EP3258003A1 - Laundry treatment device with illumination - Google Patents

Abstract

A washer or dryer is described which has a process room that can be illuminated. For illuminating the process space at least one light source (32) is provided. This throws light from outside on a wall (18) of the process space, and in the illuminated area (40), this wall (18) is designed so that it transmits at least a portion of this light. At the same time, however, the wall is optically diffuse.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a laundry treatment device with illuminated process space.

background

In principle, it is known to provide laundry treatment devices, such as dryers and washing machines, with a lighting. This facilitates access to the laundry, especially if the device is used in a poorly lit room.

The arrangement of a light source in such devices is structurally not easy and associated with considerable costs.

Presentation of the invention

It is therefore the object to provide a laundry treatment device of the type mentioned, which is structurally simple.

This object is achieved by the laundry treatment device according to claim 1.

• Eine drehbare Trommel: Diese Trommel dient zur Aufnahme der Wäsche. Sie ist um eine vorzugsweise im Wesentlichen horizontale Drehachse drehbar, die vorliegende Erfindung kann jedoch auch bei Geräten mit vertikaler oder schräger Drehachse eingesetzt werden.
  • Eine Benutzertüre: Über diese Türe kann der Benutzer auf den Innenraum der Trommel zugreifen.
  • Einen Prozessbehälter: Der Prozessbehälter bildet zusammen mit der Benutzertüre einen Prozessraum. Abhängig davon, ob es sich bei der Wäschebehandlungsvorrichtung um eine Waschmaschine oder einen Wäschetrockner handelt, weist der Prozessbehälter unterschiedliche Komponenten auf:
    1. a) Ist die Wäschebehandlungsvorrichtung eine Waschmaschine, weist der Prozessbehälter einen Bottich auf, welcher die Trommel umgibt und zur Aufnahme von Prozesswasser ausgestaltet ist.
    2. b) Ist die Wäschebehandlungsvorrichtung ein Wäschetrockner, weist der Prozessbehälter die Trommel sowie einen sich zwischen der Trommel und der Benutzertüre erstreckenden Wandabschnitt auf.
  • Mindestens eine Lichtquelle: Diese dient der Beleuchtung des Prozessraums.

Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus has the following components:

• A rotatable drum: This drum is used to hold the laundry. It is rotatable about a preferably substantially horizontal axis of rotation, but the present invention can also be used in devices with a vertical or oblique axis of rotation.
  • A user door: This door allows the user to access the interior of the drum.
  • A process container: The process container forms a process room together with the user door. Depending on whether the laundry treatment device is a washing machine or a tumble dryer, the process container has different components:
    1. a) If the laundry treatment device is a washing machine, the process container has a tub, which surrounds the drum and is designed to receive process water.
    2. b) If the laundry treatment device is a tumble dryer, the process container has the drum and a wall section extending between the drum and the user door.
  • At least one light source: This serves to illuminate the process room.

In this case, the light source is arranged outside the process container, and the process container has a light transmittance of at least 10%, in particular at least 30%, in the area illuminated by the light source.

The "area illuminated by the light source" is to be understood as that area of the process container in which the light intensity lies between a maximum light intensity and at least 50% of this maximum light intensity during operation of the light source. In other words, it is the (within this range) the brightest illuminated area of the process container.

The described arrangement of the light source outside the process container, the construction of the device is simplified.

For example, a breakthrough in the illuminated area can be dispensed with in the process container. In other words, the wall of the process container in the illuminated area is thus continuous. A breakthrough in which, for example, a window or a light guide would be used would be associated with additional costs. Further, a breakthrough would require an additional seal which prevents the medium (eg, water, humid air) from leaking out of the process container. This additional seal is a potential source of defect.

It is not necessary that the process container in the illuminated area is optically transparent. It is sufficient if it is optically diffuse (this term is defined below). Thus, for the process container conventional, inexpensive materials come into question, such as diffuse plastic.

If the laundry treatment device is a washing machine, then the illuminated area is advantageously located on the tub, and in particular on a lateral surface of the tub, i. on an outer surface of the tub which extends essentially parallel to the axis of rotation.

In a washing machine, at least three light sources are advantageously arranged in different azimuthal positions on the tub, in particular distributed over an angular range of at least 30 °, in particular at least 60 °. Thereby, a complete or strong shading of the light due to the passing ribs of the drum can be avoided.

If the laundry treatment device is a clothes dryer, the illuminated area is advantageously formed by that part of the wall of the process container which extends between the drum and the user door. This allows the drum to be made of any material, especially metal, as in conventional equipment. Only the mentioned wall must be sufficiently translucent.

In general, the laundry treatment device further has a controller which controls the components of the device and in particular the light source. In this case, the controller can be configured such that it switches on the light source during the treatment of the laundry, ie the light source is not or not only activated before or after the laundry treatment. In this way, the user can be given insight into the process, and / or information about the light source can be communicated to the user, for example concerning the operating status of the laundry treatment device.

Furthermore, the controller can also be designed to periodically switch the light source on and off, whereby additional information can be transmitted or optical effects can be generated.

In particular, for example, the frequency of the periodic switching on and off of the light source can differ from the rotational frequency of the drum by at most 10%, in particular by at most 1%. In this case, a quasi-standing or slow-moving image of the laundry in process space is created for the user, which is e.g. allows a closer monitoring of the process.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 einen Schnitt durch eine Waschmaschine,
• Fig. 2 einen Schnitt entlang Linie II-II von Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 einen Schnitt durch die Beleuchtung und die angrenzende Bottichwand,
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt durch einen Wäschetrockner,
• Fig. 5 einen Schnitt durch die Beleuchtung und die angrenzende Wand des Prozessbehälters des Wäschetrockners nach Fig. 4 und
• Fig. 6 eine alternative Ausführung der Lichtquelle an der Wand des Prozessbehälters.

Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the following description with reference to FIGS. Showing:

• Fig. 1 a section through a washing machine,
• Fig. 2 a section along line II-II of Fig. 1 .
• Fig. 3 a section through the lighting and the adjacent tub wall,
• Fig. 4 a section through a tumble dryer,
• Fig. 5 a section through the lighting and the adjacent wall of the process container of the tumble dryer after Fig. 4 and
• Fig. 6 an alternative embodiment of the light source on the wall of the process container.

Ways to carry out the invention definitions:

A body is said to be optically diffuse if it diffuses at least 50%, in particular at least 80%, of the light originating from the light source and transmitted through the body. In a preferred variant of the invention, the term diffuse is understood to mean that the predominant part of the scattering is to structures having a size of less than 100 μm, preferably to local inhomogeneities in the optical properties of the body.

The process container is convex in one area when it is curved outward (seen from the interior).

Washing machine:

The washing machine according to Fig. 1 and 2 has a stationary housing 10 in which a tub 11 is arranged. The tub 11 is held with a suitable suspension 12 elastically deflectable in the housing 10. In the tub 11, a drum 14 is arranged, which is rotatably mounted about a, for example horizontal, axis of rotation 15. The drum 14 can be rotated about the axis of rotation 15 with a drive motor 16 via a belt 17. Towards the front, the tub 11 is closed by a user door 16.

Vat 11 and user door 16 together form a process space. This is substantially waterproof except for (not shown) supply and Wegfuhrleitungen for the process water.

Vat 11 has a cylindrical lateral surface 18 concentric with the axis of rotation 15 and a rear wall 19, which is advantageously approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation 15.

Vat 11 is advantageously made predominantly of plastic, for example in the form of two half-shells, which are interconnected in the middle.

Drum 14 advantageously has a likewise cylindrical jacket 20 and a rear wall 21 which is advantageously perpendicular to the axis of rotation 15. These parts can be made of metal, for example.

The cylindrical shell 20 of the drum 14 has a plurality of perforations through which water can flow radially into and out of the drum 14.

On the lateral surface of the drum 14, drivers 24 can be arranged in a manner known per se in order to move the laundry located in the drum 14.

The device according to Fig. 1 and 2 also has a controller 30, with which the functions of the device can be controlled in a conventional manner.

On the tub 11 are further e.g. arranged three light sources 32, which serve to throw light into the interior of the drum 14.

Each of these light sources 32 is arranged on the lateral surface 18 of the tub 11. The exact structure is over Fig. 3 seen.

The light source 32 has a holder 34, which is suitably connected to the tub 11, for example by gluing, screwing or otherwise.

Further, a holder 36 mounted on the carrier 36 is provided, which may be configured for example as a metal plate and also serves as a heat sink. On the support 36, a row of LEDs is attached as lights 38, which are aligned so that their light falls on the outer wall of the tub 11. There it defines an illuminated area 40 on the wall 18.

The tub 11 is translucent at least in the illuminated area 40, and preferably also beyond this area.

As mentioned above, the light transmittance of the wall of the tub 11 in the illuminated area 40 for the visible light from the light source 32 is advantageously at least 10%, in particular at least 30%. However, it is not necessary that the wall of the tub 11 is transparent. It can also be optically diffuse.

In a preferred embodiment, the tub 11 or the process container in the illuminated area 40 consists predominantly of plastic, such as polypropylene. Alternatively or in particular, the process container is made of a glass fiber reinforced plastic, such as e.g. made of polypropylene with a 40% glass fiber reinforcement.

Such a material has a relatively low optical absorption, so that a large part of the light from the light source 32 can get into the interior of the tub.

Advantageously, the whole tub 11 is made of plastic.

The thickness of the tub 11 or the process container in the illuminated area 40 is advantageously between 0.5 and 5 millimeters.

The light passing through the jacket 18 of the tub 11 strikes the outside of the drum 14 and can there through the perforations in the drum shell 20, ie through the openings 44 of Fig. 3 , enter the interior of the drum 14 to illuminate the laundry.

Advantageously, a plurality of light sources 32 are distributed over the circumference of the tub 11, in different, with respect to the axis of rotation 15 azimuthal positions, as in Fig. 2 is shown. Preferably, they are distributed over an azimuthal angular range α of at least 30 °, in particular of at least 60 °. In this way it can be ensured that only a minority of the light sources 32 can be shaded by one of the drivers 24.

dryer:

Fig. 4 shows a clothes dryer, which has a stationary housing 50. In the housing 50, a drum 54 is rotatably disposed about a rotation axis 52. Towards the user, the drum 54 is closed by a user door 56, via which the user can access the interior of the drum 54 in order to load it with laundry or to remove it from laundry.

Next, the clothes dryer according to Figure 4 in a known manner means to guide dry air through the drum 54. These funds are in Fig. 4 not shown.

Between the drum 54 and the user door 56 there is a stationary, i. wall portion 58 which does not rotate with the drum 54 and which extends substantially vertically in the embodiment shown.

The drum 54, the wall portion 58 and the user door 56 together form a process space which encloses the laundry to be dried.

In the device shown, the light source 32 is arranged on the wall section 58.

The exact structure of the light source with the adjacent wall portion 58 results from Fig. 5 and essentially corresponds to that according to Fig. 3 in that the light source 32 has a holder 34 which is suitably connected to the wall portion 58, for example by gluing, screwing or otherwise.

Further, a support 36 mounted on the holder 36 is provided, which may be configured for example as a metal plate and serve as a heat sink. On the support 36, a row of LEDs are attached as lights 38, which are aligned so that their light falls on the wall portion 58. There it defines an illuminated area 40 on the wall portion 58.

The wall section 58 is translucent at least in the illuminated region 40, and preferably also beyond this region.

As mentioned above, the light transmittance of the wall portion 58 in the visible light illuminated area 40 from the light source 32 is advantageously at least 10%, more preferably at least 30%. However, it is not necessary that the wall portion 58 is transparent. It can also be optically diffuse.

Business:

The lighting for the washing machine or the tumble dryer according to the embodiments described above can be used to illuminate the process space during loading and / or unloading.

However, the controller 30 may also be configured to turn on the light source (s) 32 during the treatment of the laundry, particularly when the user door 16 or 56 is transparent.

• Die Steuerung 30 kann in einem vorgegebenen Zeitraum vor dem Ende eines Prozesses die Lichtquelle(n) 32 einschalten, um dem Benutzer das bevorstehende Prozessende mitzuteilen. Beispielsweise kann die Steuerung 30 die Lichtquelle(n) eine Minute vor Prozessende einschalten.
• Die Steuerung 30 kann die Lichtquelle(n) 32 auch zu Beginn eines Prozesses, d.h. des Betriebs, eingeschaltet lassen, insbesondere während mindestens 30 Sekunden, besonderes während mindestens 60 Sekunden, sodass der Benutzer am Anfang des Prozesses bzw. des Betriebs diesen visuell überwachen kann, beispielsweise um eine Fehlbeladung zu entdecken.
• Die Steuerung 30 kann die Lichtquelle(n) 32 auch beim Vorliegen eines Fehlerzustands einschalten.
• Die Steuerung 30 kann die Lichtquelle(n) 32 periodisch ein- und ausschalten. Dies kann beispielsweise als Warnblinken bei Detektion eines Fehlerzustands verwendet werden. Es kann jedoch auch dazu verwendet werden, spezielle optische Effekte zu erzielen, nämlich dann, wenn die Frequenz des periodischen Ein- und Ausschaltens der Lichtquelle abhängig von der Drehfrequenz der Trommel 14 bzw. 54 gewählt wird. In diesem Fall kann durch Synchronisierung von Trommelbewegung und Lichtpulsen für den Benutzer ein markanter optischer Effekt erzeugt werden. Beispielsweise, und wie bereits erwähnt, kann die Frequenz des periodischen Ein- und Ausschaltens der Lichtquelle sich von der Drehfrequenz der Trommel um höchstens 10%, insbesondere um höchstens 1%, unterscheiden, in welchem Falle in einer Art Stroboskop-Effekt ein stehendes oder langsam laufendes Bild der Trommel und der Wäsche erzeugt werden kann, insbesondere wenn die Einschaltdauer der Lichtquelle(n) 32 jeweils kurz ist, z.B. nicht mehr als 10% der Umdrehungsdauer der Trommel beträgt.

For example, the controller 30 may turn on the light source (s) 32 depending on the operational status of the laundry treating appliance, eg, according to one or more of the following examples:

• The controller 30 may turn on the light source (s) 32 within a predetermined time period prior to the end of a process to notify the user of the upcoming process end. For example, the controller 30 may turn on the light source (s) one minute before the end of the process.
• The controller 30 may also keep the light source (s) 32 turned on at the beginning of a process, ie, at least 30 seconds, especially at least 60 seconds, so that the user can visually monitor them at the beginning of the process For example, to detect a misloading.
• The controller 30 may also turn on the light source (s) 32 in the presence of a fault condition.
• The controller 30 may periodically turn the light source (s) 32 on and off. This can be used, for example, as a hazard warning when detecting an error condition. However, it can also be used to achieve special optical effects, namely, when the frequency of the periodic switching on and off of the light source is selected depending on the rotational frequency of the drum 14 or 54. In this case, a striking optical effect can be generated for the user by synchronizing drum movement and light pulses. For example, and as already mentioned, the frequency of the periodic switching on and off of the light source may differ from the rotational frequency of the drum by at most 10%, in particular by at most 1%, in which case in a kind of stroboscopic effect a standing or slow Running image of the drum and the laundry can be generated, in particular when the duty cycle of the light source (s) 32 is in each case short, for example, is not more than 10% of the rotation time of the drum.

The light source (s) 32 may also be configured to produce different types of light with different colors. Again, this can be used to convey information to the user. For example, a red light may indicate a fault condition, or a high temperature in the process room. In contrast, a green or blue lighting can signal a proper state or a low temperature.

The switching on and off can be done continuously, i. Continuously brighter or darker over at least one or more particular seconds, or the lighting can suddenly be switched on or off.

Remarks:

In the embodiments shown so far, the light source 32 has a holder 34 separate from the carrier 36. However, it is conceivable that the holder 34 and the carrier 36 are formed by the same component, ie that the carrier 36 is connected to the outside of the process container. Such an embodiment is in Fig. 6 represented where the holder and the carrier as a common component, the reference numeral 34.

Fig. 6 shows a further measure, which regardless of the configuration of the holder 34 and the carrier 36 with the solutions according to Fig. 3 or 5 can be combined, namely that the wall 18, 58 of the process container in the illuminated area 40 is diluted (compared to the adjacent to the illuminated area 40 area 40 '), preferably by at least 50%. In this way, the light transmission can be improved without compromising the structural integrity of the container.

In the embodiment shown, a recess 60 is provided on the outside (i.e., on the side opposite the process space) of the process container in the illuminated area 40. Advantageously, the light (s) 38 of the light source 32 engage or engage in this depression 60.

Advantageously, the process container is in the illuminated area 40 on its inner side (ie towards the process chamber) flat or convex (ie arched outwards), which can be avoided in the process space projecting parts.

Preferably, the process container is also in an area 40 'adjacent to the illuminated area (see FIG Fig. 3 ) a width of at least 2 cm also flat or convex, ie it is not necessary to provide a recess or the like in the process container in the field of illumination.

In a further preferred embodiment, the process container in the illuminated area 40 for the light of the light source 32 has a light transmittance of at least 30% and / or of at most 70%. As a result, an efficient illumination of the interior is achieved or the requirements for the light transmission are still so low that a large number of different materials for the wall of the process container comes into question.

In summary, therefore, a washing machine or a tumble dryer is described, which (r) has a process space that can be illuminated. For illuminating the process space at least one light source 32 is provided. This throws light from outside onto a wall of the process room, and in the illuminated area, this wall is designed so that it lets through at least part of this light.

While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it should be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these and may be practiced otherwise within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (17)

Laundry treatment device with
a rotatable drum (14, 54) for receiving the laundry,
a user door (16, 56),
a process container (11; 54, 58) which together with the user door (16, 56) forms a process space, wherein a) the laundry treatment device is a washing machine and the process container (11) has a tub (11) which surrounds the drum (14) and is designed to receive process water, or b) the laundry treatment device is a tumble dryer and the process container (54, 58) comprises the drum (54) and a stationary wall section (58) extending between the drum (54) and the user door (56), and at least one light source (32) for illuminating the process space,
characterized in that the light source (32) outside the process container (11; 54, 58) is arranged and the process container (11; 54, 58) in a of the light source (32) illuminated area (40) has a light transmittance of at least 10% , in particular at least 30%. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the process container (11; 54, 58) in the illuminated area (40) has no breakthrough. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the process container (11; 54, 58) in the illuminated area (40) is optically diffuse. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the process container (11; 54, 58) in the illuminated area (40) consists predominantly of plastic, in particular polypropylene, and / or of a glass fiber reinforced plastic. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the process container (11; 54, 58) in the illuminated area (40), and preferably in an area (40 ') adjacent to the illuminated area (40) and having a width of at least 2 cm or convex. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the process container (11; 54, 58) in the illuminated area (40) has a light transmittance of at least 30% and / or of at most 70%. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry treatment device is a washing machine,
and in particular wherein the illuminated area (40) forms part of the tub (11), in particular a part of a lateral surface (18) of the tub (11). Laundry treatment device according to claim 7, wherein the drum (14) has a lateral surface (20) made of perforated metal, through which the light of the light source (32) enters an interior of the drum (14). Laundry treatment device according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein at least three light sources (32) are arranged in different azimuthal positions on the tub (11), in particular distributed over an angular range (α) of at least 30 °, in particular of at least 60 °. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry treatment device is a tumble dryer,
and in particular wherein the illuminated area (40) forms part of the wall portion (58) which extending between the drum (54) and the user door (56). A laundry treating appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a controller (30) adapted to turn on the light source (32) during a treatment of the laundry. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller (30) is configured to turn on the light source (32) depending on an operational status of the laundry treating appliance.
and in particular wherein the controller (30) is configured to
in a period prior to a process end, turn on the light source (32) to indicate the impending end of the process and / or
to turn on in the presence of an error condition. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 or 12, wherein the controller (30) is configured to periodically turn the light source (32) on and off. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a frequency of periodically turning on and off the light source (32) is dependent on a rotational frequency of the drum (14, 54). Laundry treatment device according to claim 14, wherein the frequency of the periodic switching on and off of the light source (32) differs from the rotational frequency of the drum (14, 54) by at most 10%, in particular by at most 1%. A laundry treating appliance according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the controller (30) is adapted to keep the light source (32) on during a period of time at the beginning of the treatment. Laundry treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a wall (18, 58) of the process container (11; 54, 58) in the illuminated area (40) is diluted compared to a region (40 ') adjacent to the illuminated region (40), in particular by at least 50%,
and in particular wherein a recess (60) is provided on the outside of the process container (11; 54, 58) in the illuminated area (40).

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