EP1857584B1 - Method and device for treating the laundry, in particular for washing, spinning and/or drying the laundry. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for treating, preferably for washing, spinning and / or drying, laundry, according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for treating, in particular washing, spinning and / or drying, of laundry, according to the preamble of claim 4.

Laundry is treated in commercial laundries in washing machines or dryers or in combined machines for washing and drying or washing, tumbling and drying. For washing, heated liquid, especially heated water, is required while hot air is needed for drying. In known machines of the type mentioned above, the liquid (water) required for washing and also the air required for drying are heated separately. This requires additional means for heating the liquid on the one hand and the air on the other hand. In addition to an additional expenditure on equipment, these facilities, especially because it is separate facilities, a lot of space.

The DE 25 52 836 A1 relates to a washing machine, are arranged in the electrical resistors in a lower region of an outer drum surrounding a rotating drivable inner drum. The electrical resistors directly heat up the washing liquid in the outer drum. Because the electrical resistors are in the liquid to be heated, they must be reliably electrically isolated. In addition, the electrical resistors take up a lot of space, especially when a larger number of resistors in the outer drum must be arranged to create a larger heating power.

Based on the above, the present invention seeks to provide a method and an apparatus for treating, in particular for washing, spinning and / or drying of laundry, which in a simple and space-saving manner for washing the required liquid (water) and / or Dry required air can be heated.

A method for achieving this object has the features of claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided to heat liquid for washing and / or the air for drying the laundry at least in a heat exchanger formed by a plate heat exchanger having at least one flow channel for a heat transfer medium, which is associated with the outer drum or forms part of the same. Since the or each heat exchanger is thereby integrated into the machine serving for the laundry, separate means for heating the liquid and / or the air are not required. Above all, in machines which serve both for washing and for drying, both liquid and air can be heated with the same heat exchanger or the same heat exchangers, depending on the treatment of the laundry currently to be carried out. The method is particularly suitable for washing machines, washing-spinning machines, washer-dryers and spin-dryers, which are referred to together only briefly as "treatment machines".

In a treatment machine serving at least for washing and drying, the air is heated by passing along only one side of the heat exchanger while heating liquid by passing it along one or both sides of the respective heat exchanger. In this way, an effective, needs-based heating of both water and liquid is possible. This air is supplied from the outside, while the liquid is heated or heated, which is located in the outer drum.

In a preferred embodiment of the method is provided to heat the liquid and / or the air from at least one preferably arranged in the interior of the outer drum plate heat exchanger. The arrangement of the or each plate heat exchanger inside the outer drum has the consequence that for heating the liquid and / or the water as good as no additional space is needed because the same plate heat exchanger for heating the liquids and possibly also the air can be used and in the treatment machine is integrated.

The heating of the liquid and / or air takes place in a special embodiment of the method such that the at least one plate heat exchanger forms part of the wall of the outer drum. Because of the perforated inner drum for receiving the laundry to be treated, the liquid serving for washing comes as well as the air serving for drying with the outer drum in contact and thus with the at least one plate heat exchanger, so easily the energy supplied to the liquid in the Inside the treatment machine and / or the air can give.

A particularly effective method is characterized by the fact that the liquid to be heated and / or the air to be heated in the at least one flow channel guided guided guided along an outside of the or each plate heat exchanger. It is thus produced a targeted flow of liquid or air along a flow path at the respective plate heat exchanger. Preferably, the liquid and / or the air is thus passed along the entire outside of the respective plate heat exchanger or at least a large part of the outside, so that the energy supplied to the respective plate heat exchanger can be effectively delivered with high efficiency to the liquid or the air to be heated.

An apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 4. Accordingly, it is provided to arrange at least one heat exchanger in the outer drum of the treatment machine or assign the outer drum at least one heat exchanger and the heat exchanger as a space-saving plate heat exchanger with at least one flow channel for a heat transfer medium, which may be, for example, steam, hot oil or other hot liquid to train. As a result, liquid for washing and / or air for drying the laundry can be heated or heated directly on or in the treatment machine.

The at least one heat exchanger is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of the invention between the outer drum and the inner drum. The respective heat exchanger is therefore where the energy is needed, namely in the treatment machine. When washing the laundry is always in the bottom area of the outer drum washing or rinsing liquid. Due to the arrangement of the at least one heat exchanger in the bottom region of the outer drum, the or each heat exchanger is thus always in the treatment liquid for the effective delivery of the energy supplied to the respective heat exchanger to the washing liquid. The situation is similar when heating air required for drying the laundry.

It is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the invention to assign the or each heat exchanger of the wall of the outer drum. For example, the respective heat exchanger can be arranged at a small distance on the inside of the wall of the outer drum. It is also conceivable that the or each heat exchanger forms at least a part of the drum shell of the outer drum.

In order to allow at least a portion of the liquid or air to selectively flow past at least one side of the heat exchanger, it is conceivable to provide flow generators, for example pumps, which circulate the liquid or the air and guide it past the respective heat exchanger with a continuous stream. As a result, a particularly good heat transfer from the heat transfer medium in the heat exchanger to the liquid or air to be heated is achieved when it flows past the outside of the heat exchanger.

The respective plate heat exchanger is preferably formed of two partially interconnected plates or sheets, which are spaced in the non-interconnected areas to form flow channels for the heat transfer medium (steam, oil or the like). Such a plate heat exchanger can be produced easily and inexpensively. Plate heat exchangers of this type are widely used in other fields. They are referred to in the jargon as pillow plates.

According to a preferred development of the device, it is provided to associate with one side, preferably an outer side, of the respective plate heat exchanger at least one flow path for liquid to be heated and / or air to be heated. This flow path serves to allow the liquid or the air to flow past the plate heat exchanger, resulting in a heat transfer from the heat transfer medium inside the plate heat exchanger to the liquid and / or air and thereby effectively and evenly heats the liquid or air flowing along the respective plate heat exchanger becomes.

Preferably, the at least one flow path along the plate heat exchanger is limited by a preferably outer plate or plate of the plate heat exchanger and a part of the wall of the outer drum. Thus, the liquid and / or air are heated in the outer drum when the liquid or the air at respective plate heat exchanger and the associated part of the wall of the outer drum flows along.

A development of the invention provides that the outer drum has a bulge in the area of the or each plate heat exchanger. This bulge provides space for forming at least one flow path of the liquid to be heated or the air to be heated, preferably along the outside of the respective plate heat exchanger.

It is further provided that in the region of the bulge of the or each plate heat exchanger follows the course of the outer drum outside the bulge at least partially. In the region of the bulge, at least in part the respective plate heat exchanger thereby assumes the function of the outer drum, the bulge serving to limit the flow path along the outer side of the respective plate heat exchanger. Preferably, in the region of the bulge, the outer drum runs at a parallel distance to that part of the outer drum to which no plate heat exchanger is assigned. This creates along the outside of the respective plate heat exchanger, a flow path for liquid to be heated or air to be heated with approximately constant cross-section. As a result, the liquid to be heated or the air flows at a substantially constant speed along the outside of the respective plate heat exchanger.

In devices which are used both for washing and for drying, ie on the one hand to heat liquid and on the other hand air, is inventively provided to assign the flow path along the or each plate heat exchanger, a guide element or obturator, in particular vorzuordnen in the flow direction of the liquid or air , As a result, alternatively, liquid or air may be supplied to the or each plate heat exchanger. The guide or obturator thus serve to make a switchover from the washing mode to the dryer mode and vice versa with regard to the type of medium to be preheated or heated.

The guide element is adjustable in such a way that air supplied externally to the outer drum can be guided along the outside of the respective plate heat exchanger, while alternatively liquid to be heated can be guided along the outside of the respective plate heat exchanger from the outer drum. In a simple manner, it is achieved that the liquid in the outer drum is circulated during or for heating, while the air to be heated flows through the outer drum, during which Drying the laundry, the moisture taken from the air out of the outer drum and dry air is supplied to the outer drum, wherein the dry air is heated by flowing along the outside of the respective plate heat exchanger of the same.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch eine Waschmaschine,

Fig. 2

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Trockner,

Fig. 3

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Wasch-Schleuder-Trockner im Waschbetrieb, und

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt des Wasch-Schleuder-Trockners der Fig. 3 im Trocknerbetrieb.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a schematic cross section through a washing machine,

Fig. 2

a schematic cross section through a dryer,

Fig. 3

a schematic cross section through a washing-spin dryer in the washing operation, and

Fig. 4

a cross section of the washing-spin dryer of Fig. 3 in the dryer operation.

When in the Fig. 1 shown washing machine 10 is such for commercial laundries.

The washing machine 10 has an inner drum 12 which can be driven in rotation about a central axis of rotation 11. The inner drum 12, in particular its cylindrical drum casing, is at least partially perforated and thus liquid-permeable. In the case of the washing machine 10 shown, a plurality of ribs 13 projecting in the direction of the central axis of rotation 11 are arranged on the inside of the inner drum 12. These are used for mixing and entrainment of arranged in the inner drum 12 laundry. The washing machine 10 is used for washing any laundry that is in the Fig. 1 not shown.

The inner drum 12 is surrounded by a liquid-tight outer drum 14. The outer drum 14 is not rotatable about the rotation axis 11. The outer drum 14 has predominantly a closed, cylindrical drum shell 15. The cylindrical drum shell 15 surrounds the cylindrical inner drum 12 concentrically, wherein the diameter of the outer drum 14 is slightly larger than that of Inner drum 12 is so that between the inner drum 12 and the outer drum 14 a narrow circumferential gap 16 is formed. The outer drum 14 and the inner drum 12 are optionally pivoted together about a horizontal pivot axis which is transverse to the axis of rotation 11, wherein it either intersects the axis of rotation 11 or slightly below it. This pivot axis and the pivot drive are in the Fig. 1 Not shown. By the pivot axis, the outer drum 14 and the inner drum 12 are pivotable, whereby the axis of rotation 11 is changeable in its inclination and, if necessary, in a horizontal position can be brought.

The loading and unloading of the washing machine 10 is carried out either through an opening in an end face of both the inner drum 12 and the outer drum 14 or by a closable door in the drum shell 15 of the outer drum 14 and the inner drum 12th

According to the invention, the washing machine 10 is provided with an integrated heat exchanger for heating the washing liquid and optionally also rinsing liquid. In the washing machine 10 shown here, the heat exchanger is designed as a single plate heat exchanger 17, although the heat exchanger can also be formed from a plurality of, preferably the same plate heat exchangers 17. The plate heat exchanger 17 is designed in the manner of a so-called cushion plate, are provided in the flow channels for a through the plate heat exchanger 17 therethrough heat transfer medium, for example, steam or heated oil. The plate heat exchanger 17 may for example be formed of two thin plates or sheets, which are welded around the outer edge around and are also connected to each other in the area of the surface by a grid of welds or welds. By subjecting the interior between the sheets of the plate heat exchanger 17 with a high-pressure liquid, the sheets are widened in the areas between the welds or seams, whereby the sheets are permanently spaced between the welds to form flow channels for the heat transfer medium. In an end or corner region of the plate heat exchanger 17 is provided with a supply line 18 for the heat transfer medium. At the opposite end or diagonally opposite corner region, the plate heat exchanger 17 has a discharge 19 for the heat transfer medium. The heat transfer medium flowing through the plate heat exchanger 17 heats the liquid present in the washing machine 10, preferably washing water and / or rinsing water, as needed.

In the case of the washing machine 10 shown here, the plate heat exchanger 17 is arranged in a bulge 20 in the lower region of the outer drum 14. As a result, the plate heat exchanger 17 is so to speak immersed in the liquid in the outer drum 14 of the washing machine 10. The plate heat exchanger 17 is thereby substantially completely surrounded by washing or rinsing water in the washing machine 10, whereby an effective heating of the washing or rinsing water in the Outer drum 14 and the inner drum 12 is ensured. The bulge 20 is formed symmetrically with respect to a through the axis of rotation 11 extending vertical center plane and disposed below the outer drum 14. In the longitudinal direction of the outer drum 14, the bulge 20 preferably runs uninterrupted with an unchanged cross-section. However, it is also conceivable that the bulge 20 extends only over a part of the longitudinal direction of the outer drum 14, for example over a central partial area. The bulge 20 is formed in that in its region the radius of the outer drum 14 is greater than in the region of the remaining drum shell 15. As a result, the outer drum 14 is enlarged in the region of the bulge 20 by the drum shell 15 along the lower bulge 20 (based on the cross-section of the outer drum 14) has a larger radius. This results in the area of the bulge 20, a larger gap 21 between the inner drum 12 and the outer drum 14. In the region of this larger gap 21 is the plate heat exchanger 17. In the cross-sectional direction of the outer drum 14 seen the plate heat exchanger 17 is arcuately curved, with a radius , which approximately corresponds to the radius of the outer drum 14 outside the region of the bulge 20, is preferably somewhat larger. In the longitudinal direction of the outer drum 14, ie in the direction of the outer drum 14, so in the direction of the. In the longitudinal direction of the outer drum 14, so located in the direction of the bottom drum 14 in the region of the bulge Rotation axis 11, the plate heat exchanger 17 is straight at a parallel distance from the axis of rotation 11, wherein this distance is approximately equal to the radius of the outer drum 14 outside the region of the bulge 20 or slightly larger. As a result, the plate heat exchanger 17 in the case of the washing machine 10 shown here has a part-cylindrical shape.

The base of the plate heat exchanger 17 is smaller than the bulge 20, so that at least in the cross-sectional direction of the washing machine 10 seen the opposite longitudinal edges 22 of the plate heat exchanger 17 of opposite longitudinal walls 23 of the bulge 20 for connecting the drum shell 15 with the larger radius in the lower part of the drum shell to Formation of the bulge 20 is spaced. It is also conceivable that the plate heat exchanger 17 is formed shorter than the outer drum 14, so that the arcuate transverse edges of the plate heat exchanger 17 at a distance in front of opposite ends of the outer drum 14 ends.

Due to the arrangement of the curved plate heat exchanger 17 between the inner drum 12 and lying in the bulge 20, in radius relative to the remaining part of the outer drum 14 enlarged drum shell section '24 of the outer drum 14 is formed on the outside 25 of the plate heat exchanger 17, ie between the outer plate Along this flow path 26, the liquid to be heated (washing water or rinsing water) can flow along the circumferential heat of the outer drum 14 on the plate heat exchanger 17, whereby the plate heat exchanger 17, the liquid in the washing machine 10, in particular Water, heated or heated. In addition, a heating or heating of the water in the washing machine 10 takes place on the opposite inner side 27 of the plate heat exchanger 17. However, this warm-up does not occur by flowing along or directing the wash water or rinse water along the plate heat exchanger 17. The washing machine can provide or maintain a correspondingly large flow of water along the flow path 26 between the outside of the plate heat exchanger 17 and the drum shell section 24 10, a circulating means not shown in the figures, for example a pump.

The Fig. 2 shows a dryer 28 for commercial laundries. This is basically the same as the previously described washing machine 10. Reference is made to the detailed explanations of the structure made in connection with the washing machine 10, as far as these also apply to the dryer 28. Accordingly, the dryer 28 has an about an axis of rotation 29 rotatably driven internal drum 30 which is at least partially perforated and thus permeable to air. The inner drum 30 is surrounded by a slightly larger, stationary outer drum 31. The outer drum 31 has an airtight and largely cylindrical drum shell 32. In particular for loading and unloading of the dryer 28, a rotary axis 29 at right angles intersecting horizontal pivot axis with a pivot drive (not shown) may be provided, whereby the inclination of the axis of rotation 29 of the inner drum 30th and the Outer drum 31 is variable. The loading and unloading of the dryer 28 is carried out either by a front side of the inner drum 30 and the outer drum 31 or by a closable door in the jacket of the inner drum 30 and the outer drum 31st

Also in the dryer 28, the outer drum 31 is associated with a heat exchanger. This is formed in the embodiment shown as a single plate heat exchanger 33. The structure, the operation and the construction of the plate heat exchanger 33 correspond to the plate heat exchanger 17 of the previously described washing machine 10. The plate heat exchanger 33 is also arranged in the region of a bulge 34 in the lower region of the outer drum 31. As seen in the cross-section of the dryer 28, the radius of the outer drum 31 in the region of the bulge 34 for forming the same is increased, so that a drum shell section 35 in the region of the bulge 34 is farther away from the shell of the inner drum 30 than the remaining region of the drum shell 32 of the outer drum 31 This results in a wider gap 36 between the inner drum 31 and the drum shell portion 35 in the region of the bulge 34 compared to the remaining smaller in the radius portion of the drum shell 32 of the outer drum 31. By longitudinal walls 37 is larger in radius drum shell portion 35 at opposite ends of the bulge 34 (cross section) connected to the smaller in radius drum shell 32 of the outer drum 31.

The plate heat exchanger 33 is located approximately in the middle of the wide gap 36 between the drum shell portion 35 of the bulge 34 and the inner drum 30. As a result, the plate heat exchanger 33 is formed in a circular arc in cross-section, wherein the radius in the region of the plate heat exchanger 33 the radius of the outer drum 31 outside the Area of the bulge 34 corresponds approximately or is slightly larger. The plate heat exchanger 33 is connected to a (in the Fig. 2 left) longitudinal edge 38 airtight connected to the drum shell 32 of the outer drum 31, and where the longitudinal wall 37 connects at one end of the bulge 34 to the drum shell 32 of the outer drum 31. As a result, the plate heat exchanger 33 forms part of the outer drum 31, in particular a part of the drum shell 32 thereof. An opposite longitudinal edge 39 of the plate heat exchanger 33 terminates at a distance in front of the longitudinal wall 37 of the bulge 34. In this way, at the end of the flow path 41 between the outside 45 of the plate heat exchanger 33 and the drum shell portion 35 of the bulge 34, an overflow channel 40, which leads into the interior of the dryer 28 leads to the inner drum 30 back.

For supplying a heat exchanger medium to the plate heat exchanger 33 and for discharging the heat exchange medium, the plate heat exchanger 33 is provided with a feed line 42 and a discharge line 43.

The air to be heated for drying the laundry is guided in the dryer 28 shown in an open circuit. Accordingly, air to be heated, which may be cold fresh air, is directed through an air supply passage 44 to the outside of the plate heat exchanger 33. The air supply channel 44 opens into the bulge 34, namely on that (in the Fig. 2 left) end at which the longitudinal edge 38 of the plate heat exchanger 33 is airtightly connected to the drum shell 32 of the outer drum 31. The air supplied from the air supply channel 44 to the dryer 28 thus enters the flow path 41. The air flows through the flow path 41 along the outside 45 of the plate heat exchanger 33, whereby it is heated by the plate heat exchanger 33, namely the heat transfer medium flowing through the same. At the end of the flow path 41, the air passes via the overflow channel 40 at the free end of the plate heat exchanger 33 into the interior of the dryer 28, namely to the inner drum 30 and through the perforated inner drum 30 through to the laundry to be dried in the inner drum 30th

At the top, the outer drum 31 is provided at the dryer 28 with an opening 46 through which humidified during drying of the laundry air can be discharged. In the illustrated embodiment, moist air is sucked in as exhaust air through a fan 47 from the dryer 28 and discharged via an exhaust air line 48. The moist exhaust air can be passed through the exhaust air line 48 to the outside. But it is also conceivable via the exhaust air line 48 to direct the moist air to a dehumidifier and dehumidify air to be re-expended drying air through the air supply duct 44 on the plate heat exchanger 33 along the inside of the dryer 28 again. Then we run the air to dry the laundry in a closed circuit through the dryer 28.

The supply air to be heated to the dryer 28, in particular if it is circulating air, is filtered by at least one filter 49. The filter 49 is primarily used to remove fluff from the air, which accumulate in the air when they are recycled, by dehumidified air is passed back into the dryer 28.

The Fig. 3 and 4 show a washing-spin dryer 50. This is basically the same design as the washing machine 10 and the dryer 28. Accordingly, the washer-spin dryer 50 has a about a rotation axis 51 rotating drivable internal drum 52 which is at least partially perforated and thus water and air permeable. The essentially cylindrical inner drum 52 is surrounded by a larger outer drum 53 with a substantially cylindrical drum casing 54. A bulge 55 is assigned to the lower region of the outer drum 53. The bulge 55 is limited in the circumferential direction by a drum shell portion 56, which extends at a parallel distance from the cylindrical shell of the inner drum 52. The radius of the drum shell portion 56 is greater than the radius of the drum shell 54 of the outer drum 53. This creates in the region of the bulge 55, a wide gap 57 between the drum shell portion 56 and the inner drum 52, which is about twice as wide as the gap 58 between the drum shell 54 of the outer drum 53 and the inner drum 52. Opposite ends of the bulge 55 are limited here by radially directed longitudinal walls 59.

Approximately in the middle of the wide gap 57 of the here formed by a single plate heat exchanger 60 heat exchanger is arranged. The plate heat exchanger 60 is the same as the plate heat exchanger 17 of the washing machine 10. Therefore, for the details of the plate heat exchanger 60, reference is made to the description of the plate heat exchanger 17. Opposite longitudinal edges 61 of the plate heat exchanger 60 each terminate at a distance in front of the longitudinal walls 59 of the bulge 55. This creates on both sides of the plate heat exchanger 60 transfer channels 62 between the outside 63 and the inside 64 of the plate heat exchanger 60th

The wash-spin dryer 50 differs from the washing machine 10 and the dryer 28 in that there, where an air supply channel 65 as in the dryer 28 opens in an end portion of the bulge 55, a guide or obturator is arranged. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide and obturator is designed as a flap 68 which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 67 by a pressure medium cylinder 66. The horizontal pivot axis 67 of the flap 68 is located at the corner between the drum shell portion 56 and a longitudinal wall 59 of the bulge 55. The flap 68 is the pressure medium cylinder 66 in the in the Fig. 3 and 4 shown different positions pivoted. The Fig. 3 shows a position of the flap 68 for washing operation of the washing-spin dryer 50. In this position, the flap 68 closes the air supply channel 65 and thus the bulge 55 of the outer drum 53. It can so wash or rinse liquid through the overflow channel 62 above the Flap 68 to the outside 63 of the plate heat exchanger 60 flow. The washing or

Flushing liquid then flows along the flow path 69 at the rear of the plate heat exchanger 60 and through the overflow channel 62 at the opposite end of the plate heat exchanger 60 back into the gap 58 between the outer drum 53 and the inner drum 52. In the dryer operation of the spin-dryer 50 (FIG. Fig. 4 ) pivots the pressure cylinder 66, the flap 68 in the counterclockwise direction such that a free end 70 of the flap 68 sealingly abuts the corresponding longitudinal edge 61 of the plate heat exchanger 60. As a result, the air, in particular fresh air, supplied to the spin-on-drier 50 through the overflow channel 62 is conducted on the outside 63 of the plate heat exchanger 60 along the flow path 69. At the opposite (in the Fig. 3 and 4 right) longitudinal edge 61 of the plate heat exchanger 60, the air passes through the overflow 62 to the inner drum 52nd

The switching of the washing-spin dryer 50 from the washing operation to the dryer operation and vice versa can also be done by other control or shut-off devices, such as valves or valves.

The washer-dryer 50 has at the top of the outer drum 53 via a connection for an exhaust duct 71, which is associated with a fan 72 or the like. The function of the fan 72 and the exhaust duct 71 correspond to those of the dryer 28. In this respect, the description of the dryer 28 reference is made.

When in the Fig. 3 and 4 Washing-spinner-dryer 50 shown is a so-called partition wall design, that is, the washing-spinner-dryer 50 is arranged between a dirty room and a clean room. As a result, the loading of the washing-tumble dryer 50 takes place from a place other than unloading. For loading the outer drum 53 is assigned a closable door 73 on the so-called impure side. The door 73 is in one of the Fig. 3 and 4 Not shown partition arranged. On the door 73 opposite side of the washing-spin dryer 50, a further door 74 is arranged. This door 74 is also installed in a partition, not shown. The door 74 closes the so-called clean side of a laundry. In this way, washed, optionally spun and dried clean laundry can pass through the door 74 on the clean side of the laundry, while in front of the opposite door 73 dirty laundry, which may be contaminated, is separated from clean laundry. Also, the washer-spin dryer 50 shown has the outer drum 53 and the inner drum 52 via a closable common loading and unloading opening 75. This is brought to load the wash-spin dryer 50 in the area of the blemish-tight door 73 closing. For discharging clean laundry, the loading and unloading opening 75 is brought approximately into coincidence with the door 74 facing the clean side.

The invention is also suitable for washer-dryers, which are not arranged in the Tennwandbereich, so that - as in the washing machine 10 and the dryer 28 ( Fig. 1 and 2 ) - arranged in partitions doors 73 and 74 are provided. The loading and unloading of such not provided for the partition wall operation washing-spin dryer is then carried out directly on the loading and unloading 75, the loading and unloading can optionally be done in the same position of the lockable loading and unloading 75.

Like the above-described washer-dryer 50, a washer-drier may be formed which only washes and dries the laundry, but does not spin.

The above-described embodiments of the invention relate to a washing machine 10, a dryer 28 and a washer-dryer 50 with a drum having only one treatment chamber. However, the invention can also be used in other types of washing machines, dryers and spin dryers or washing dryers, for example those which have an elongated drum with a plurality of successive chambers, as is the case for example with continuous washing machines.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Washing machine

11

axis of rotation

12

inner drum

13

rib

14

external drum

15

drum shell

16

gap

17

Plate heat exchanger

18

supply

19

derivation

20

bulge

21

gap

22

longitudinal edge

23

longitudinal wall

24

Drum casing section

25

outside

26

flow

27

inside

28

dryer

29

axis of rotation

30

inner drum

31

external drum

32

drum shell

33

Plate heat exchanger

34

bulge

35

Drum casing section

36

wide gap

37

longitudinal wall

38

longitudinal edge

39

longitudinal edge

40

overflow

41

flow

42

supply

43

derivation

44

Air supply duct

45

outside

46

opening

47

fan

48

exhaust duct

49

filter

50

Washer-extractor-dryer

51

axis of rotation

52

inner drum

53

external drum

54

drum shell

55

bulge

56

Drum casing section

57

wide gap

58

gap

59

longitudinal wall

60

Plate heat exchanger

61

longitudinal edge

62

overflow

63

outside

64

inside

65

Air supply duct

66

Pressure cylinder

67

swivel axis

68

flap

69

flow

70

free end

71

exhaust duct

72

fan

73

door

74

door

75

Loading and unloading

Claims (12)

1. Method for treating, preferably for washing, spinning and/or drying, laundry, the laundry being treated in a rotatingly drivable inner drum (12, 30, 52) which is surrounded by an outer drum (14, 31, 53), characterized in that liquid for washing or spinning the laundry and/or air for drying the laundry is heated by a heat exchanger which is arranged in the outer drum (14, 31, 53) or forms a part of the outer drum (14, 31, 53), with the heat exchanger being formed from at least one plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) with at least one flow duct for a heat exchanger medium.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the air to be heated, which in particular is fed in from the outside, is conducted along one side of the heat exchanger and the liquid to be heated, in particular the liquid located in the outer drum (14, 31, 53), is conducted along the same side or on both sides of the heat exchanger.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the liquid and/or the air in at least one plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) is heated in the interior of the outer drum (14, 31, 53) or in the region of a casing of the outer drum (14, 31, 53) or by at least one plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) forming at least part of the wall of the outer drum (14, 31, 53).
4. Apparatus for treating, in particular for washing, spinning and/or drying, laundry, with an outer drum (14, 31, 53) and an inner drum (12, 30, 52) mounted therein in a rotatingly drivable manner, characterized in that at least one heat exchanger is arranged in the outer drum (14, 31, 53) or the outer drum (14, 31, 53) has at least one heat exchanger, with the heat exchanger being formed from at least one plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) in which at least one flow duct for a heat exchanger medium is provided.
5. Apparatus according Claim 4, characterized in that the heat exchanger is formed from a single plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) .
6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the heat exchanger is arranged in the outer drum (14, 31, 53), preferably between the outer drum (14, 31, 53) and the inner drum (12, 30, 52) and/or the at least one heat exchanger is assigned to the wall of the outer drum (14, 31, 53), preferably forming part of the outer drum (14, 31, 53).
7. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the or each plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) is formed from two plates or metal sheets, which are connected to each other in some regions and, in the regions which are not connected to each other, are spaced apart from each other in order to form the at least one flow duct.
8. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that one side, preferably a side on the exterior (outside 25, 45, 63) of the respective plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60), is assigned at least one flow path (26, 41, 69) for the air to be heated and/or for the liquid to be heated, preferably with the at least one flow path (26, 41, 69) being bounded by the respective plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) and part of the wall of the outer drum (14, 31, 53).
9. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the outer drum (14, 31, 53) has a bulge (20, 34, 55) in the region of the or each plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60), preferably in the region of the bulge (20, 34, 55), the or each plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) at least partially follows the profile of the outer drum (14, 31, 53) outside the region of the bulge (20, 34, 55) of the outer drum (14, 31, 53).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that the bulge (20, 34, 55) is formed by an outer offset of the wall of the outer drum (14, 31, 53), the wall of the outer drum (14, 31, 53) running, in the region of the bulge (20, 34, 55), at a parallel distance to the plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60).
11. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the flow path (26, 41, 69) along the or each plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) is assigned a conducting member or shut-off member, which is preferably designed for optionally guiding air and/or liquid at least along the outside (25, 45, 63) of plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60).
12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that the conducting member or shut-off member can be adjusted in such a manner that, firstly, air fed into the outer drum (14, 31, 53) from the outside can be guided along the outside (25, 45, 63) of the plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60) while, secondly, liquid to be heated up can be guided from the outer drum (14, 31, 53) along the outside (25, 45, 63) of the plate heat exchanger (17, 33, 60).

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