EP2419557B1 - Washer-dryer having a filter system and method for operating the clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a washer-dryer with a drum for washing and drying objects, a tub, a water supply, a program control, a first fan and a first heater in a process air duct, a second fan in a cooling air duct and a second heater in the tub and a Method for operating such a washer dryer.

A washer dryer of this type is apparent from the US2005 / 0223583 A1 ,

A washer dryer combines the functions of a washing machine and a tumble dryer. While the washer-dryer operates as a washing machine, it is not used as a tumble dryer and vice versa. It would therefore be desirable if at the same time washing and drying functions of the washer dryer could be exploited.

In the WO 2007/138019 A1 , of the WO 2008/128887 A1 and the WO 2008/145518 A1 In each case, such a washer-dryer is described.

The German patent DE 195 42 597 B4 describes a clothes dryer with an air duct, which has a suction opening for removable from the installation room of the dryer air and a blowout for air into the installation space, and with a filter device in the air duct, being alone or additionally in the flow direction upstream of the blowout a filter device is installed and the air-permeable areas of the filtering means for the finest suspended matter such as pollen and micro-organisms impermeable and equipped with a chemical and / or.physikalisches means that is hostile to life for micro-organisms. In one embodiment of the in the DE 195 42 597 B4 described tumble dryer is the additional filter device in the flow direction in front of the exhaust opening of the cooling air circuit.

It is also known that tumble dryers are generally operated as exhaust or condensation dryers. The operation of an exhaust air dryer and a condensation dryer depend in different ways on their installation conditions, in particular on the temperature and relative humidity prevailing in an installation room. Likewise, extract air and condensation dryers affect temperature and relative humidity in a set-up room to varying degrees.

Condensation dryers, whose operation is based on the condensation of moisture vaporized by means of warm process air from the laundry, generally do not introduce moisture into a set-up room and allow energy recovery from the heated process air, for example by using a heat pump. The condensate produced in the condensation dryer is collected and either pumped off or disposed of by manually emptying a collection container.

In the case of exhaust air dryers, on the other hand, air laden with moisture after passage through a laundry drum is generally discharged from the dryer. A heat recovery does not take place here. In addition, the relative humidity increases in the installation room.

The DE 34 19 743 C2 describes a clothes dryer with a laundry drum, a heating unit provided with a supply air connection and an exhaust air connection, wherein between supply air connection of the heating unit and exhaust air connection different, the mode of operation of the dryer defining additional units are to be arranged switchable. In one embodiment of the dryer, a recirculation part is interposed between the supply air connection piece and the exhaust connection piece, in which an air control device is located, whereby the supply and exhaust air ratio of the dryer can be varied. There is the possibility of a winter-summer switching. During winter operation, cold air is supplied from the outside and directed into the dryer. The warm exhaust air of the dryer enters the installation room and contributes to the heating of the room air.

The DE 10 2007 013 997 A1 describes a condensation dryer with a drying chamber, a process air circuit, which has a heater for heating the Process air is associated with a first blower, with which the heated process air on the objects to be dried is feasible, and a heat pump circuit with an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, wherein by means of a second blower, a cooling air flow for a likewise existing air-air Heat exchanger and the compressor can be generated.

A noteworthy difference between currently marketed washer-dryers and currently marketed dryers is that the drying facilities of the washer-dryer are much easier than the drying devices of the tumble dryer, in washing dryers in particular still cooled with fresh water condensers are used. In dryers such capacitors are no longer common. One reason for these differences may be that a washer dryer necessarily always has a connection for fresh water; Another reason may lie in the fact that in a washer dryer compared to a tumble dryer much less space for the drying device is available and therefore a compromise between performance and space requirements of the drying device must be found in any case.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a washer-dryer, which can perform not only the functions of a washing machine but also individual functions of a dryer at the same time, in embodiments a targeted cleaning of the air and possibly air conditioning of a set-up room should be possible.

The solution of this object is achieved according to this invention by a washer-dryer and a method for its operation according to the respective independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are listed in the respective dependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the washer-dryer correspond to preferred embodiments of the method, even if they are not individually referred to herein.

The invention thus relates to a washer-dryer with a drum for objects to be washed and dried, a tub, a Water supply, a program control, a first fan and a first heater in a process air duct, a second fan in a cooling air duct and a second heater in the tub. A filter means is disposed in the cooling air _passage , and there are third means for detecting an air flow F through the cooling air _passage with the filter on, F _mF , and detecting air flow through the cooling air _passage with the filter off, F _oF , and fourth means in the program control for comparison of ΔF = F _mF - F _oF with a predetermined flow difference ΔF _set provided. For this purpose, a display means for an indication of an excessive loading of a filter medium in the filter device upon reaching or exceeding the predetermined flow difference .DELTA.F _set and / or overloading of the second blower is provided.

The filter device in the cooling air channel allows a cleaning of the cooling air and thus a cleaning of the air in a room of the washer dryer. This cleaning effect is also of great importance for the washer-dryer itself. Even due to the cramped space in the washer dryer may have to be accepted under certain circumstances, that important components that are subject to contamination by dirt, not or not readily by a (naturally technically ignorant) user can be reached and cleaned. This applies in particular to the air-cooled device of the washer dryer according to the invention. This is in the form of the filter means now assigned a means to effectively reduce the burden of dirt, which entrains the introduced from the environment of the washer dryer cooling air, or completely avoided.

_{According to the} invention, the washer-dryer has third means for determining an air flow F through the cooling air duct when the filter F _{mF is switched on} . and for detecting an air flow through the cooling air duct with the filter turned off, F _oF , and fourth means in the program control for comparing ΔF = F _{mF -F oF} with a predetermined flow difference .DELTA.F _set , and in addition a means for indicating a too large Loading a filter medium in the filter device upon reaching or exceeding the predetermined flow difference .DELTA.F _set and / or overloading of the second blower.

A monitoring of the filter device and in particular the functioning of the filter medium is useful. With increasing loading of the filter medium with dust, mites, etc., the filter device or the filter medium gradually sets to form a so-called filter cake. As a result, the pressure drop increases and less air is carried through the filter medium. In addition, a nonwoven or a nonwoven fabric typically used as a filter medium loses its electrostatic properties with increasing loading, so that, for example, the dust filtering can be impaired.

According to the invention, it is therefore preferable to change the filter medium used regularly. This may be done by determining an actual usage time, or approximately by replacing the filter medium, for example, once a year.

The filter device in the cooling air duct generally comprises a filter medium and a frame. The filter medium preferably comprises a nonwoven, in particular a spin nonwoven, which is able to filter dust by its electrostatic properties. Alternatively or in addition to this, the filter medium can contain activated carbon, for example in the form of a layer. Such a combination filter can also filter odors and harmful gases through the integrated activated carbon layer in addition to dusts and Partikäln, especially particulate matter such as pollen and microorganisms.

In a preferred embodiment of the washer-dryer, the filter device in the cooling air duct is therefore equipped for restraining the finest suspended matter, such as pollen and micro-organisms.

The filter device can be located at different locations in the cooling air duct. For easier removal of a filter medium, however, the filter device is preferably arranged at the air inlet. The filter device is preferably installed so that at least its air-permeable area, if necessary after removal of a grid in front of the air inlet or outlet, can be removed and replaced.

For the framework generally used, two variants are usually preferred. For example, an injection molding frame made of plastic can be used, in which the filter medium can be injected directly or hung as a preformed filter cartridge in a plastic frame.

Moreover, it is inventively preferred that the washer-dryer first means for determining an air flow F _mF through the cooling air duct and second means in the program control for comparing F _mF with a predetermined air flow F _set and for controlling a rotational speed of the second blower, so that the Amount of the difference F _mF -F _set within a predetermined range .DELTA.F _set is.

In particular, the first means comprise a flow meter for measuring the flow of air through the cooling air duct. The second means comprise in particular parts of the program control in which the air flow F _{set is} stored and which are designed for the regulation of the rotational speed of the second blower.

Moreover, it is preferred that the washer-dryer in the cooling air duct has a first temperature sensor for determining a temperature T _{R of} an air in a set-up room and fifth means in the program control for comparison with a predetermined temperature T ^set stored in the program control. Here, the washer dryer advantageously in the program control on sixth means for influencing the second blower and / or for influencing a heat exchange in the heat exchanger, sol sol that the amount of the temperature difference T _R -T ^set does not exceed a predetermined value .DELTA.T _R.

In one embodiment, the washer-dryer is configured as a scrubber dryer and has a second sensor for determining a process air temperature T _P and / or for determining a relative humidity H _{P of} the process air and a third sensor for determining a relative humidity H _{R of} the air in a set-up room. Here, it is preferable that the washer dryer in the program control seventh means for comparing the temperature T _R and the relative humidity H _{R of} the air in the installation room with a temperature T _P and a relative humidity H _{P of} the process air in the washer dryer and eighth means for at least partially opening or closing at least one controllable closure device in an air inlet duct and / or air outlet duct connected to the process air duct in dependence on one predetermined temperature difference .DELTA.T between the temperature T _P and the temperature T _R , and / or a predetermined relative humidity H _R ^set the air in the installation room.

In this way, in addition to a cleaning of the air in the installation room a targeted air conditioning of the installation room and / or an optimal implementation of a drying process in the dryer allows.

An operating mode of the dryer which takes into account the conditions in the installation room and in the dryer can be set manually by a user of the washer dryer or automatically.

The term "sensor" as used herein means a single sensor or system of sensors.

For heating the process air, an electric heater is generally used. As a result, the washer-dryer can be used for air-conditioning a room, in particular for heating the room air.

The invention also provides a method for operating a washer-dryer with a drum for objects to be washed and dried, a tub, a water supply, a program controller, a first blower and a first heater in a process air duct (21), a second blower and a Filter device in a cooling air duct, and a second heater in the tub. In this case, air is conveyed from an installation space by means of the second blower through the filter device in the cooling air duct. For this purpose, by means of first means, an air flow F through the cooling air duct with the filter switched on, F _mF , and an air flow through the cooling air duct with the filter F _{oF switched off} , measured, and by means of second means in the process control, a comparison of .DELTA.F = | F _mF - F _oF | made with a predetermined flow difference ΔF _set ; upon reaching or exceeding the predetermined difference .DELTA.F _set an indication of an excessive loading of the filter medium is given on a display device and / or the second fan off.

The invention advantageously allows either a washing process or a drying process to be carried out simultaneously in the drum.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a temperature T _{R of} an air in the installation room is determined with the aid of a first temperature sensor in the cooling air duct and a comparison with fifth means in the program control a stored in the program control predetermined temperature T ^set performed. In the washer-dryer, the number of rotations of the second blower is preferably changed by means of sixth means in the program control and / or the heat exchange in the heat exchanger is influenced such that the amount of the temperature difference T _R -T ^set does not exceed a predetermined value ΔT _R.

The inventive method leads in particular to a purification of room air. In essence, two variants are to be distinguished:

a) Variant 1 - No drying process

Variant 1 of the process according to the invention can be carried out if a washing process is carried out in the washer-dryer or if no laundry treatment process is carried out in the drum at all. In none of these cases is the process according to the invention generally influenced by cleaning room air in the cooling air duct.

In variant 1, the second fan is operated to convey the room air through the cooling air duct, in which a filter device is located. In the embodiment shown here, the speed of fan is variable and can be adapted to different conditions in the filter and in the installation room of the washer dryer.

Thus, with increasing contamination of the filter device, the flow resistance for the air conveyed in the cooling air duct increases, so that, if necessary, a corresponding increase in the speed of the second blower must be made.

A measure of the increase in the flow resistance of the filter can be obtained by comparing an air flow with the filter switched on and with the filter switched off. For this purpose, a flow meter can advantageously be arranged in the cooling air duct. Exceeds the decrease in the air flow with switched filter device a predetermined level, is closed to a required cleaning of the filter device and a filter medium either cleaned or replaced.

The speed of rotation of the second fan in the cooling air circuit can also be determined in particular with regard to the size of the space to be cleaned, i. be tuned with regard to the volume of air to be circulated. In general, the speed of the second blower will be comparatively large in a large room.

Alternatively or in addition thereto, a period of time for carrying out the method according to the invention can be suitably specified, wherein this period also takes into account in particular the volume of the air volume to be circulated in the installation room.

b) Variant 2 - air cleaning with simultaneous drying process

When simultaneously carrying out a drying process with laundry items in the drum, it should be taken into account for the process according to the invention, which is a cleaning process for air, that the air to be purified is not passed through the filter device located in the cooling air duct only for its purification. There is also a heating of the room air to be cleaned, since the room air in the heat exchanger absorbs heat from the circulating process air.

In this variant, it can therefore be provided that in the washer-dryer according to the invention, the process for purifying air and the drying process taking place at the same time are coordinated with one another.

For example, a temperature sensor can be arranged at the air inlet of a washer dryer, which measures the temperature of the air to be cleaned in the cooling air duct. If a predetermined maximum temperature T _E ^{max is} exceeded, then the drying process may optionally be influenced so that the heat exchange in the heat exchanger is reduced, for example by reducing the heating power of the second heater and / or by influencing the air flow in the process air duct.

For this purpose, in the washer-dryer according to the invention, a prioritization may be made by a user, for example by selecting a corresponding one Program of the washer-dryer. Thus, a prioritization can be made with regard to drying processes or air purification processes. The more the drying method is favored here, the higher will generally be the predetermined maximum temperature T _E ^max . On the other hand, if cleaning the room air at a barely changing room temperature is in the foreground, the heat exchange in the heat exchanger is reduced. As a result, in this procedure, the drying times will be extended.

The inventive method and the washer-dryer according to the invention can also contribute to the air conditioning of a room. In particular, the method for air conditioning a room relates to a method of controlling the temperature and relative humidity of the air in a room using this dryer.

The washer-dryer according to the invention has the advantage that it is not only used as a washer-dryer, i. a device that can perform a washing process or a drying process can be operated. The washer-dryer according to the invention can moreover be used for cleaning the air of a room (installation room) and in embodiments for air-conditioning the room with regard to a desired temperature and / or humidity.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment of a washer-dryer according to the invention and a method using this washer-dryer. It is referred to FIG. 1 ,

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the presently relevant parts of a washer dryer, in which a particular method can be performed, in particular a cleaning of a room air. Other embodiments are conceivable. The dashed lines indicate the direction of flow of air.

The washer-dryer of in FIG. 1 embodiment shown has a tub 1, in which a drum 2 rotatably mounted and can be operated by the drive motor 14. According to recent findings for ergonomics when dealing with such washing machines is the axis of rotation 3 of the drum 2 from the horizontal by a small angle (eg 13 °) directed forwardly upwards, so that one has easier access and insight into the interior of the drum 2. By this arrangement, in conjunction with specially shaped Wäschemitnehmern 4 and 5 Schöpfeinrichtungen for the wash liquor 6 on the inner surface of the drum shell also also an intensification of the flow of the laundry 7 with wash liquor and a reduction of the free liquor achieved, ie the amount of wash liquor in the tub which can not be absorbed by the saturated laundry (substantially below the lowest point of the drum 2). The Wäschemitnehmer 4 also contribute to a movement of the laundry in a carried out in the drum drying process.

With regard to a washing method to be carried out therein, the washer-dryer also has a liquor feed system which comprises a water connection fitting for the domestic water network 8, an electrically controllable valve 9 and a supply line 10 to the tub 1, which optionally also passes through a detergent dispenser 11 may be, from which the feed water can carry detergent portions in the tub 1. Also located in the tub 1, a first heater 13 for an aqueous liquid. The valve 9 as well as the first heater 13 may be controlled by a program controller 12 in accordance with a program schedule associated with a time program and / or the achievement of certain measurements of parameters such as liquor level, liquor temperature, laundry drum speed, etc. within the washing machine can be bound. 15 means a pressure sensor for the measurement of the hydrostatic pressure p in the tub 1. 17 means a separate chamber in which, for example, a softener can be kept ready.

In the drum 2, the still moist laundry can be dried after a completed washing process including rinsing steps. As part of the drying, the drum 2 acts as a drying chamber, is passed through the heated process air. For this purpose, the process air is guided in a closed process air circuit 21 by means of a first blower 22 in the embodiment of a washer dryer according to the invention shown here. The first fan 22 carries the process air via a second heater 23, where the process air is heated before entering the drum 2. In the Drum 2 absorbs the dry, hot process air moisture from the wet laundry, which condenses after leaving the drum 2 in an air-to-air heat exchanger 24.

The condensation of the moisture contained in the moist, warm process air is in this case by comparatively cold room air flowing in a cooling air passage 20 through the air-air heat exchanger 24 causes. The moist, warm process air flowing in the process air duct 21, which is also guided through the air-air heat exchanger 24, is cooled, so that condensate is produced and collected in a condensate tray, not shown here, from which it can be disposed of by pumping out or emptying.

The room air acting as cooling air, e.g. of the installation room is conveyed by means of a second blower 19 in the cooling air duct 20 from an air inlet 25 to an air outlet 26. In the embodiment shown here, a filter device 18 is located in the cooling air channel 20 in the vicinity of the air inlet 25. If no filtering of cooling air or room air is desired, the filter device 18 can be removed or brought into a position in which it is is no longer flowed through by cooling air.

At the in Fig. 1 In the embodiment of a washer-dryer shown, a method can be carried out in which air is conveyed from an installation space by means of the second blower through the filter device in the cooling-air duct. A flow meter 27 provided in the cooling air passage 20 and a temperature sensor 28 likewise present therein allow carrying out of preferred embodiments of the method as indicated above. In particular, such a method can also be carried out independently of a washing process possibly taking place in the drum.

Claims (11)

1. Washer-drier with a drum (2) for articles to be washed and dried, a solution container (1), a water supply (8, 9, 10), a program control (12), a first fan (22) and a first heater (23) in a process air channel (21), a second fan (19) in a cooling air channel (20) and a second heater (13) in the solution container (1), characterised in that a filter device (18) is arranged in the cooling air channel (20), that third means (27) for fixing an air flow F through the cooling air channel when the filter is switched on, F_mF, and for fixing an air flow through the cooling air channel (20) when the filter is switched off, F_oF, and fourth means in the program control (12) for comparing )F = F_mF - F_oF with a predetermined flow difference )F_set are provided, and that indicating means for indication of excessive loading of a filter medium in the filter device (18) on attainment or exceeding of the predetermined flow difference )F_set and/or an overloading of the second fan (19) is provided.
2. Washer-drier according to claim 1, characterised in that the filter device (18) in the cooling air channel (20) is equipped for restraining very fine suspended matter such as pollen and micro-organisms.
3. Washer-drier according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that it comprises first means (27) for fixing an air flow F_mF through the cooling air channel (20) and second means in the program control (12) for comparing F_mF with a predetermined air flow F_set and for regulating a rotational speed of the second fan (19) so that the amount of the difference F_mF - F_set is within a predetermined range )F_set.
4. Washer-drier according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises in the cooling air channel (20) a first temperature sensor (28) for determining a temperature T_R of air in an installation space as well as fifth means in the program control (12) for comparing T_R with a predetermined temperature T^set filed in the program control (12).
5. Washer-drier according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises in the program control (12) sixth means for changing a rotational speed of the second fan (19) and/or for influencing a heat exchange in the heat exchanger (24) so that the amount of the temperature difference T_R - T^set does not exceed a predetermined value )T_R.
6. Washer-drier according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the washer-drier is designed as a washer and exhaust-air drier and comprises a second sensor for determining a process air temperature T_P and/or for determining a relative humidity H_P of the process air and a third sensor for determining a relative humidity H_R of the air in an installation space.
7. Washer-drier according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises in the program control (12) seventh means for comparing the temperature T_R and the relative humidity H_R of the air in the installation space with a temperature T_P and a relative humidity H_P of the process air in the washer-drier and eighth means for at least partial opening or closing of at least one controllable closure device in an air inlet channel connected with the process air channel and/or an air outlet channel in dependence on a predetermined temperature difference )T between the temperature T_P and the temperature T_R and/or a predetermined relative humidity H_R ^set of the air in the installation space.
8. Method of operating a washer-drier with a drum (2) for articles to be washed and dried, a solution container (1), a water supply (8, 9, 10), a program control (12), a first fan (22) and a first heater (23) in a process air channel (21), a second fan (19) and a filter device (18) in a cooling air channel (20), and a second heater (13) in the solution container (1), characterised in that air is conveyed from an installation space by means of the second fan (19) through the filter device (18) in the cooling air channel (20), that an airflow F through the cooling air channel (20) when the filter is switched on, F_mF, and an air flow through the cooling air channel (20) when the filter is switched off, F_oF, are measured by way of first means (27) and a comparison of )F = | | F_mF - F_oF | with a predetermined flow difference )F_set is undertaken by way of second means in the process control (12), and that on reaching or exceeding the predetermined difference )F_set an indication of an excessive loading of the filter medium is given on an indicating device and/or the second fan (19) is switched off.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that either a washing process or a drying process is carried out at the same time in the drum.
10. Method according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterised in that a temperature T_R of air in the installation space is determined with the help of a first temperature sensor (28) in the cooling air channel (20) and a comparison with a predetermined temperature T^set filed in the program control (12) is carried out by a fifth means in the program control (12).
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that in the washer-drier the rotational speed of the second fan (19) is changed and/or the heat exchange in the heat exchanger (16) is influenced by way of sixth means in the program control (12) so that the amount of the temperature difference T_R - T^set does not exceed a predetermined value )T_R.

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