EP1925705A1 - Machine à laver à chargement par le haut - Google Patents

Machine à laver à chargement par le haut Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1925705A1
EP1925705A1 EP06124769A EP06124769A EP1925705A1 EP 1925705 A1 EP1925705 A1 EP 1925705A1 EP 06124769 A EP06124769 A EP 06124769A EP 06124769 A EP06124769 A EP 06124769A EP 1925705 A1 EP1925705 A1 EP 1925705A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
clothes
opening
machine according
spraying means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06124769A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alberto Pezzutto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Original Assignee
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Electrolux Home Products Corp NV filed Critical Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority to EP06124769A priority Critical patent/EP1925705A1/fr
Priority to RU2007143484/12A priority patent/RU2435884C2/ru
Publication of EP1925705A1 publication Critical patent/EP1925705A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/12—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis
    • D06F37/18—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
    • D06F39/088—Liquid supply arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a top-loading clothes washing machine.
  • Top-loading clothes washing machines generally include an outer casing, or cabinet, provided with a laundry loading/unloading port formed through an upper portion thereof, and a lid provided for opening and closing said laundry loading/unloading port.
  • a wash tub is fixedly arranged within the outer casing and a perforated drum is rotatably installed in the tub for holding and agitating the clothes to be washed.
  • the drum is in turn provided with an opening formed through the outer circumferential surface thereof for the laundry to be able to be introduced into and removed from the drum therethrough.
  • a drum door or flap assembly is provided to open and close said opening of the drum accordingly.
  • Top-loading clothes washing machines are known in the art to be provided with automatic closing means for automatically actuating the drum flap assembly into a closed position, such as this is for instance disclosed in EP 1655403 and DE 10316696 .
  • These automatic closing means are operated by the control unit of the machine so as to guide and move the flap assembly into the closed position thereof without any need for a user or operator to do anything manually in view of having the flap closed in an appropriate manner.
  • drum flap assembly catches and drags some clothes, which can in this way ultimately remain trapped between the drum flap and the same drum, with the most risk of suffering irreparable damages.
  • the so trapped clothes may in fact suffer damages not only during the mechanical movement of the drum flap as it moves into closing, when the risk is that the fabrics of the same clothes may get torn and ripped, but also during the spin-extraction phases of the washing cycle, when the clothes, entrapped between the flap and the side surface of the drum without this necessarily causing them to suffer any damage, can be subject to severe tensile stresses due to centrifugal forces, thereby exposing the fabrics to damages.
  • the top-loading clothes washing machine as generally indicated with the reference numeral 1, comprises an outer cabinet 2 provided with a laundry loading/unloading port 3 formed through an upper portion thereof, a cabinet door 4 provided for opening and closing said laundry loading/unloading port 3, a washing tub 5 fixedly arranged within the outer cabinet 2, a perforated drum 6 rotatably installed in the tub 5 for holding the clothes 7 and provided with an opening 8 formed through the outer circumferential surface thereof for the clothes 7 to be able to be introduced in and removed from the interior of the drum 6 therethrough, a drum door assembly 9 provided in connection with the opening 8 of the drum 6, automatic closing means for automatically actuating the drum door assembly 9 into a closed position.
  • the machine also comprises spraying means 10 fluidly connected to a water supply line 11 to sprinkle the clothes 7 loaded in the drum 6, so as to cause the water-laden clothes to sink, i.e. move downwards into the drum by gravity, thereby preventing them from being caught by the drum door assembly 9 as it is automatically moved into closing.
  • the outer cabinet 2 forms the external appearance of, i.e. the outer casing enclosing the washing machine.
  • the cabinet door 4 enables access to be gained to and through the loading/unloading port 3, which is delimited by a hopper assembly 12 to appropriately convey the clothes to be washed towards the opening 8 of the drum 6.
  • the cabinet door 4 is further provided with a dispenser 13 for the washing products, such as detergents, rinsing aids and the like, to be introduced in the drum 6.
  • the tub 5 is adapted to contain process liquor for washing and rinsing the laundry 7.
  • a plurality of through-holes, i.e. perforations adapted to let process liquor therethrough are formed in the side walls of the drum 6 and the drum door 9, and the drum 6 is rotated by a driving unit.
  • the spraying means 10 are adapted to spray water onto the clothes loaded in the drum 6 prior to the automatic closing means being operated to actuate the drum door 9 into automatically closing the drum opening 8 and, therefore, prior to the operation provided for moving the drum door 9 into the closed position thereof being actually started.
  • the clothes in the drum 6, as made heavier by the water sprayed thereonto, are caused to sag by gravity, thereby moving away from both the opening 8 of the drum 6 and the related closing drum door 9.
  • the soaked clothes shrink together, i.e. reduce their volume, so as to clear the region around the opening 8 and avoid interfering with the closing movement of the drum door 9, as illustrated in Figures 4 , 4a and 5 , 5a .
  • This is effective in preventing any clothes from possibly being trapped between the drum door 9 and the drum 6, when the drum door 9 is moved to close the drum opening.
  • the operating programme of the machine is so set as to in any case start with an initial spraying step, in which a pre-established amount of water is sprayed onto the clothes 7 in view of reducing the volume thereof.
  • the operating programme of the machine goes on by energizing the automatic closing means, so as to cause the drum door 9 to automatically move into closing the drum opening 8. Then, the actual washing cycle is started in a per se known manner.
  • the spraying means 10 are provided so as to ensure that the sprayed water jets are aimed at directly hitting the clothes 7, without having to pass through the perforations in the walls of the drum 6, so that it will only take a modest amount of water to cause the clothes 7 to sag and shrink together.
  • the spraying means 10 are situated in correspondence to the laundry loading/unloading port 3, so as to be able to direct the water jets through the opening 8 of the drum 6.
  • the spraying means 10 are associated to the hub 14 of the drum 6, i.e. the central portion of the drum 6 that is rotatably coupled to the driving shaft thereof, so as to sprinkle and soak the clothes 7 directly from the interior of the drum 6.
  • the spraying means 10 are connected to a water supply conduit 11 that is fluidly connected to the main water supply line.
  • this water supply conduit 11 may be connected to the water supply circuit of the washing machine, in which case it may therefore form a branch of such circuit.
  • At least an electromagnetic valve is provided to control water inlet into the water supply conduit 11 and, as a result, the spraying means 10.
  • the spraying means 10 may for instance comprise one or several nozzles.
  • the spraying means 10 may further be associated to the hopper assembly 12 so as to direct the water jets through the opening 8 of the drum 6, as illustrated in Figures 2 , 5 , 5a .
  • Appropriate receptacles are provided in the hopper assembly 12 for the spraying means 10 to be accommodated and integrated there as fluidly connected with the water supply conduit 11.
  • the spraying means 10 are arranged on each side of the opening 8 of the drum 6 along the hopper assembly 12, so as to cover the same opening 8 of the drum 6 from substantially 360°.
  • the spraying means 10 are provided on a movable arm 15 adapted to reach out towards the opening 8 of the drum 6 so as to position the spraying means 10 centrally above the same opening 8 of the drum 6.
  • the arm 15 is hinged on to the hopper assembly 12 so as to be able to rotate between an inoperative position, in which the arm 15 is located adjacent to the contour of the hopper assembly 12 to keep the laundry loading/unloading port 3 duly clear, and a spraying position, in which the arm 15 is rotated to protrude from the hopper assembly 12 so that the free end 16 thereof is located centrally above the opening 8 of the drum 6.
  • the arm 15 is adapted to preferably rotate along a horizontal plane and, moreover, the spraying means 10 are preferably provided at or close to such free end 16 of the arm 15.
  • the hopper assembly 12 may comprise an appropriately shaped receptacle or recess adapted to receive and accommodate the movable arm 15 when the latter is in the inoperative position thereof, so that the same arm 15 is positively prevented from being of hindrance to the loading of the clothes 7 through the opening 8 of the drum 6.
  • An appropriate drive unit - as operated by the control unit of the machine - is provided to rotatably move the arm 15 between said inoperative position and said spraying position thereof.
  • the spraying means 10 are provided on the rotation hub portion 14 of the drum 6 for them to be able to spray the water towards the clothes 7 from the interior of the drum 6.
  • the spraying means 10 are provided on the central portion of the drum 6 that rotatably engages the driving shaft, i.e. the axis of rotation about which the drum 6 is adapted to rotate.
  • the water supply conduit 11 supplying water to the spraying means 10 is provided through such hub portion 14, wherein the spraying means 10 themselves are provided on the side of the hub portion 14 that faces the interior of the drum 6.
  • the water supply conduit 11 may be directly connected to the water supply line via at least an electromagnetic valve controlling the flow of the water; in this case, the pressure of the water jets would solely be determined by the water supply line pressure. Therefore, the water supply conduit 11 may advantageously include pumping means aimed at boosting the pressure of the water being sprayed onto the clothes 7, so as to increase the spraying efficiency of the spraying means 10, thereby reducing the amount of water that has to be used and the time needed to complete the initial spraying step.
  • mixing means may be provided as an alternative to the above-cited pumping means to mix compressed air into the water supply conduit 11 so as to deliver a water/air mixture under pressure to the spraying means 10.
  • the operating method of the clothes washing machine includes a spraying step, in which water jets are delivered onto the clothes 7 to cause them to reduce their volume, i.e. to sag and shrink together by gravity following the same clothes 7 soaking up the water being sprayed thereupon and - as a result - increasing their weight.
  • the clothes are caused to settle downwards in the drum 6, thereby moving away from and clearing the region close to the opening 8 of the drum 6, as illustrated schematically in the sequences shown in Figures 4 , 4a and 5 , 5a .
  • the clothes themselves are no longer able to interfere with the drum door 9, i.e. do not stand in the way of the same drum door as it follows its trajectory when moved into closing the opening 8 of the drum 6.
  • the drum door 9 itself may therefore be closed automatically without this implying any risk for any laundry item to be caught and dragged by the same drum door 9 or any laundry item to remain entrapped between the drum door 9 and the drum 6.
  • the spraying step is started automatically by the control unit of the washing machine before operating the automatic closing means and, therefore, prior to the automatic closing procedure of the drum door 9 is started.
  • the spraying step is provided to be started as soon as the user has closed the cabinet door 4 and after a washing cycle has been selected for the washing machine to carry out.
  • the control unit of the washing machine starts the spraying step by operating the electromagnetic valve, in view of allowing water to flow through the water supply conduit 11 and reach the spraying means 10, and possibly operating the pumping or mixing means, if any, as described hereinbefore.
  • the control unit is programmed and pre-set to deliver a pre-established amount of water - as determined experimentally - to the spraying means 10. At the end of this spraying step, the control unit energizes the automatic closing means to close the drum door 9. Once the drum door 9 is duly closed automatically by said means, the control unit goes on by starting the regular sequences of the washing cycle selected by the user.
  • the present invention is also applicable to a top loading machine having a slightly inclined access to the drum as it is shown in figure 6 .
  • the water sprayed onto the clothes in the drum may then be further used as process water, so that the control unit will in this case cause an overall amount of water to be filled into the washing tub of the machine, which duly allows for the amount of water that has been used to initially spray the clothes and is still present in the tub.
  • the spraying means and the spraying step provided in the top-loading clothes washing machine according to the present invention are fully effective in solving the drawbacks connected with prior-art machines in a simple manner.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
EP06124769A 2006-11-24 2006-11-24 Machine à laver à chargement par le haut Withdrawn EP1925705A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06124769A EP1925705A1 (fr) 2006-11-24 2006-11-24 Machine à laver à chargement par le haut
RU2007143484/12A RU2435884C2 (ru) 2006-11-24 2007-11-23 Стиральная машина с верхней загрузкой

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06124769A EP1925705A1 (fr) 2006-11-24 2006-11-24 Machine à laver à chargement par le haut

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1925705A1 true EP1925705A1 (fr) 2008-05-28

Family

ID=37946216

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06124769A Withdrawn EP1925705A1 (fr) 2006-11-24 2006-11-24 Machine à laver à chargement par le haut

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1925705A1 (fr)
RU (1) RU2435884C2 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2876199A1 (fr) * 2013-11-05 2015-05-27 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Machine à laver
CN105671869A (zh) * 2014-12-04 2016-06-15 三星电子株式会社 洗衣机
CN108118491A (zh) * 2018-01-15 2018-06-05 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 滚筒组件、包括其的洗衣机及控制方法
CN108951009A (zh) * 2017-05-18 2018-12-07 苏州三星电子有限公司 一种洗衣机喷淋装置及喷淋方法
CN111379114A (zh) * 2018-12-29 2020-07-07 合肥海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种洗衣机的盘座结构
CN112342726A (zh) * 2019-08-08 2021-02-09 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 洗衣机
US11624139B2 (en) 2019-09-27 2023-04-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Horizontal axis laundry treatment machine having corner entry

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2028699A1 (de) * 1969-08-12 1971-03-04 Pellerin Corp Milnor Wasch bzw Reinigungsmaschine
JP2000279688A (ja) * 1999-03-30 2000-10-10 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 洗濯機
EP1655403A2 (fr) * 2004-11-05 2006-05-10 LG Electronics Inc. Machine à laver
JP2006167236A (ja) * 2004-12-17 2006-06-29 Hitachi Home & Life Solutions Inc 全自動洗濯機

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2028699A1 (de) * 1969-08-12 1971-03-04 Pellerin Corp Milnor Wasch bzw Reinigungsmaschine
JP2000279688A (ja) * 1999-03-30 2000-10-10 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 洗濯機
EP1655403A2 (fr) * 2004-11-05 2006-05-10 LG Electronics Inc. Machine à laver
JP2006167236A (ja) * 2004-12-17 2006-06-29 Hitachi Home & Life Solutions Inc 全自動洗濯機

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2876199A1 (fr) * 2013-11-05 2015-05-27 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Machine à laver
US9598811B2 (en) 2013-11-05 2017-03-21 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Washing machine
CN105671869A (zh) * 2014-12-04 2016-06-15 三星电子株式会社 洗衣机
CN108951009A (zh) * 2017-05-18 2018-12-07 苏州三星电子有限公司 一种洗衣机喷淋装置及喷淋方法
CN108118491A (zh) * 2018-01-15 2018-06-05 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 滚筒组件、包括其的洗衣机及控制方法
CN111379114A (zh) * 2018-12-29 2020-07-07 合肥海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种洗衣机的盘座结构
CN112342726A (zh) * 2019-08-08 2021-02-09 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 洗衣机
CN112342726B (zh) * 2019-08-08 2024-05-14 重庆海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 洗衣机
US11624139B2 (en) 2019-09-27 2023-04-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Horizontal axis laundry treatment machine having corner entry
US11866870B2 (en) 2019-09-27 2024-01-09 The Procter & Gamble Company Horizontal axis laundry treatment machine having corner entry

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2007143484A (ru) 2009-05-27
RU2435884C2 (ru) 2011-12-10

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