence on the detected temperature of the laundry care substance in order to regulate the amount of the intake air.

This achieves the technical advantage that effective control of the laundry care substance in the metering system is achieved by controlling the air intake device as a function of the detected temperature.

If the temperature detecting means detects a high temperature of the laundry-care substance in the metering system, the air-sucking means can be controlled by the controller so as to increase the amount of sucked air and to prevent a strong heating of the laundry-care substance.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the control device is designed to control the branch element in dependence on the detected temperature of the laundry care substance in order to regulate the supplyable quantity of the intake air through the supply line.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that is achieved by controlling the branch element in response to the detected temperature effective cooling of the Wäschepflegesubstanz in the metering system. If the sensed temperature of the laundry fabric in the dispenser bowl is low, then the controller may control the diverter such that a majority of the air drawn in by the air aspirator is supplied to the condenser to ensure effective air drying by the condenser. Effective cooling of the laundry care substance in the metering system is not necessary in this case. However, if the detected temperature of the laundry fabric in the metering system is high, then the controller may control the branch element such that a majority of the sucked air is supplied to the laundry fabric in the induction cup through the supply line, thereby preventing excessive heating of the laundry fabric ,

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the supply line is connected to the shell housing at the rear of the shell housing in order to supply the sucked-in air through the rear side of the shell housing to the shell housing.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by supplying the sucked air through the back of the shell housing an effective Cooling the Wäschepflegesubstanz is achieved in the dosing. When the condenser is near the rear of the laundry machine, the supply of sucked air through the rear of the shell can be as short as possible. Due to the reduced length of the supply line, the sucked air is not strongly heated during the supply through the interior of the laundry machine, and it is caused during the introduction of the sucked air into the shell housing, a lower pressure loss. As a result, a higher volume flow of cool air can be made available to the shell housing, whereby a heating of the laundry substance in the metering system can be delayed.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the outer region of the dispensing bowl comprises a rib, wherein the rib defines an opening between the dispensing bowl and the bowl housing for directing the sucked air from the feed line through the opening over the surface of the dispensing bowl.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that a sufficiently large area is created by the opening between the dispenser shell and the shell housing, through which the sucked air can be passed to receive heat from the surface of the dispenser shell. As a result, an effective heat dissipation from the dispenser tray can be achieved and a strong heating of the Wäschepflegesubstanz in the dosing system is prevented.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the opening between the bottom, the longitudinal side or the top of the dispenser shell and the shell housing is formed.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the positioning of the opening between the bottom, the longitudinal side or the top of the dispenser tray and the shell housing an effective dissipation of heat is achieved by the intake air. Since the opening comprises a large area, effective heat dissipation from the dispenser tray can be ensured.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the dispensing bowl comprises a bowl opening in a front side or in an upper side of the dispensing bowl in order to guide the sucked-in air through the bowl opening out of the laundry care appliance.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an outlet is created by the shell opening in the front or the top of the dispenser. The outlet is advantageous for effectively draining air that has passed through the dispenser tray and has absorbed the heat from the dispenser tray. The effective dissipation of heat prevents excessive heating of the laundry care substance in the metering system.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the shell housing has an air channel on the outside of the shell housing in order to guide the sucked air over the outside of the shell housing.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that is efficiently guided by the formation of an air duct on the outside of the shell housing, the sucked air over the outer surface of the shell housing. This allows the shell housing to be effectively cooled. Since the shell casing is in contact with the metering system and the laundry-care substance contained therein, excessive heating of the laundry-care substance can be prevented.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a housing opening in a housing wall of the housing of the laundry care appliance, wherein the housing opening is connected to the air channel through an outlet line to the sucked air through the air duct, through the outlet line and through the housing opening from the laundry care device to lead.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that an outlet is provided by the housing opening, through which the air, which flows past the outside of the shell housing and has absorbed heat, can be effectively dissipated. Due to the effective heat dissipation to the outside of the laundry care device a strong warming of Wäschepflegesubstanz is prevented.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the air intake device comprises a radial fan.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that a radial fan generates a sufficiently strong air flow, so that both the condensation device, and the shell housing can be sufficiently supplied with sucked air. In particular, a radial fan has been found to be advantageous in order to compensate for the pressure drop in the lines and when feeding the sucked air into the shell housing.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the air line comprises a first diameter, and the delivery conduit comprises a second diameter, the second diameter being less than the first diameter.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that with a constant amount of intake air, the condensing device, a larger amount of air can be supplied, as the shell housing. Since the condensing device usually requires a larger amount of air supplied during air drying than the amount of air required for cooling the laundry substance in the metering system, the choice of the diameter of the air and supply line can effectively control the amounts of air supplied be achieved.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

It shows:

1 a schematic representation of a laundry care device.

1 shows a schematic representation of a general laundry care device 100 , such as a washing machine. The laundry care device 100 includes a shell housing 101 into which an induction bowl 103 can be used. In the dispenser bowl 103 detergents or other laundry-care substances can be filled in. The induction bowl 103 can be a dosing system 105 comprise, which is adapted to receive a quantity of Wäschepflegesubstanz, and this during a dosing to the laundry care device 100 leave.

On an outside of the laundry care device 100 is an air intake device 107 attached, the air from the outside of the laundry care device 100 sucks and the sucked air through an air line 109 to a condensation device 111 passes. An advantage of sucking in outside air is that the outside air has a lower temperature than the temperature of air in the laundry machine 100 is located, and may have warmed up due to a laundry drying process.

The air intake device 107 may comprise a radial fan, which is the condensation device 111 supplying a constant flow of air. The condensation device 111 is in a laundry care device 100 , such as a tumble dryer, to remove moisture from the air during an air-drying operation.

The air line 109 includes a branch element 113 passing through a supply line 115 with the shell 101 connected is. Part of the through the air intake 107 sucked air can through the branch element 113 and through the supply line 115 to the shell 101 be directed. As a result, the sucked air is in the shell housing 101 located Einspülschale 103 and the dosing system located therein 105 fed. The laundry care substance that is in the dosing system 105 is cooled by the intake air.

To effectively cool the laundry care substance in the dosing system 105 To reach the sucked air on the outside of the shell housing 101 , eg through an air duct, are guided. Alternatively, the sucked air on the inside of the shell housing 101 through an opening between the shell housing 101 and the Einspülschale 103 be guided, wherein the opening through at least one rib on the inside of the shell housing 101 is limited.

The sucked air can after passing over the surface of the dispenser tray 103 was passed and heat from the Wäschepflegesubstanz in the Einspülschale 103 received through a shell opening at the front of the dispenser tray 103 from the laundry care device 100 be directed.

When the sucked air at the back of the shell housing 101 in the shell housing 101 is passed, then the air flow through the opening between the shell housing 101 and the Einspülschale 103 and through the shell opening on the front of the dispenser tray 103 from the laundry care device 100 directed.

When the intake air through the air duct on the outside of the shell housing 101 is passed, then the need for a discharge of the intake air can be omitted, since the sucked air in the interior of the laundry care device 100 distributed and over any openings of the laundry care device 100 in the outdoor area of the laundry care device 100 can get. When using an air duct, it is also possible that the laundry care device 100 a housing opening in a housing of the laundry care device 100 includes. The housing opening is connected to an outlet of the air channel through an outlet conduit. As a result, sucked air, through the air duct through the output line and through the housing opening in the outside area of the laundry care device 100 be directed.

The cooling of laundry care substance in the dosing module 105 through the diversion of Air from an existing cooling air system offers several advantages. It is ensured that the sucked air for cooling the Wäschepflegesubstanz in the dosing 105 from the outside of the laundry care device 100 is sucked, and not from the interior of the laundry care device 100 because the inside air may have been heated due to previous steps during the laundry process. As a result, a more effective cooling of the laundry care substance is achieved.

Another advantage of using a in the laundry care device 100 already existing cooling air system is that no additional ventilation device in the laundry care device 100 must be installed, but that the already installed air intake 107 can be used.

Another advantage is that the built-in air intake 107 is designed as a radial fan. A radial fan is used to cool laundry care substance in the dosing module 105 suitable because the centrifugal fan is basically suitable to promote air through flow channels with a certain flow resistance, since at corresponding pressure losses, the delivered air volume does not decrease greatly.

All features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention, in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

 Laundry care device

101

 shell case

103

 dispenser tray

105

 dosing

107

 Air intake means

109

 air line

111

 condensation device

113

 branch element

115

 feed

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008042655 A1 [0004]

Claims (15)

Laundry care device ( 100 ) for the care of laundry, with a condensation device ( 111 ), with a dosing system ( 105 ) for dosing laundry substance, with an induction bowl ( 103 ) for receiving the dosing system ( 105 ), with a shell housing ( 101 ) for receiving the Einspülschale ( 103 ), with an air intake device ( 107 ) for sucking air from an outside area of the laundry care appliance ( 100 ), and with an air line ( 109 ) for supplying the sucked air to the condensation device ( 111 ), characterized in that in the air line ( 109 ) a branch element ( 113 ) is arranged, and that the branch element ( 113 ) by a supply line ( 115 ) with the shell housing ( 101 ) is connected to the intake air to the dosing system ( 105 ) in the dispenser tray ( 103 ) of the shell housing ( 101 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing system ( 105 ) is formed, a predetermined amount of Wäschepflegesubstanz during a dosing to that of the dispenser ( 103 ) and the amount of the laundry substance in the dosing system ( 105 ) is higher than the need for laundry care substance during a dosing process. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the branch element ( 113 ) comprises a three-way valve which communicates with the air intake device ( 107 ) through a first section of the air line ( 109 ) connected to the condensation device ( 111 ) through a second section of the air duct ( 109 ), and which with the shell housing ( 101 ) through the supply line ( 115 ), wherein the three-way valve in a first valve setting, the sucked air through the second portion of the air line ( 109 ) of the condensation device ( 111 ), and in a second valve setting, the sucked air through the feed line ( 115 ) the shell housing ( 101 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the three-way valve is formed, in a third valve setting, the intake air through both the second portion of the air line ( 109 ) of the condensation device ( 111 ), as well as through the supply line ( 115 ) the shell housing ( 101 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering system ( 105 ) comprises a temperature detection device for detecting a temperature of the laundry care substance, and that the laundry care device ( 100 ) a control device for controlling the supplyable amount of sucked air through the supply line ( 115 ) depending on the detected temperature. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the control device is designed, the air suction device ( 107 ) depending on the detected temperature of the laundry substance to control the amount of the sucked air. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the control device is designed, the branch element ( 113 ) in response to the sensed temperature of the laundry fabric to control the deliverable amount of the air drawn in through the feed pipe (10). 115 ) to regulate. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply line ( 115 ) with the shell housing ( 101 ) on the back of the shell housing ( 101 ) is connected to the sucked air through the back of the shell housing ( 101 ) in the shell housing ( 101 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer region of the dispenser tray ( 103 ) comprises a rib, that through the rib an opening between the dispenser shell ( 103 ) and the shell housing ( 101 ) is limited to the sucked air from the supply line ( 115 ) through the opening over the surface of the dispenser tray ( 103 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the opening between the bottom, the longitudinal side or the top of the dispenser tray ( 103 ) and the shell housing ( 101 ) is formed. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispenser tray ( 103 ) a shell opening in a front or in an upper side of the dispenser shell ( 103 ) to suck the sucked air through the shell opening of the laundry care device ( 100 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shell housing ( 101 ) an air duct on the outside of the shell housing ( 101 ) to suck the sucked air over the outside of the shell housing ( 101 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that the Laundry care device ( 100 ) a housing opening in a housing wall of the housing of the laundry care device ( 100 ), that the housing opening is connected to the air channel through an output line to the sucked air through the air duct, through the output line and through the housing opening from the laundry care device ( 100 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air suction device ( 107 ) comprises a radial fan. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air duct ( 109 ) comprises a first diameter that the supply line ( 115 ) comprises a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

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