DE102019117282A1 - Method of operating a washing machine and washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine with a tub (1) for receiving washing liquid (8) for treating laundry (6), a drum (2) rotatably mounted in the tub (1) for receiving the laundry (6) and a flooding device (3) for conveying the washing liquid (8) from a first area of the tub (1) into a second region of the tub (1), the method being the implementation of a washing program with a washing phase (102) and at least one rinsing phase ( 103), wherein during the washing phase (102) and / or the at least one rinsing phase (103) the drum (2) is accelerated to an application speed and at the same time the flooding device (3) removes the washing liquid (8) from a first area of the tub ( 1) in a second area of the tub (1) promotes. The invention also relates to a correspondingly designed washing machine.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine and a washing machine. In particular, the invention relates to a method for reducing the discharge of microplastics when washing laundry in the washing machine and a correspondingly designed washing machine.

Many textiles are made from man-made fibers made from synthetic polymers. During production, when they are worn, washed and dried, these man-made fibers are released from the textiles and can get into the environment and pollute it, especially in the form of microplastics.

In order to prevent microplastics from getting into the environment during washing, GUPPYFRIEND wash bags ^® from STOP! MICRO WASTE gUG (Berlin, Germany) known. For this purpose, laundry is put into the washing bag by a user, which is placed in a washing machine and subjected to a washing program together with the laundry. After the wash program, the wet laundry is removed from the wash bag and the microplastic that has escaped from the laundry is removed from the wash bag. This prevents the microplastics from getting into water. The washing bag thus acts as a filter so that the microplastics do not get into a washing liquid pumped out of the washing machine during the washing program.

The disadvantage of this filter solution is that the filter clogs, the filtrate remains moist, germs, can form a biofilm and can begin to smell unpleasant. The filters must be cleaned or replaced manually. Furthermore, the filter cannot be integrated into the washing machine, or only to a very limited extent. The expense of filtration is disproportionate to the relatively small amount of microplastic filtered out, and at the same time the costs due to the use of materials are disproportionately high.

The invention thus poses the problem of providing a method for operating a washing machine and a washing machine in which the environmental entry of microplastics of textile origin when washing laundry is prevented or at least reduced in a simple and inexpensive way without noticing massive changes in the washing machine to have to.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method with the features of patent claim 1 and a washing machine with the features of patent claim 8. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

Before the washing machine pumps the washing liquid out of the washing machine at and / or after the end of the washing and / or rinsing phase, the washing liquid, which contains the microplastics of textile origin, is filtered to remove the microplastics in the form of man-made fibers on and / or on the Withhold laundry. For this purpose, the drum is accelerated to the application speed at which the laundry rests against a jacket of the drum. The washing liquid is now pumped into the laundry by means of the flooding device. The laundry lying on the drum shell serves as a filter material in which the microplastic collects so that fiber discharge into the washing liquid is further reduced. The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are that the laundry serves as a filter and no filter maintenance is necessary. In addition, the process can be integrated into existing washing and, if necessary, drying processes at no cost. No additional systems or components are necessary. In addition, the effort involved in filtering out the relatively small amount of microplastics during washing is relative in terms of costs and material use.

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine with a tub for receiving washing liquid for treating laundry, a rotatable drum mounted in the tub for receiving the laundry and a flooding device for conveying the washing liquid from a first area of the tub into a second area of the Lye container, the method comprising carrying out a washing program with a washing phase and at least one rinsing phase, the drum being accelerated to an application speed during the washing phase or the at least one rinsing phase and at the same time the flooding device transferring the washing liquid from a first area of the lye container to a second area of the tub promotes.

The washing program has the following phases over time: a detection phase, a washing phase, at least one rinsing phase and a spin phase. At the start of the washing program, laundry in the drum is detected in the detection phase, and then washing liquid is let into the tub. The washing phase follows the acquisition phase. The washing phase has a heating section in which the washing liquid is heated to a temperature predetermined by the washing program, and after the predetermined temperature has been reached, a post-washing section in which the laundry is moved by means of a rotating drum, the washing liquid being cooled. The washing phase will ended when the washing liquid was pumped out of the tub, whereby a drain device of the washing machine is activated so that the washing liquid is removed from the washing machine. Spinning can also be used when pumping. The washing phase is followed by at least one rinsing phase, in or during which fresh water is let into the tub and the laundry is moved in it. At the end of the rinsing phase, the washing liquid is pumped out, followed by the spinning phase for dewatering the laundry. During the spin phase, the drum is rotated at the speed at which the laundry rests on the drum shell and the washing liquid is thrown out of the fabric through the drum openings in the drum due to the centrifugal force. The drainage device is activated so that the washing liquid is removed from the tub.

The man-made fibers released from the laundry during wearing, washing and / or rinsing, i.e. Microplastics of textile origin are introduced into the washing liquid in particular during the washing or rinsing phase. Before the washing liquid is pumped out at and / or after the end of the washing phase and / or the at least one rinsing phase, the drum is accelerated to an application speed and at the same time the flooding device conveys the washing liquid from a first area of the tub into a second region of the tub, so that the washing machine serves as a drum filter and the laundry as a filter medium, whereby the microplastics adhere to the laundry. This prevents it from being in the washing liquid during pumping. The method for operating a washing machine is therefore preferably a method for reducing the discharge of microplastics when washing laundry in the washing machine. This means that the process is used to reduce the discharge of microplastics from the washing machine into the environment, especially in wastewater.

The expression “washing machine” is to be understood as an automatic washing machine or a combination device such as a washer-dryer. The application speed is that system-related speed at which the laundry in the drum is applied to a shell of the drum due to centrifugal forces.

Accelerating to the feed speed also has the advantage that the laundry is evenly wetted or moistened, because when the drum is rotated at the feed speed, the centrifugal forces cause the laundry to rest on the inside of the drum and the washing liquid brought into the laundry drum by the flooding device directly meets the laundry coat lying on the inside of the drum. As a result of the centrifugal forces occurring when the drum rotates at the application speed, the washing liquid is also pressed out of the laundry and can be fed back into the drum via the flooding device for further wetting of the laundry.

The acceleration of the drum to the application speed and the simultaneous conveyance of the washing liquid from the first area of the tub to the second area of the tub is preferably carried out after the start of the washing phase and / or the at least one rinsing phase and before the washing liquid is pumped off during and / or after End of the washing phase and / or the at least one rinsing phase, through which the washing liquid is removed from the tub.

The first area of the tub is preferably the lower region of the tub and the second region of the tub is the upper region of the tub, based on an operational installation position of the washing machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the laundry is subjected to a drying program before the start and / or after the end of the washing program. The drying program is carried out automatically using a dryer or washer-dryer. Studies have shown that textile microplastics can be effectively filtered out of the laundry during a machine-run drying program. The drying program can therefore continue to effectively prevent the entry of textile microplastics into the environment. The combination of washing and drying is also advantageous in order to prevent the textile microplastics from being rinsed out with the washing liquid when washing the laundry. In this embodiment, a washer-dryer is preferably used to carry out the method. Alternatively, a washing machine and / or a dryer, which are designed separately, are preferably used to carry out this embodiment.

In a preferred embodiment, the laundry is subjected to a drying program before the start of the washing program. As a result, a proportion of microplastic discharged during the execution of the washing program following the drying program can be avoided. The drying program is preferably carried out by means of cold ventilation if the drying program is carried out before the washing program. The term “cold ventilation” means that the ventilation occurs at a temperature that is less than or equal to 25 ° C.

Alternatively, the laundry is preferably subjected to a drying program after the washing program has ended. This does not change the usual procedure for washing and drying laundry for a user. In addition, after the washing program, all microplastics or essentially all microplastics are still on the laundry that served as the filter medium, so that the microplastics of textile origin can be blown out accordingly during the drying program. It collects on one or more filters of the dryer or washer dryer and can be simply and easily disposed of after the drying program. Since the microplastics are dry in the form of filtrate, there is no risk of biofilm and odor formation.

It is preferred to accelerate to the application speed with simultaneous delivery of the washing liquid from the first area of the tub to the second area of the tub a predetermined number of times before the washing liquid is pumped out at and / or after the end of the washing phase and / or the at least one rinsing phase carried out. Preferably the predetermined number is in the range from two to six, more preferably two to four. Between the repeated acceleration to the application speed, the drum is preferably rotated at a speed which is lower than the application speed.

In a preferred embodiment, the acceleration to the application speed is carried out with simultaneous delivery of the washing liquid from the first area of the tub into the second region of the tub over a predetermined period of time. The predetermined time period is selected such that the filter effect described above is achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, during the acceleration of the drum to the application speed and the simultaneous delivery of the washing liquid from the first area of the tub to the second area of the tub, a washing liquid level in the tub is below a level of the drum. This prevents foam from forming.

The number of rinsing phases can preferably be adjusted as required. Two, three, four or five rinsing phases are preferably carried out. This further supports the rinsing of detergent from the laundry and the described filter effect.

The invention also relates to a washing machine with a tub for holding washing liquid for treating laundry, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub for holding laundry and a flooding device for conveying the washing liquid from a first area of the tub into a second region of the tub and a Control or regulating device which is designed to control or regulate a method according to one of the embodiments described above. The washing machine can be a washing machine or a combination device such as a washer-dryer.

• 1 bis 4 jeweils einen Verfahrensschritt eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, wobei jeder Verfahrensschritt mittels einer Teil-Querschnittsansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Waschmaschine gezeigt ist;
• 5 und 6 jeweils einen optionalen Verfahrensschritt eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, wobei jeder Verfahrensschritt mittels einer Teil-Querschnittsansicht eines Trockners gezeigt ist; und
• 7 ein Waschprogramm als Diagramm im zeitlichen Ablauf.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It show schematically and not to scale

• 1 to 4th each a method step of a method according to the invention, each method step being shown by means of a partial cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to the invention;
• 5 and 6th each an optional method step of a method according to the invention, each method step being shown by means of a partial cross-sectional view of a dryer; and
• 7th a washing program as a diagram over time.

In the 1 to 6th The method steps shown take place one after the other in the order described. In the 1 to 4th The steps shown can be carried out by means of the washing machine, which can be designed as a washing machine or washer dryer. In the 5 and 6th The steps shown are carried out with the washer-dryer or a dryer that is separate from the washing machine.

1 to 4th each shows a method step of a method according to the invention, each method step being shown by means of a partial cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to the invention. The washing machine shown includes a tub 1 with a drum rotatably mounted in it and coupled to a drive device (not shown) 2 . The drum 2 has a multiplicity of openings (not shown) for throughflow and is for receiving laundry 6th educated. In an upper area of the washing machine, in relation to its normal operating position, there is a dispenser drawer 5 arranged, over the water and possibly detergent or washing liquid in the tub 1 can be admitted. In a first (lower) area of the tub 1 , based on an operational installation position of the washing machine, is a drain device 4th arranged, which is formed upon activation washing liquid 8th from the tub 1 to remove. The drainage facility 4th has a drain pipe 4a , a drain pump 4b and a drain line 4c on that in usually opens into a sewer. To the drain pipe 4a is also a flooding device 3 connected. The flooding device 3 has a circulation pump 3a on, a bypass line 3b and a flooding nozzle 3c on. The circulation pump 3a is designed to activate the washing liquid 8th from the drain pipe 4a through the bypass line 3b and the flooding nozzle 3c to promote so that the flooding device 3 Water or washing liquid from the first area of the tub 1 into a second (upper) area of the tub 1 can promote, based on an operational installation position of the washing machine.

In the 1 The washing machine shown is in a washing phase or in a rinsing phase of a washing program stored in the washer-dryer, during which the laundry is washed or rinsed. The drum 2 is rotated at a speed below the application speed. Synthetic fibers in the form of microplastics 7th got off the laundry 6th dissolved and are in the washing liquid 8th .

2 shows the in 1 shown washing machine with the difference that before pumping out the washing liquid 8th the drum at and / or after the end of the washing phase and / or the rinsing phase 2 is accelerated to an application speed and at the same time the flooding device 3 the washing liquid 8th from a first area of the tub 1 in a second area of the tub 1 promotes. The laundry (not shown) is as the drum rotates 2 with the application speed on a jacket (not shown) of the drum 2 at. The microplastic 7th is through the flooding device 3 from the first area of the tub 1 in the second area of the tub 1 promoted.

3 shows the in 2 shown washing machine with the difference that the drum 2 Is accelerated longer to the application speed, while at the same time the flooding device 3 the washing liquid 8th from a first area of the tub 1 in a second area of the tub 1 promotes. The laundry (not shown) lies on the mantle (not shown) of the drum 2 at. The microplastic 7th is through the flooding device 3 from the first area of the tub 1 in the second area of the tub 1 been promoted. The washing machine has now served as a drum filter and the laundry as a filter medium, which removes the microplastics 7th adheres to the laundry (not shown).

4th shows the in 3 Washing machine shown with the difference that the washing liquid (not shown) completely or essentially completely from the tub 1 by pumping out using the drainage device 4th away. The microplastic 7th sticks to the laundry 6th .

5 and 6th each shows an optional method step of a method according to the invention, each method step being shown by means of a partial cross-sectional view of a dryer.

5 shows the dryer holding the drum 10 , an exhaust pipe 12 for removing air from the drum 10 , a filter 14th for filtering the extracted air and a supply air pipe 16 to feed the filtered air into the drum 10 having. The air circulates in the dryer in the direction shown by an arrow. The in 5 The process step shown follows the in 4th process step shown. In the drum 10 is the laundry 6th at which the microplastic 7th adheres. The laundry 6th is subjected to a drying program in which the drum 10 is rotated with a predetermined and the laundry by the circulating air with separation of the washing liquid 8th is dried.

6th shows the in 5 shown dryer with the difference that the drum 10 including the laundry inside 6th has been subjected to the drying program for a longer period of time. The microplastic 7th gets out of the laundry 6th discharged and collects in the washing liquid 8th so that microplastic 7th from the laundry 6th has been disconnected using the drying program. Moist air gets through the drain pipe 12 the filter 14th fed to the microplastic 7th from the humid air filters, so that from the microplastic 7th released air of the drum 10 is fed back. On the way between the drain pipe 12 and the supply air pipe 14th the air is further dehumidified by means provided on the dryer, which are not shown here.

7th shows a washing program as a diagram over time. Individual phases within the washing program are shown on the time axis t. The washing program shown here has a detection phase 101 , a washing phase 102 , a rinse phase 103 and a spin phase 104 on. At the start of the wash program is in the detection phase 101 Detects laundry that is in a drum of a washing machine that is executing the washing program, and washing liquid is then let into a tub of the washing machine. This is followed by the washing phase 102 with a heating section 102a , in which the washing liquid is heated to a temperature specified by the washing program.

Once the specified temperature has been reached, there is a post-wash section 102b . In the post-wash section 102b the laundry is moved by means of the rotating drum of the washing machine, whereby the washing liquid cools down. The washing phase is ended with the pumping, whereby a drain device of the washing machine is activated so that washing liquid is removed from the tub and the washing machine. Spinning can also be used when pumping. This is followed by the rinsing phase 103 where fresh water is poured into the tub and the laundry is moved around. At the end of the rinsing phase 103 the washing liquid is pumped out, followed by the spin phase 104 to drain the laundry. During the spin phase 104 the drum is rotated at a speed at which the laundry rests against the drum shell and the washing liquid is thrown out of the fabric of the laundry through the drum openings in the drum due to the centrifugal force. The drainage device is activated here, so that the washing liquid from the tub 2 Will get removed.

In the method according to the invention, during the washing phase 102 and / or the rinsing phase 103 ie after the acquisition phase 101 the drum accelerates to the application speed and at the same time conveys the flooding device the washing liquid from a first area of the tub into a second area of the tub.

List of reference symbols

1

Suds container

2

drum

3

Flooding device

3a

Circulation pump

3b

Bypass line

3c

Umfludüse

4th

Drain facility

4a

Drain pipe

4b

Drain pump

4c

Drain line

5

Dispenser drawer, water inlet

6th

Laundry

7th

Microplastics

8th

Washing liquid

10

Dryer drum

12th

Exhaust pipe

14th

filter

16

Supply air pipe

101

Acquisition phase

102

Washing phase

102a

Heating phase

102

Post phase

103

Rinsing phase

104

Spin phase

Claims (8)

A method for operating a washing machine with a tub (1) for receiving washing liquid (8) for treating laundry (6), a drum (2) rotatably mounted in the tub (1) for receiving the laundry (6) and a flooding device ( 3) for conveying the washing liquid (8) from a first area of the tub (1) into a second region of the tub (1), the method comprising carrying out a washing program with a washing phase (102) and at least one rinsing phase (103), wherein during the washing phase (102) and / or the at least one rinsing phase (103), the drum (2) is accelerated to an application speed and at the same time the flooding device (3) transfers the washing liquid (8) from a first area of the tub (1) into one second area of the tub (1) promotes. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the laundry is subjected to a drying program before the start and / or after the end of the washing program. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the acceleration to the application speed with simultaneous delivery of the washing liquid (8) from the first area of the tub (1) into the second region of the tub (1) a predetermined number of times during the washing phase (102) and / or the at least one rinsing phase (103) is carried out. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acceleration to the application speed with simultaneous delivery of the washing liquid (8) from the first area of the tub (1) to the second region of the tub (1) is carried out over a predetermined period of time. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the acceleration of the drum (2) to the application speed and the simultaneous conveyance of the washing liquid (8) from the first area of the tub (1) into the second region of the tub (1) The washing liquid level in the tub (1) is below a level of the drum (2). Method according to one of the Claims 2 to 5 , characterized in that the drying program is carried out by means of cold ventilation if the drying program is carried out before the washing program. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two, three, four or five rinsing phases (103) are carried out. Washing machine with a tub (1) for receiving washing liquid (8) for treating laundry (6), a drum (2) rotatably mounted in the tub (1) for receiving the laundry (6) and a flooding device (3) for conveying the washing liquid (8) from a first region of the tub (1) into a second region of the tub (1) and a control or regulating device which is designed to control or regulate a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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