EP3414387B1 - Domestic appliance and method for operating a domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a clothes dryer, and a method for operating a household appliance, in particular for operating a clothes dryer or for monitoring a drying process of a clothes dryer.

There is a fault in a household tumble dryer which interrupts a drying process prematurely, namely a so-called "condensate fall". If the condensate container is recognized as full, the drying process is terminated before it can be ended by sensing the final residual moisture desired by the user. As a result, the desired final residual moisture is not reached, which can lead to dissatisfaction with the drying result. Further errors are only displayed after the drying process has been completed, such as B. the fluff filter display etc., without the drying process being aborted despite any impairment.

The DE 10 2014 204299 A1 discloses a dryer with a drying chamber for items of laundry to be dried, a process air duct in which there is a fan for conveying process air, a heat sink, a heat source and a lint filter, a control unit, a collecting device for condensate and / or lint, and a cleaning device for cleaning the process air duct and / or a dryer component arranged in the process air duct.

The DE 29 33 513 A1 discloses a tumble dryer with a condensation device arranged in the dry air flow and a condensate collecting vessel to which the condensate liquid which precipitates out during the drying process is fed by means of a pump and a feed line.

According to the DE 10 2007 062 836 A1 the level of a condensate collecting container is monitored in order to then send a signal as a when a level threshold is exceeded Generate notice for performing a condensate disposal process. Under certain circumstances, however, this information alone may not be sufficient to enable further safe operation without interrupting the drying process.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to specify a household appliance, in particular a clothes dryer, and a method for operating a household appliance, in particular a clothes dryer, which each enable the early detection of a fault and provide means to avoid the fault during operation.

This object is achieved by a household appliance and by a method according to the respective independent patent claim. Further developments of the invention and optional features emerge from the dependent claims and the description and the figures of the accompanying drawing. Unless excluded for technical reasons, further developments of the household appliance correspond to further developments of the method and vice versa, even if this is not explicitly stated herein.

According to the invention, a household appliance, in particular a tumble dryer, comprises a condensate collecting container and a condensate pan and a control device which is designed to detect a fill level of the condensate collecting container and / or the condensate pan, the control device comprising at least one comparison value and the control device being designed to or to compare the filling levels with the at least one comparison value, and wherein the control device is designed to output an emptying time window for the condensate collecting container when the at least one comparison value is reached, exceeded or fallen below.

The household appliance is preferably a laundry treatment appliance. According to various embodiments, the laundry treatment device is z. B. a tumble dryer, for example an exhaust air dryer, a condensation dryer or a heat pump dryer. The household appliance can also be a combination appliance which combines a washing machine function and a dryer function. Basically, the household appliance is a device in which condensation occurs. The condensate pan and the condensate collection container are expediently provided for collecting the condensate. The condensate pan represents a first collecting vessel which is permanently installed in the household appliance and which is used for the direct / first absorption of the condensate. The condensate pan is expediently connected to the condensate collection container in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein, according to a preferred embodiment, the household appliance comprises a pump which is designed to pump the condensate from the condensate pan to the condensate collection container. The condensate pan is expediently arranged in a lower part of the household appliance, for example below the rotating drum of the dryer, while the condensate collecting container is arranged higher up. The condensate collecting container is expediently designed and arranged in such a way that it can be removed and emptied by a user.

The control device is expediently an electrical unit which is designed to operate the household appliance. According to a preferred embodiment, the control device has corresponding input and output means, via which the household appliance z. B. can be operated. Preferred is e.g. B. a corresponding display device is also provided, which is intended to display certain information to a user. The great advantage is that the control device is designed to detect the fill level of the condensate collection container and / or the condensate pan and, on this basis, to calculate the emptying time window, which, so to speak, indicates the remaining time until the condensate falls. The detected fill level or the detected fill levels are compared with a comparison value, which also represents a specific fill level. When the fill level of the condensate collecting container or the condensate pan has reached the comparison value, the control device can calculate the emptying time window, i. H. the time that is still available to empty the condensate collection container.

The at least one comparison value is expediently a limit fill level of the condensate collecting container. The fill level limit is a fill level which is below a maximum fill level of the condensate collecting tank. A plurality of filling levels / water levels are therefore preferably measured or recorded. If the maximum fill level of the condensate collector is reached, this leads to the interruption of the drying process (condensate fall). This means that the drying process can end before it is ended by sensing the final residual moisture desired by the user. As a result, the desired final residual moisture may not have been reached, which can lead to dissatisfaction with the drying result. The emptying time window now advantageously indicates the period within which it is still possible to "react". For example, the limit filling level is approximately 50% to 90%, preferably approximately 60% to 80% of the maximum filling level of the condensate collecting container.

According to the invention, the control device is designed to transmit or send the emptying time window to a user. It has already been mentioned that the control device advantageously comprises a display device or the like. According to a preferred embodiment, the household appliance or its control device comprises an extended user interface, preferably a mobile terminal. Such a one mobile user interface in the form of a mobile application, preferably an app, offers the possibility of displaying the advance notice of the failure. This can be done in the form of a text, e.g. For example: "Your condensation container is almost full. Please empty it to avoid undesired interruption of drying". The display can be extended by a counting down clock to make it clear when the possibility of avoiding the delayed error case ends. The clock that counts down corresponds to the emptying time window, i.e. the period of time that is available until a maximum fill level of the condensate collector is reached.

The control device expediently comprises a switching level which is a fill level in the condensate pan, the control device being designed to control the pump when the switching level is reached or exceeded. This embodiment is called "event-driven". Event-controlled means that the pump is triggered when a certain amount of water, the switching level, is reached. In the case of “event-controlled” pumps, the condensate pump generally only works when a certain predetermined amount of water is present, the pump then generally working with a predetermined constant delivery rate. If the amount of water falls below the specified amount, the pump is switched off. The control device is expediently parameterized in such a way that, after the emptying time window has elapsed, it is pumped again and a check is made as to whether the pump cycle was successful. If this is the case, it can be assumed that the user noticed the advance notice. Otherwise, the error is still present and the dryer can jump into its error management. Since condensate continues to accumulate during the ongoing drying process, the system must be designed in such a way that device operation is safe even with the water level, which is significantly higher than the switching level. The switching level which represents a fill level of the condensate pan is also expediently, for example, in a range from about 50% to 90% below a maximum fill level of the condensate pan, expediently in a range from about 60% to 80%. Alternatively, the pump can also be time-controlled. Controlled by time means here a control based on predetermined time values z. B. in the program sequence of the household appliance / dryer.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one comparison value can be a minimum fill level in the condensate pan. From the condensate pan, if this is a certain Has reached the filling level (see switching level), the collected or accumulated condensate is pumped into the condensate collecting container, which is usually located above the condensate pan. The control device is expediently designed to recognize whether the pumping process was successful. The level is evaluated at a specified point in time after the pumping cycle. If there is no water, the pumping cycle is considered successful. Otherwise the cycle was not successful and the system sends a corresponding error or initiates suitable measures, for example. The emptying time window can now advantageously be started after the unsuccessful pumping has been recognized. Expediently, based on a fill level of the condensate pan, in particular on the basis of a minimum fill level of the condensate pan, an emptying time window for the condensate collecting container is output or started. The minimum level should be understood to mean that it is checked whether the condensate pan z. B. is empty. This allows the conclusion to be drawn as to whether the pump cycle was successful.

Another advantage that results is that the detection of the unsuccessful pumping cycle is confirmed twice, which means a significantly better protection against the case of condensate.

The control device expediently comprises a time circuit which is designed to control the pump after the emptying time window has elapsed. The timer enables you to check whether the pumping cycle was successful.

According to the invention, the household appliance comprises a first measuring device, which is designed to detect the fill level of the condensate collection container, the first measuring device expediently comprising at least two electrodes which are arranged in the condensate collection container along a vertical axis at a distance from one another. This is an extremely simple and effective design. The measuring device determines the conductance between two electrodes. In the case of two water levels, three electrodes are sufficient.

However, the first measuring device can also be a continuous measuring system which works with at least two threshold values. To achieve at least two water levels, the use of two reed contacts can also be used with a float magnet.

The household appliance expediently also comprises a second measuring device which is designed to measure the fill level of the condensate pan. The aforementioned options for realizing the measurement also apply here.

• Erfassen eines Füllstandes des Kondensatsammelbehälters und/oder der Kondensatwanne;
• Vergleich des/der Füllstände mit zumindest einem Vergleichswert;
• Ausgabe oder Erzeugen eines Entleerungszeitfensters für den Kondensatsammelbehälter bei Erreichen, Überschreiten oder Unterschreiten des zumindest einen Vergleichswerts, wobei das Entleerungszeitfenster einem Zeitraum entspricht, welcher noch zur Verfügung steht, um den Kondensatsammelbehälter zu entleeren.

According to the invention, a method for operating a household appliance is also provided, in particular for monitoring a drying process of a tumble dryer, wherein the household appliance has a condensate collection container and a condensate pan, comprising the steps:

• Detecting a fill level of the condensate collecting container and / or the condensate pan;
• Comparison of the fill level (s) with at least one comparison value;
• Output or generation of an emptying time window for the condensate collecting tank when reaching, exceeding or falling below the at least one comparison value, wherein the emptying time window corresponds to a period of time which is still available to empty the condensate collecting tank.

The minimum length of the emptying time window results from the vertical distance between the measuring points and the maximum condensation speed of the dryer. This design has other advantages that can be used when the device is in operation. One advantage is the separation of the switching element for event-controlled pumping from the safety element which initiates the error management. Another advantage is the measurement of the condensation rate. Since the volume between the two measuring points is known, the rate of condensation can be calculated using the time between the two water levels being reached. This parameter depends on the point in time within the drying process and can be used to harden the identification of the drying phase. The condensation rate is constant in the so-called plateau phase. Before and after, however, it takes on lower values.

• Übermittlung des Entleerungszeitfensters an einen Benutzer.

According to the invention, the method further comprises the step:

• Transmission of the emptying time window to a user.

The transmission can take place, for example, via a display device of the control device, or via an extended user interface, for example in the form of an app.

• Beenden des Betreibens des Haushaltsgeräts erst dann, wenn der Füllstand des Kondensatsammelbehälters und der Kondensatwanne einen Maximalwert erreicht haben.

The method expediently further comprises the step:

• Do not stop operating the household appliance until the fill level of the condensate collection container and the condensate pan have reached a maximum value.

The two available storage volumes are therefore advantageously used in the best possible way. If the condensate collecting tank is full, this does not have to lead to condensate falling, as the volume of the condensate pan can still be fully used. Only when both fill levels have reached their maximum value is operation of the household appliance, in the present case in particular the drying process of the tumble dryer, ended. The emptying time window, which relates to the remaining volume of the condensate collecting container that is still available, can therefore be expanded by the volume of the condensate pan, which can further delay the termination of the drying process.

• Vorausberechnen eines Endes des Trocknungsprozesses.

The method expediently also includes the step:

• Predicting an end of the drying process.

In other words, a remaining term is expediently calculated in advance. This advance calculation is expediently based on the condensation rate mentioned. The end of the drying process can expediently be related to the emptying time window or the length of the emptying time window. If the emptying time window is longer than the period up to the end of the drying process or the remaining running time, this information can also expediently be transmitted to a user. The user then knows that he should empty the condensate collecting container at least after the end of the drying process, but he also knows that there is no need to do this during operation.

• Pumpen von Kondensat von der Kondensatwanne zum Kondensatsammelbehälter, wenn ein Schaltpegel in der Kondensatwanne erreicht oder überschritten ist;
• Erfassen des Füllstandes der Kondensatwanne nach dem Durchführen des Pumpvorganges;
• Übermittlung des Entleerungszeitfensters an den Benutzer, wenn der Füllstand der Kondensatwanne größer als ein minimaler Füllstand ist.

The method expediently further comprises the steps:

• Pumping condensate from the condensate pan to the condensate collecting tank when a switching level in the condensate pan is reached or exceeded;
• Detecting the fill level of the condensate pan after the pumping process has been carried out;
• Transmission of the emptying time window to the user when the fill level of the condensate pan is greater than a minimum fill level.

• Erneutes Pumpen nach Ablauf des Entleerungszeitfensters.

The method also expediently comprises the step:

• Pumping again after the emptying time window has expired.

After the unsuccessful pumping has been recognized, the emptying time window expediently begins, at the end of which pumping is carried out again and a check is carried out to determine whether the pumping cycle was successful.

The advantages and features already mentioned in relation to the household appliance apply analogously and accordingly for the method. For the household appliance, the features mentioned in connection with the method apply analogously and accordingly.

Further advantages and features emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention with reference to the figure of the accompanying drawing. It shows:
Figure 1 a sectional view of a clothes dryer.

Fig. 1 shows, in a sectional illustration, an embodiment of a household appliance 10, in particular a clothes dryer. In the embodiment shown here, a sectional illustration through a condensation dryer is shown, this configuration only being an example. In its upper area, the dryer 10 comprises a control 30 which comprises an operating unit or input / output means 32 and a display device 34. The display device 34 can be designed optically and / or acoustically. Appropriately, the control device is also designed to provide an extended user interface in the form of a mobile application such as. B. to include an app. The dryer 10 comprises a rotatably mounted drum 12 which can be filled via a door 16. Process air heated by a heater 68 can flow through a process air duct 14 and through the drum 12. The order an evaporator 62, a condenser 64, a pump 66 and a compressor 70 are basically known from the prior art. The focus is on the condensate pan 40, which is connected via a line 22 to a condensate collection container 20 arranged above it. Liquid or condensate can be transported from the condensate pan 40 to the condensate collecting container 20 via a pump 60. The condensate collecting container 20 is expediently designed to be exchangeable so that it can be emptied by a user if necessary. According to another embodiment, the condensate collecting container 20 is also arranged in an upper area, for example above the drum 12, for example on a plane or in the area of the control device 30. The control device is now preferably via first and second measuring devices (not shown here) designed to detect the fill levels of the condensate pan 40 and the condensate collection container 20. A limit filling level G in the condensate collecting container 20 is indicated, at which an emptying time window begins or is output. This limit fill level G is below a maximum fill level M at which the condensate collecting container 20 should be emptied, at least when the condensate pan 40 is also completely filled. A switching level S is indicated in the condensate pan 40, which represents a fill level in the condensate pan 40, when it is reached or exceeded, the pump 60 is activated in order to transport condensate from the condensate pan 40 to the condensate collecting container 20. The evaluation or detection of both fill levels, both of the condensate pan 40 and of the condensate collecting container 20, makes it possible to extend the drying process as much as possible or to avoid or to postpone the error case / condensate case.

List of reference symbols

10

Household appliance, clothes dryer

12

drum

14th

Process air duct

16

door

20th

Condensate collecting tank

22nd

management

30th

Control device

32

Control unit, input / output means

34

Display device

40

Condensate pan

60

pump

62

Evaporator

64

Condenser

66

Process air fan

68

heater

70

compressor

M.

(maximum) level

S.

Switching level

G

Limit level

Claims (14)

1. Household appliance (10), in particular tumble dryer,
   comprising a condensate collection container (20) and a condensate tub (40), wherein the condensate tub (40) represents a first collection vessel, which is used to directly/initially receive the condensate, and wherein the condensate tub (40) is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the condensate collection container (20), and a control facility (30), which is designed to detect a fill level of the condensate collection container (20) and/or the condensate tub (40), characterised in that the household appliance also comprises a first measuring facility, which is designed to acquire the fill level of the condensate collection container (20),
   wherein the control facility (30) comprises at least one comparison value, and wherein the control facility (30) is designed to compare the fill level or levels with the at least one comparison value, and
   wherein when the at least one comparison value is reached, exceeded or not met, the control facility (30) is designed to output a drainage time frame for the condensate collection container (20), wherein the drainage time frame corresponds to a period of time which is still available in order to drain the condensate collection container, wherein the control facility is designed to transfer or transmit the drainage time frame to a user.
2. Household appliance (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one comparison value is a limit fill level (G) of the condensate collection container (20).
3. Household appliance (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one comparison value is a minimal fill level of the condensate tub (40).
4. Household appliance (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the condensate tub (40) is fixedly integrated into the household appliance (10).
5. Household appliance (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (10) comprises a pump (60), which is designed to pump the condensate from the condensate tub (40) to the condensate collection container (20).
6. Household appliance (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the condensate tub (40) is arranged in a lower part of the household appliance (10), for instance below a rotating drum of the dryer, while the condensate collection container (20) is arranged further above, for instance above the condensate tub (40).
7. Household appliance (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control facility (30) comprises a time circuit, which is designed to actuate a pump (60) after the drainage time frame has elapsed.
8. Household appliance (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first measuring facility comprises at least two electrodes, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the condensate collection container (20) along a height axis (H).
9. Household appliance (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a second measuring facility which is designed to acquire the fill level of the condensate tub (40).
10. Method for operating a household appliance (10), in particular for monitoring a drying process of a tumble dryer, wherein the household appliance (10) has a condensate collection container (20) and a condensate tub (40), wherein the condensate tub (40) represents a first collection vessel, which is used to directly/initially receive the condensate, and wherein the condensate tub (40) is connected in a fluid-conducting manner with the condensate collection container (20), characterised by the steps:

    - acquiring a fill level of the condensate collection container (20) and/or the condensate tub (40);

    - comparing the fill level or levels with at least one comparison value;

    - outputting or generating an emptying time frame for the condensate collection container (20) when the at least one comparison value is reached, exceeded or not met, wherein the drainage time frame corresponds to a period of time which is still available in order to drain the condensate container;

    - transferring the drainage time frame to a user.
11. Method according to one of claims 10, wherein the at least one comparison value is a limit fill level (G) of the condensate collection container (20).
12. Method according to one of claims 10 to 11, further comprising the step:

    - ending the operation of the household appliance (10) only when the fill level of the condensate collection container (20) and the condensate tub (40) have reached a maximum value.
13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12,
    further comprising the step:

    - Pumping condensate from the condensate tub (40) to the condensate collection container (20) if a switching level in the condensate tub (40) is reached or exceeded,

    - Acquiring the fill level of the condensate tub (40) after performing the pumping process;

    - Transferring the drainage time frame to the user if the fill level of the condensate tub (40) is greater than a minimum fill level.
14. Method according to claim 13,
    further comprising the step

    - Renewed pumping after the drainage time frame has elapsed.

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