EP2603629B1 - Process for removing smell of laundry in a laundry-dryer and a laundry-dryer suitable therefor - Google Patents

Description

1. (a) Einleiten einer wässrigen Flüssigkeit über den Wärmetauscher in den Laugenbehälter in einer Menge, die nicht ausreicht, dass die Trommel in die wässrige Flüssigkeit eintaucht;
2. (b) Erwärmen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit;
3. (c) Erzeugen eines Wasserdampfstromes durch mindestens teilweises Verdampfen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit; und
4. (d) Inkontaktbringen des Wasserdampfstromes mit den Wäschestücken,

sowie einen hierzu geeigneten Waschtrockner.The invention relates to a method for removing odors from laundry items in a washer-dryer, wherein the washer dryer a tub, a tub rotatably mounted in the tub for receiving laundry, a control device and a process air duct in which a heater for heating air, a fan and a heat exchanger, comprising the steps:

1. (A) introducing an aqueous liquid through the heat exchanger in the tub in an amount that is insufficient that the drum is immersed in the aqueous liquid;
2. (b) heating the aqueous liquid;
3. (c) generating a water vapor stream by at least partially vaporizing the aqueous liquid; and
4. (d) contacting the water vapor stream with the laundry items,

as well as a suitable washer-dryer.

A method of this kind is apparent from the DE 10 2007 041 906 A1 , In this method, a small amount of water is introduced into the tub of a laundry treating machine and heated by means of a heater covered by this water. In this case, water vapor is generated, which is used for the treatment of laundry items in the laundry treatment machine.

From the DE 197 43 508 A1 goes out a washer-dryer. In this warm air, which is generated in a drying air duct, brought into contact with the heating liquor for this.

Items of laundry, for example items of clothing, are laden with odors after a certain period of time due to body odors or ambient fragrances and have to be washed or cleaned. In order to avoid frequent washing or cleaning of such, otherwise no visible contaminants having laundry items and thus to spare them, the ventilation of laundry is known.

This laundry items can be freed from adhering odors without a washing process. Ventilation is particularly advantageous for non-washable laundry items. The manufacturers of detergent chemicals offer systems in which in a special plastic bag with the aid of a damp cloth, which is impregnated with a cleaning agent, in particular a surfactant, a moist, warm atmosphere is generated when drying in a tumble dryer. This should be removed from the laundry odors and these are also perfumed.

A disadvantage of this type of ventilation is a relatively complicated handling and the incomplete removal of odors. The odors remain in the bag with the laundry and are only partially bound by the surfactants contained in the cloth. In addition, the laundry items can often smell unpleasantly strong after the cleaning agent after treatment and there are additional costs for the cleaning cloth at each ventilation process.

From the German utility model DE 73 41 276 U1 is a drying device for textiles known. The drying apparatus comprises a steam generator comprising a heating coil for evaporating water in the housing of the steam generator. For steaming and deodorizing textiles, water vapor is passed from the steam generator via a hose line into a box-like housing which partially consists of a flexible film and in which textiles are suspended.

In the WO 2004/059070 A1 a clothes dryer is described, which has at least one processing unit for a liquid for producing mist or steam to remove odors from textiles, wherein the processing unit is connected to the process air duct. Preferably, the processing unit is an evaporator for evaporating liquid, preferably water, or an atomizer.

In the WO 2004/035906 A2 a device for supplying moisture into the interior of a clothes dryer is known, wherein the device comprises a receiving area for receiving liquid and a receiving area surrounding this, liquid-impermeable and heat-permeable envelope having at least one outlet opening for dispensing moisture.

The EP 1 275 767 A1 describes a clothes dryer or washing machine in which the laundry is as little as possible crumpled during removal, with a arranged in a tub water-permeable drum for receiving laundry, means for withdrawing water from this laundry, and a steaming device for introducing steam into the drum after the withdrawal of water. During operation, after the laundry has been thrown into the tub, so much water is again admitted that a heater in the tub is covered, but the water level is still below the drum. In this case, it is difficult to control the water level so that the heater is constantly covered with water during operation.

The DE 102007041906 A1 describes a method for introducing water into a laundry treating machine with a drum mounted in a tub for receiving laundry, a water supply system and a drive motor for the drum, wherein to prevent a wetting of laundry in the drum when water is introduced by applying a the drum is rotated with water at a speed which is at least so high that a centrifugal acceleration at an inner wall of the drum is at least 1 g. Preferably, in this method, water is admitted until a heater present in the tub is covered with water. The water can then be heated to produce steam, which is then in the Drum is performed, which can be removed from laundry items annoying odors and / or germs.

The DE 10 2005 046 163 A1 describes a method for ventilating a textile article, comprising the steps of introducing the textile article into a treatment space, through which a stream of air can be guided in a closed circuit; Forming a stream of air containing vapor in the circuit and directing the flow of air through the fabric as well as a filter for receiving an extractable odorant from the fabric and condensing the vapor from the airflow and drying the fabric. The steam used is preferably produced from a liquid introduced into the treatment space without wetting the textile article.

The DE 11 2006 000 091 T5 describes a method of operating a laundry machine having an operation history selection step for an operation history to be selected and a step of providing high temperature and high humidity air to a drum from an air supply unit. In one embodiment of a method of operating a laundry machine, moist, hot air is generated by providing condensed water to the interior of a drying section, ie, a process air channel, and by operating the drying heater. However, variously, a crease-removing effect by steam can be obtained by supplying a small amount of water into the interior of a tub by using a water supply system inside a tub and hot air through the air supply unit to make the inside of the drum very humid and hot ,

The EP 1 983 086 A2 describes a washing machine comprising a water supply unit, a rotatable container, a water tank, a first heater disposed in the water tank to generate steam necessary for moistening an object to be deodorized, and a blower unit. The blower unit includes a blower pipe having a suction part for sucking in outside air, and an outlet part for guiding the sucked air into the rotary tank, a blower, and a second heater for heating the air supplied into the blower pipe by means of the blower.

Washer dryers are popular because in a device in a space-saving way Functions of a washing machine and a tumble dryer are combined. In addition, a washer-dryer is already provided with a water connection, so that water is not only available for washing laundry, but also for further treatment of laundry items.

Against this background, the object of the invention was to provide a method by means of which odorants can be reliably and simply removed from laundry items in a laundry dryer. The task was also to show a suitable washer-dryer. The washer-dryer should be easy to use and have a simple structure.

The object underlying the invention is achieved by a method and a washer-dryer according to respective independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are listed in the respective dependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention correspond to preferred embodiments of the washer-dryer according to the invention, although not separately pointed out here.

1. (a) Einleiten einer wässrigen Flüssigkeit über den Wärmetauscher in den Laugenbehälter in einer Menge, die nicht ausreicht, dass die Trommel in die wässrige Flüssigkeit eintaucht;
2. (b) Erwärmen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit;
3. (c) Erzeugen eines Wasserdampfstromes durch mindestens teilweises Verdampfen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit; und
4. (d) Inkontaktbringen des Wasserdampfstromes mit den Wäschestücken,
   und umfassend die Schritte:
5. (e) Erzeugen eines warmen Luftstromes, indem Luft im Prozessluftkanal mittels der Heizung erwärmt und mittels des Gebläses befördert wird;
6. (f) Vorwärmen der Wäschestücke in der Trommel durch den warmen Luftstrom vor dem Inkontaktbringen mit dem Wasserdampfstrom; und
7. (g) Erwärmen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit durch Inkontaktbringen mit dem warmen Luftstrom.

The invention thus relates to a method for removing odors from items of laundry in a washer-dryer, wherein the washer-dryer a tub, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub for receiving laundry, a control device and a process air duct in which a heater for heating air, a blower and a heat exchanger, comprising the steps:

1. (A) introducing an aqueous liquid through the heat exchanger in the tub in an amount that is insufficient that the drum is immersed in the aqueous liquid;
2. (b) heating the aqueous liquid;
3. (c) generating a water vapor stream by at least partially vaporizing the aqueous liquid; and
4. (d) contacting the water vapor stream with the laundry items,
   and comprising the steps:
5. (e) generating a warm air stream by heating and conveying air in the process air duct by means of the heater by means of the blower;
6. (f) preheating the laundry items in the drum by the warm airflow prior to contacting the steam stream; and
7. (g) heating the aqueous liquid by contacting it with the warm air stream.

Preferably, in the process according to the invention, the steps (a) to (g) are carried out repeatedly or over a longer period of time. This happens in particular in that the warm air flow in the process air duct is guided in a largely closed circuit.

In the method according to the invention, the moisture content of the air gradually increases. Initially, in step (e), a dry dry air stream is generated from dry air. When it comes into contact with the aqueous liquid, the content of the air increases in moisture, so that when re-performing step (e) by the heater and the blower, a moist, warm air flow is generated, etc. With increasing heating of the aqueous Liquid content of the warm air continues to increase in moisture, which finally also a significant proportion of water vapor, eg at least 5 vol .-% is achieved. At the latest then, it is also possible to speak of the presence of a water vapor stream, ie of the realization of step (c). When this steam flow passes through the heater and blower, the steam flow is the warm air flow from step (e).

In step (b) and then in step (c), not only the aqueous liquid is heated and thus gradually a humid atmosphere is generated, which can perform a steam extraction as a water vapor stream. The warm air also warms the laundry items in the drum. The initially dry warm air is becoming increasingly moist, so that accompanied by heating of the laundry items with increasing humidity of the warm air, a steam extraction of unwanted odors from the laundry and thus an odor removal can take place.

In a preferred embodiment of the process, the aqueous liquid is heated in step (b) to a temperature T _liq of at least 50 ° C, more preferably at least 60 ° C. Here again, it is preferred that the aqueous liquid for a predetermined time .DELTA.t is kept at the temperature T _liq . To control the water temperature, a third temperature sensor T3 is preferably arranged in the tub below the drum.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, however, the laundry items in the drum are preheated prior to contacting with the steam stream in step (d). Preferably, the laundry items are preheated to a temperature T _tex in the range of 35 to 50 ° C before introducing the aqueous liquid in step (b) with the warm air in step (a). The drum is preferably rotated during the preheating, for example, at a speed in the range of 40 to 60 revolutions / min, for example, a washing speed 50 revolutions / min.

For this purpose, for example, heated for 5 minutes with the blower and the heater switched on the laundry to about 40 ° C. The drum is operated, for example, at a speed of 50 revolutions per minute in reversing.

Before the drum, preferably a first temperature sensor T1 can measure the temperature of the warm air introduced into the drum or into the tub. In the method according to the invention, the fan and the heater are then preferably regulated by using the first temperature sensor T1 and the controller such that a predetermined maximum value _Tmax , eg 65.degree. C., for the temperature of the warm airflow, ie the temperature of the introduced warm air ( also as "Einblastemperatur" namable) is not exceeded. To control the heating of the laundry items, a second temperature sensor T2 may be located in a transition piece between the tub and the heat exchanger.

In the process according to the invention, the aqueous liquid is introduced via the heat exchanger. This has the particular advantage that the items of laundry do not come into direct contact with the aqueous liquid and can be wetted. The aqueous liquid is preferably a rinsing liquid or a coolant for the heat exchanger.

In general, in a washer-dryer in which the moisture contained in the moist warm air is condensed on a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger is operated with cooling air, cooling water, or when using a heat pump with a refrigerant of the heat pump.

If the heat exchanger is operated with cooling water, it can be provided (by using suitable valves) that the water intended for cooling is passed as aqueous liquid in step (b) via the heat exchanger, in particular its wall surfaces, into the tub. The cooling water flows in this case generally via its normally in contact with the process air outer wall surfaces down, where the process air duct is connected via a transition piece with the tub.

On the other hand, if the heat exchanger is cooled with air, a flushing device for the heat exchanger can be present, which cleans the heat exchanger of adhering lint and other impurities. The rinse water used for this purpose can also act as an aqueous liquid in step (c) of the process according to the invention.

The tub is filled with water in both cases above so far that the drum is not yet immersed in the aqueous liquid. For this purpose, it may be provided that a predetermined amount of water, which corresponds to this proviso, is introduced into a program "steam extraction" which can be set on the tumble dryer.

For example, this can be done so that when switched off heating and fan off so much water is introduced through the flushing of an air-cooled washer dryer or Kühlwassereinspülvorrichtung a water-cooled washer dryer that in the tub below the drum about 1 l of water. Wall surfaces of the heat exchanger are coated here with a film of water.

When referring to "heating" herein, it refers to the air heating (process air) heater located in the process air duct. In addition, a washer-dryer generally also has a heater for direct heating of an aqueous liquid, such as a water heater. a wash. This heating, referred to herein as water heating, is generally located in the tub below the drum.

Now in the method according to the invention usually in the lower part of the Lye container arranged water heater must not be covered, no increased requirements for the regulation of the level of aqueous liquid are required. In addition, since the feed of the aqueous liquid is generally carried out in a manner which does not result in wetting of the laundry items, this embodiment may make unnecessary requirements for the flow rate of valves or measures for guiding the water to avoid laundry wetting.

In this embodiment, the present in the tub and in the lower part of the process air duct and the outer surfaces of the heat exchanger water is evaporated by the warm air flow to produce water vapor and a total humid warm atmosphere. The generated water vapor stream, which may possibly still contain volatile auxiliaries, flows through the laundry items in the drum and takes with it odors.

The aqueous liquid used according to the invention consists essentially or exclusively of water. The aqueous liquid may be accompanied by additives which serve for improved extraction of odorous substances or for other purposes (for example disinfection).

In step (e), i. when contacting the steam flow with the laundry, the drum is preferably operated in reverse operation.

It is particularly advantageous if in steps (a) to (e) a cooling device of the heat exchanger, which can cool the heat exchanger by supplying cooling air or cooling water, is switched off. This can prevent water vapor from condensing on the heat exchanger. In addition, unnecessary energy consumption for the heat exchanger cooling, which is just not desired during these steps, is avoided.

In the method according to the invention, the steps (a) to (e) are generally repeated or carried out over a longer period of time, wherein the increasingly moist and steam-enriched warm air is circulated. In this case, a treatment time is preferably predetermined. Possibly. can also use one Odor sensor a load of odorous substances can be determined qualitatively and / or quantitatively. On the basis of the determined loading of odorous substances, the configuration of steps (a) to (g) and in particular the total duration of these steps can be automatically determined and set or predetermined by a user by hand.

Subsequent to the steps (a) to (g), the aqueous liquid is preferably pumped out of the suds container in a step (h). Subsequently, the laundry items damp due to the steam extraction are preferably dried. The laundry items may be dried in a step (i) by a conventional drying method.

Since the laundry items are relatively warm after the steam extraction and are generally not very humid, step (i) is preferably carried out so that the fan is operated with the heating switched off and the heat exchanger switched on. Switched cooling of the heat exchanger in this case means in particular that in an air-cooled washer dryer, a cooling air blower is turned on and in a water-cooled washer dryer, the cooling water supply is turned on.

The air circulated in the process air circuit is cooled on contact with the cooled heat exchanger and dried. At the same time, lint, dust and odorants are deposited in the heat exchanger or delivered to the aqueous liquid and can then be pumped out, e.g. through a sewage pump into a drain.

In step (i), the drum is preferably also operated reversibly.

In order to avoid that Liegefalten form in the laundry, can then be connected to the step (i) a crease protection phase, in which an occasional redeployment of the laundry takes place.

1. (a) Einleiten einer wässrigen Flüssigkeit über den Wärmetauscher in den Laugenbehälter in einer Menge, die nicht ausreicht, dass die Trommel in die wässrige Flüssigkeit eintaucht;
2. (b) Erwärmen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit;
3. (c) Erzeugen eines Wasserdampfstromes durch mindestens teilweises Verdampfen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit; und
4. (d) Inkontaktbringen des Wasserdampfstromes mit den Wäschestücken,
   und wobei die Steuereinrichtung eingerichtet ist zur Durchführung des Verfahrens umfassend die Schritte:
5. (e) Erzeugen eines warmen Luftstromes, indem Luft im Prozessluftkanal mittels der Heizung erwärmt und mittels des Gebläses befördert wird;
6. (f) Vorwärmen der Wäschestücke in der Trommel durch den warmen Luftstrom vor dem Inkontaktbringen mit dem Wasserdampfstrom; und
7. (g) Erwärmen der wässrigen Flüssigkeit durch Inkontaktbringen mit dem warmen Luftstrom.

The invention also relates to a washer-dryer, comprising a tub, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub for receiving laundry, a control device and a process air duct, in which a A heater for heating air, a fan and a heat exchanger are located, wherein the control device is arranged to carry out a method, comprising the steps:

1. (A) introducing an aqueous liquid through the heat exchanger in the tub in an amount that is insufficient that the drum is immersed in the aqueous liquid;
2. (b) heating the aqueous liquid;
3. (c) generating a water vapor stream by at least partially vaporizing the aqueous liquid; and
4. (d) contacting the water vapor stream with the laundry items,
   and wherein the control device is set up to carry out the method comprising the steps:
5. (e) generating a warm air stream by heating and conveying air in the process air duct by means of the heater by means of the blower;
6. (f) preheating the laundry items in the drum by the warm airflow prior to contacting the steam stream; and
7. (g) heating the aqueous liquid by contacting it with the warm air stream.

Thus, in the washer-dryer of the invention, a steam extraction can take place directly in the drum, so that odors contained in the laundry items can be removed with the steam and disposed of by pumping the aqueous liquid containing odorous substances out of the washer-dryer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a filter for eliminating such odors in the process air duct is still arranged, which can not be collected in the aqueous liquid.

Moreover, the washer-dryer can be equipped with a condensate collecting device, so that condensate accumulating in the drying of laundry items can be used as an aqueous liquid in the sense of the present invention.

In general, a washer-dryer has a water supply system with which water can be passed through a generally existing dispenser tray the detergent or Waschhilfsmittelportionen can be added to the washer-dryer. According to the invention, such a water supply system can now also have a branch to the heat exchanger in order to be used there as rinsing water in a rinsing device for the heat exchanger or as a cooling liquid for carrying out the method according to the invention.

A washer-dryer generally has a lye drainage system arranged at the bottom of the lye container with a drain pump as well as generally laundry hoppers and / or scooping devices. Preferably, a washer-dryer in the tub also contains a pressure sensor, which is preferably arranged in a lower region of the tub, so that the pressure of an aqueous liquid present in the tub can be measured.

The invention has numerous advantages. The washer-dryer according to the invention enables effective removal of odors in laundry items. Here, a conventional washer-dryer can be used without special conversion measures are required. Moreover, there is no risk of overheating for the water heater. In embodiments of the invention, the risk of moistening the laundry items with water can be eliminated. It is also possible to treat non-washable items of laundry, such as those made of wool or silk.

The invention will be further explained below with reference to the exemplary washer-dryer shown in the attached drawing. Other embodiments than those illustrated are conceivable.

The washer-dryer shown in the sole figure of the drawing has a tub 1 and a drum 2 rotatably mounted therein about a substantially horizontal axis, in which laundry items 3 are located. The tub 1 is connected via a Laugenablaufleitung 19 with a drain pump 12, which can dispose of an aqueous liquid 11 from the tub 1 via a sewer line 13 to the outside of the washer dryer. The drum 2 is driven by means of a drive motor 4.

The drum 2 is loaded through a filling opening 22 with laundry items 3 to be treated. In order to wash clothes in the washer-dryer, the washer-dryer is connected via a water supply system 20 with an external water supply, not shown here. The water supply system 20 is connected to a dispenser 21, from which with the aid of water from the water supply system 20 detergent or Waschhilfsmittelportionen in the Lye container 1 can be transported. In the present case, this takes place via a part of a process air channel 5 and a sleeve 23.

For drying wet laundry in the drum 2, in the washer-dryer of the figure, which operates on the recirculation principle, the air heated by a heater 7 ("process air") is conveyed through a fan 6 in a process air duct 5. Heated process air passes through the sleeve 23 in the tub 1 and the drum 2. After passing through the drum 2 and drying of moist laundry contained therein 3 then the moist warm process air passes through a rear outlet 24 from the tub 1 to a heat exchanger 8, where the moisture contained in it condense due to the cooling of the process air and can be collected in a condensate tank, not shown here. Alternatively, the condensate flow through a transition piece 25 between the heat exchanger 8 and the tub 1 back into the tub 1, from where it can be disposed of via the Laugenablaufleitung 19 with the drain pump 12 via the sewer 13 to the outside of the washer dryer. The dehumidified process air then continues to flow in the process air channel 5 and can be heated again by means of the heater 7 and pass through the sleeve 23 into the drum 2, etc.

To carry out the process according to the invention, air is heated in the same way as described above and passed into the tub 1 or the drum 2. As a result, the laundry items 3 are preheated in the drum 2 prior to contacting with a steam stream. In particular, before the aqueous liquid 11 is introduced into the tub 1 in step (b), the laundry items 3 are preheated with the warm air in a step (a) to a temperature T _tex in the range from 35 to 50.degree. The fan 6 and the heater 7 are controlled using a first temperature sensor T1 14 and a controller 18 so that a predetermined maximum value T _max for the temperature of the warm air flow, here 65 ° C, is not exceeded.

Subsequently, in a step (b), an aqueous liquid is introduced into the tub 1 in an amount insufficient to cause the drum 2 to be immersed in the aqueous liquid 11. In this case, the aqueous liquid 11 is introduced via a heat exchanger 8. For this purpose, a in this embodiment of the Waschtrockners existing rinsing device 10 used for the heat exchanger 8, which uses the aqueous liquid 11 as a rinsing liquid. The flushing device 10 is connected via a water valve 9 with a water supply of the washer dryer not shown here. Not shown here would alternatively be possible in a water-cooled heat exchanger and the use of cooling water as an aqueous liquid according to the invention. The aqueous liquid 11 passes through a transition piece 25 and a rear outlet 24 into the tub 1.

The aqueous liquid 11 is then heated in step (c) by contacting it with the warm air stream. In the embodiment shown here, the aqueous liquid 11 is heated in step (c) to a temperature T _liq of 60 ° C. The aqueous liquid 11 is then kept at 60 ° C for a predetermined time Δt, eg 20 minutes. In a step (d), a steam stream 17 is produced by at least partial evaporation of the aqueous liquid 11, which is then brought into contact with the laundry items 3 in a step (e).

For this purpose, the water vapor stream 17, represented by the large arrows, passes through the rear outlet 24 from the tub 1 into the transition piece 25 and the heat exchanger 8 over the fan 6, the heater 7 and the sleeve 23 in the drum 2 and the therein Laundry Items 3. Preferably, in steps (a) to (e), a non-illustrated cooling device of the heat exchanger 8, which can cool the heat exchanger 8 by supplying cooling air or cooling water, is turned off to prevent the water vapor from condensing on the heat exchanger 8. In such a preferred embodiment, in the case where the cooling device is operated with cooling water and this cooling water is used as aqueous liquid in the sense of the invention, in step (b) the cooling device is only for the purpose and for the duration of the supply of the aqueous liquid switched on, otherwise in this case, the cooling device during steps (a) to (e) is turned off.

Steps (a) to (e) are repeated several times. In this case, the water vapor extracted in the laundry items 3 contained odors (steam extraction). The odors gradually accumulate in the aqueous liquid 11 and can be removed together with this from the washer-dryer. For the separation of Odors that do not accumulate in the water, a filter 26 for these odors is present.

The drum 1 is operated during the preheating in step (a) and during the contacting of the laundry 3 with the steam flow in step (e) with a reversing rhythm at a rotational speed of 50 revolutions / min.

In the embodiment shown here, following the steps (a) to (e), in a step (f), the aqueous liquid 11 is pumped out of the suds container 1 via the suds discharge line 19 by means of a sump pump 12. Following this, the laundry items 3 are usually dried in a step (g) by 6 process air is passed through the humid-warm laundry when the heater 7 is switched off by means of the blower. When the cooling is switched on - which is not apparent in the figure shown - then the moisture is condensed on the heat exchanger 8. The process air is circulated until a desired degree of drying is achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tub

2

drum

3

laundry

4

drive motor

5

Process air circuit

6

fan

7

air heating

8th

heat exchangers

9

water valve

10

Flushing device for heat exchangers

11

Aqueous liquid

12

sewage pump

13

sewer

14

First temperature sensor T1 between drum and air heater

15

Second temperature sensor T2 at the rear exit

16

Third temperature sensor T3 in the tub

17

Warm air / steam

18

control device

19

Caustic drain line

20

Water supply system

21

dispenser tray

22

filling

23

cuff

24

rear exit (from the tub)

25

Transition piece

26

filter

Claims (12)

1. Method for removing odorants from laundry items (3) in a washer-dryer, wherein the washer-dryer has a washing liquor container (1), a drum (2) rotatably supported in the washing liquor container for accepting laundry items (3), a control device (18) and a process air duct (5), in which a heater (7) for heating air, a fan (6) and a heat exchanger (8) are located, comprising the steps:

   (a) Introducing an aqueous liquid (11) via the heat exchanger (8) into the washing liquor container (1) in a quantity which is not sufficient for the drum (2) to dip down into the aqueous liquid (11);

   (b) Heating the aqueous liquid (11);

   (c) Creating a stream of water vapour (17) by at least partly evaporating the aqueous liquid (11); and

   (d) Bringing the stream of water vapour (17) into contact with the laundry items (3), characterised by the steps:

   (e) Creating a stream of warm air, in that air in the process air duct (5) is heated by means of the heater (7) and is conveyed by means of the fan (6);

   (f) Pre-heating of the laundry items (3) in the drum (2) by the stream of warm air before bringing them into contact with the stream of water vapour (17); and

   (g) Heating of the aqueous liquid (11) by bringing it into contact with the heated stream of air.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the aqueous liquid (11) is heated in step (b) to a temperature T_liq of at least 50°C.
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the aqueous liquid (11) is held at the temperature T_liq for a predetermined time Δt.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry items (3) are pre-heated to a temperature T_tex ranging from 35 to 50 °C.
5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the drum (2) is rotated during the pre-heating.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the aqueous liquid (11) is a rinsing liquid or a coolant for the heat exchanger (8).
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drum (2) in step (d) is operated in reversing mode.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fan (6) and the heater (7) are regulated using a first temperature sensor T1 (14) and the control (18) so that a predetermined maximum value T_max for the temperature of the flow of warm air is not exceeded.
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, during the steps (a) to (g), a cooling device for the heat exchanger (8) is switched off.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, subsequent to the steps (a) to (g), in a step (h), the aqueous liquid (11) is pumped out of the washing liquor container (1).
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that the laundry items (3) are dried in a step (i).
12. Washer-dryer, comprising a washing liquor container (1), a drum (2) rotatably supported in the washing liquor container for accepting laundry items (3), a control device (18) and a process air duct (5), in which a heater (7) for heating air, a fan (6) and a heat exchanger (8) are located, wherein the control device (18) is configured for carrying out a method comprising the steps:

    (a) Introducing an aqueous liquid (11) via the heat exchanger (8) into the washing liquor container (1) in a quantity which is not sufficient for the drum (2) to dip down into the aqueous liquid (11);

    (b) Heating the aqueous liquid (11);

    (c) Creating a stream of water vapour (17) by at least partly evaporating the aqueous liquid (11); and

    (d) Bringing the stream of water vapour (17) into contact with the laundry items (3), characterised in that the control device (18) is configured for carrying out the method comprising the steps:

    (e) Creating a stream of warm air, in that air in the process air duct (5) is heated by means of the heater (7) and is conveyed by means of the fan (6);

    (f) Pre-heating of the laundry items (3) in the drum (2) by the stream of warm air before bringing them into contact with the stream of water vapour (17); and

    (g) Heating of the aqueous liquid (11) by bringing it into contact with the heated stream of air.

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