EP2383381B1 - Method for treating clothes in a washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for treating laundry in a washing machine by means of a washing program, which washing machine has a water supply and a control device

Usually, in a washing machine that is used in a household, the rinsing of the washing programs adapted to an optimal, also influenced by the user of the washing machine rinsing detergent and dirt residues. The last rinse cycle to be performed in a rinsing phase in the washing program is designed as a compromise between a good rinsing effect and a sufficient rearing of a fabric softener possibly added by the user. For the textile equipment types starches, light ironing, lightening (curtain white), there are no washing programs that are specially designed or even satisfactory. From the scriptures EP 1 844 190 B1 . WO 2006/066986 A1 and WO 2006/079427 A1 However, there are indications for the design of a last rinse bath in a washing machine for a washing program, which is intended for impregnation or other finishing of textile laundry.

From the DE 10 2007 041 069 A1 For example, a washing machine is known in which a manual softener addition, for example, can be registered in an entry device or metering chamber. Depending on the result obtained, a running wash program may be automatically modified to account for the presence or absence of softener addition. According to the cited document, there are also washing machines with a sensory detection of certain properties of a washing liquor or rinsing liquid, which enable a corresponding automatic adaptation of a washing program.

The US 2006/101592 A1 relates to a method and apparatus for displaying usage guidelines of a washing machine, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for displaying usage guidelines of a washing machine wherein a user can be guided through the respective stages in all washing processes. The present invention is characterized in that the use of the Washing machine is optimized by an inexperienced person by the display of instructions. In this case, the person can solve small problems according to the instructions that occur when using the washing machine.

The EP1980660 A1 discloses a washing machine with a drying function. The washing machine has an ozone generator for supplying ozone to a dry air line and also an air washing button for instructing the execution of air washing. In this case, it can be selected whether the drum should be rotated or the air washing process should be carried out while the drum is stopped.

The WO 02/02857 A1 discloses a method for displaying a warning message to a washing machine that displays the warning message before using the washing machine. This prevents the laundry from being damaged.

The US 2003/024057 A1 discloses a laundry device which can be operated manually or automatically. In the automatic mode, a wash is initiated upon receipt of a single cycle input parameter by the user, preferably via an LCD touch screen display, while using additional operating cycle parameters determined by factory preset settings or by consumer set preferences. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a consumer only needs to select a single cycle parameter, and the device starts based on the temperature and other adjustment parameters taken from the memory. Even if the automatic start function is activated, the user can still adjust preset cycle parameters by changing the default values after the start of the cycle.

The WO 2006/098571 discloses a washing machine using steam and a method of controlling the same. The washing machine with a steam generator includes a component for course selection. The invention helps to improve the comfort of the washing machine user in steam washing programs.

The WO 2006/079429 discloses a spin-drying method for a washing machine wherein the fabrics are subjected to a process of producing a hydrophobic effect. In connection with a treatment process, the one Washing process is similar, in which the washing drum is moved and the textiles therein are brought into contact with the hydrophobing substances dissolved in the liquor, the washing drum for the duration of a first number of centrifugal pulses is accelerated.

The known methods for treating laundry are therefore based on the use of textile finishing agents on the application of existing, not specifically provided washing programs, or the presence of a textile finishing agent must be particularly recorded. In addition, there is no freedom of choice in the known processes, the textile finishing agent in a liquid, viscous, pasty or powdery consistency. The addition generally takes place in a slightly or viscous liquid form over a specially designed area of an entry device, eg a softener chamber in an induction bowl for detergent, etc., which is provided with a hydraulic siphoning system for siphoning the respective liquid textile finishing agent.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method for treating laundry in a washing machine, in which a user of the washing machine has greater freedom with regard to the design of a laundry treatment process. In particular, a user should modify a washing program with regard to the nature and duration of individual program steps, select the laundry to be treated during a washing program and / or select the type and quantity of a laundry treatment agent, in particular a textile finishing agent.

The object underlying the invention is achieved by a method according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are listed in the respective dependent claims.

The invention thus relates to a method for treating laundry in a washing machine by means of a washing program, which washing machine has a water supply and a control device, wherein the washing program at least at a time t _n for each predetermined period .DELTA.t _n , where n is greater than or equal to 1 , stopped to allow a controlling intervention by a user of the washing machine and resumed after the intervention or after the expiration of the period .DELTA.t _n .

The method according to the invention can thus be stopped one or more times and after a given period of time Δt _n , where n is greater than or equal to 1, stopped and then continued again. Here, the periods Δt _{n may} differ.

The invention has the advantage that different washing programs can be improved. Thus, with an "Outdoor" program, an impregnation function can be selected or deselected. In addition, the saving of positions on a program selector is made possible. In addition, it is possible to introduce an additional option "Equip" with or without a program stop. Finally, user-friendly add-on programs such as Thickening, bleaching curtains possible, where an integrated dosing with an optimized space (Einspülschale) can be used, in addition, also all product forms for laundry treatment agents such as liquid products, gels, powders, tablets are used.

By the invention according to the invention at least once interruption at times t _n , for example, a late addition of a liquid bleach can be provided. By means of the late supply, it can be ensured that other ingredients of a detergent have already provided their cleaning performance before they are oxidatively damaged due to the supply of bleach.

Likewise, when stopping a washing program according to the invention, certain textiles which are not suitable or intended for the subsequent finishing step can be removed from a laundry item and / or additionally placed in the washing machine, e.g. have been treated through another cleaning program. In a particular embodiment of the invention, for example, an "outdoor" program may be offered as a program with a selectable impregnation option.

During the period .DELTA.t _n not only laundry treatment agent or laundry can be added, or items of laundry are removed. Thus, a user of the washing machine by interrupting a wash program also be given the opportunity to influence the course of a program in terms of the nature and duration of still be performed steps. For example, a user of the washing machine could stop a washing program due to a visual Review decide whether a preceding wash phase has provided the necessary cleaning effect to apply in a further step, if necessary, expensive textile finishing agents.

The at least one time t _n and / or the period Δt _n is automatically specified by means of the control device during the method.

According to the invention, the time t _{n is} predetermined by the control device on the basis of the sensor signal measured by at least one sensor in the washing machine. Thus, for example, the course of the cleaning of a laundry to be liberated from contamination and / or washing liquor can be monitored by means of a turbidity sensor, in the actual washing phase or in a rinsing phase. The turbidity sensor detects the turbidity of the treatment liquid introduced during a washing and / or rinsing phase. The detected turbidity values are forwarded to the control device. Only when reaching or falling below a predetermined turbidity at a time t _n , the controller will then stop in this embodiment, a washing program to allow a user of the washing machine, for example, the filling of a suitable textile finishing agent (hereinafter referred to as "equipment composition"). In the event that a laundry treatment agent, in particular a textile finishing agent, is to be added, the time t _{n will} generally depend on the nature of a textile finishing agent. Preferably, however, the time t _{n is} at the end of a washing phase or within a rinsing phase.

The inventive method is carried out in particular in a washing machine, in which a drum for receiving laundry is rotatably mounted in a tub. Preferably, in this case, the drum is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis.

The method of the invention is particularly suitable for the addition of a laundry treatment agent, in particular a textile finishing agent, which can be carried out by a user of the washing machine "Equipment composition" is called. "By a user of the washing vornehmbare addition" means in this case in particular a manual addition of a laundry treatment agent in an entry device or causing the addition of a already existing in a reservoir in the washing machine laundry treatment. In this case, the laundry treatment agent in any form, ie liquid, pasty or solid, can be used.

The term "finishing composition" as used herein is not limited and includes fabric softeners, perfumes, functionalizing agents, preferably cyclodextrins and / or microcapsules. In addition to impregnating agents, dyes, starches and the like, the equipment substances required in the areas of sports, wellness and lifestyle with an ever increasing functionality of the clothing items can be used.

1. (a) durch Zugabe von Wasser und ein erstes Rotieren der Trommel in dem Wäschestück ein vorgegebener Restfeuchtegehalt eingestellt; und
2. (b) eine Ausrüstungszusammensetzung auf das Wäschestück aufgebracht.

Preferably, when applying a finishing composition to a laundry item in a washing machine with a drum rotatably mounted in a tub:

1. (A) by adding water and a first rotation of the drum in the laundry set a predetermined residual moisture content; and
2. (b) applying a finishing composition to the garment.

The term "laundry item" as used herein means one or more items of laundry and comprises on the one hand textiles, in particular laundry, but also generally all items that can be treated in a washing machine, such as table linen, bed linen, bags, curtains and the like. In addition to pure textiles, composite materials can also be treated and in particular equipped, such as leather goods and other articles, which are made of different materials, such. B. fabric and leather. Preferably, the garment comprises finished garments, in particular body-worn garments which are e.g. to be equipped with skin care products.

The addition of water in step (a) is preferably followed by a washing phase in which the laundry is generally cleaned with the aid of detergents. In fact, such a washing phase is generally followed by a rinsing phase Water, wherein the rinsing phase consists of several, generally up to three, rinsing steps. According to the invention it is preferred if step (a) corresponds to a final rinsing step.

In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the washing program is stopped before the last rinsing step, that is, a t _n is selected so that it lies before the last rinsing step.

In order to set a residual moisture content suitable for applying the finish composition, it is possible, for example, for the predetermined residual moisture content to be set in step (a) by a first rotation of the drum at an application speed. The application speed is the speed at which the laundry items present in a drum are placed against the drum shell due to the centrifugal forces. For laundry drums with a diameter of approx. 470 mm, this is around 70 revolutions per minute (70 rpm). It is advantageous if the first rotation of the drum in step (a) is performed at a speed U ₁ of at least 100 rpm. The rotational speed U ₁ is particularly preferably from 100 to 150 rpm, or at least 230 rpm. Preferably
(C) the equipment composition distributed by a second rotation of the drum in the laundry.

In this case, the second rotation of the drum is preferably carried out in step (c) with a rotational speed U ₂ of at least 100 rpm.

It is advantageous that the first rotation and the second rotation of the drum differ. This can e.g. be done by pausing between the first rotation and the second rotation while the drum is stationary and / or the speeds differ during the first and second rotations. Similarly, the speed during the first and / or second rotation of the drum can be varied continuously or by setting predetermined speed levels.

The optional finishing composition may be used in any form, preferably in the form of a liquid, ie, a solution or suspension. It is particularly advantageous when the drum moves during the application of the equipment composition to the laundry item in step (b) in a first sub-step (c1) at least the application speed and in a second sub-step (c2) at a speed below the application speed in a reversing mode becomes.

The term "equipping" as used herein means a process of coating the garment with the equipment of the finishing composition. Preferably, the finishing substances are thereby firmly bound to the surface of the item of laundry, more preferably covalently. In addition, for example, a storage between the fibers is possible.

Particularly suitable finishing compositions include cyclodextrins and / or microcapsules, and optionally other active ingredients. Such agents may be selected from materials with which the microcapsules or cyclodextrins are to be loaded. Examples of these are, in particular, fragrances, cosmetics, care substances, e.g. Aloe vera, anti-cellulite substances and the like.

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharide compounds having a toroidal structure with a central cavity in which apolar organic compounds can be included. Because of this property, they are used, for example, in air freshener sprays. The cyclodextrin derivatives contained in these products bind the unpleasant odor-causing compounds. At the same time, they also serve as carriers of fragrances.

Microcapsules (also called nanocapsules, microspheres, microspheres) are mostly substantially spherical structures which have a shell and an interior, usually with a diameter in the range of nanometers to <1 mm. In this interior substances can be included. The microcapsules have a shell which consists, for example, of a film-forming polymer in which finely dispersed, liquid or solid phases can be enclosed. The shell material may comprise various chemical compounds, eg gelatin, gum arabic, agar-agar, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, modified starch, Fatty acid esters, phospholipids, chitosan, alginates and collagen, as well as synthetic polymers such as polyacrylates, polyamides, polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Fibers and fabrics provided with blends of hydrophobic actives and film-forming polymers (especially in the form of microcapsules) are disclosed in US Pat DE 10 2004 037 752 A1 described. Known microcapsules for the textile sector include, for example, the so-called PCM (phase change materials), which have a heat regulating effect.

Equipment with cyclodextrins is particularly preferred for garments made of cotton materials. Different materials can be used for the equipment with microcapsules.

It may be appropriate, after contacting the equipment substances with the laundry article, to provide an exposure time during which the laundry article may become soaked with the equipment composition to ensure the most even distribution of the equipment substances on the laundry article. In a possible embodiment, the latter may be subjected to a process similar to a normal washing process. That Preferably, an exposure time is provided in which the laundry item is fully soaked with a liquor consisting of water and the finishing composition, and which may optionally also contain other additives and active ingredients. A generally existing drum is preferably moved in this case, similar to what is usual in a conventional washing process.

In a further preferred embodiment, the finishing composition is fixed after application to the garment. Thus, after contacting the garment with the finishing composition, any microcapsules and / or cyclodextrins present in the finish composition are preferably fixed to the garment. This is preferably done by a heat treatment or a chemical treatment.

When applying a heat treatment, drying using a tumble dryer is suitable. This is particularly preferably carried out in the same drum. Therefore, the use of a washer-dryer according to the invention is preferred for this purpose. Separate devices may also be used, eg first a washing machine to equip and then a dryer to fix the finishing substances on the laundry.

The heat treatment preferably comprises a treatment at a temperature between 80 and 150 ° C, preferably 90 to 140 ° C. It is advisable to provide in the menu or the control panel a separate item for this heat treatment step (such as "fix 130 ° C"). It can also be fixed at higher temperatures, e.g. up to 180 ° C, in particular 150 ° C to 170 ° C, if the washing machine or the washer-dryer is designed for it. It is also possible to chemically fix the equipment substances. Following fixation, excess finishing composition is removed, if necessary, by one or more rinses and / or by spin. This spin-drying step is preferably also carried out after fixing, in particular, the cyclodextrins.

It may be desirable to remove excess finishing composition after contacting and before fixing. Here, a spin may be appropriate.

In embodiments, it may be advantageous for the garment to be subjected to a pretreatment step prior to applying the finish composition. Preferably, the pre-treatment step comprises a chemical activation of the surface of the laundry article. In equipping laundry articles with cyclodextrins, the laundry items are preferably activated prior to adding the equipment composition. In the case of cotton materials to be provided with cyclodextrins, this pretreatment step is a treatment with an alkaline medium such as a strongly alkaline soda solution. Activating the garment allows for covalent bonding, in particular of the cyclodextrins, to the garment.

In order for a user of the washing machine to be able to intervene appropriately in the method according to the invention, the stopping of the washing program is preferably indicated acoustically and / or optically by means of a display device.

A user of the washing machine, in one embodiment of the method according to the invention, while a washing program remains at a defined by the time t _n point, for example, manually enter a textile finishing agent in an entry device, such as a chamber of a dispenser. In this case, other than liquid product forms such as gels, powders and tablets may be added. In particular, in a dispenser tray having only a large chamber, it is possible to add a relatively large amount of textile finishing agent.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a drum generally present in a washing machine adjacent to a tub may be opened after time t _n during a period Δt _n for removal or addition of laundry and / or laundry treating agents.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, it is possible that the wash program can be changed during the period Δt _n .

The particular period or periods Δt _n may be predetermined by a user of the washing machine or automatically, generally taking into account the nature of the action to be taken on the interruption, such as the addition of textile finishing equipment, removal / addition of laundry, and so on.

The times and durations may be determined, for example, by the controller after a user has specified special textile finishing options such as impregnation, starches, fabric softening, possibly with their own optimized programs.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, therefore, the time t _{n is determined} by means of the control device with regard to a treatment agent to be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the period .DELTA.t _n by closing an entry device, such as a flushing-in tray, determines and exit located in an opened state. So can For example, be provided that a wash program is interrupted until a required for introducing a textile equipment, open dispenser is closed again. This can be done for example by inserting a pulled out for receiving laundry treatment Einspülschale. In this variant, it is generally irrelevant at what point in time a user pulls out the dispenser tray.

However, it may be provided according to the invention that, if no measures are provided, such as opening a drum or an entry device, a washing program which has been started is continued again after a predetermined time.

In a further preferred embodiment, a user is given a dose recommendation for a treatment agent to be used at time t _n . According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that an entry of laundry treatment agent via an entry device that has at least one chamber for receiving laundry treatment agents and / or is connected to at least one storage container for laundry treatment agent.

The use of storage containers in which one or more laundry treatment agents such as detergents, impregnating agents, softener are kept, allows the use of Einspülschalen, which have a reduced number of chambers, which in turn can be relatively large.

Thus, this embodiment of the present invention enables a considerable simplification of the range of manual addition in the dispenser tray via a reduction in the number of chambers and / or volume increase and / or an optimization of the rinsing behavior. Likewise, volumes previously kept ready for other purposes in the dispensing cup area may be released for other equipment, such as e.g. an integrated automatic dosing system for laundry detergents.

In addition, a washing machine with a water supply and a control device is described, wherein the control device has a region for carrying out a method described above.

A washing machine generally has a tub and a drum rotatably mounted in the tub for receiving laundry items to be cleaned, a drive motor for the drum and switching means for rotating and stopping the drum. In addition, a washing machine generally also has a lye drainage system arranged at the bottom of the lye container with a drain pump and a heating device, and generally also laundry hoppers and / or scooping devices.

In a preferred embodiment of the washing machine, a pressure sensor and / or a temperature sensor are arranged in the tub. Pressure and temperature sensor, if present, are preferably arranged in a lower region of the tub, so that pressure and / or temperature of an aqueous liquid present in the tub can be measured.

The laundry treatment agent, in particular textile finishing agent, introduced into the tub and / or the drum of the washing machine should preferably be distributed well in the laundry to be treated. The distribution of equipment composition may be improved if the washing machine has additional structural characteristics to aid in distributing the finishing composition throughout the garment. In particular, this structural expression is one or more, in particular three or four, laundry pickers which are optimized with regard to the distribution of the equipment composition in the laundry item. The Wäschemitnehmer can be molded as an integral part of the drum or used as an additional component in the drum. Further embodiments of the structural expression are possible, which is conceivable in particular as an arrangement of special ribs or as a helically wound expression of an inner part of the drum.

In general, the washing machine used in the method according to the invention contains an entry device for registering a laundry treatment agent, eg a finishing composition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the entry device has a single chamber. This can then be made comparatively large.

The invention will be described below with reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrated in which are shown schematically for carrying out preferred embodiments of the method to be explained relevant parts of suitable washing machines.

Fig. 1 shows a washing machine in a view from above with a Waschmitteleinspül- and storage device, which is particularly suitable for carrying out the method to be explained. In the Fig. 1 Washing machine 1 shown has a tub 2 and an entry device 3. The registration device 3 comprises a housing 4, which extends from a front panel 18 of the washing machine 1 to its rear wall 19 and in which the drawer 5 is guided freely movable in the pulling direction 6 or in the pushing direction 7. The drawer 5 has three open-topped chambers 8, 9 and 10, for example for pre-wash 8, main wash 9 and fabric softener 10, or suitable textile treatment means.

The fabric softener 10 here has a siphon 11. The rear ends of the chambers 8 and 9 and the siphon 10 open into a common downcomer 12, the mixtures of washing aid and water, which can be passed from above into the chambers, in a manner not shown leads to the tub 2. In this space, one or more metering lines 27, 28 may open out of storage containers 23, 24 for washing aids, which are arranged in the upper space of the washing machine outside the registration device (not shown here). For such an attachment of storage containers 23, 24, this solution is advantageous because no further means for the guidance of the detergent cans must be provided.

In Fig. 1 an alternative is also shown in which behind the shaft 12 outside the drawer 5 at least one fixed premixing chamber 13 for a dose of a liquid or gel detergent or finishing agent (hereinafter referred to collectively as "treatment agent") is integrated in the housing 4 of the entry device 3. The premixing chamber or premixing chambers 13 are adapted in terms of their shape and size to the space existing behind the chambers 8 to 10 of the drawer 5 and remain stationary in the housing 4 even with a movement of the drawer 5. In general, when arranging a single Pre-mixing chamber 13 in the housing 4 an amount of, for example, up to 500 ml of treatment agent are stored.

At the bottom of the premixing chamber 13 is a drain opening 14 with a siphon 15. If several premixing chambers 13 are present, a corresponding number of siphons 15 with drainage openings, all of which open into the same downcomer 12, are present.

In the rear region of the housing 4, in the embodiment of the invention shown here, a solenoid valve arrangement 16 for charging the chambers 8 to 10 and 13 is arranged, so that only the respective chamber is acted upon by an associated stream of water whose water inlet path is activated (opened). The solenoid valve assembly 16 is supplied via a central inlet 17 (water supply 17) with water from a domestic water network, not shown here. The premixing chamber 13 has its own water inlet path.

On the right side of the upper installation space inside the washing machine 1 there is a storage device 22, which in the embodiment shown here comprises two storage containers 23 and 24, to each of which a metering device 25, 26 is assigned, which essentially comprises a pump. The suction side of each pump communicates with the interior of the associated storage tank 23, 24 and the pressure side of each pump with an associated metering line 27 and 28, which open together here in the premixing chamber 13. This does not interfere with the second metering device 26 being activated only after the quantity of washing aid intermediately stored in the premixing chamber 13 has been flushed out of the first storage container 23. In the event that there are two fixed premix chambers, each of the metering lines 27 and 28 may each open into one of the premix chambers.

Of the solenoid valve assembly 16 lead two bypass lines 29 and 30 to the pressure sides of the metering devices 25 and 26, where they are coupled with their output sides 20 and 21 to the transfer lines 27 and 28. The bypass lines on the input side in the solenoid valve assembly 16 each have a connection with a supply path for the premixing chamber 13 or for one of the chambers 8 to 10, so that the respective bypass line always leads water when the associated chamber. 8 or 9, 10 or 13 is applied. The water in the respective bypass line 29 or 30 then flushes the associated dosing line 27 or 28 free of any washing aid residues.

In the Fig. 1 Washing machine shown allows a user that a washing program at least at a time t _n for each predetermined period .DELTA.t _n , where n≥1 holds, stopped and then continued again. The user can then manually submit a laundry treatment by pulling out the drawer 5 of the entry device 3. After closing the drawer 5 in one embodiment, the period .DELTA.t _n , finished, so that the presented laundry treatment agent can be entered into the tub 2. Alternatively, the in Fig. 1 washing machine shown that a user makes the presentation of laundry treatment agent of a desired type in a desired amount from a corresponding reservoir 23,24 of the storage device 22. For this purpose, controls not shown here are present on the washing machine.

Fig. 2 shows a section of a particularly suitable washing machine with a schematic representation of a system for the manual or automatic dosing held in storage liquid detergent additives in a washing machine. In the Fig. 2 shown plant is compared to the washing machine, of which only the tub 2 and rotatably mounted therein laundry drum 3 and a Waschmitteleinspülvorrichtung 3 are shown schematically for adding washes, shown enlarged to illustrate the structure. This Waschmitteleinspülvorrichtung 3 is generally used to provide by hand metered powdered or liquid detergent additive portions for rinsing by water from a water line, not shown here. In this metering system reservoir 23, 24 and 31 are arranged, which serve for the storage of larger amounts of different treatment agents. In another reservoir 32 is water, with which the lines that are wetted with concentrated treatment agents can be rinsed free in a phase in which no detergent is added.

Each storage container 23, 24, 31 and 32 is connected via its own suction line 34 to 37, each with a nozzle 38 to 41 of a multiple-addition valve 42, which outputs a dose each one of the reservoir 23, 24, 31, 32 via a liquid line 43, a pump 44 and the Waschmitteleinspülvorrichtung 3 the tub 2 supplies. In Mehrfachzugabeventil 42 is a switchable connection line through which either one of the nozzle 38 to 41 can be connected to the central port 45 of the liquid line 43. Serves a mounted on the top of the Mehrfachzugabeventils 42 geared motor 46 with a known device for determining the position. A control device 47 contains information that controls the geared motor 46 according to the desired washing aid. Then, the respective suction line, for example, 34 of the container 23, connected to the nozzle 45 of the liquid line 43 to suck by means of the pump 44 during a certain time determined by the controller 47 a corresponding dose of the respective treatment agent and to promote in the tub 2.

After each promotion of a washing aid, the entire wiring harness can be flushed from the connecting line via the central port 45, the liquid line 43 to the pump 44 with water from the container 32. This water is sucked for flushing via the suction line 37, the connecting line of the Mehrfachzugabeventils 42 and the central port 45 to the pump 44. In this case, all cable guides involved are rinsed and the rinsing liquids are conveyed to the tub 2. Preferably, data are stored in the control device 47 as to which of the stored treatment agents do not tolerate each other. It then suffice rinses after the dosage of a detergent or a treatment agent that does not tolerate that of the following dosage. Such flushes increase the life of the multiple-addition valve 42.

For acoustic and / or visual indication of a stop of a washing program is located on the washing machine 1, a display device 48th

In the Fig. 2 Washing machine shown allows a user that a washing program at least at a time t _n for each predetermined period .DELTA.t _n , where n≥1 holds, stopped and then continued again. The user can enter in the embodiment of the invention shown here in two types of laundry treatment agent in the tub 2. For example, it can be opened by opening the entry device 3, which here is a single and therefore relative large chamber, manually submit a laundry treatment. After closing the registration device 3, in one embodiment, the period .DELTA.t _n , finished, so that the presented laundry treatment agent can be entered into the tub 2. Alternatively, this washing machine makes it possible for a user to make the presentation of laundry treating agent of a desired type in a desired amount from one of the storage tanks 23 to 25. For this purpose, controls not shown here are present on the washing machine.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Washing machine

2

tub

3

entry device

4

casing

5

drawer

6

tensile direction

7

thrust direction

8th

top open chamber in the drawer

9

top open chamber in the drawer

10

top open chamber in the drawer

11

Saugheber

12

downcomer

13

premix

14

drain hole

15

Saugheber

16

Solenoid valve assembly

17

central inlet with tap water (water supply)

18

front panel

19

Rear wall of the washing machine

20

Output side of a metering device

21

Output side of a metering device

22

stocker

23

reservoir

24

reservoir

25

metering

26

metering

27

dosing

28

dosing

29

bypass line

30

bypass line

31

reservoir

32

Reservoir for water

33

drum

34

suction

35

suction

36

suction

37

suction

38

Support

39

Support

40

Support

41

Support

42

Multiple addition valve

43

liquid line

44

pump

45

central spigot

46

gearmotor

47

control device

Claims (11)

1. Method for treating laundry in a washing machine (1) by means of a washing program, the washing machine (1) having a water supply (17) and a control facility (47),
   wherein the washing program is stopped, at least at a point in time t_n, for a respective predefined period of time Δt_n,
   wherein n is greater than or equal to 1, to enable a controlling engagement by a user of the washing machine, and is continued once the engagement has taken place or if the engagement fails to take place after the period of time Δt_n has elapsed,
   characterised in that the point in time t_n is automatically predefined by means of the control facility (47) during the method on the basis of the sensor signal, measured by at least one sensor (49) in the washing machine (1), of the control facility (47).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the turbidity, ensuing during a washing and/or rinsing phase, of the treatment fluid introduced for laundry treatment is acquired by means of a turbidity sensor and that only when a predefined turbidity is reached or fallen below at a point in time t_n will the control facility then stop a washing program in this embodiment.
3. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the point in time t_n lies at the end of a washing phase or within a rinsing phase.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stopping of the washing program is indicated acoustically and/or optically by means of a display facility (48).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a drum (33) of the washing machine (1) can be opened as of the point in time t_n during a period of time Δt_n to remove or add laundry and/or laundry treatment agent.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the washing program can be changed during the period of time Δt_n.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the period of time Δt_n is determined and ended by closing a filling apparatus (3) situated in an opened state.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a filling of laundry treatment agent takes place via a filling apparatus (3), which has at least one chamber (8, 9, 10) for the receiving of laundry treatment agent and/or is connected to at least one reservoir container (23, 24) for laundry treatment agent.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that the filling apparatus (3) has a single chamber (8, 9, 10).
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the point in time t_n is determined by means of the control facility (47) with regard to a laundry treatment agent to be used.
11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a user is given a dosing recommendation for a laundry treatment agent to be used at point in time t_n.

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