EP3172370B1 - Household appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine with a treatment of stored rinse water.

In known washing machines, a usual washing cycle consists of a main wash cycle and several rinse cycles. For the operation of a washing machine, water consumption is therefore an important operating variable. For economic and ecological reasons, it is therefore desirable to keep water consumption as low as possible without reducing performance, washing performance and washing results. It is therefore expedient to treat waste water from a last rinse cycle, store it in a storage container and reuse it in the next wash cycle. The processed liquid from the liquid store is used in the next wash cycle, preferably in the main wash cycle or in the first rinse cycle. Within the main wash cycle, the first liters of water added are used to wash the detergent into the tub. However, the detergent is usually rinsed in with fresh water, so that the liquid is not added from the liquid reservoir until after the detergent has been rinsed.

From the publication DE 10 2011 086 137 A1 A washing machine with a tub, a laundry drum, a water supply system, a tub pump, a program control and at least one filtration device is known, the at least one filtration device being arranged between the tub and a supply line to the tub and the washing machine being designed such that one in the tub Any aqueous liquid present can be filtered at least temporarily during a laundry treatment step by passing it through the at least one filtration device and can be returned to the tub.

The publication DE 197 09 085 A describes a method for washing laundry, in particular a household washing machine, in which the laundry is treated in a tub with washing liquid during a washing section and with washing liquid during subsequent washing sections. At the end of The respective washing / rinsing section is emptied of the tub, washing liquid and / or rinsing liquid of at least one rinsing section being emptied into a collecting container and being reused after being processed by a reverse osmosis, micro, ultra or nanofiltration process with intermediate storage in a storage container. The processed washing or rinsing liquid is fed to a later rinsing section of the same program sequence.

A disadvantage of this prior art is that the washing or rinsing liquid is processed immediately and the processed liquid must be stored until it is supplied at a later point in time. In addition, it may happen that the amount of processed washing or rinsing liquid is greater than the amount of liquid that is required at a later time. In this respect, on the one hand, there is a risk that the number of microorganisms in the processed stored liquid will increase and thus the processed liquid will become contaminated again. On the other hand, the unnecessary water treatment creates additional effort, which is reflected in an increased treatment time and an increased energy consumption.

It is the object of the invention to provide a household appliance which, on the one hand, prevents renewed contamination of treated rinsing water and, on the other hand, avoids unnecessary water treatment and the associated additional outlay.

This object is achieved by the subject with the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a household appliance for treating laundry with a washing container for receiving the laundry, a determination device for determining the amount of laundry in the laundry, a liquid storage for storing used washing liquid from the washing container and a processing device for processing the used washing liquid is released from the liquid reservoir for a further washing cycle, the household appliance being set up as a function of one to process the quantity of liquid used for the quantity of washing liquid used from the liquid storage by means of the preparation device and to supply the prepared quantity of liquid to the washing container, so that only that quantity of liquid from the liquid storage is processed which is required as a function of the quantity of washing material in the washing container. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that only that amount of liquid from the liquid store is processed that is required as a function of the amount of laundry in the washing container. This avoids additional effort and saves the associated unnecessary energy. In addition, the technical advantage is achieved that no processed liquid is stored, which avoids the problem of renewed contamination, for example by microorganisms, in that the preparation takes place only immediately before it is fed into the washing container.

A household appliance is understood in particular to be a device which is used for household management in households and in particular is used to clean or wash textiles such as laundry and clothing or also dishes and kitchenware. Such a household appliance can be, for example, a washing machine, a washer-dryer or a dishwasher.

Processing in the sense of the present invention denotes cleaning and / or filtering and / or disinfection and / or desalting of the used washing liquid. Thus, according to one embodiment, it is provided that preparation of the used washing liquid comprises cleaning and / or filtering and / or disinfection and / or desalting of the used washing liquid. Thus, according to one embodiment, the treatment device is designed to filter and / or to clean and / or to disinfect and / or to desalinate a used washing liquid. Treatment is understood to mean, in particular, no heating or heating of fresh water. Preparation is therefore particularly free of fresh water.

In one embodiment, the processing device comprises a filter device for filtering the used washing liquid. The filter device includes, for example, an activated carbon filter. This has the technical advantage, for example, that simple and efficient filtering can be achieved.

According to one embodiment, the processing device is designed to carry out a reverse osmosis process.

In one embodiment, the processing device comprises a UV lighting device. "UV" stands for "ultraviolet". Such a UV lighting device is thus designed to emit ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation (electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength between 100 nm and 380 nm). The used washing liquid is illuminated by means of UV radiation. For example, this has the technical advantage that efficient disinfection can be achieved.

In one embodiment, the treatment device comprises an ion exchanger for desalting the used washing liquid.

The fact that the preparation takes place only immediately before being fed into the washing container means, in particular, that between an end of the preparation and the feeding of the treated washing liquid into the washing container, no other process step is carried out in which a liquid is used which is different from the prepared one Washing liquid is. Such a process step is, for example, a washing or a rinsing step. Immediately means, for example, that there is, for example, a maximum of five minutes, in particular a maximum of 3 minutes, in particular a maximum of 1 minute, for example a maximum of 30 s, between the end of the preparation and the feeding. In particular, this has the technical advantage that recontamination can be efficiently prevented or at least reduced.

In one embodiment it is provided that the household appliance is set up to process the used washing liquid by means of the processing device only immediately before the processed washing liquid is fed into the washing container.

According to one embodiment, the processed washing liquid is fed directly (ie immediately) from the processing device to the washing tank. In one embodiment, the processed washing liquid is therefore preferably not stored. The household appliance is thus free according to one embodiment from a storage for processed washing liquid. Immediately or directly means, for example, without going through such a memory.

This means that, according to one embodiment, the household appliance is set up to supply the washing liquid prepared by means of the treatment device directly to the washing container. In particular, this has the technical advantage that recontamination can be efficiently prevented or at least reduced.

According to one embodiment, the method is thus free of storing the processed washing liquid.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the determination device comprises a sensor for determining a volume of laundry. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that it is possible to determine exactly how large the volume of the wash items in the wash tank is, in order to determine the amount of liquid that has to be processed from the liquid store.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the determination device is set up to determine the amount of liquid used washing liquid to be processed on the basis of suction properties of the laundry. This has the technical advantage, for example, that the required amount of liquid can be determined very precisely, because not only the simple amount or volume of the items to be washed, but also the specific suction properties of the items to be washed are taken into account. This can also be done in parallel to the addition of liquid to the washing container and thus offers the possibility of saving time within a washing cycle.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the household appliance comprises a pump for transporting used washing liquid from the washing container into the liquid storage device. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that at least some of a contaminated washing liquid is not discharged or discarded via a drain, but rather can be made available for reprocessing. In particular, a last rinse of a washing program is appropriate for this, since the processing effort can be reduced accordingly. Overall, however by returning used washing liquid from the washing tank to the liquid storage device and then treating the used washing liquid, the fresh water consumption of the household appliance can be reduced.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the household appliance is set up to discharge an excess of the washing liquid contained in the liquid storage compared to the determined amount of liquid via a first valve. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the amount of liquid required in the washing container can be provided very easily and without cost-intensive additional components in the household appliance. The excess is simply transported to the drain via the washing tank and only the amount of liquid that is actually required is processed.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the household appliance comprises a circulation pump for transporting the determined amount of liquid to the treatment device and for transporting the processed washing liquid to the washing container. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the circulation pump carries out both the conveying of the liquid to the processing device and the conveying into the washing container. As a result, the scope with regard to the use of components in the household appliance is additionally reduced.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the household appliance comprises an intermediate store, into which the washing liquid to be treated can be transferred from the liquid storage device in order to treat the washing liquid to be treated with the treatment device and to supply it to the washing container. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the excess or the amount of liquid that is not required is not conveyed from the liquid store into the drain. As a result, the excess remaining in the liquid reservoir can be used in a further rinse cycle of a washing program, which further reduces fresh water consumption.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the household appliance comprises a storage pump which is set up to convey the quantity of liquid to be treated from the liquid storage device into the intermediate storage device. This will For example, the technical advantage is achieved that only the amount of liquid to be processed is conveyed into the intermediate storage. This ensures that the required amount of liquid is isolated from the contaminated amount of liquid and can be made available for processing.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for operating a household appliance for treating laundry in a washing container and a liquid store for storing used washing liquid from the washing container, the steps of determining the amount of laundry in the washing container by means of a determining device, determining a quantity of liquid from the liquid store as a function of the amount of laundry, processing the determined amount of liquid by a processing device, so that only the amount of liquid from the liquid store that is required as a function of the amount of laundry in the wash tank is processed, and supplying the processed amount of liquid into the wash tank. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that only that amount of liquid from the liquid store is processed that is required as a function of the amount of laundry in the washing container. This avoids additional effort and saves the associated unnecessary energy. In addition, the technical advantage is achieved that no processed liquid is stored, which avoids the problem of renewed contamination, for example by microorganisms, in that the preparation takes place only immediately before it is fed into the washing container.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the determination of the amount of laundry contained in the washing container is carried out by the determination device with a sensor. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that it is possible to determine exactly how large the volume of the wash items in the wash tank is, in order to determine the amount of liquid that has to be processed from the liquid store.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the amount of liquid required is carried out by the determination device by determining the suction conditions of the laundry contained in the washing container. This has the technical advantage, for example, that the determination of the amount of liquid required is very good can be done precisely because not only the simple amount or volume of the laundry, but the specific suction properties of the laundry are taken into account. This can also be done in parallel to the addition of liquid to the washing container and thus offers the possibility of saving time within a washing cycle.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the domestic appliance delivers used washing liquid from the washing container to the liquid storage device by means of a pump. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that at least some of a contaminated washing liquid is not discarded or drained off via a drain, but rather can be made available for reprocessing. In particular, a last rinse of a washing program is appropriate for this, since the processing effort can be reduced accordingly. Overall, however, the recycling of used washing liquid from the washing container into the liquid storage device and the subsequent treatment of the used washing liquid can reduce the fresh water consumption of the household appliance.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the household appliance drains off an excess of the amount of liquid contained in the liquid store compared to the amount of liquid to be treated via a valve. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the quantity of liquid required in the washing container is provided very easily and without additional cost-intensive components in the household appliance. The excess is simply transported to the drain via the washing tank and only the amount of liquid that is actually required is processed.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the household appliance conveys the amount of liquid to be treated with a storage pump from the liquid store into an intermediate store, treats the amount of liquid to be treated with the treatment device and feeds it to the washing container. In this way, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that only the amount of liquid to be processed is conveyed into the intermediate storage. This ensures that the required amount of liquid is isolated from the contaminated amount of liquid and is available for processing.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Haushaltsgeräts mit einem Flüssigkeitsspeicher und einer Aufbereitungseinrichtung, und

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Haushaltsgeräts mit einem Flüssigkeitsspeicher, einer Aufbereitungseinrichtung und einem Zwischenspeicher.

Show it:

Fig. 1

is a schematic representation of a household appliance with a liquid storage and a processing device, and

Fig. 2

is a schematic representation of a household appliance with a liquid storage, a processing device and an intermediate storage.

The Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a household appliance 100 with a liquid storage device 107 and a treatment device 109. A washing container 103 serves to hold laundry, wherein a heating device 117 is located in the washing container 103 in order to heat washing liquor in the washing container 103. In addition, a determination device 104 is arranged in the washing container 103. It can have a sensor in order to determine a wash item volume in the wash container 103. As an alternative or in addition, the determination device 104 can determine the suction behavior of the laundry to be taken up in order to determine the required liquid as precisely as possible in one wash cycle. In addition, the determination of the required liquid requirement in the washing container 103 can depend on further parameters, such as a selected washing program.

In addition to a fresh water inlet 125, via which fresh water can be conveyed from a fresh water inlet system 121 into the wash container 103, the washing tank 103 comprises an inlet for treated liquid 127 from the liquid reservoir 107. The liquid reservoir 107 is in one with a circulation pump 111 and a treatment device 109 Circuit 105, wherein contaminated washing liquid can be supplied to the liquid reservoir 107 from the washing tank 103 via a liquid storage inlet 123. A pump 115 conveys contaminated washing liquid from the washing container 103 via an opened second valve 119 into a drain 129. By closing the second Valve 119 can be used to convey contaminated washing liquid from the washing container 103 with the pump 115 into the liquid storage device 107 via the liquid storage inlet 123. This is usually done with washing liquid from the last rinse cycle in order to keep the subsequent processing effort of the contaminated washing liquid as low as possible.

With the aid of a suitable controller (not shown), an excess of the amount of liquid contained in the liquid reservoir 107 compared to a certain amount of liquid to be processed in the washing tank 103 is conveyed into the drain 129 via the opened first valve 113, the washing tank 103 and the opened second valve 119. This makes it possible for only the amount of liquid actually required to remain in the liquid reservoir 107 and be able to be processed. With the circulation pump 111, the remaining contaminated liquid is transported from the liquid storage 107 to the processing device 109 as soon as the circuit 105 is in a closed state. In this state, the first valve 113 is in a closed state. By opening the first valve 113, the circulation pump 111 conveys the treated liquid via the inlet for the treated liquid 127 into the washing container 103, where it can be used in the main washing or rinsing cycle.

Alternatively, however, it would also be conceivable to use prepared liquid from the liquid reservoir 107 both in the main wash cycle and in the first rinse cycle. However, the fact that the requirements for the liquid quality in the first rinse cycle are higher than in the main wash cycle must be taken into account here. This would be feasible, for example, by first treating the entire volume of the contaminated liquid in the liquid reservoir 107 to a liquid quality required in the main wash cycle by means of the treatment device 109. In the following main wash cycle, the necessary amount of liquid with sufficient liquid quality could then be conveyed from the liquid store 107 into the wash tank 103, while the excess of the liquid remains in the liquid store 107. The remaining excess liquid could then be used up to a required one in the first rinse cycle - parallel to the main wash cycle Liquid quality are treated further to be used after the main wash.

The Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a household appliance 100 with a liquid reservoir 107, a preparation device 109 and an intermediate store 201. A repeated description of identical features of the preceding figure is omitted. The intermediate storage 201 is located with the circulation pump 111 and the processing device 109 in a closable circuit 105 Fig. 2 the liquid reservoir 107, wherein also the liquid reservoir 107 contaminated washing liquid can be supplied by means of the pump 115 from the washing tank 103 via a liquid storage inlet 123. A storage pump 203 conveys the amount of liquid to be treated, which is required in the washing container 103, from the liquid storage 107 into the intermediate storage 201, the excess or the remaining contaminated amount of liquid remaining in the liquid storage 107 and being available for a further washing or rinsing cycle of the household appliance 100. The liquid in the intermediate store 201 is processed in the closed state of the circuit 105 by the treatment device 109 and is conveyed into the washing tank 103 by opening the first valve 113 via the inlet for the treated liquid 127.

Both the representation from the Fig. 1 as well as the representation from the Fig. 2 , assume that the amount of liquid contained in the liquid reservoir 107 can be determined. This can be done for example by means of a pressure sensor or a level meter.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

household appliance

103

wash tank

104

determiner

105

circulation

107

liquid storage

109

conditioning device

111

Circulation pump

113

First valve

115

pump

117

heater

119

Second valve

121

Fresh water supply system

123

Liquid storage inlet

125

Fresh water supply

127

Inlet for treated liquid

129

outflow

201

cache

203

storage pump

Claims (15)

1. Household appliance (100) for treating laundry, comprising a washing container (103) for receiving the laundry, a measuring device (104) for measuring the quantity of laundry in the washing container (103); a liquid reservoir (107) for storing spent washing liquid from the washing container (103) and a processing device (109) for processing the spent washing liquid from the liquid reservoir (107) for a further wash cycle, wherein the household appliance (100) is designed, by means of the processing device (109), to process a quantity of spent washing liquid from the liquid reservoir (107) measured as a function of the quantity of laundry and to supply the processed quantity of liquid to the washing container (103) so that only that quantity of liquid from the liquid reservoir (107), which is required as a function of the quantity of laundry in the washing container (103), is processed.
2. Household appliance (100) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device (104) comprises a sensor to measure a volume of laundry.
3. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring device (104) is designed to undertake a measurement of the quantity of spent washing liquid to be processed on the basis of absorption characteristics of the laundry.
4. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (100) comprises a pump (115) for transporting spent washing liquid from the washing container (103) into the liquid reservoir (107).
5. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (100) is designed to drain away via a first valve (113) a surplus of the washing liquid contained in the liquid reservoir (107) compared to the quantity of liquid measured.
6. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (100) comprises a circulation pump (111) for transporting the measured quantity of liquid to the processing device (109) and for transporting the processed washing liquid to the washing container (103).
7. Household appliance for treating laundry according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the household appliance (100) includes an intermediate reservoir (201) into which the washing liquid to be processed is able to be transferred from the liquid reservoir (107), in order to treat the washing liquid to be processed with the processing device (109) and supply it to the washing container (103).
8. Household appliance for treating laundry according to claim 7, wherein the household appliance (100) includes a circulation pump (111), which is designed to convey the quantity of liquid to be processed to the processing device (109) and to supply the processed liquid to the washing container (103).
9. Household appliance for treating laundry according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the household appliance (100) includes a storage pump (203), which is designed to convey the quantity of liquid to be processed from the liquid reservoir (107) into the intermediate reservoir (201).
10. Method for operating a household appliance (100) for treatment of laundry in a washing container (103) and a liquid reservoir (107) for storing spent washing liquid from the washing container (103), characterised by the steps:

    - Measuring the quantity of laundry in the washing container (103) by means of a measuring device (104),

    - Measuring the quantity of liquid from the liquid reservoir (107) as a function of the quantity of laundry;

    - Processing of the measured quantity of liquid by a processing device (109), so that only that quantity of liquid from the liquid reservoir (107), which is required as a function of the quantity of laundry in the washing container (103), is processed and

    - Supplying the processed quantity of liquid to the washing container (103).
11. Method for operating a household appliance (100) according to claim 10, wherein the measuring of the quantity of laundry contained in the washing container (103) by the measuring device (104) is done with a sensor.
12. Method for operating a household appliance (100) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the measuring device (104) measures the quantity of liquid needed by measuring the absorption conditions of the laundry contained in the washing container (103).
13. Method for operating a household appliance (100) according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the household appliance (100) conveys spent washing liquid from the washing container (103) into the liquid reservoir (107) with a pump (115).
14. Method for operating a household appliance (100) according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the household appliance (100) drains off a surplus of the quantity of liquid contained in the liquid reservoir (107) compared to the quantity of liquid to be processed via a first valve (113).
15. Method for operating a household appliance (100) according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the household appliance (100) conveys the quantity of liquid to be processed from the liquid reservoir (107) into an intermediate reservoir (201) with a storage pump (203), treats the quantity of liquid to be processed with the processing device (109) and supplies it to the washing container (103).

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