EP2606171B1 - Laundry treatment device comprising a lint filter - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance, in particular a laundry drying apparatus having at least one lint filter, wherein cleaning fluid of a process air lint filter can be received by the lint filter.

Such a laundry treatment device is apparent from the WO 2010/028992 A1 ,

From the Scriptures U.S. Patent 4,227,315 goes out a filter unit, which is connectable to an exhaust duct of an exhaust air dryer. The filter unit contains a lint filter to catch lint from the exhaust air.

The writings U.S. Patent 4,720,925 and EP 2 146 000 A1 each relate to a tumble dryer, in which a lint filter is provided for collecting lint from flowing process air.

The font WO 2010/028992 A1 discloses a dryer comprising a drying chamber for receiving a moist material and a process air guide for supplying process air into the drying chamber and for discharging process air from the drying chamber, which process air guide a heat source for heating the process air before entering the drying chamber and a heat sink for cooling the Process air after its exit from the drying chamber, and arranged between the drying chamber and the heat sink first lint filter for collecting lint from the process air, which is associated with a first cleaning device. This first cleaning device has a collector for a liquid, a first flushing line connected to the collector, a first control element located in this first flushing line and a first distributor connected to the first flushing line for distributing liquid conveyed through the first flushing line to the first lint filter and to Picking up intercepted lint from the first lint filter, comprising a first drain for discharging the liquid with the collected lint from the first lint filter to the collector. Liquid rinsed from the first lint filter is passed into a removable filter chamber or into a removable filter bag. The filter chamber or the filter bag are for cleaning or disposal the lint, etc. retained therein. Thus, a user must periodically empty and clean or replace the filter chamber or filter bag to ensure proper operation of the dryer. For this purpose, the user can automatically check the filling with lint and / or comply typically written down in a manual emptying intervals. However, such emptying is comparatively defective, so that overflowing of the filter chamber or of the filter bag can occur, in particular with frequent use of the dryer.

Another possibility is to automatically detect a filling and output a hint to the user from a predetermined degree of filling. However, such a design is costly.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide an inexpensive and secure possibility of clearing lint, etc.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments are in particular the dependent claims and the following description can be removed.

The object is achieved by a laundry treatment device, comprising a lint filter, wherein from the lint filter cleaning liquid of a process air lint filter is receivable, and wherein the lint filter is a life Flusendepot, which is intended to the lint deposited in it over the life of the laundry treatment appliance save, so that no action must be taken to empty the lint

Under a life-Flusendepot can be understood in particular a depot for lint, which is intended to hold the deposited lint and other foreign particles (hair, etc.) over the life of the laundry treatment appliance or store. The service life depot is therefore not intended to be emptied regularly.

The use of the life-time lint storage has the advantage that an end-user no longer has to carry out operations for emptying the lint. In addition, there is no need for sensors for filling measurement, so that the laundry treatment device is particularly inexpensive ausgestaltbar.

The lint filter, which is the life-time lint depot or provided or designed as such, can also be considered as a life-time lint depot having a filter function. The life-time lint can then have at least one filter area.

According to the invention, cleaning fluid of a process air lint filter can be received by the lint filter. In particular, the process air lint filter can be arranged in a process air duct of a laundry dryer and can retain a large part of the lint delivered by the laundry, etc., and these lint can be cleaned off.

It is a development that the lint filter for a device technician (customer service technician, etc.) is accessible, for example, to be able to empty it at least partially from the lint, etc., in the unlikely event of overfilling. However, the laundry treating appliance is not designed or set up to handle the life-cycle depot an end user without further action (use of tools, etc.) is accessible. It may therefore also be a development that the life-Flusendepot is not accessible without tools.

It is an embodiment that the lint filter or the life-time lint depot has a take-up volume of at least approximately four liters, in particular of at least approximately five liters. It has been found that this receiving volume is usually sufficient to absorb the lint, hair and other foreign particles retained by the lint filter during a typical service life of a laundry treatment appliance, in particular laundry drying apparatus, and to ensure normal operation.

It is still an embodiment that the lint filter is housed in a bottom group of the laundry treatment appliance. Thus, the lint filter can be stowed particularly effectively, without obstructing other functional elements.

It is yet a further embodiment that can be received by the lint filter cleaning fluid of a cleanable heat exchanger. In this case, liquid, in particular condensate, is flushed onto the heat exchanger in order to clean off adhering foreign bodies (lint, hair, etc.). The fluffy (cleaning) liquid then enters the lint filter. Liquid filtered through the lint filter can continue to drain off, eg to a pump. The pump can pump the purified liquid, for example, into a collecting container or rinsing tank, the contents of which can in turn be used for rinsing or cleaning the heat exchanger, such as basically in WO 2010/028992 A1 disclosed.

However, the lint filter may also be filled with condensed liquid (condensate) dripping from the heat exchanger during a normal drying operation.

It is a particularly compact design that the lint filter is housed below the cleanable heat exchanger. Thus, no dedicated fluid channel needs to be provided from the heat exchanger to the lint filter, but the liquid may drip directly from the heat exchanger into the lint filter.

It is also an embodiment that the lint filter has a height which is two and a half times, in particular at least five times, in particular at least seven times, less than a width of the lint filter. Due to this flat design, a place in the laundry treatment appliance is particularly easy to exploit. In particular for normally high laundry treatment appliances, a lint filter may be advantageous, the height of which is at least five times, in particular at least seven times, less than a width of the lint filter. For higher laundry treatment appliances, especially laundry treatment appliances, which are placed on a pedestal base or have such a, the lint filter may preferably have a height which is only two and a half times less than a width of the lint filter.

It is also an embodiment that the lint filter is at least partially designed antimicrobial. Thereby, a possible decomposition of the lint and a smell associated therewith can be suppressed.

It is a special embodiment that the lint filter at least partially has a surface with copper, silver and / or bronze. This is particularly durable and effective antimicrobial effective.

It is still another embodiment that the laundry treating appliance is a laundry drying apparatus (clothes dryer or washer-dryer, etc.), particularly a laundry drying apparatus equipped with a heat pump.

The lint filter may comprise a filter fabric (eg, a nonwoven) and / or a rigid filter material (eg, perforated or perforated metal, etc.). The lint filter can also be a sieve.

In the following figure, the invention will be described schematically with reference to an embodiment schematically. In this case, the same or equivalent elements may be provided with the same reference numerals for clarity.

The figure shows a sectional side view of a laundry treatment device in the form of a heat pump tumble dryer 1. The heat pump tumble dryer 1 has a rotatable laundry drum 2, in which to be dried laundry (o.Fig.) Can be accommodated for drying. The laundry is overflowed or flowed through by warm process air, which emerges from the laundry drum 2 as a moist-warm process air L and is guided through a process air lint filter 3 to a condensation unit in the form of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is designed here as an evaporator 4 of a heat pump. During a passage of the moist-warm process air L through the evaporator 4, this condenses out and drips as condensate K from the evaporator 4 into a lint filter 5 arranged therebelow. The lint filter 5 is mounted in or even below a floor assembly. The now drier process air L is further to a heating, e.g. a condenser of a heat pump, led (o.Fig.) And passed from there back into the laundry drum 2.

The laundry to be dried during a drying process except water and fluff, hair, etc. F from which are carried by the process air L. Much of the fluff F, etc. is retained by the process air lint filter 3, thereby increasing its flow resistance. A smaller proportion of the lint F, in particular a finer proportion, reaches the evaporator 4 and settles on its surface. As a result, an efficiency of the evaporator 4 can be lowered.

In order to clean both the process air lint filter 3 and the evaporator 4 of the lint, etc. F, these can be flushed simultaneously or individually with liquid, in particular condensate K (possibly with an admixture of fresh water), which for example by a fast Emptying a higher collection container or rinse tank (o.Fig.) Is provided. The condensate K thus impinges on the process air lint filter 3 and / or the evaporator 4 and tears the fluff existing there, etc. F, as indicated by the associated arrows. The then fluffy condensate K also enters the lint filter. 5

The existing in the lint filter 5 condensate K passes through the lint filter 5 leaving the lint, etc. F through and can continue to a pump (o.Abb.) Flow, which pump the largely lint-free condensate K to a drain or back into the sump can.

The lint filter 5 is designed or provided as a life lint depot, i.e., lint, etc., stored or retained by it, or deposited therein, etc. for the life of the heat pump tumble dryer 1. Thus, the lint filter 5 need not be removed and cleaned or replaced. Also, no sensor is needed to detect a full lint filter 5.

The lint filter 5 may, for example, be configured as a rigid filter or as a sieve, e.g. in the form of a perforated metal or plastic sheet. The lint filter 5 may alternatively comprise a filter fabric (nonwoven, etc.) held by a rigid support. In the embodiment shown, the lint filter 5 has a rigid trough 5 a, in the bottom and possibly in the side walls of which several holes 5 b are introduced, through which the condensate K can flow. The tub 5a may be lined on its inside or top with a filter cloth. The holes 5b serve then not a retention of the lint F, but in particular a good passage for the purified condensate K (as indicated by the drops) with an otherwise good support effect for the filter fabric. Alternatively, the holes 5b may be sized so that the tub 5a as such exhibits the desired filtering action.

The lint filter 5 has a receiving volume of at least about four to five liters, preferably from five to seven liters. It has surprisingly been found that such a volume is sufficient in the vast majority of cases for trouble-free operation over the entire service life. It has been found that the lint, etc. F compact considerably by the repeated moistening with the condensate K and yet not significantly affect the filter function of the lint filter 5, in particular its permeability to the condensate K.

In order to make good use of the space in the heat pump tumble drier 1, and in particular in or below the floor pan, the lint filter 5 preferably has one low height, in particular a height which is at least five times, in particular at least seven times, smaller than a width of the lint filter. 5

It is particularly advantageous if the lint filter 5 has a height h in a range of about 15 mm to about 20 mm.

To suppress formation of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) in the deposited lint, etc. F, e.g. In order to avoid an odor development, the lint filter 5 is at least partially antimicrobial designed, especially on its the lint, etc. F contacting inner wall. The antimicrobial embodiment may be, for example, an antimicrobial coating, in particular comprising copper, silver and / or bronze.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The laundry drying apparatus may in particular be a tumble dryer or a washer-dryer.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Heat pump dryer

2

washing drum

3

Process air-lint

4

Evaporator

5

lint filter

5a

tub

5b

holes

F

fluff

K

condensate

L

process air

H

height

Claims (7)

1. Laundry treatment device (1), having at least one lint filter (5), wherein cleaning liquid (K) of a process air lint filter (3) can be captured by the lint filter (5), characterised in that the lint filter (5) represents a service-life lint repository, which is provided to store the lint deposited inside it over the service life of the laundry treatment device (1), so that no actions for emptying the lint repository need to be performed, wherein cleaning liquid (K) of a cleanable condensation unit in the form of a heat exchanger (4) can be captured by the lint filter (5) and the lint filter (5) is accommodated below the cleanable condensation unit (4).
2. Laundry treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lint filter (5) has a capture volume of at least four litres.
3. Laundry treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lint filter (5) is accommodated in a base module of the laundry treatment device (1).
4. Laundry treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lint filter (5) has a height (h), which is at least two and a half times, in particular at least five times, in particular at least seven times smaller than a width of the lint filter (5).
5. Laundry treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lint filter (5) is embodied, at least in sections, so as to be antimicrobial.
6. Laundry treatment device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the lint filter (5) has, at least in sections, a surface with copper, silver or bronze.
7. Laundry treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry treatment device (1) is a laundry drying device, in particular a laundry drying device equipped with a heat pump.

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