EP3227486A1

EP3227486A1 - Laundry appliance having a deodorizing device

Info

Publication number: EP3227486A1
Application number: EP15770538.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Bräunlich; Ingo Schulze; Frieda Probst; Hartmut Schaub
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2014-12-03
Filing date: 2015-09-28
Publication date: 2017-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-28
Also published as: DE102014224728B3; CN107002336A; CN107002336B; WO2016087074A1; EP3227486B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry appliance (100) for treating laundry, wherein the laundry appliance (100) comprises a laundry drum (105) for accommodating laundry (115), also comprises a mist-generating device (107) for generating a water mist, further comprises a tub (103) for accommodating the water mist, and additionally comprises a deodorizing device (109) having an ozone-generating element (111) for generating ozone. The mist-generating device (107) is designed so that, during a first period of time, it generates a quantity of water mist and feeds this to the tub (103). The ozone-generating element (111) is designed so that, during a second period of time, which follows the first period of time, it generates a quantity of ozone and feeds this to the tub (103), in order to bring about an odour reduction in the tub (103). The deodorizing device (109) also comprises an additive-dispensing element (113), which is designed so that, during a third period of time, which follows the second period of time, it dispenses a quantity of the additive to the tub (103) by way of the mist-generating device (107), so that the additive is fed to the laundry (115) in the laundry drum (105).

Description

Laundry care appliance with a deodorizing device

The present invention relates to a laundry care apparatus having a deodorizing device comprising an ozone generating element for generating ozone and an additive discharging element for discharging an additive.

During a laundry care process in a laundry care appliance, such as e.g. a washing machine or a tumble dryer, the laundry to be cared for is cleaned or dried. Heavily soiled laundry can contain unpleasant-smelling odors that correspond to olfactory-perceived substances, ie substances that can be perceived by the sense of smell and that leave an unpleasant impression on the user's perception. For example, to remove offensive smelling odors during the laundry care process, various chemicals such as e.g. Ozone supplied to laundry to deactivate unpleasant-smelling odors.

DE 10 2012 209 21 1 A1 describes a water-conducting domestic appliance with a nebulizing device for atomizing water in a water tank and with a treatment gas generator for generating treatment gas. It is the object underlying the invention to provide a laundry care device in which an effective odor reduction of laundry is effected and an additive is effectively delivered to the laundry.

This object is achieved by articles having the features according to the independent claim. 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 laundry care apparatus for maintaining laundry, wherein the laundry care appliance comprises a laundry drum for receiving laundry, a mist generator for generating a water mist, and a deodorizer with an ozone generating element for generating ozone, wherein the mist generator is trained, generate a quantity of water mist in a first time period and supply it to the laundry drum, wherein the ozone generating element is designed to generate a quantity of ozone in a second period subsequent to the first time period and supply it to the laundry drum to effect an odor reduction of the laundry; and wherein the deodorizing device further comprises an additive discharge element configured to deliver an amount of an additive through the mist generator to the laundry drum in a third period subsequent to the second time period to supply the additive to the laundry. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the successive addition of the amount of ozone and the amount of the additive in the laundry drum effective odor reduction of the laundry to be cleaned in the laundry care device is achieved, and the additive can be delivered effectively to the laundry. In addition, by using ozone, a reduction in the germ load of the laundry can be achieved, whereby the temperature during a laundry care process can be reduced, since a further reduction of the germ load of the laundry by an elevated temperature is no longer necessarily required. As a result, the energy consumption of the laundry care process can be reduced.

By heavily soiling laundry, such as by contaminating the laundry with body sweat, the laundry may contain unpleasant-smelling odors. The treatment of the laundry to be treated with ozone has proved to be advantageous in the deactivation of odor-active substances. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent that can oxidize and deactivate odors, thereby achieving effective odor reduction in the laundry. Through the oxidation of unpleasant-smelling odors, the odorants are deactivated and can no longer be perceived by humans. As a result, the odors lose their unpleasant-smelling properties. However, the oxidation effect of ozone is not limited to unpleasant-smelling substances. Ozone also oxidizes and deactivates other positive-acting additives that are added by the user of the laundry care device. Additives, such as fragrances can be added during a laundry care process of the laundry in order to achieve a positive effect for the user, such as a positive aroma of the laundry.

For this reason, sequential addition of ozone and additives has been found to be advantageous. In a first period, a mist is generated by a mist generator and supplied to the laundry drum. As a result, there is a wetting of laundry located in the laundry drum. In a second period following the first period, a quantity of ozone is generated by the ozone generating element of the deodorizing device and supplied to the laundry drum. The supplied ozone can oxidize and thus deactivate odors in the laundry, thereby causing an odor reduction of the laundry. After the second period has ended, it may be advantageous to wait another period of time to achieve that ozone remaining in the laundry drum will decompose due to its instability at room temperature. The further period of time may depend on the half-life of ozone and may, in particular, be in the range of 5 minutes to 25 minutes.

In a third period subsequent to the second period, the amount of additive is released by the additive discharge element through the mist generator to the laundry drum. The generated amount of ozone may optionally be supplied to the laundry drum by a siphon, thereby allowing a continuous filling of the laundry drum with a mixture of water mist and the additive. As a result, an effective distribution of the additive is achieved with the water mist generated by the mist generator on the laundry. As a result, the odor-reduced laundry can be mixed with the additive without the additive being oxidized by any ozone remaining in the laundry drum and thus deactivated.

An additive may be any type of substance that is added by the user of the laundry care device in addition to the main care product. In a washing process, for example, the washing agent added by the user, as the main care product, has the effect of achieving a cleansing of the laundry to be nourished. The additive is added by the user in addition to the detergent during the laundry process to achieve another effect. Of the The additive may comprise various flavorings or fragrances, so that the laundry after the laundry care process has a pleasant smell for the user of the laundry care appliance. The perfume may be a liquid or gaseous perfume, such as lavender flavor or other flavoring agents. The additive may comprise other substances, such as an impregnating agent, in order to achieve an impregnation of laundry after the laundry care process. The additive may comprise a bleaching, disinfecting, coloring, or coating agent, or any other type of agent added in addition to the main care agent during the laundry care process. A corresponding treatment of the laundry to be cared for with ozone and with an additive can be carried out before, during or after a conventional laundry care operation with moist or dry laundry in the laundry drum.

Thus, an effective odor reduction of the laundry after the laundry care process can be achieved, and after the odor reduction, an additive to the laundry are supplied without the additive is deactivated by remaining in the laundry drum ozone.

A laundry care device is understood to mean a device which is used for laundry care, such as a washing machine or a tumble dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood as a household laundry care appliance. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of household management, and is treated with the laundry in normal household quantities. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the ozone generating element is designed to supply the generated amount of ozone through the mist production device to the laundry drum as an ozone-containing water mist. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that an ozone-containing water mist is generated by the introduction of ozone in the water mist generated by the mist generator, which can be absorbed by the laundry, thereby the odor of the laundry can be effectively reduced because ozone as Ozone- Water mixture or as an ozone-water mist mixture can be effectively absorbed by the laundry. Thus unpleasant-smelling odors can be deactivated not only in the laundry drum itself, but also directly in the laundry, eg directly on the laundry fibers. Thus, an effective odor reduction of the laundry is effected in the laundry drum.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the ozone generating element is designed to supply the amount of ozone by an ozone line of the laundry drum as an ozone-air mixture. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an odor reduction of the laundry is achieved even with dry laundry by the introduction of ozone in the laundry drum as ozone-air mixture, which can be dispensed with the implementation of an unnecessary washing with washing liquor. If the laundry has only unpleasant odors, but does not require intensive cleaning, then the laundry to be cared for can be added to the laundry drum in a dry state. The mist generator is configured to generate a quantity of water mist which is supplied to the laundry. The ozone-air mixture can be supplied as gas through the ozone line of the laundry drum. Thus, an effective odor reduction of the laundry in the laundry drum is effected without having to perform a laundry process with a washing process.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the ozone generating element is designed to generate the amount of ozone under the action of UV light or by dielectrophoresis.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the generation of a constant amount of ozone over a longer period can be ensured by the generation of ozone by dielectrophoresis or by UV light. In a dielectrophoresis-based ozone generating element, ozone is generated from molecular oxygen as part of a silent electrical discharge by two electrodes of opposite charge. In an advantageous embodiment, ozone is produced by dielectrophoresis. By electrophoresis ozone can be produced with little effort and with an ozone concentration of between 3% by volume and 6% by volume. By doing Ozone generating element in which ozone is generated under the action of ultraviolet light, ozone is generated from molecular oxygen by the action of ultraviolet light. In UV-based ozone generating elements, ozone can be produced at a concentration of between 0.5% by volume and 1% by volume. Thus, by means of an ultraviolet light or dielectrophoresis based ozone generating element, the amount of ozone can be generated to effect effective odor reduction in the laundry to be nourished.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device comprises an ozone removal device, wherein the ozone removal device is designed to remove a further amount of ozone in the laundry care device.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that is prevented by the ozone removal device that remains after the odor reduction of the laundry excess ozone in the laundry care device, which can deactivate a subsequently added additive. The ozone removing device may comprise an activated carbon filter by which the further amount of ozone in the laundry care device may be deactivated, e.g. by conversion of ozone into carbon dioxide. Alternatively, excess ozone can also be removed from the laundry care appliance by the ozone removal device. The ozone eliminator, e.g. the activated carbon filter can be controlled so that the further amount of ozone, or the excess ozone, after completion of the ozone treatment of the laundry is removed from the laundry care device. This is particularly advantageous when the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating element exceeds the amount of ozone really needed for the laundry care process. By using the ozone removing device, the additional amount of excess ozone can be removed from the laundry care device. Thereby, an effective odor reduction of the laundry in the laundry drum can be achieved without causing a deactivation of the subsequently added additive.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the ozone removal device is designed to remove the further amount of ozone after the second period has ended in the laundry care device. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that is achieved by a timely controlled removal of excess ozone by the ozone removal device, a dosage of ozone concentration in the laundry care device with respect to the really required amount of ozone in the laundry care device. This ensures that in the second period, an amount of ozone is present in the laundry drum to effect an effective odor reduction of the laundry. On the other hand, after an effective odor reduction of the laundry, so after completion of the second period, the ozone concentration can be greatly reduced, or the ozone can be completely removed from the laundry drum. This ensures that the added in the third period additive is not deactivated by remaining ozone, or that there is no damage to the laundry fibers or the user by ozone. An ozone eliminator may include an activated carbon filter that converts ozone to carbon dioxide. An ozone eliminator may comprise a suitable catalyst, eg made of copper or manganese, to remove ozone. An ozone removing device may comprise a heating element by which the ozone-enriched air is heated to a high temperature, such as 300 ° C, thereby accelerating the decomposition of ozone. Thus, by the targeted removal of ozone after the second period has ended, an effective odor reduction of the laundry is achieved, and a subsequent addition of the additive to the laundry is made possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a controller and a valve, wherein the controller is designed to determine the amount of the additive, and wherein the controller is designed to control the valve such that the determined amount of the additive through the Mist generation device is delivered to the laundry drum.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that is achieved by the controller and the valve, that the additive is delivered in the advantageous amount and at an advantageous time to the laundry. It has proved to be advantageous that the additive is added only after the end of the second period in order to prevent the additive from remaining in the laundry drum ozone is deactivated. Thus, the valve can be controlled by the controller such that the additive is added only after the second period has ended. In addition, the controller may be configured to determine the amount of additive required. The determination of the amount of additive required may depend on the amount of laundry or type of laundry or the laundry care program selected by the user. Thus, an advantageous dosage of the amount of additive is achieved by the controller and by the valve. As a result, after the odor reduction of the laundry, the required amount of the additive can be released to the laundry. In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the valve is designed as a three-way valve, wherein the three-way valve is connected to the additive delivery element through a first section of a supply line, with the mist production device through a second section of the supply line, and with a water supply device through a third section of the supply line wherein the three-way valve is configured, in a first valve setting, the amount of the additive through the first portion and the second portion of the supply line of the mist generator and in a second valve setting a quantity of water from the water supply means through the third portion and the second portion of the supply Supply mist generating device.

This achieves the technical advantage that either the amount of water from the water supply device or the amount of additive from the additive discharge element can be supplied by the three-way valve depending on the period of the laundry care process of the laundry by the mist generator. During the first period, the mist generator needs water to produce a mist of water. The required amount of water is provided by the water supply device and directed to the mist production device through the three-way valve. The three-way valve ensures that only water is supplied to the mist generator in the first period and no additive is discharged from the additive discharge member to the mist generator in the first period. This prevents the additive from being deactivated by ozone in the second period following the first period. After completion of the second period and by the ozone caused odor reduction of the laundry, the three-way valve in a subsequent to the second period third period, the amount of additive from the additive delivery element through the mist generator to the laundry. Thus, by the regulation of the addition of water and additive in the respective periods by the three-way valve effective odor reduction of the laundry and an adjoining effective addition of additive to the laundry causes.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a further additive dispensing element, which is designed to deliver a quantity of a further additive through an air channel to the laundry drum.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that can be supplied by the use of the further additive delivery element of the further additive of the laundry in the laundry drum. For example, the first additive may be a fragrance to provide the laundry with a pleasant fragrance, while the other additive, e.g. an impregnating agent, in order to effectively impregnate the laundry items. The delivery of the additional additive to the laundry drum through the air duct has the advantage that the additional additive can be dispensed directly to the laundry drum, and must not be passed through the mist generator. This type of dispensing is advantageous when the half-life of the further additive is low, and therefore must be quickly supplied to the laundry, or if the further additive is not suitable to be delivered as an additive-containing water mist to the laundry drum. Thus, by the use of the further additive delivery element and the supply of the further additive through the air duct, an effective delivery of all the required additives to the laundry can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the further additive dispensing element comprises an exchangeable cartridge.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that is achieved by using a replaceable cartridge as another additive delivery element that the user of the laundry care device can flexibly exchange the additional additive used depending on the laundry care process. For strongly smelling laundry, another cartridge with a different additive can be used, for example, for weakly smelling laundry items. The cartridge may be configured to be replaced after one or more laundry processes, and may be reused after replacement. The cartridge can be designed to store the additional additive used in a stable form over a longer period of time and to release the further additive when dispensed in an active form, so that the further additive achieves a beneficial effect in the laundry to be cared for. By using a replaceable cartridge, the effective delivery of all required additives to the laundry can be ensured.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device comprises a load detection device for detecting a laundry or laundry type in the laundry drum and a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to determine a time interval of ozone generation depending on the detected laundry load or laundry type, and wherein the ozone generating element is designed to generate the amount of ozone in the specific time interval. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by detecting the amount of laundry or laundry of the laundry in the laundry drum by the load detecting means, the advantageous amount of ozone can be determined by the controller and generated by the ozone generating element to effect an effective odor reduction of the laundry to be cleaned.

The type of laundry to be cleaned influences the required amount of ozone. In a type of laundry that has a large surface area, such as towels, a large amount of ozone is needed to effect effective odor reduction of the laundry items. As another example, used here are pieces of laundry with cotton fibers, which have a large surface area and therefore can bind a large amount of ozone. Accordingly, when using laundry with cotton fibers, a larger amount of ozone must be supplied to the laundry drum than is the case with conventional laundry fibers. For a type of laundry, which is a small Ozone, such as polyester fibers, a small amount of ozone is needed to reduce odors. Thus, by detecting the amount of laundry or type of laundry, accurate determination and generation of the required amount of ozone is achieved, thereby effecting effective odor reduction of the laundry in the laundry drum.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the additive dispensing element is designed to determine the amount of at least one additive as a function of the detected laundry load or type of laundry, wherein the additive dispensing element is designed to deliver the determined quantity of at least one additive to the laundry drum.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by the detection of the amount of laundry or the type of laundry, the amount of additive dispensed by the additive delivery element can be adapted to the amount of additive really required. The amount of additive really needed depends on the amount of laundry or type of laundry. A larger amount of laundry correlates with a larger amount of the required additive. Also, depending on the type of laundry, a larger or smaller amount of the additive is needed. Thus, by detecting the amount of laundry or type of laundry by the load detecting means, the really required amount of the additive can be delivered to the laundry.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device comprises a level sensor, a flow sensor and a controller, wherein the level sensor is adapted to detect a level of water or wash liquor in the tub, wherein the flow sensor is formed, a flow rate of water or wash liquor a water or wash liquor feed line in a further time interval, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected level and in dependence on the detected flow rate, and wherein the ozone generating element is formed, the predetermined amount of ozone depending on the detected level and depending on the detected flow rate. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the detected by the level sensor amount of water or wash liquor in the tub correlated with the laundry load or the type of laundry. With a full load of the laundry drum with laundry a larger amount of wash liquor is absorbed by the laundry, as if only a small amount of laundry in the laundry drum is present. Likewise, the level of water in the tub is dependent on the type of laundry laundry. If an absorbent laundry type is present in the laundry drum, then a larger amount of water is absorbed through the laundry than when a low-speed laundry type is used. By a flow sensor in a water or washing liquor supply line, the flow velocity can be detected in a time interval and thereby closed in the time interval to the amount of water supplied to the tub. By using the level sensor and the flow sensor, the amount of ozone required for the cleaning process can thus be generated by the ozone generating element and fed to the laundry drum, whereby an effective odor reduction of the laundry is achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises an ozone sensor and a controller, wherein the ozone sensor is designed to detect an ozone concentration value in the laundry drum, wherein the controller is designed to determine the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected ozone concentration value, and wherein the ozone generating element is configured to generate the predetermined amount of ozone depending on the detected ozone concentration. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by using the controller and the ozone sensor, the ozone concentration value in the laundry drum can be determined and thereby the generation and addition of a favorable amount of ozone to the laundry in the laundry drum can be ensured by the ozone discharge member. The ozone sensor enables the direct transfer of the detected ozone concentration value in the laundry drum to the ozone generating element. The ozone generating element can thus respond without delay and automatically to a too low or too high ozone concentration value in the laundry drum, and the production of ozone increase or decrease. By setting the advantageous ozone concentration value in the laundry drum, an effective odor reduction of laundry in the laundry drum can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises an additive sensor and a controller, wherein the additive sensor is configured to detect an additive concentration value in the laundry drum, wherein the controller is configured to determine the amount of additive as a function of the detected additive concentration value, and wherein the additive delivery member is adapted to deliver the determined amount of additive to the laundry drum depending on the detected additive concentration.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that can be detected by the use of the additive sensor, the additive concentration value in the laundry drum, and thereby the amount of additive can be determined and delivered to the laundry drum to achieve an advantageous distribution of the additive on the laundry , The additive sensor allows for the direct transfer of the detected additive concentration value to the additive delivery element. The additive delivery element can thus react without delay and automatically to a too low or too high additive concentration value in the laundry drum, and increase or reduce the delivery rate of the additive. By adjusting the beneficial additive concentration value in the laundry drum, effective addition of the additive to the laundry in the laundry drum can be achieved.

Further embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a laundry care device; and Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a deodorizing device in a laundry care device.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a general laundry care appliance 100, such as e.g. a washing machine. In the case of a washing machine, the laundry care device 100 may include a reservoir 101 into which detergent or other liquid substances may be introduced. The washing liquor required for the laundry care process is formed when water is supplied to the storage container 101 and mixes there with the detergent or with the other liquid substances. The interior of the laundry care device 100 optionally includes a tub 103 in which the generated wash liquor is received. A lot of laundry may be introduced into a laundry drum 105 which is at least partially inserted into the optional tub 103.

The laundry care device 100 comprises a mist production device 107, which is designed to generate a water mist. For this purpose, water is introduced into the mist generator 107 and is passed through an element of the mist generator 107, e.g. by an ultrasonic atomizer, which may comprise, for example, a piezoelectric crystal, fine drops of water are generated, through which a mist of water droplets is formed.

The laundry care apparatus 100 may further comprise a deodorizing device 109 having an ozone generating element 11 and having an additive dispensing element 13. The ozone generating element 1 1 1 and the additive delivery element 1 13 may be arranged both in contact or separately in the deodorizing device 109.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a deodorizing device 109 in a laundry care device 100, such as e.g. a washing machine, with a tub 103, with a rotatably mounted laundry drum 105 for receiving laundry 1 15, and with a sleeve 1 17 in the tub 103.

In Fig. 2, a circulatory system for deodorizing laundry 1 15 is shown. In a first step, air from the tub 103 via an air line 1 19 to a Ozone eliminator 121 passed. The ozone eliminator 121 may include an activated carbon filter that removes ozone in the air, for example, by deactivating by conversion to carbon dioxide. In addition, the ozone removing device 121 may be configured to remove ozone and other odorants from the laundry care device 100. The ozone eliminator 121 may be in contact with the outside air through an opening portion 123, thereby enabling air exchange with the environment. The cleaned air is then fed through a fan feed line 125 to a fan 127 which supplies the air via a fan discharge line 129 to the ozone generating element 11. The ozone generating element 11 1 generates an amount of ozone and supplies the generated ozone through an ozone supply line 131 to the mist generator 107 to obtain a quantity of ozone-containing water mist.

The amount of ozone generated may be determined depending on the laundry load, the type of laundry or the odor load on the laundry. For loading, laundry, and odor-dependent ozone treatment, existing metering systems may be provided in the laundry care device 100, such as e.g. Flow, pressure, odor or ozone sensors are used. Alternatively, offline determined ozone concentration curves can be used to determine an advantageous amount of ozone, which is generated by the ozone generating element 1 1 1. The advantageous amount of ozone is supplied to the tub 103 from the mist generator 107 through a water mist supply line 133, and the supply of ozone into the tub 103 is controlled by a supply valve 135. The ozone generating element 1 1 1 includes conventional ozone generators capable of generating gaseous ozone, such as an ozone generator, which generates ozone by dielectrophoresis. The ozone generating element 1 1 1 may deliver the generated ozone as an ozone-air mixture to the mist generator 107 to obtain an ozone-water mist mixture.

The mist generator 107 supplies the ozone-containing water mist to the tub 103, so that the ozone contains the odorous substances in the tub 103 oxidize and thus disable it. Thereby, an effective reduction of unwanted odors in the laundry 1 15 causes.

In a third period subsequent to the second period, an amount of an additive is supplied through an additive discharge member 13 through a supply pipe 137 to the mist generator 107, thereby forming a mixture of additive and water mist. The mixture of additive and water mist is supplied to the tub 103 via the water mist supply line 133. The additive may e.g. a fragrance to provide the laundry 1 15 with a fragrance. As a result, a pleasant smell of the laundry 15 is achieved for the user of the laundry care device 100. The additive may comprise any substance which causes a user-desired effect in the cleaning of the laundry 1 15.

The supply line 137 includes a three-way valve 139 which is connected to the additive discharge element 1 13 through a first portion 141 of the supply line 137, and which is connected to the mist generator 107 through a second portion 143 of the supply line 137. The three-way valve 139 is connected to a water supply device 147 through a third section 145 of the supply line 137.

In a first valve setting of the three-way valve 139, an additive amount may be supplied from the additive discharge member 1 13 through the first portion 141 and through the second portion 143 to the supply line 137 of the mist generator 107.

In a second valve setting of the three-way valve 139, an amount of water may be supplied from the water supply device 147 through the third section 145 and through the second section 143 to the supply line 137 to the mist generator 107.

Alternatively, the deodorizing device 109 may comprise a further additive dispensing element, which supplies a further additive to the tub 103 through a further separate air line. For this purpose, the further additive delivery element can be integrated into the further separate air line. The further additive delivery element may comprise a cartridge through which a desired additional additive is supplied to the tub 103. The cartridge can be designed as an exchangeable cartridge, through which a fragrance desired for the user can be introduced into the laundry 1 15 in the tub 103.

In order to prevent excess ozone in the tub 103 from deactivating the additive, the excess ozone may be removed by the ozone eliminator 121.

By the successive supply of ozone by the ozone generating element 1 1 1 and the additive by the additive delivery element 1 13 to the laundry 1 15 in the tub 103 effective reduction of unpleasant odors is effected and then an additive of the laundry 1 15 fed.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 laundry care device

101 storage tank

103 tubs

105 laundry drum

107 Mist Generator

109 deodoriser

1 1 1 ozone generating element

1 13 additive delivery element

1 15 laundry

1 17 cuff

1 19 Air line

121 Ozone removal device

123 opening section

125 fan supply line

127 fans

129 fan discharge

131 ozone supply

133 Water mist supply line

135 supply valve

137 supply line

139 three-way valve

141 First section of the supply line

143 Second section of the supply line

145 Third section of the supply line

147 water supply device

Claims

A laundry care apparatus (100) for maintaining laundry, wherein the laundry care apparatus (100) comprises a laundry drum (105) for receiving laundry (15), a mist generator (107) for generating a water mist, and a deodoriser (109) having an ozone generating element (1 1 1) for generating ozone, characterized in that

the mist generation device (107) is designed to generate a quantity of water mist in a first time period and to supply it to the laundry drum (105)

the ozone generating element (1 1 1) is adapted to generate a quantity of ozone in a second period subsequent to the first period and to supply it to the laundry drum (105) in order to effect an odor reduction of the laundry;

the deodorizing device (109) further comprises an additive discharge element (1 13) configured to deliver an amount of an additive through the mist generator (107) to the laundry drum (105) in a third period subsequent to the second time period to produce the additive of To feed laundry (1 15).

Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Ozone generating element (1 1 1) is designed to supply the generated amount of ozone by the mist generator (107) of the laundry drum (105) as an ozone-containing water mist.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Ozone generating element (1 1 1) is adapted to supply the amount of ozone by an ozone line of the laundry drum (105) as an ozone-air mixture.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ozone generating element (1 1 1) is formed, the Amount of ozone under the action of UV light or by dielectrophoresis.

5. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) comprises an ozone removal device (121), and that

the ozone removing device (121) is adapted to remove a further amount of ozone in the laundry care device (100).

6. laundry care device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that

the ozone removing means (121) is adapted to remove the further amount of ozone after completion of the second period in the laundry care apparatus (100).

7. laundry-care device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry-care device (100) comprises a controller and a valve that

the controller is adapted to determine the amount of the additive, and that

the controller is configured to control the valve such that the determined amount of the additive is delivered to the laundry drum (105) by the mist generator (107).

8. laundry care device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the valve is designed as a three-way valve (139), and that

the three-way valve (139) with the additive discharge element (1 13) through a first portion (141) of a supply line (137), with the mist generator (107) through a second portion (143) of the supply line (137), and with a water supply means (147 ) is connected by a third section (145) of the supply line (137), wherein

the three-way valve (139) is formed, in a first valve setting, the amount of the additive through the first portion (141) and the second portion (143) of the supply line (137) of the mist generator (107) and in a second valve setting a quantity of water from of the Water supply direction (147) through the third portion (145) and the second portion (143) of the supply line (137) of the mist generator (107) supply.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a further additive delivery element which is designed to deliver an amount of a further additive through an air duct to the laundry drum (105).

Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the further additive delivery element comprises a replaceable cartridge.

The laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) comprises a load detection device for detecting a laundry or laundry type in the laundry drum (105) and a controller, wherein the controller is formed, a time interval of the ozone generation in dependence determine from the detected laundry load or type of laundry, and that

the ozone generating element (1 1 1) is adapted to generate the amount of ozone in the predetermined time interval.

The laundry care device (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the controller is configured to determine the amount of at least one additive as a function of the detected laundry load or type of laundry, and that

the additive delivery member (1 13) is adapted to deliver the predetermined amount of at least one additive to the laundry drum (105).

13. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) comprises a level sensor, a flow sensor, and a controller that the level sensor is adapted to detect a level of water or wash liquor in the tub (103) that

the flow sensor is designed to detect a flow velocity of water or wash liquor in a water or wash liquor feed line in a further time interval

the controller is designed to determine the amount of ozone as a function of the detected fill level and as a function of the detected flow velocity, and that

the ozone generating element (1 1 1) is adapted to generate the specific amount of ozone in dependence on the detected level and in dependence on the detected flow rate.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises an ozone sensor and a controller that

the ozone sensor is configured to detect an ozone concentration value in the laundry drum (105)

the controller is configured to determine the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected ozone concentration value, and that

the ozone generating element (1 1 1) is adapted to generate the predetermined amount of ozone in dependence on the detected ozone concentration.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises an additive sensor and a controller that

the additive sensor is configured to detect an additive concentration value in the laundry drum (105)

the controller is configured to determine the amount of additive as a function of the detected additive concentration value, and that

the additive delivery element (1 13) is adapted to deliver the determined amount of additive to the laundry drum (103) as a function of the detected additive concentration.