EP2295628A1 - Process for treating fabrics in a domestic applicance and domestic applicance, in particular domestic laundry dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves inserting the textiles into a swivelingly stored laundry drum (7), and pressurizing the laundry with super-heated steam. The super-heated steam is produced in a steam generator (5), which is integrated in the household machine. The steam generator and a water supply unit are regulated, such that the steam generator achieves a work temperature of certain degree Celsius. An independent claim is also included for a household machine, particularly household laundry dryer.

Description

The invention relates to a method for treating textiles in a household appliance, in particular a household laundry dryer, and a household appliance, such as a household laundry dryer, according to the preamble of claims 1 and 8.

From the DE 34 08 136 A1 a tumble dryer is known in which by means of an external gas supply line consisting of mist and steam mixture is passed into a laundry treatment room. The known laundry dryer requires the provision of an external mist and steam generating device. The introduced into the laundry treatment room mixture of mist and steam is relatively cold. It is not very clean. Finally, drops form, which can lead to the formation of stains on the textiles.

From the DE 37 27 570 is a method for eliminating odors from textiles known. In this case, textiles received in a cabinet are subjected to dry steam and odor-binding agents. A device for generating the dry steam is also provided outside the cabinet here.

The provision of external steam generating devices is cumbersome and expensive. Such a measure is not suitable for household appliances such as household appliances.

The known household machines, especially dryers, preserve after the completion of the drying program the Dried laundry in their interior until it is removed for further processing, such as ironing, by an operator. In particular, by not immediate further processing of the extracted laundry can lose more moisture so that it contains too little moisture for further processing, especially for ironing. To compensate for this excessive loss of fluid again, it is known to spray the laundry with finely atomized water before ironing to make ironing the laundry more effective and easier. In this spraying, however, can not be reliably achieved that a uniform moistening of the laundry to be ironed is achieved.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a method and a household appliance, such as a household tumble dryer, are given, with which a simple and effective removal of unwanted odors can be achieved and a uniform moistening of the laundry, without worsening the washing result by, for example, staining.

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 23. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the features of the other claims.

By the method according to the invention it is achieved that in the household appliance, a superheated steam can be made available, which can be supplied directly to the laundry directly after the production. This is advantageously made possible by the fact that the production takes place directly in the household machine, whereby extremely short transport routes for the steam are available, so that no condensation, and thus droplet formation, can take place. heat loss of the steam are reduced to a minimum by the short line lengths, so that the steam can also be fed under control of a desired temperature of the laundry. The temperature of the steam practically does not change on the way from the steam generator to the laundry, since the transport routes are extremely short. It thus eliminates the costly provision of an external steam generating device. It does not come to undesirable condensation and thus the formation of droplets in the hot steam line.

Particularly advantageously, the textiles are subjected at intervals to drip-free superheated steam. The application of drip-free superheated steam is particularly effective. It is quickly achieved a removal of odors from textiles. The formation of stains is avoided. The intermittent exposure to superheated steam causes a particularly intensive freshening and sterilization of odorous textiles.

According to a further embodiment feature of the steam generator and a Wasserzuführvorrichtung are controlled such that the steam generator until a working temperature of at least 100 ° C, preferably 120 - 200 ° C, a predetermined amount of water is supplied. With this measure, it is further ensured that the hot steam generated is drip-free. The water only reaches the steam generator when it has been heated to a sufficient working temperature necessary for complete steam generation. Conveniently, the amount of water supplied depending on the operating temperature or the absorbed electric power of the steam generator is controlled so that the water is completely evaporated. It is avoided by means of the regulation, the supply of a large amount of water. A formation of water droplets in the superheated steam is thus prevented.

A water supply to the steam generator can be done by interval opening of a valve and / or operating a pump. In the case of the sole provision of a valve, a supply tank of the water supply device is arranged above the steam generator.

According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment, the hot steam generated in the steam generator is passed through a, preferably thermally insulated, riser into a treatment chamber surrounded by the laundry drum. The provision of insulation counteracts undesired cooling of the superheated steam and thus condensation or formation of drops. Any condensate formed on the wall of the pipe flows back in the direction of the steam generator because of the slope of the pipe. It is a blowing of contaminated with drops superheated steam avoided in the treatment room.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, perfume, disinfectant, cleaning agent and / or descaling agent is added to the water or the superheated steam. This achieves a particularly effective cleaning of odor-stressed textiles. If the additives mentioned above are already added to the water, it must be ensured that they evaporate without residue. Additives which do not evaporate without residue are expediently added to the superheated steam.

By the advantageous method in which the steam generator is supplied with water under control, it is advantageously achieved that only as much water is supplied as the steam generator can also convert to steam. Advantageously, the water is taken from a tank that is integrated in the household appliance. This can advantageously be a tank, in which, for example, the condensate, in a drying process of a household clothes dryer is produced, collected.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the laundry is charged with a predetermined amount of superheated steam, thereby it is possible that the laundry can be moistened with a predetermined desired degree of moisture over the inventive method. Conveniently, the operating time of the steam generator can be determined, so that a predetermined amount of moisture reaches the laundry. In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the laundry with hot steam is applied until it has a predetermined degree of moisture. For this purpose, the method according to the invention is further developed such that the degree of moisture of the laundry is monitored by a sensor device. In a particularly favorable embodiment of the invention, the sensor device is a sensor device which is present in a domestic appliance, for example a household laundry dryer, in order to carry out the monitoring of the residual moisture during the drying process. According to the invention, the method thus uses such a sensor unit.

In another embodiment of the invention, the laundry is acted upon with temporal interruptions with superheated steam, so that the laundry has entirely in its interior a predetermined degree of moisture. During the charging with superheated steam, according to the further inventive method, the laundry can be redeployed by rotating the drum. For this purpose, the application of hot steam can be interrupted in time, wherein advantageously the drum can be set in rotation, so that at the time of interruptions, the drum rotates and the laundry is rearranged. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the influx of the superheated steam is directed into the drum, opposite to an air flowing into the drum.

In order to achieve a predetermined residual moisture, it can be provided according to the invention that the operator is able to set the moisture level of the laundry to be present after the end of the process according to the invention via an operating unit. The setting is similar to a drying process on the same control unit of the household appliance.

The further claims describe a household laundry drier according to the invention, in particular for carrying out the processes according to the present invention. For this purpose, the household laundry dryer advantageously has an integrated steam generator and a water supply with a tank for receiving the water required for moistening the laundry. Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention has a superheated steam line for supplying the steam from the steam generator to the laundry drum, wherein the laundry is moistened according to the method of the present invention.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device for carrying out the method according to the invention has a control that is controllable such that in the steam generator until a working temperature of at least 100 ° C, a predetermined amount of water can be supplied. This advantageously ensures that the temperature of the steam generator can never sink so far that wet steam is generated. Of particular advantage is a steam generator, which operates at a working temperature of preferably from 120 ° C to 200 ° C.

In order to always ensure a balanced advantageous ratio between the supplied water and the existing heat output of the steam generator can be advantageously provided according to the invention that the amount of water supplied is controllable depending on the working temperature of the steam generator. This ensures that its temperature can not drop so low that the water is not completely evaporated. To control the amount of liquid, the steam generating device can be advantageously controlled by a water supply device, which is designed for example as a valve, possibly with an additional pump. It is particularly advantageous to thermally isolate the supply lines for the steam in order to prevent condensation. In a further favorable embodiment of the household laundry drier according to the invention, it advantageously has means for adding substances to the steam, such as, for example, fragrances, disinfectants or other ingredients described in the claims.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the household tumble dryer is designed as a condensation dryer, with a tank in which the condensate is collected. This is advantageously kept at the same time as long that it can be used to moisten the laundry. For this purpose, it can also be advantageously provided that, when the tank is emptied of condensate, a device is provided which prevents complete emptying, so that there is always sufficient water available for moistening laundry.

According to the invention, a household laundry drier is furthermore provided, in which a device for intermittently loading the textiles with drip-free superheated steam is provided. This enables efficient and easy cleaning of odor-stressed textiles.

For the purposes of the present invention, a "drop-free superheated steam" is understood to be a superheated steam which is free of macroscopically visible drops which can lead to the formation of stains.

The device for intermittently charging the textiles with superheated steam expediently has a steam generator and a water supply device. The steam generator and the water supply device can be regulated by means of a control such that the steam generator until a working temperature of at least 100 ° C, preferably 120 to 200 ° C, a predetermined amount of water is supplied. By means of the control, the amount of water supplied is expediently controllable as a function of the operating temperature or the absorbed electrical power of the steam generator so that the water is completely evaporated.

According to a further embodiment, the Wasserzuführvorrichtung on a valve and / or a pump which / which is controlled to supply the steam generator with water by means of the control / are. The water supply device may further include a tank disposed above the steam generator. For example, the tank may be connected to a condensate tank of the household tumble drier for water supply. Alternatively, the condensate tank of the household tumble dryer can be used as a tank. The steam generator is mounted within a housing of the household laundry dryer, conveniently on a housing bottom. In this case, the steam generator simply supplied with water, which is supplied from an attached gravitational tank. In this case, a, preferably thermally insulated, riser connect the steam generator with a surrounding of the laundry drum treatment room. The provision of such a riser counteracts the formation of undesirable condensates. In the case of the formation of condensates, these flow back into the steam generator. Finally, a device for supplying an additive, preferably perfume, disinfectant, cleaning agent and / or descaling agent to the water or to superheated steam can be provided. Such a device may have a separate container. An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the single drawing.

In the drawing, a water tank 1 is connected via a supply line 2 to a pump 3. The pump 3 is connected on the pressure side via a pressure line 4 to a steam generator 5. From the steam generator 5, a thermally insulated superheated steam line 6 leads to a treatment chamber 8 surrounded by a laundry drum 7. A pump control 9 is provided with a control circuit 10, by means of which the pump 3 can be switched on at intervals via a switching contact 11. The steam generator 5 is provided with a thermocouple 12 which is connected to the pump control 9 for measuring the temperature.

The function of the pump control 9 is the following: First, the steam generator 5 is electrically heated. The heating of the steam generator 5 can be program-controlled. The temperature prevailing in the steam generator 5 is continuously measured by means of the thermocouple 12. Once the steam generator 5 has reached a predetermined operating temperature, for example, 140 ° C, by means of the pump control circuit 10 of Switching contact 11 closed. As a result, water is injected into the steam generator 5 by means of the pump 3. Because of the preheating of the steam generator 5 ensures that the injected water completely evaporated. As soon as the temperature in the steam generator 5 drops below a predetermined minimum temperature value, the switching contact 11 is opened by means of the pump control circuit 10 and a further supply of water to the steam generator 5 is interrupted. In this way it is prevented that the steam generator 5 is supplied with water even if its temperature has fallen so far that a drip-free hot steam generation is no longer possible. The hot steam generated in the steam generator 5 passes through the, preferably designed as a riser, steam line 6 in the treatment room 8. Additives, such as fragrances, disinfectants and the like. For example, the water absorbed in the water tank 1 can be added. But it is also possible to inject such additives in the hot steam line 6 finely distributed by means of a nozzle. Due to the fine distribution of the injected additives, they are also vaporized and fed into the treatment chamber 8 together with the superheated steam.

The proposed household tumble dryer can be cleaned in a simple and efficient way odorous textiles. It is not necessary in this case to wash the textiles. This achieves a saving of resources.

In another embodiment, it is provided that the pump control is additionally acted upon by a signal of a humidity sensor 20. For this purpose, the humidity sensor 20 is connected via signal lines 21 to the pump control 9. The mode of action of the humidity sensor 20 is the one that the pump control no longer controls the pump when the laundry in the treatment room 8, the desired Moisture possesses. By means of an operating device, not shown, the operator can set the desired moisture or moisture level of the laundry, which accordingly acts on the pump control 9 via a program control (also not shown).

According to the invention, a method is provided for treating textiles in a household appliance, in particular a household laundry dryer, wherein the textiles are placed in a rotatably mounted laundry drum, characterized in that the laundry is subjected to superheated steam, wherein the superheated steam is generated in a steam generator Being integrated in the household tumble dryer. In one embodiment, the textiles are treated with drip-free superheated steam, preferably at intervals.
In one embodiment, the steam generator (5) and a Wasserzuführvorrichtung (1, 2, 3, 4) regulated such that the steam generator until a working temperature of at least 100 ° C, preferably 120 to 200 ° C, a predetermined amount of water is supplied.
In one embodiment, the amount of water supplied as a function of the operating temperature or the absorbed electric power of the steam generator (5) is controlled so that the water is completely evaporated.
In one embodiment, the water supply to the steam generator (5) by intermittently opening a valve and / or actuation of a pump (3).
In one embodiment, the superheated steam generated in the steam generator (5) is conducted via a, preferably thermally insulated, riser (6) into a treatment space (8) surrounded by the laundry drum (7).
In one embodiment, perfume, degerminating agent, cleaning agent and / or descaling agent are added to the water or the superheated steam.
In one embodiment, the textiles are exposed to hot air.
In one embodiment, the steam generator (5) is controlled supplied with water, the water is removed from a tank that is integrated in the household appliance.
In one embodiment, the water used is the condensate that was stored in a tank during the drying process of the household tumble drier.
In one embodiment, the laundry is charged with a predetermined amount of superheated steam.
In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of water is determined by a predetermined operating time of the steam generator.
In one embodiment, the laundry is charged with hot steam until the laundry has a predetermined degree of moisture.
In one embodiment, the degree of moisture of the laundry is monitored by a sensor device. In this embodiment, optionally, the sensor device that is used in the household tumble dryer to monitor the residual moisture during drying, the sensor unit used.
In one embodiment, the laundry is acted upon with temporal interruptions with superheated steam.
In one embodiment, the laundry is redeployed during the application of superheated steam by rotating the drum.
In one embodiment, the loading of the laundry with superheated steam takes place with time interruptions. In this embodiment, the drum is optionally rotated during the interruptions.
In one embodiment, the direction of the superheated steam flowing into the drum is directed against the flow of the drying air of the household laundry drier.
In one embodiment, the operator of the household laundry dryer via a control unit, the degree of moisture the laundry, which should be available after completion of the process can be adjusted. In this embodiment, the setting is optionally carried out via the same operating unit as for the drying process before washed laundry.
The embodiments of the method can be combined with one another as desired.

According to the invention, a household tumble dryer is provided with a rotatably mounted laundry drum (7), characterized in that the household tumble dryer has an integrated steam generator (5), a water supply device (1, 2 3, 4) with a tank (1) for receiving the water for supplying the steam generator (5) and a hot steam line (6) for supplying the steam from the steam generator (5) to the laundry drum (7).
In one embodiment of the household laundry dryer, the steam generator (5) and the water supply device (1, 2, 3, 4) by means of a control (9, 10, 11) can be controlled such that the steam generator (5) until reaching a working temperature of at least 100 ° C, preferably 120 ° C to 200 ° C, a predetermined amount of water is supplied.
In one embodiment of the household tumble dryer by means of the control (9, 10, 11), the amount of water supplied depending on the operating temperature or the absorbed electric power of the steam generator (5) so regulated that the water is completely evaporated.
In one embodiment of the household laundry drier, the water supply device has a valve and / or a pump (3) which is / can be controlled to supply the steam generator (5) with water by means of the control (9, 10, 11). In one embodiment of the household laundry dryer connects a, preferably thermally insulated, riser (6) the steam generator (5) with one of the laundry drum (7) surrounded treatment chamber (8).
In one embodiment of the household laundry dryer, a device for supplying an additive, preferably perfume, disinfectant, cleaning agent and / or decalcifier, water or hot steam is provided.
In one embodiment of the household tumble dryer, the household tumble dryer is a condensation dryer and the tank (1) can be filled with the condensate of the household tumble dryer.
In one embodiment of the household laundry dryer, the container for receiving the condensate is at the same time the tank (1).
The embodiments of the household laundry dryer can be combined with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

water tank

2

supply line

3

pump

4

pressure line

5

steam generator

6

Hot steam line

7

washing drum

8th

treatment room

9

pump control

10

Pump control circuit

11

switching contact

12

thermocouple

20

humidity sensor

21

signal line

Claims (15)

A process for the treatment of textiles in a household appliance, in particular a household laundry dryer, wherein the textiles are placed in a rotatably mounted laundry drum, characterized in that the laundry is acted upon by superheated steam, wherein the superheated steam is generated in a steam generator, which integrates in the household appliance is. The method of claim 1, wherein the steam generator (5) and a Wasserzuführvorrichtung (1, 2, 3, 4) are controlled such that the steam generator until a working temperature of at least 100 ° C, preferably 120 to 200 ° C, a predetermined Amount of water is supplied. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of water supplied depending on the operating temperature or the absorbed electric power of the steam generator (5) is controlled so that the water is completely evaporated. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steam generator (5) is supplied with water in a controlled manner, wherein the water is taken from a tank which is integrated in the domestic appliance and / or water supply to the steam generator (5) by intervals Opening a valve and / or operating a pump (3) takes place. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hot steam generated in the steam generator (5) via a, preferably thermally insulated, riser (6) in one of the laundry drum (7) surrounded treatment chamber (8) is passed and / or wherein the tank (1 ) is connected via a supply line (2) with a pump (3) and the pump (3) on the pressure side via a pressure line (4) to the steam generator (5) is connected. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textiles are exposed to hot air. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry is subjected to a predetermined amount of superheated steam, wherein in particular the predetermined amount of water is determined by a predetermined operating time of the steam generator. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry is rearranged during the application of superheated steam by rotating the drum and / or that the loading of the laundry with superheated steam takes place with time interruptions. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the direction of the hot steam flowing into the drum is directed against the flow of the drying air of the household appliance. Domestic appliance, in particular household tumble dryer, with a rotatably mounted laundry drum (7), characterized in that the domestic appliance has an integrated steam generator (5), a water supply device (1, 2 3, 4) with a tank (1) for receiving the water for supply the steam generator (5) and a hot steam line (6) for the supply of steam from the steam generator (5) to the laundry drum (7). Domestic appliance according to claim 10, wherein the steam generator (5) and the water supply device (1, 2, 3, 4) by means of a control (9, 10, 11) are regulated such that the steam generator (5) only when reaching a working temperature of at least 100 ° C, preferably 120 ° C to 200 ° C, a predetermined amount of water is supplied. Domestic appliance according to one of claims 10 or 11, wherein by means of the control (9, 10, 11) the amount of water supplied in dependence on the working temperature or the absorbed electric power of the steam generator (5) is controllable so that the water is completely evaporated. Domestic appliance according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the Wasserzuführvorrichtung comprises a valve and / or a pump (3), which is / can be controlled to supply the steam generator (5) with water by means of the control (9, 10, 11) , Domestic appliance according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein a, preferably thermally insulated, riser (6) connects the steam generator (5) to a treatment drum (7) surrounded by the treatment chamber (8) and / or wherein the tank (1) via a Supply line (2) with a pump (3) is connected and the pump (3) on the pressure side via a pressure line (4) to the steam generator (5) is connected. Domestic appliance according to one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the tank (1) is integrated in the washing machine.

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