EP1349975B1 - Washing machine with a conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

A cabinet-shaped washing machine includes a conveyor belt to move laundry goods in circulation, with the laundry goods passing through various successive steps of the laundry cycle. Following the actual washing process, a downstream pre-dehumidification as well as a drying and pressing phase can be realized in the same housing.

Description

The invention relates to a washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1. Washing machines of the type mentioned are known as commercial household washing machines from the prior art. Such household washing machines have to move the laundry a washing drum, is flushed into the wash. The dirt dissolved in the laundry is then removed in a rinsing process. Furthermore, washing and cleaning systems for industrial laundry purposes are known from the prior art:

From US 5,502,988 an industrial cleaning device is known, which has a conveyor chain for transporting the laundry through the various washing process steps. Further, US 4,412,435 a cleaning plant with continuous operation is known. The cleaning system has a device for mechanical action on the laundry. A corresponding system is also known from US 4,361,018.

NL 1005069 C 2 discloses an industrial shortage for drying and ironing laundry, which has an endless conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is partially guided along a steamer.

From JP-A-10118398 a laundry washing, ironing and ironing apparatus is known which comprises a moisture absorbing belt and rollers for transporting the laundry.

From JP-A-5337300 an industrial washing apparatus with a conveyor is known which conveys the laundry through the various washing process steps in the plant.

From US 5,349,768 a conveyor for moving laundry is known in which the laundry to be conveyed is coupled by means of fastening clips to the conveyor belt.

From DE-A-3216195 a deficiency device is known in which by means of a conveyor belt a pressure on the laundry is exerted against a roller to perform a pre-dehumidification.

From DE 19 28 923 A, a laundry treatment machine for washing, rinsing and / or drying of laundry emerges, in which a movement device in the form of a horizontally arranged, star-shaped drying rack, which rotates about a vertically arranged axis, prepared for the suspended receiving laundry is. This movement device is arranged in a cabinet-shaped housing. On the walls of the cabinet, a plurality of shower devices is arranged, which spray more or less uniformly on the lightened laundry items. The invention has for its object to provide an improved washing machine.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention makes it possible to hang laundry to be washed on the conveyor belt located in the washing machine - for example, on a bar or a rod -. The washing process is then carried out on the laundry thus suspended. After completion of the washing process, the laundry is then already in its use position, so it can be removed either manually or automatically from the washing machine to hang it on a clothes rail.

A particular advantage of the invention is that the conveyor of the washing machine can bring the laundry within the housing of the washing machine into circulation. Along this cycle, different devices for realizing the various washing process steps may be arranged. This makes it possible - depending on the degree of contamination - to go through the individual washing process steps several times.

For example, nozzles for wetting the laundry may be arranged along a portion of the circulation in order to ensure better absorption of the washing powder or the wash liquor by moistening the laundry.

In another section of the circulation, nozzles may be arranged to spray the laundry with wash liquor to saturate it. By action of the detergent on the laundry then the dirt is released.

The dissolved dirt is then carried out by a rinse from the laundry. The rinsing process can be realized by rinsing nozzles arranged in a further section of the circulation for spraying rinsing water onto the laundry.

After carrying out the cleaning of the laundry, it is advantageous to perform a step for pre-dehumidifying the laundry.

In a preferred embodiment, a roller pair arranged in the housing along the circulation serves for pre-dehumidifying the laundry. The laundry is pulled through the roller pair by means of the conveyor so that the rinse water located in the laundry is at least partially squeezed out.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the pre-dehumidification takes place by pressing the laundry against an absorbent fleece. Preferably, the laundry is in a region of the circulation by means of a roller pressed against the web, wherein it is simultaneously pulled by the conveyor.

At least in one area of the pressure point of the roll, the fleece absorbs water from the laundry, so that it is pre-moistened.

According to another preferred embodiment, the pre-dehumidification of the laundry is carried out by hot or cold compressed air. The pre-dehumidification can take place both after the exhaust air dryer and after the condensation dryer principle.

The invention also makes it possible to integrate into the housing of the washing machine a dryer and a smoothing and / or ironing function by corresponding units are arranged along the circulation of the laundry in the housing.

To realize the smoothing and / or ironing function, compressed air can be conducted into the laundry, for example via the suspension of the laundry material on the conveyor belt, so that this is "inflated" from the inside. In order to generate a back pressure, the laundry can be coated from the outside at the same time with compressed air.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt durch eine Waschmaschine parallel zu einer Ebene des Förderbandes,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Waschmaschine mit Bügelfunktion.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the drawings of a preferred embodiment. In the drawings show

Fig. 1

a cross section through a washing machine parallel to a plane of the conveyor belt,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a washing machine with ironing function.

Fig. 1 shows a washing machine 1, which has a cabinet-shaped housing 2. The housing 2 may for example be up to 2 m high. The remaining dimensions of the washing machine 1 preferably correspond to those of conventional household washing machines.

In the housing 2 is an endless conveyor belt 3, which is driven via a not shown motor of the washing machine 1 via not shown rollers or gears, deflected and controlled. Alternatively, this conveyor can be realized, for example, as a conveyor chain.

The conveyor belt 3 has drivers, which are designed as eyelets 4. Each of the eyelets 4 serves to receive a hook or a clip for attaching laundry to the conveyor belt 3. For example, the laundry 5 may be located on a hanger 6. The hanger 6 then engages with its hook in the eyelet 4 a. In this way, the laundry 5 is similar to ironing in a wardrobe hang in the conveyor belt 3. Since the housing is cabinet-shaped and the circulation is performed substantially parallel to a housing wall, preferably to the housing side wall, the hanging and removal of the laundry is much easier.

On the inside of the housing 2 there are spray nozzles 7 for spraying water onto the laundry 5. Furthermore, cleaning nozzles 8 for spraying washing liquor onto the laundry are arranged along the conveyor belt 3 on the inside of the housing 2. Below the cleaning nozzles 8 are rinsing nozzles 20 for spraying rinse water on the laundry 5, so that the dissolved dirt is washed out of the laundry 5.

On the opposite inside of the housing 2 of the housing 2 is a hot air pressure fan 9 for brushing the laundry 5 with warm or hot air to one area of the conveyor belt 3. Above the hot air pressure blower 9 is an absorbent web 10, which is guided over rollers 11 and 12. At least one of the rollers 11 or 12 may be driven to move the web in its conveyor belt 3 directly facing, parallel extending portion substantially synchronously with a circulating movement of the conveyor belt 3.

In the housing 2, there is also a blower 13. The blower 13 can serve for the intake of air or for blowing off exhaust air. In the rear wall of the housing 2 is a heat exchanger 14, which is advantageously designed as a washing container. The washing so on the one hand has the function of storing the water for the rinsing operations and also serves as a condenser for condensing the recorded with the compressed air from the laundry 5 water. The water in the purge vessel is preheated by the heat exchange with the condensing vapor. As a result, the energy consumption of the washing machine 1 can be reduced.

In the lower part of the housing 2 there is a lint filter 15 in a washing lye collection container 22, which serves to collect water. Below the wash liquor collecting tank 22 is a circulating pump 16 for wetting and / or spraying the laundry 5 via the spray nozzles 7 and the cleaning nozzles 8 and a drain pump 17 for pumping or pumping of wash liquor via the hose 18th

In a front region of the housing 2 is below and / or above a door opening in the housing 2, a heater in the form of heating coils. The heating coils are not shown in FIG. 1.

To prepare the washing process, the laundry 5 is first hung in the conveyor belt 3. If it is the laundry 5, for example, shirts or blouses, so it is advantageous to mount each with a hanger in an eyelet 4 of the conveyor belt 3.

In other laundry, which can not be easily hang on a hanger - for example, underwear and socks - the use of a laundry net is advantageous. One or more parts of such laundry are placed in a laundry net which has at an upper end a hook corresponding to the hook of the garment hanger 6 shown in FIG. With his hook, the laundry network can then be hung like a hanger 6 in an eyelet 4 in the conveyor belt 3.

The detergent is added to the wash liquor collection tank 22 via a detergent addition. This can be followed by a storage and Dosierbehälterkombination according to the principle of a dispenser.

After starting the washing program, the detergent dissolves in a water bath and will be performed at the appropriate time on the circulation pump 16 to the cleaning nozzles 8.

To carry out a washing program, the conveyor belt 3 is placed in a first step in a circumferential movement and in accordance with the direction of movement shown by the arrows 19. The rotational speed of the conveyor belt 3 and thus of the transported material 5 transported by the conveyor belt 3 corresponds to the particular washing process speed required in each case.

The spray nozzles 7 wet the passing laundry 5 to moisten it, and so accelerate the detergent absorption in the laundry 5.

In a second step, the laundry passes through the cleaning nozzles 8, is sprayed through the wash to the laundry 5. The wash liquor soaks through the laundry 5 and thus dissolves the dirt.

In a third step, fresh water from the rinsing nozzles 20 is sprayed onto the laundry 5 passing by in order to remove the dirt and the washing liquor.

By means of sensors mounted in the housing 2, the cleaning success of the laundry 5 can be checked or the turbidity of the wash liquor can be measured and optionally evaluated. If the degree of cleaning is not satisfactory, the above steps can be repeated as many times as necessary.

The wash liquor or the rinse water drips from the wet laundry 5 into the wash liquor collecting tank 22 and is guided from there in a circuit to the cleaning nozzles 8 or pumped out via the drain pump 17. Due to the principle, it is not necessary for the washing machine 1 that the laundry 5 is introduced into the wash liquor 23 located in the wash liquor collecting tank 22; Rather, the application of wash liquor to the laundry 5 in the illustrated embodiment takes place solely via the cleaning nozzles 8.

For an improved water exchange, the laundry 5 can be brought against a plant. Furthermore, the process of water exchange or the release of water can be intensified and accelerated with the aid of roller pairs.

After the completion of the wet phase in which the laundry is washed, the drying phase follows. After switching off the supply of fresh water to the rinsing nozzles 20 dry, heated compressed air is passed through a compressor or the blower 13 to the laundry for the drying process. By an additional circulation or reciprocating movement of the laundry 5 through the conveyor belt 3, the drying time can be shortened by the associated intensive air exchange with the air in the housing 2.

Before the actual drying of the laundry 5, a pre-dehumidification of the laundry 5 is advantageously carried out.

In a first embodiment, not shown in FIG. 1, a pair of rollers is electronically controlled by distance sensors on both sides against the laundry material 5 moved with the conveyor belt 3, so that the laundry 5 is pulled through the roller pair. Due to the contact pressure of the roller pair on the laundry 5 located therebetween, water is forced out of the laundry 5 and drips back into the wash liquor collecting tank 22. Instead of a pair of rollers may also be provided a roller chain, so that the laundry 5 is pulled through instead of by the pair of rollers through a arranged on both sides of the laundry 5 roller chain.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the laundry 5, once it has reached the area of the web 10, is pressed against the web 10 by means of a roller 24. For this purpose, the roller 24 moves in the arrow direction of the arrow 25 to press the laundry 5 against the fleece. Where the roller 24 hits the laundry 5, a contact pressure is exerted on the laundry 5 against the web 10, so that the water in the laundry 5 is at this point at least partially absorbed by the web 10. At the same time the conveyor belt moves the laundry concerned 5 endlang the

Movement seal of the arrow 19 on, so that the area in which the roller 24 meets the laundry 5, also changed.

Parallel to the movement of the conveyor belt 3 and the corresponding laundry 5, the guided over the rollers 11 and 12 fleece 10 moves on. This has the advantage that there, where the laundry 5 is pressed by means of the roller 24 against the web 10, a still dryer and thus absorbent region of the web 10 is present. The water absorbed in the fleece can be pressed out, for example, via a further pair of rolls (not shown) during the return of the water-soaked non-woven fabric on the side facing the housing 2 directly.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the pre-dehumidification by means of dry compressed air, which is added directly to the laundry done. The dry air blower distributes the dry air evenly distributed over the laundry. In addition, during the application of the compressed air, the laundry may be e.g. be fixed between in FIG. 1, not shown lattices. Advantageously, the compressed air is added process-controlled in substeps.

The steps mentioned can be carried out in combination or in succession, also repeatedly, in order to achieve an optimum cleaning effect.

FIG. 2 shows a further preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention. For the embodiment of Fig. 2 corresponding elements of Fig. 1, the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 are used.

2 shows a washing machine 2 with smoothing and ironing function. In the embodiment shown, the washing and drying phases are followed by a smoothing and / or ironing phase.

The conveyor belt 3 is formed in two parts. Only the rear part of the conveyor belt 3 is shown in FIG. Between the two parts of the conveyor belt 3 are carriers 26, can be hung on the laundry 5. The carrier 26 are hollow inside to conduct compressed air. Hot air can be injected via the carrier 26 into the laundry 5 suspended on the carriers 26 via a compressor.

Along an inner side of the housing 2 warm air pressure blower 9 are arranged. To realize the smoothing and / or ironing function, hot air is blown into the laundry 5 via the carriers 26, so that the laundry 5 is subjected to the pressure of hot air on its inside. At the same time the laundry is moved by the movement of the conveyor belt 3 in the direction of the arrow 19 to the hot air pressure blowers 9, so that the laundry 5 is also acted upon from the outside with air pressure, so that a back pressure arises. This results in the desired smoothing and ironing effect.

After completion of the smoothing and ironing process, the laundry 5 is in ready to use position. It can be mechanically cleared by a machine from the washing machine 1 in a clothes or linen closet.

Claims (12)

1. Washing machine (1) with a cupboard-shaped housing (2), means (3) for movement of stock (5) to be washed, means (8) for applying washing solution to the stock (5) to be washed and means (20) for transporting away dirt dissolved from the stock (5) to be washed, wherein the means (3) for movement of the stock (5) to be washed are constructed as a conveying device (3) for movement of the stock (5), which is to be washed, in a circulation within the housing (2), characterised in that the circulation is guided substantially parallel to a housing side wall, wherein the conveying device is constructed as a conveyor belt (3) or conveyor chain.
2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the conveying device has entrainers, which are distributed along the circulation, for reception of stock to be washed and the entrainers are constructed for, for example, reception of a hook or a clamping device of a laundry or clothes hanger or a laundry net bag.
3. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conveying device keeps the stock to be washed stationary depending on the respective treatment procedure to be carried out, brings it into circulation at constant speed or executes a reciprocating movement.
4. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that means (7) for wetting the stock to be washed are arranged in a region of the circulation.
5. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that means (8) for applying washing solution are arranged in a region of the circulation and the means for applying washing solution comprise at least one nozzle (8) for spraying the washing solution onto the stock to be washed.
6. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means (20) for transport away of dirt detached from the stock to be washed comprise means (20) for the feed of rinsing water to the stock to be washed.
7. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that means (10, 11, 12, 24) for preliminary moisture removal from the stock to be washed are arranged in a region of the circulation.
8. Washing machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the means for preliminary moisture removal comprise a roller pair for drawing through stock to be washed.
9. Washing machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the means for preliminary moisture removal comprise at least one roller (24) for pressing the stock to be washed against an absorbent fleece (10) and the fleece is preferably guided substantially parallel to the movement of the relevant stock, which is to be washed, at least during the pressing.
10. Washing machine according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterised in that the means for preliminary moisture removal comprise means (9, 13) for applying compressed air to the stock to be washed and the stock to be washed is preferably fixed at, for example, a grill during application of the compressed air.
11. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the washing machine comprises an integrated drying device and/or an integrated smoothing and/or ironing device.
12. Washing machine according to claim 11, characterised in that supports (26), by way of which hot air can be conducted into the stock to be washed, for the stock to be washed are arranged at the conveying device.

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