EP3315648B1

EP3315648B1 - Washing and drying machine

Info

Publication number: EP3315648B1
Application number: EP17198193.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chuo Gao; Hui Kuang; Maoyin Li; Qixia You
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2016-10-31
Filing date: 2017-10-25
Publication date: 2020-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-25
Also published as: EP3315648A1; CN108018669B; PL3315648T3; CN108018669A

Description

The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine, and in particular, to an air heating apparatus of a washing and drying machine.
A washing and drying machine usually includes a processing chamber, and an air heating channel in fluid communication with the processing chamber. A heating apparatus is disposed in the air heating channel for heating air supplied to the processing chamber in a drying program.
Because the washing and drying machine has both the functions of washing and drying, the following problems exist: a large quantity of laundry fluffs generated in the drying process easily accumulate in a condensation channel, and residual dirt, in particular, oily dirt such as sebum in the washing process is also attached on the fluffs, and is difficult to rinse; long-term laundry detergent residues in a detergent dispenser cause mildewing; washing water, foams, and the like remain on the bottom of a door gasket after washing, and consequently cause mildewing and bacteria breeding; and a large amount of dirt, and the like accumulate on an inner wall of the processing chamber after long-term washing. In addition, additional steam or hot water usually needs to be provided in the washing and drying process.
EP 1992730 discloses a washing machine that is capable of generating hot air and steam to be supplied into the rotary tub, using a single heater. The washing machine includes a rotary tub to receive laundry, a heating duct defining a channel to supply hot air to the rotary tub, a heater mounted within the heating duct, and a steam-generating part heated by the heater to generate steam to be supplied to the rotary tub. The steam-generating part includes an object heated by contacting the heater. The object includes a tubular membrane, having an outer surface contacting the heater and a hollow part for steam generation defined therein.
EP 2287389 discloses a steam injection arrangement for a laundry appliance. The steam injection arrangement comprises a steam separator, wherein a steam outlet of the steam separator is connected to a nozzle via a hose, the nozzle opening into a drum of the laundry appliance.
US 2012/0005915 discloses a dryer having a steam generator of high energy efficiency and incurring low fabrication cost. The dryer includes a rotably mounted drum on the interior of a main body and accommodates the laundry, a duct guiding air supply to the drum, a heater assembly provided within the duct which supplies heated air to the drum, and a steam generator disposed to be adjacent to the heater assembly, generating steam to be supplied to the drum by utilising the heat generated by the heater assembly.
EP 3051016 discloses a method of controlling a drum type washing machine. The method includes sensing laundry weight to perform a washing cycle (a laundry weight sensing step), immediately thereafter executing a first spin-drying pattern without additional laundry weight sensing when a laundry weight value sensed at the laundry weight sensing step is equal to or less than the value X in a spin-drying cycle, and executing a second spin-drying pattern after sensing the laundry weight when the laundry weight value sensed at the laundry weight sensing step is greater than X in the spin-drying cycle. In a case in which the laundry weight is low, spin-drying is immediately performed without performing laundry weight sensing, whereby it is possible to reduce time necessary to sense the laundry weight.
US 2009 249639 A1 discloses a dryer and a method of controlling a cleaning operation thereof that are capable of supplying moisture into a drying chamber of the dryer to wet contaminants in the drying chamber and blowing air to the wetted contaminants to remove the contaminants. The method includes supplying moisture into a drying chamber to wet contaminants in the drying chamber and removing the contaminants wetted by the moisture.
An objective of the present invention is to resolve the foregoing problems in the related art.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a washing and drying machine as defined in the independent claim attached. Preferred facultative embodiments of the invention are defined in respective dependent claims, where different embodiments as defined may also be combined among themselves for yielding further preferred embodiments, described in the subsequent description, or exhibited in the drawing attached.
A fluid is heated by the heating apparatus after entering the liquid flow-through apparatus from the input channel, and then flows out of the output channel, so that a heated liquid is obtained. When the liquid flow is relatively small, high-temperature steam after the liquid is evaporated may be obtained. The heated liquid or high-temperature steam is conveyed to at least one of the detergent dispenser, the door gasket, the processing chamber, or the condensation channel through the output channel, so as to perform cleaning, sterilization, and mildew prevention on the parts. When being used in a washing program or a drying program, the heated liquid or high-temperature steam can perform functions such as sterilization, wrinkle elimination, washing effect enhancement on laundry. In addition, transformation on the existing drying machine is small.
Preferably, the input channel is connected to a circulation pump, so as to be connected to the processing chamber through the circulation pump. Then, a washing liquid is pumped into the liquid flow-through apparatus by using the circulation pump, and enters at least one of the detergent dispenser, the door gasket, the processing chamber, or the condensation channel in a liquid or steam form after being heated in the liquid flow-through apparatus. Regardless of a component connected to the output channel, the final liquid or steam returns back to the processing chamber. By means of work of the circulation pump, the liquid in the processing chamber can be continuously heated, and sterilization, cleaning, and the like may also be simultaneously performed on other components, and the generated steam can further perform sterilization and wrinkle elimination on laundry after entering the processing chamber.
Preferably, a nozzle that converts a liquid into water mist is disposed on a tail end of the output channel. High-temperature water can generate high-temperature water mist after passing through the nozzle.
Preferably, the control apparatus controls the heating apparatus, so as to adjust the temperature of a liquid or a water-vapor mixture output from the output channel.
According to the invention, a fan that promotes air to flow to the processing chamber from the air heating channel is included, where the fan is controlled by the control apparatus so as to be able to change the rotation speed, and hence adjust the temperature of a liquid or a water-vapor mixture output from the output channel. When the rotation speed of the fan is high, the air flow that passes through the air heating channel is large, and the amount of heat that is generated by the heating apparatus and distributed to air is relatively large, and the amount of heat distributed to the liquid flow-through apparatus is relatively small. Then, the temperature of the liquid or water-vapor mixture output by the output channel is relatively low, and otherwise, the temperature of the liquid or water-vapor mixture output by the output channel is relatively high.
Preferably, the input channel is connected to a water valve or a circulation pump, and the control apparatus can control an on/off rhythm of the water valve or the circulation pump, so as to adjust the temperature of a liquid or a water-vapor mixture output from the output channel. The amount of the liquid that enters the liquid flow-through apparatus is adjusted by controlling an on/off rhythm of the control valve or circulation pump. When the amount of the liquid that enters the liquid flow-through apparatus within unit time is relatively small, the temperature of the liquid or water-vapor mixture output by the output channel is relatively high, and otherwise, the temperature of the liquid or water-vapor mixture output by the output channel is relatively low.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawing. The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the disclosure. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic diagram of a washing and drying machine according to a first implementation;
FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a washing and drying machine according to a second implementation;
FIG. 3 is a partial schematic diagram of a washing and drying machine according to a third implementation;
FIG. 4 is a partial schematic diagram of a washing and drying machine according to a fourth implementation;
FIG. 5 is a partial schematic diagram of a washing and drying machine according to a fifth implementation; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of connection of a control system of a washing and drying machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, a washing and drying machine includes a processing chamber 2 for accommodating laundry, and an air heating channel 3 in fluid communication with the processing chamber. A fan 4 is disposed upstream of the air heating channel 3, to promote air to enter the processing chamber 2 from the air heating channel 3. A heating apparatus 5 is disposed in the air heating channel 3, to heat air that flows through the air heating channel 3. A liquid flow-through apparatus 6 is disposed close to the heating apparatus 5. The liquid flow-through apparatus 6 is connected to an input channel 7 and an output channel 8. A liquid, mainly water or washing water formed by mixing water and detergent, enters the liquid flow-through apparatus 6 from the input channel 7, and then is heated because the liquid is close to the heating apparatus 5. Then the liquid is output from the output channel 8 into the processing chamber 2.
The liquid flow-through apparatus 6 is constructed into a shape suitable for flowing of the liquid therein.
For example, in the implementation shown in FIG. 1, the liquid flow-through apparatus 6 is a plate-shaped structure 61 with an open top, and the heating apparatus 5 is located in the plate-shaped structure 61. In other alternative implementations, the heating apparatus 5 may alternatively be located above or below the plate-shaped structure 61. In other alternative implementations, the liquid flow-through apparatus 6 is a water tank 62 with a closed top, and the heating apparatus 5 is located in the water tank 62 or located above or below the water tank 62.
The difference between the plate-shaped structure 61 and the water tank 62 may lie only in whether the top is open or closed, and it can be seen from top-view projection images that the plate-shaped structure 61 is relatively similar to the water tank 62. Therefore, the liquid flow-through apparatus 6 in the form of the plate-shaped structure 61 and the water tank 62 is represented by using a same mechanism in FIG. 1. A person skilled in the art can clearly determine content of the foregoing implementation with reference to the specification and the accompanying drawings.
In the implementation shown in FIG. 2, a liquid flow-through apparatus 63 is an extending curved-shaped pipe 63 that has a shape similar to that of a heating apparatus 5. The liquid flow-through apparatus 63 is adjacent to the heating apparatus 5 and is closer to a heat source, and therefore can absorb more heat, so that a liquid therein can be quickly heated.
In the implementation shown in FIG. 3, an outlet of an output channel 8 is located in an air heating channel 3. Then, a liquid flowing out of the output channel 8 directly falls onto the bottom of the air heating channel 3. A hydrophilic coating 20 is covered on an inner surface of the bottom of the air heating channel 3. Then, the high-temperature liquid expands on the inner surface of the bottom of the air heating channel 3 to form a water film. When being further heated by a heating apparatus 5, the water film can be vaporized to generate steam into a processing chamber 2. When a fan 4 is started, hot air quickly evaporates the liquid on a surface of the water film to form a large amount of steam.
If high-temperature water mist is generated for objectives such as cleaning and sterilization, in some implementations, a nozzle 21 that converts a liquid into water mist may be disposed on a tail end of the output channel 8. The nozzle 21 may be disposed on the output channel 8 in the foregoing various implementations.
Alternatively, an input channel 7 may be enabled to input a relatively small amount of liquid within unit time, and the heating apparatus 5 may be enabled to generate a relatively high temperature, so that the liquid is evaporated under the effect of high temperature to generate steam. A water valve 9 controlled by a control apparatus 10 is disposed on the input channel 7, as shown in FIG. 5, or a circulation pump 11 is disposed as shown in FIG. 4. An input end of the circulation pump 11 is connected to the processing chamber 2, so as to pump the liquid in the processing chamber 2 into the liquid flow-through apparatus 6.
The processing chamber 2 mentioned above not only can be used as a drying chamber, but also can be used as a washing chamber.
A high-temperature liquid or a high-temperature liquid-vapor mixture output in the output channel 8 can be conveyed to a suitable part according to a design requirement.
As shown in FIG. 4, an output channel 8 is connected to a door gasket 12. An outlet 81 of the output channel 8 is close to the bottom of the door gasket 12, and a washing liquid and foam easily accumulate on this part, and consequently a bacterial film is formed. A high-temperature liquid or high-temperature liquid-vapor mixture output by the output channel 8 can rinse the part, to prevent generation of a bacterial film and keep clean. Subsequently, the high-temperature liquid flows into the processing chamber 2 to participate in washing laundry.
Alternatively, the output channel 8 may be directly connected to the processing chamber 2, in particular, on a rear part, on which dirt easily accumulates, of the processing chamber 2, so that not only the part can be kept clean, but also the high-temperature liquid can subsequently participate in washing laundry.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, in other implementations, the output channel 8 may further be connected to a detergent dispenser 13 and/or a condensation channel 14, so as to perform cleaning, sterilization, mildew prevention, and the like.
The output channel 8 may be connected to a single component in the foregoing implementations, or may include multiple pipes to be connected to multiple components.
As shown in FIG. 6, a control apparatus 10 is connected to a fan 4, a heating apparatus 5, and a water valve 9 or a circulation pump 11. The temperature of a liquid or a water-vapor mixture output by an output channel 8 can be adjusted by adjusting the power or on/off rhythm of the heating apparatus 5, the rotation speed of the fan 4, and/or the on/off rhythm of the water valve 9 or circulation pump 11 by using the control apparatus 10. By adjusting the rotation speed of the fan 4, a ratio of heat of the heating apparatus 5 transferred to the liquid to air can be adjusted. By reducing the rotation speed of the fan 4, the air flow can be reduced, so that heat transferred to air is reduced. Then, the temperature of the liquid or water-vapor mixture discharged by the output channel 8 can be increased. In particular, when the fan 4 is switched off, air in the air heating channel 3 performs natural convection. After air reaches a particular temperature, most heat of the heating apparatus 5 is used to heat the liquid in the liquid flow-through apparatus 6.
The control apparatus 10 further controls a washing program. The washing program includes a main washing phase, a rinsing phase, and a spin-drying phase. Before the main washing phase of the washing program, the heating apparatus 5 and the water valve 9 are first started. Water is heated by the heating apparatus 5 after entering the liquid flow-through apparatus 6 from an input channel 7, and then is output into a processing chamber 2 from the output channel 8. High-temperature water or a liquid-vapor mixture may be output into the processing chamber 2. Preferably, the control apparatus 10 simultaneously starts the fan 4, so that the air heating channel 3 outputs heated air to the processing chamber 2 when the output channel 8 outputs the heated water or liquid-vapor mixture to the processing chamber 2. High-temperature air, water, liquid-vapor mixture, and the like entering the processing chamber 2 come into contact with laundry to heat and sterilize the laundry. Because the laundry are in a relatively dry state at the moment, the laundry can quickly reach a relatively high temperature, so as to kill bacteria in the laundry. Moreover, damages such as fading and shrinkage of laundry are reduced when heating is performed in a dry state. Laundry that enter the subsequent main washing phase after the sterilization is completed are more hygienic. Moreover, the laundry are already in a high-temperature state at the moment, and the activity of detergent in the subsequent main washing phase is improved. In addition, the high-temperature water or liquid-vapor mixture entering the processing chamber 2 from the output channel 8 is also used in the subsequent main washing phase.
In addition, the heating apparatus 5 and the water valve 9 may also be in a started state in the main washing phase and/or the rinsing phase. For example, the heating apparatus 5 and the water pump 9 may also be started in an initial part of the main washing phase. When the input channel 7 is connected to the circulation pump 11, the heating apparatus 5 and the circulation pump 11 are started in the main washing phase and/or rinsing phase. Then the washing liquid in the processing chamber 2 is circularly heated, and can clean and sterilize a detergent dispenser 13, a door gasket 12, and a condensation channel 14 before entering the processing chamber 2.

Claims

A washing and drying machine, comprising a processing chamber (2) and an air heating channel (3) in fluid communication with the processing chamber; a heating apparatus (5) being disposed in the air heating channel, a liquid flow-through apparatus (6, 61, 62, 63) is disposed close to or surrounding the heating apparatus, wherein the heating apparatus (5) is heating liquid in the liquid flow-through apparatus (6, 61, 62, 63); an input channel (7) and an output channel (8) are connected to the liquid flow-through apparatus; and the output channel (8) is connected to at least one of a detergent dispenser (13), a door gasket (12), the processing chamber (2), or a condensation channel (14),
characterized by comprising a control apparatus (10), and a fan (4) that promotes air to flow to the processing chamber from the air heating channel, wherein the fan is controlled by the control apparatus (10) so as to be able to change the rotation speed, and hence adjust the temperature of a liquid or a water-vapor mixture output from the output channel
The washing and drying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the input channel (7) is connected to a circulation pump (11), so as to be connected to the processing chamber through the circulation pump.
The washing and drying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a nozzle (21) that converts a liquid into water mist is disposed on a tail end of the output channel (8).
The washing and drying machine according to claim 1, characterized by the control apparatus controls the heating apparatus, so as to adjust the temperature of a liquid or a water-vapor mixture output from the output channel.
The washing and drying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the input channel (7) is connected to a water valve (9) or a circulation pump (11), and the control apparatus can control an on/off rhythm of the water valve or the circulation pump, so as to adjust the temperature of a liquid or a water-vapor mixture output from the output channel.